Frequently Asked Questions
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture works with natural vital energy to promote the body’s natural healing ability by inserting acupuncture needles at critical points on the skin. Acupuncture points are specific locations along the meridians, and each point has a predicatable effect upon the vital energy passing through it. When the acupuncture needles are inserted into these acupoints, they help correct and rebalance the flow of energy and consequently restore health.
What are Herbs?
Herbs are a variety of Medicinal substances from plants, minerals, etc, which the Chinese have discovered over centuries and handed down from one generation to the next. Prepared herbal formulas treat disease and disharmony by adjusting organ functions.
How long will it take to treat my illness?
It depends. Many acute conditions (such as migraine or acute pain) are alleviated in as little as 10-20 minutes. Chronic conditions often require more treatment to balance the body, and treatment time can vary from a few treatments to 2-3 months. Traditional Chinese Medicine is meant to be curative (curing the cause), not palliative or suppressive (treating only symptoms), so the goal is to achieve normal and balanced functioning for your body without the need for long-term medication after the treatment period.
How Do Herbal Therapy and Acupuncture Work?
The ancient Chinese recognized a vital energy behind all human life. They called this energy Qi (pronounced "chee"). This Qi energy flows through all living things. In the human body it flows along specific pathways called meridians. Each pathway is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. If this Qi circulation is disrupted or there is an imbalance of energy in the organ and meridians, such as injury, improper diet, stress etc, the associated physiological systems are affected and this results in illness.
We use solid and sterile disposable acupuncture needles. The herbs we employ have undergone the most thorough quality checks. Your safety is assured.
“One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions”
-- National Institutes of Health, 1997
Is Acupuncture Painful?
Acupuncture needles are very fine (about the diameter of human hair). They are solid and nothing is injected thorough them. You may experience a sense of heaviness or tingling reminiscent of electricity in the area of insertion. After the needles are inserted, the patient rests while listening to soothing music for 30-40 minutes, then the needles are removed. Most patients find the treatments very relaxing and many fall asleep during treatment. People often comment the feeling is quite unfamiliar but pleasant and relaxing.
Yes. Acupuncture is safely used throughout the entire world. It is estimated by the World Health Organization that one-third of the world’s population uses Acupuncture for health care.
How will my body react to the treatment?
In the very rare case that you experience light bruising due to needle insertion, this is normal and will clear up rather quickly. No more than a few days after treatment.