Questions About Acupuncture Treatments Answered

Are you interested in acupuncture but wonder when to use it and what to expect? Are you afraid of needles? I'd like to share some information that answers the most common questions I receive. 

What happens during the first appointment?

Acupuncturists spend quite a bit of time talking to patients during the first consultation and treatment. There is a thorough past medical history review, and significant attention is paid to current diet, emotional states, sleep and exercise habits. We use information provided by patients, along with diagnostic tools such as tongue examination and pulse reading, to determine each patient's "pattern of disharmony." I like to think of acupuncturists as detectives. We carefully mine information and connect a constellation of signs and symptoms to develop treatments that help reestablish balance.

Acupuncture needles are very thin (the width of a human hair), so the sensation felt upon insertion is minimal. When needles are manipulated, a unique sensation signalling the arrival of energy, or Qi, may be felt. This is often described as dull and achy, and is usually followed by increased relaxation and comfort. Needles are typically retained for approximately 20 minutes. Most people find acupuncture treatments to be pleasant experiences and describe feeling calmer yet more energetic in the days following treatment. 

Other treatments that may be used in conjunction with acupuncture include: Chinese herbs, moxibustion (heat applied gently with a medicinal herb), cupping, gua sha (a traditional scraping technique used to break up stagnation), tuina massage, and acupressure. 

Do I have to be sick to get acupuncture?

Of course, if you are injured or experiencing pain or sickness, it's a good time to make an appointment with an acupuncturist. However, healthy people can benefit from acupuncture too. I recommend scheduling quarterly treatments that coincide with the change of seasons. Our bodies are microcosms of the universal macrocosm and respond to seasonal changes. Acupuncture can help ease the body and mind during these transitional times and promote balance.

How Can I Find a Reputable Acupuncturist?

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complete body of medicine, and the training required in the US to practice is rigorous. Traditional Chinese Medical school is a four year graduate program that requires over 3,000 hours of theory and clinical practice. Most states require licensing, and most acupuncturists are also nationally certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I recommend seeking fully licensed and certified acupuncturists. You can search the nccaom.org practitioner database as well as acufinder.com to find a local acupuncturist. Often the best way to find an acupuncturist is through a referral. Medical doctors and chiropractors are legally authorized to practice acupuncture, however the training required specifically for acupuncture is limited to 250 hours. 

The Garden and The Machine

What is the fundamental difference between Western and Eastern medical approaches? What is the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine? The picture below simply demonstrates the basic tenets of each.

On the left side, we see the western model. Its is grounded in Cartesian philosophy, which separates mind and body. In this model, the body is seen as a machine, broken down into distinct parts. Western medicine requires specialists to tend to each part rather than the whole body. If a part is broken, it is fixed or removed, and may be replaced. The focus is on treating the patient after illness has taken hold. Western medicine is particularly helpful in managing acute injuries and emergencies.

The Eastern approach to medicine is pictured on the right. Here we see the human body as a garden, an ecosystem where all parts contain and affect the whole. Traditional Chinese Medicine is rooted in Taoism, and sees the body as a microcosm of the universal macrocosm. Just as a garden is affected by the environment, so to are our bodies. In Chinese Medicine, there is a fundamental principal called "yang sheng," which means "nourishing life." Here, the interior environment is of utmost importance and physicians were historically paid for keeping patients well rather than treating sickness. There's a Chinese adage that is often cited- "Don't dig a well when you're thirsty!" The goal in Eastern medicine is to nourish the body and mind, establishing harmony so that it is resistant to disease. It is only when the body is out of balance that disease can arise. 

Of course, perfect harmony is difficult to attain and maintain, so Chinese medicine also intervenes to address imbalances in the body and mind, with the understanding that each part of the body is connected and effects the whole. Acupuncturists look at the constellation of signs and symptoms that a patient presents with to determine the pattern and root cause of their particular condition. The approach is to treat the fire (root cause) rather than the smoke (symptoms), and bring the body back into balance.