What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an effective form of medical treatment that has evolved into a complete holistic health care system. Practitioners of acupuncture and Chinese medicine have used this noninvasive treatment method to help millions of people become well and stay well.

Acupuncture promotes natural healing. It can enhance recuperative power and immunity, support physical and emotional health, and improve overall function and well-being. It is a safe, painless and effective way to treat a wide variety of medical problems.

What is Qi?

At the core of this ancient medicine is the philosophy that Qi (pronounced "chee"), or vital energy, flows throughout the body. Qi animates the body and protects it from illness, pain and disease. A person's health is influenced by the quality, quantity and balance of Qi.

How does Qi move?

Qi flows through specific pathways called meridians. There are fourteen main meridians inside the body. The diagram to the left shows the meridian pathways in the body. Each of these is connected to specific organs and glands.

Meridian pathways are like rivers flowing inside the body. Where a river flows, it transports life-giving water that provides nourishment to the land, plants and people. Similarly, where meridian pathways flow, they bring life-giving Qi that provides nourishment to every cell, organ, gland, tissue and muscle in the body.

How is Qi disrupted?

An obstruction to the flow of Qi is like a dam. When Qi becomes backed up in one part of the body, the flow becomes restricted in other parts. This blockage of the flow of Qi can be detrimental to a person's health, cutting off vital nourishment to the body, organs and glands.

Physical and emotional trauma, stress, lack of exercise, overexertion, seasonal changes, poor diet, accidents, or excessive activity are among the many things that can influence the quality, quantity and balance of Qi.

Normally, when a blockage or imbalance occurs, the body easily bounces back, returning to a state of health and well-being. However, when this disruption is prolonged or excessive, or if the body is in a weakened state, illness, pain, or disease can set in.

What does an acupuncturist do?

During the initial exam a full health history is taken. Questions are asked regarding health, symptoms and lifestyle. An appropriate physical exam is conducted, including pulse and tongue diagnosis.

Gathering this information enables the practitioner to effectively diagnose and detect any specific imbalances of Qi that may have contributed to a person's health problems. The practitioner can then create a well-structured treatment plan.

Once the imbalances of Qi are detected, an acupuncturist will place fine, sterile needles at specific acupoints along meridian pathways. This safe and painless insertion of the needles can unblock the obstruction and balance Qi where it has become unbalanced. Once this is done, Qi can freely circulate throughout the body, providing adequate nourishment to cells, organs, glands, tissues and muscles. This can eliminate pain and restore balance and harmony, as well as the body's ability to heal itself—ultimately leading to optimal health and well-being.

Modern Research & Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been employed as a health care modality for over 3,000 years. Modern science has begun to understand the secrets of this ancient medicine with the support of new studies conducted by leading scientists, hospitals, and medical research facilities from all over the world. Today, acupuncture is receiving wide acceptance as a respected, valid and effective form of health care.

According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 51% of medical doctors understand the efficacy and value of acupuncture, and medical doctors refer patients to acupuncturists more than any other alternative care provider.¹

In Canada, a 2008 study conducted by the Institute for Work & Health concluded that low back pain, the most common musculoskeletal problem, can be relieved by acupuncture massage, called Tui Na, more effectively than any other treatment.²

A German study published in Archives of Internal Medicine in 2007 covered the largest and most rigorous trial ever undertaken to investigate the analgesic effects of acupuncture versus traditional medical approaches to relieve lower back pain. This study involved 1,802 patients and 13,475 treatments and concluded that acupuncture "constituted a strong treatment alternative to multimodal conventional therapy, giving physicians a promising and effective treatment option for chronic lower back pain." ³

In addition to its effectiveness in pain control, acupuncture has a proven track record of treating a variety of endocrine, circulatory and systemic conditions.

The British Medical Journal in 2008 reported that acupuncture can increase the success rate of in-vitro fertilization and increase the number of viable pregnancies. The additional benefits were listed as reduction in nausea and muscle pain associated with both IVF and pregnancy in general without the use of drugs that might harm the growing fetus.⁵

In Sweden, a 2008 study involving 215 cancer patients proved that acupuncture can eliminate the need for additional drugs and reduce nausea suffered during radiation treatments.⁴

A 2007 study from the University of Heidelberg in Germany concluded that acupuncture treatments can not only relieve the pain associated with bronchial asthma but also help to control outbreaks of allergic asthma as well. It became clearly evident that "acupuncture performed in accordance with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine showed significant immune-modulating effects." ⁶

Current theories on the mechanism of acupuncture:

1. Neurotransmitter Theory: Acupuncture affects higher brain areas, stimulating the secretion of beta-endorphins and enkephalins in the brain and spinal cord. The release of neurotransmitters influences the immune system and the antinociceptive system.^7,8,9
2. Autonomic Nervous System Theory: Acupuncture stimulates the release of norepinephrine, acetylcholine and several types of opioids, affecting changes in their turnover rate, normalizing the autonomic nervous system, and reducing pain.^10,11
3. Vascular-interstitial Theory: Acupuncture effects the electrical system of the body by creating or enhancing closed-circuit transport in tissues. This facilitates healing by allowing the transfer of material and electrical energy between normal and injured tissues.⁹
4. Blood Chemistry Theory: Acupuncture affects the blood concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids, suggesting that acupuncture can both raise and diminish peripheral blood components, thereby regulating the body toward homeostasis.⁹
5. Gate Control Theory: Acupuncture activates non-nociceptive receptors that inhibit the transmission of nociceptive signals in the dorsal horn, "gating out" painful stimuli.¹²

This ancient health care system is proving itself as an effective modality for a wide variety of problems. So much so that the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) awarded 8 grants that directly relate to acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medical research, totaling more than $9.5 million dollars.

What To Expect

During the initial exam a full health history is taken. Questions are asked regarding your chief complaint, your mental and emotional health and every other aspect of the functioning of your entire body as well as your lifestyle. I will also do pulse and tongue diagnosis. If you are coming to me for pain from an injury or overuse an appropriate ortho/neuro physical exam is conducted.

Gathering this information enables me to effectively diagnose and detect any pattern of  imbalance to the flow of Qi that exists in your body and may have contributed to your health problems. I can then create a well-structured treatment plan.

Once I determine the pattern of imbalance that exists in your body, I will place very fine, sterile needles at specific acupoints along meridian pathways. This safe and painless insertion of the needles can unblock the obstructions and balance the flow of Qi where it has become unbalanced. Once this is done, Qi can freely circulate throughout the body, providing adequate nourishment to all your cells, organs, glands, tissues and muscles. This can eliminate pain and restore balance and harmony, as well as the body’s ability to heal itself—ultimately leading to the correction of dysfunctions and optimal health and well-being.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine is a safe, effective and drug-free therapy that can help address a wide variety of common ailments and problems.

First Visit

Initial visits are 2 hours long. I will take a detailed health history and in cases related to pain or injury will perform an ortho/neuro evaluation.

During your first exam, I will spend time getting to know you and your health concerns. I will ask you a wide range of questions about every aspect of your health including but not limited to your emotional state of mind over the past 3 months or more, your sleep, symptoms of your chief complaint, your appetite and digestion, energy level, ears, eyes, nose and throat and many other areas of your body’s functions that offer insight into your health.

I will also employ other diagnostic methods that are unique to acupuncture and Chinese Medicine such as tongue and pulse diagnosis.

Getting the most out of treatment

For the best treatment results, keep a few things in mind:

• Please show up on time
• Don’t eat a large meal before your visit
• Wear loose, comfortable clothes
• Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with me.
• Refrain from overexertion, drugs or alcohol for at least six hours after treatment
• Keep all of your appointments, as each visit builds upon the previous ones.

How treatment works

To treat any Qi imbalances, fine, sterile needles will be inserted at specific acupuncture points along the meridian pathways. I will concentrate on acupuncture points treat the existing imbalance in your body.  I may recommend herbal remedies which are another important aspect of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, and it is important to understand and follow my directions in order to get the most benefit from these treatments.

Your role in the healing process

Your actions are a key component of your treatment plan. Focusing on your health and committing to a healthy lifestyle are the best steps you can take for your well-being. Together, you and I can heal your imbalances and help you achieve harmony and balance.

Even after your symptoms are resolved, acupuncture can assist you in maintaining your health, and possibly prevent future imbalances. The more you incorporate acupuncture and Chinese Medicine into your life, the more you’ll learn to nurture your body, mind and spirit.

Other Conditions I Treat

Other conditions I treat:

• Pain from injuries and repetitive motion and/or stress
• Sciatica, Carpal Tunnel
• Migraine Headaches
• Menstrual Irregularities and Pain
• Menopausal Discomfort
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Constipation& Diarrhea or IBS
• Bells Palsy
• Nervousness
• Digestive disorders
• Insomnia
• Addiction & Smoking