Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Oriental Medicine (TCM). Over the past 5,000 years, TCM has been evolved into a total medical healthcare system. A wide variety of health conditions can be treated safely, painlessly and successfully with TCM. Because TCM is a holistic medicine, it treats not only the branch (symptoms), but also the root (cause) of the health condition.
Acupuncture works on the body’s basic energy, or life force, referred to as Qi (chee). This energy circulates throughout the body in a specific pattern through channels called meridians. The Qi brings energy and nourishment to the entire body, cells, tissues and organs.
When there is a balanced flow of Qi in the body, you experience good physical, mental and emotional health. Any misdirection, obstruction or imbalance to the flow of Qi will affect the function and proper nourishment to the body, therefore, creating pain, dysfunction, and disease.
By rebalancing the flow of Qi, the body can be restored to a normal balance so the organs and bodily systems can work together. This sets the stage for the body to repair itself and maintain its own health.
By using the diagnostic tools in TCM – taking the pulse, looking at the tongue, palpating certain acupoints (which run along the meridians), and asking questions – the acupuncturist will use Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture to bring the body back into balance so that the body can heal. Chinese herbal medicine may be prescribed internally or applied externally.
Acupuncture is performed by inserting fine, sterile needles (used one time only), at certain acupoints. Electro stimulation using micro current can also be applied to the acupuncture needle for stronger stimulation when treating pain. Moxibustion is used for warming certain acupoints to move Qi or to tonify specific meridians. Tui na (Chinese massage), cupping, nutrition, life style recommendations, Qi Gong and Tai Qi (Chinese exercise), are also used to treat the body according to the theories of Chinese medicine.
Commonly treated health conditions
In Chinese medicine’s terms, acupuncturists treat an imbalance of Qi, but in Western terms they treat hundreds of symptoms and conditions. The National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization has recognized acupuncture to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of medical problems.
The following is a list of some of the conditions that Chinese medicine has been effective in treating
Musculoskeletal
Arthritis
Tendonitis
Lower Back Pain
Neck / Upper Back Pain
Digestive Problems
Constipation
Diarrhea
Hemorrhoids
Colitis
Food Poisoning
Stomach Ache
Ear, Nose, Throat & Respiratory
Allergies
Sinusitis
Meniere’s Disease
Sore Throats
Ear Infection
Asthma
Cough
Emphysema
Neurologic
All pain conditions
Migraines / Headaches
Neck / Back Pain
Sciatica
Numbness
Muscles Spasms / Tremors
Bell’s Palsy
Paralysis
Post-Stroke
Urinary Problems
Cystitis
Urinary Incontinence
Prostatitis
Miscellaneous
Smoking Addiction
Drug Addiction
Alcoholism
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Lupus
Obesity
Chemotherapy / Radiation Side-Effects
Post – Surgical for Pain
Gynecology
PMS
Menopause
Morning Sickness
Endometriosis
Fibrosystic Breast Disease
Infertility
Skin Problems
Acne
Psoriasis
Eczema
Painful Scars
Rash
Pediatrics
Ear Infections
Coughs
Rhinitis/Sinusitis
Stomach Ache
Emotional
Stress
Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia
Irritability
Eye Conditions (1/2)
Macular Degeneration
Staqrgardt’s
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Detached Retina
Optic Atrophy
Optic Neuritis
Diabetic Retinopathy
Idiopathic Degenerative
Vision Loss
Eye Conditions (2/2)
Blurry Vision
Eye Strain Headaches
Glaucoma
Dry Eyes
Floaters
Color Blindness
Cataracts
Pterygium
Photophobia