Frequently Asked Questions for Acupuncture

Q: What is Acupuncture?

A: Acupuncture is a 5,000 year old Chinese system of natural healing ( No drugs…No surgery), which is concerned with restoring proper energy flow to the carious organs, glands and tissues of the body on the premise that most diseases are the result of malfunction due to disrupted energies.

Explanations:

The Chinese definition of Health is “All parts of tie body functioning normally, “ all 400 trillion parts. If there is an interruption in the transmission of energy flow or life force (called Qi or Ch'i in Chinese), then organ malfunction, disease, pain and suffering are inevitable.

Where does the interruption of energy flow occur?

1.      In the channels of energy flow, which are located throughout the body, just beneath the skin surface;

2.      In the spinal column where vertebrae may become misaligned, thereby compressing vital nerve trunks…

Q: Are there other causes of disease besides those associated with the interference of energy flow?

A: Yes, of course, Psychosomatic states, hereditary factors, poisons, adverse environmental conditions, injury, germs, malnutrition, etc…, are all disease producing.

Q: How do you detect the disturbance of energy flow with a patient?

A: By many methods including certain signs, symptoms, pain spots, organ reflex points, and by pulse or instrumental findings.

Q: How is acupuncture performed?

A: First, the related skin points are determined. Then they are appropriately treated by one of over thirty methods of stimulation.

Some of which are:

1.      Long needle insertion (especially done in acupuncture anesthesia for surgery)

2.      Short needle penetration

3.      Non-piercing needles

4.      Finger tip pressure (called shishin, or “finger needles”)

5.      Metallic balls taped to the points

6.      Electrical stimulation

7.      Moxabustion (the burning of herbs over the points)

Note:  The electrical stimulation technique is rising in popularity because the technique is virtually painless; there is no blood, no danger if infection, and the results are equal to, if not better than other techniques.

Q: What are some conditions commonly treated by acupuncture?

A: Textbook listed conditions run into the hundreds, Typical ailments usually responding to acupuncture health care includes; neuralgias, headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, muscular rheumatism, neuralgia of the shoulders and arm, tennis elbow, osteoarthritis, rheumatism, ulcers, stomach problems, diarrhea, hepatitis, asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, coughs, certain types of heart trouble, abnormal blood pressure, hemorrhoids, lumbago, bladder irritation, bed wetting, certain kidney problems, female disorders, impotence, glaucoma (sometimes), weak eyesight, hay fever, loss of smell, tonsillitis, loss of hearing, skin conditions, and even nervous or psychiatric factors based on the fact that often mental problems arise from physical disorders.

The above list may seem long as though acupuncture were a Panacea. The truth is that most textbooks list over two hundred diseases. Please be mindful of the fact that acupuncture is not like one drug used for one condition. On the contrary, it is a complete healing art within itself, concerned with the systems of the body such as nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, eliminatory, reproductive, hormonal, musculoskeletal, etc., and seek to correct health.