Oriental Medicine includes Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine and Asian Bodywork. There are forms of Oriental Medicine from Japan, Korea and other countries, but the most commonly practiced form is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM is one of the oldest continuous systems of medicine in history, with records dating as far back as 2,000 years before the birth of Christ (and some say a history as far back of 4,000 years). Compare that to any of the Western forms of health care, which have been in existence for a meer 300 or so years. TCM has its origin in ancient Taoist philosophy which views a person as an energy system in which body and mind are unified, each influencing and balancing the other. Unlike modern allopathic medicine which attempts to isolate and separate a disease from a person, Chinese Medicine emphasizes a holistic approach that treats the whole person. Many people have found Traditional Chinese methods of healing to be excellent tools for maintaining optimum health and preventing illness. It is effective for physical, psychological and emotional problems.
At the core of this ancient medicine is the philosophy of Qi (pronounced "chee"). Qi is said to be the circulating life energy that is inherent in all things and the energy responsible for controlling the workings of the human mind and body. It is essentially "the fuel for the fire." This energy circulates throughout the body along a specific, interconnected series of pathways called meridians or channels.Meridian pathways are like rivers.Where a river flows, it transports life-giving water and nutrients to all of the living things along the way.It is in this same manner that the meridians in your body transport life-giving Qi to nourish, support and energize all of the cells, tissues and organs of your body. When Qi flows freely in your body and is properly balanced, in the proper amounts, you experience good physical, mental and emotional well-being.An obstruction of Qi anywhere in the body acts like a dam in a river, backing up the flow.This blockage can hinder the distribution of nourishment that your body requires to function properly.Acupuncture works to restore normal functions by stimulating certain points on the meridians in order to release blockages and re-balance the flow of Qi.
Check out my published article, What The Heck is QI? for a more detailed explanation.
Chinese Medicine is based on a very simple principle: that is that the mind and body are not viewed separately, but as part of an energetic, interconnected system and that the human body is an integrated whole, not a bunch of parts and pieces. That holistic philosophy is always present in the mind of a TCM practitioner and is reflected continuously throughout the entire theory and practice of the medicine. After gathering a thorough health history, observing your symptoms and signs, and taking into account your absolute uniqueness as an individual, Acupuncturists are able to determine the underlying imbalance(s) that you and your body are experiencing. Seemingly unrelated symptoms and conditions, when looked at holistically, point to an underlying "root conditions," the correction of which will ultimately be the target of your Acupuncture treatments. Based on your unique pattern of disharmony, your acupuncturist will be able to locate the precise points on your body that will unblock the meridians and allow the free flow of Qi to continue. In this way, acupuncture can regulate and restore the balance of your body.
Currently, there are a number of modern medical theories as to how exactly acupuncture works. It was once thought that inserting needles into specific parts of the body affected nerves and could inhibit their signal transmission. This was thought to explain why acupuncture could treat pain so well. But when doctors mapped the acupuncture points over the known nerve network they found that there was some correlation, but not nearly enough to explain most of its effects. Another theory stated that acupuncture stimulates the release of opioids and endorphins in the central nervous system. Although this could explain certain analgesic effects, it could not explain many others. The most current theory speculates that acupuncture points are actually strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals throughout the body. Stimulating points along the meridian pathways influences neurotransmitter rates and resets the polarity of different parts of the body. This latest theory is by far the most comprehensive and most promising explanation for why acupuncture works in Western medical terminology.
When performed by a qualified, Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.), Acupuncture and other Oriental Medicine techniques have a long and proven history of being extremely safe. It is an all-natural, drug-free, yielding no side-effects except for the feeling of relaxation and well-being. In order to eliminate the risk of disease transmission or infection, and to ensure the safety of their patients, Acupuncturists use only sterile, single-use, disposable needles and are required to be certified in Clean Needle Technique protocols before they can be state licensed.
Besides being very safe, most patients also report that acupuncture treatments are not only relatively painless, but also extremely relaxing and it is very common for even the high-anxiety patients to fall asleep during treatments. This is because Acupuncture massive amounts of endorphins from your brain, helping to calm your Sympathetic Nervous System, and taking you from that insideous, high-stress "fight-or-flight" mode, to a nice, peaceful, "rest-and-relax" mode. This often occurs within minutes, and yes- even if you are afraid of needles.
When most people think of needles, they think back to all of their experiences since childhood of vaccinations and having blood drawn. Yes- Those shots hurt! Rest assured, though, that Acupuncture needles, are nothing like hypodermic needles.
The needles that Acupuncturists use these days are pre-packed, sterile, single-use, and disposable. They are extremely thin and smooth, and only slightly thicker than the width of a human eyelash. They are so thin, in fact, that they can literally be curled like a ribbon with just your fingertips. They are designed from end-to-end for smooth, comfortable insertion- unlike hypodermic needles, which are primarily designed to be an effective delivery system.
During treatment, the needles will be placed at precise points on your body. At
the moment the needle is first "tapped" in, most people feel only a teeny-tiny pinch or nothing at all. Any sharpness you might feel,
typically only lasts fractions of a second. After that, most people feel nothing at all as the needle is being manipulated to the proper depth, at which point you may feel
some additional sensation: this could include numbness, tingling, heat, pressure, a very
mild, dull ache, and in some cases, an electrical sensation,
affectionately referred to in my practice as "the ZING," which sometimes
travels to another part of your body. Notice that "pain" is not on that
list? All of those sensations are normal, generally very tolerable by
even the most sensitive people, and from your Acupuncturists' point of
view, are a very good sign that your body is responding well to the
treatment. In fact, a key element of a
successful acupuncture treatment is that you should feel some kind of sensation. The needling sensations will vary from treatment to treatment, but again, pain is not an expected or desired
response to acupuncture treatment. It is important to recognize that certain areas of the body are more sensitive than others and some areas could be a little more "pinchy" at times, although any discomfort fades very quickly and adjustments to the needles can be easily made to make you more comfortable.
Everybody is different and therefore, "every-body is different." A definitive prognosis is difficult to formulate in advance and even following the initial consultation. Treatment frequency and duration will depend on a variety of factors: your body's core constitution
and the state of Qi and blood flow in your body, your age, your
lifestyle, the severity and duration of the condition being treated, and
your willingness to participate in your own healing process by making
appropriate adjustments to your lifestyle habits, diet and exercise
routines if necessary.
Acupuncture is considered a "cumulative medicine," in other words, the treatments build on each other. Our mutual target, of course, is to stimulate your body's own natural healing capabilities. While many people will feel some change in their condition immediately or within the first 2-3 treatments, others with more serious or recalcitrant conditions will need more of a long-term treatment before a significant, lasting change occurs. On average, most people will require a minimum of 5-10 visits, once per week.Continued care over the following weeks and months
may also be needed to further reduce your symptoms and eliminate any re-occurrence. Be aware that sometimes changes can appear slow and subtle as your entire body begins to re-balance and heal itself- don't be discouraged if you don't see immediate changes, it doesn't mean changes aren't occurring! Check out my published article, What To Expect At Your First Acupuncture Treatment for a more detailed explanation.
Your healthcare practitioner should be someone you feel totally comfortable with, who listens to you and gives you the quality, care and compassion that you deserve. That person should be well trained and experienced. If you're considering Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine therapy, this means that you should be seeing a qualified, Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.).
Not all Acupuncturists are created equal. There is an important difference between a Licensed Acupuncturist and a physician or other health care practitioner who is a "Certified Acupuncturist." Certification is much less rigorous in terms of its requirements to insert needles. It is basically an easier way for some health care providers to call themselves acupuncturists. In many cases, they become "certified acupuncturists" with 300 hours of classroom training, much of which consists of watching videos, there are usually no certification exams, and in many cases 0 hours of clinical experience. This level of training is simply not adequate for understanding the vast complexity of the Chinese medical system.
Licensed Acupuncturists, on the other hand, must first attend a state approved school of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine which requires between 3 and 4 years of graduate level education in both Western Medicine and Oriental Medicine. This includes approximately 3000 classroom hours and 1000-1500 hours of supervised clinical internship. They are also required to successfully pass National Board Exams (NCCAOM) and fulfill rigorous requirements for State licensure. Chinese medicine is an extremely complex science that is literally thousands of years old. With over a thousand herbs and hundreds of points, learning how to use them effectively takes years of dedication and experience.
Make sure that the Acupuncturist you choose is state licensed and has graduated from Nationally accredited school of Oriental Medicine.
Check out my published article, How To Choose An Acupuncturist for important screening questions to ask your potential acupuncturist.
Most of the major Insurance companies do provide Acupuncture coverage, although coverage varies widely between carriers as well as individual insurance plans. Check with your plan provider to find out if you have Acupuncture coverage for "out-of-network" Acupuncture providers.
I do not file claims for acupuncture insurance. This allows me to focus my time and attention on providing you with the absolute highest quality of care, professional service and an above-and-beyond level of support. For those of you with Acupuncture insurance, payment in full is collected at the time of service, and I will be happy to provide you a "Superbill" with all required medical coding information so that you can easily file your claim for reimbursement.
Please be aware that I am an "out-of-network" provider
and most insurance plans do not cover 100% of out-of-network treatment
fees and any deductible
amount and co-pays will be your responsibility. I cannot
guarantee reimbursement by your insurance company and
you are ultimately responsible for any portion of your balance
that is not covered, should your insurance company
deny any portion of your claim.
Over the last few decades, a significant amount of research has been conducted, seeking to explain how acupuncture works. Currently, this ancient healthcare system is proving itself as an effective modality for a wide variety of conditions, so much so, that the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) was recently awarded 8 government grants that directly relate to Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and Traditional Chinese medical research, totaling $9.5 million dollars.
"One of the advantages of acupuncture is that incidence of adverse affects is substantially lower than that of many drugs and other acceptable medical procedures used for the same conditions. As an example, musculoskeletal conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain and tennis elbow are conditions for which acupuncture may be beneficial. These conditions are often treated with, among other things, anti-inflammatory medications (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc) or with steroid injections. Both medical interventions have a potential for deleterious side effects, but are still widely used and considered acceptable treatments. The evidence supporting these therapies, though, is no better than that for acupuncture, which presents little to no risk for side-effects."
