Q: What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the body's specific points which have been empirically proven effective in the treatment of specific disorders. These points have been mapped by the Chinese over a period of 2000 years. Recently their location has been confirmed by electromagnetic research.

Q: What problems can be treated by acupuncture?
    1. Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders
    2. Respiratory Disorders
    3. Gastrointestinal Disorders
    4. Eye Disorders
    5. Neurological and Muscular Disorders
In addition, acupuncture has been used for centuries in China to treat a host of other problems, such as knee pain, sprains and strains, and many gynecological complaints.

Q: Do acupuncturists only insert needles?
No. As an integral part of what in English is called acupuncture, most practitioners are also trained to use a number of adjunctive therapies. These typically include moxibustion, cupping, electronic stimulation, bio magnetic therapy, an various types of massage, such as acupressure, Shiatsu,and or Tuina - Chinese remedial massage.

Q: How deep do the needles go?
That depends upon the nature of the problem, the underlying anatomy of the points selected, the patient's size, age and constitution and upon the acupuncturist's style or school. In general, needles are inserted from 1/4 to 1 " in depth.

Q: How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theroies of the flow of Qi (energy) and Xue ( Blood) through discrete channels or meridians. Acupuncture regulates this flow of Qi shunting it to those areas where it is defincient and draining it from where it is excess. Acupuncture regulates and restores the harmonious energetic balanc of the body. In Chinese there is a famous dictum, "There is no pain if there is free flow; if there is no free flow". Essentially acupuncture promotes the free and balance flow of Qi and Blood.

Q: Are there different styles of acupuncture?
Yes, there are. Acupuncture oringinated in China but has spread to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Europe, the British Isles, and America. In different countries, defferent styles have developed based on differing opinions as to theory and technique.

Q: What criteria should one use in choosing an acupuncturist?
Acupuncture is a licensed and regulated healthcare profession in approximately half the states in the Union. In California, acupuncturist is  licensed and regulated by Acupuncture Board. Any question or concern, one may contact acupuncture board for further information.
Now a day, many acupuncturists are contracted with management companies which contracted with major HMO and PPO health insurance companies. One may contact his/her health insurance company or check online for an in-network acupuncturist check list.

Q: Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture is painless. We use hair fine needles. However, some patients may be more sensitive and feel some sting when the needle goes into the body. Deep breath and relax!  If the discomfort continue, tell your practitioner.

Q: Are the needle clean?
Most acupuncturists in America today use pre-sterilizes, individually packaged, diposable needles  thus absolutely assuring that there is no transmission of communicable disease from patient to patient due to contaminated needles. The National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturist does include a Clean Needle Test Technique Test as part of every national board exam for acupuncturist.

Q: How many treatments will I need?
That depends upon the duration, severity and nature of each individual's complaint. Generally from five to fifteen treatments are adequate for the majority of chronic ailments. Many acute conditions may only require couple treatments and some degenerative conditions may require scores of treatments. However, the patient has the right to expect that their major complaint will be addressed and treated in a direct and timely manner.

Q: Is there anything I need to do before receiving an acupuncture treatment?
Yes, the following suggestions will help you get the maximum benefits from your treatment
    1. Maintain good personal hygiene to reduce the possiblity of infection
    2. In order to prevent loss, do not wear jewelry
    3. Wear loose clothing. Women, try not to wear one piece dresses. Avoid wearingtight stockings.
    4. Avoid treatment when excessively fatigued, hungry, full, emotionally upset, or shortly after sex.

Q: Is there anything I need to do while receiving acupuncture?
Yes, once again here are some suggestions.
    1. RELAX, there's no need to be frightened. Relaxation is something that cannot be overemphasized.
    2. If you experience dizziness, nausea, cold sweat, shortness of breath or faintness  during
        treatment, this is known as needle shock. Immediately inform your practitioner and they will withdraw 
        the needles. Needle shock is primarily due to anxiety in fisrt time patients. It rarely happens if the patient
        is treated lying down.
    3. Feel free to let your practitioner know of any pain or burning sensations experienced during
        acupuncture or moxibustion. If you find acupuncture or electro-acupuncture unbearable at any point
        during treatment, be sure to speak up so that the proper adjustments can be made.
    4. Do not change your position or move suddenly.

Q: What can I expect after treatment?
One may experience an immediate total or partial relief of their pain or other symptoms. This relief may last or some of the pain may return. In a few cases, the pain may seem even worse. this is called the rebound effect. By the next day, the pain can be expected to gradually improve. Often the most dramatic results are experienced in the first treatment. However, one should see further incremental improvement after each subsequent treatment. In a few cases, there may be no immediate relief only to experience the pain diminish over the next couple of days.

Q: Who Does Acupuncture?
In California, the individuals allowed to practice acupuncture are those acupuncturists who maintain a vaild license issued by the acupuncture board.

Q: What's the difference between Western folk herbalism and Chinese herbal medicine?
Western folk herbalism primarily treats diseases and symptoms, such as headaches, runny nose, menstrual pain, etc. Chinese herbal medicine, when practiced as part of TMC, is based on an individualized pattern diagnosed as well as a disease diagnosis. This means the TCM patient receives a custom written herbal prescription designed to treat both the symptom or disease and also their indivdual pattern. Such a TCM pattern is made up of a person's signs and symptoms as well as their emotional temperament and bodily constitution.

Q: Are there any other differences?
Western folk herbalism primarily uses single herb or group of herbs which treat the same symptom or disease. TCM formulas include 6-18 herbs. They are carefully crafted to include herbs addressing a person's main symptoms as well as their entire pattern.

Q: Are all the "herb" vegetable in origin?
Although called Chinese herbal medicine, TCM practitioners use ingredients from all three kingdoms, vegetable, animal and mineral. However, the majority of these are from vegetable sources. Leaves, flowers, twigs, stema, roots, tubers, rhizomes and barks are some of the vegetable parts used.

Q: Do all the herbs come form China?
From 15-20% of the standard Chinese repertoire of 500 ingredients originated from outside China. The Chinese have adopted and incorporated into their material medical herb from all over the world. What makes these "Chinese" herb is that they are prescribed according to Chinese medical theory and a TCM pattern diagnosis.

Q: Do Chinese herb work for Western patients?
Yes, empirical evidence has proven that Chinese herbal medicine works for Westerners just as well as for Chinese. Chinese herbal medicine has been used successfully in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and all throughout Asia.

Q: How is Chinese Herb taken?
The most common method of taking Chinese herbal medicine is as a decoction. This means that the herbals are cooked at a low boil for an hour or more and then strained to drink 2 to 3 times per day. However, there are also herbal pills, tinctures and powdered extracts for those who do not have the time or taste for drinking traditional decoctions.

Q: What are the benefits of drinking Chinese herb in Decoction?
This method allows the practitioner maximum flexibility in writing a prescription. They can put in just what is necessary in just the right amounts. The formula can be changed even on a daily basis if necessay and decoctions tend to be more potent then other means of administration.

Q: Why do herbal decoctions taste so bad?
Chinese herbal teas tend to taste very bitter because they are made mostly from root and barks where the strongest medicinal ingredients are found. If the formula is correctly written, the bad taste should go away after 1 to 2 days. After that time, the patient may even come to crav the taste. This shows that the medicine is working.

Q: What are the benefits of pills and powders?
Pills and powders are good for prolonged administration in the case of chronic diseases where formulas do not have to be very potent or changed on a frequent basis. Pills and Powders are also commonly used to consolidate therapeutic results after a successful course of therapy with decoctions.

Q: Does Chinese herbal medicine have side effects?
No, not if the formula has been correctly chosen and written. Most of the medicinal in the Chinese material medica have very low toxicity compared to even common, over the counter Western drugs. When they are perscribed according to a correct TCM pattern diagnosis, they should have virtually no side effects, only benrficial healing results. If a patient experiences any discomfort while taking Chinese herb, they should tell their practitioner, who will then modify their formula until there are no side effercts.

Q: What is Chinese herbal medicine good for?
Chineses herbal medicine treats the full range of human diseases. It treats acute diseases, like intestinal flu and the common cold, as well as chronic diseases, and degenerative diseases due to aging. In particular, Chinese herbal medicine is especially good for promoting the body's ability to heal and recuperate.

Q: Can a pregnant Women take Chinese herb?
Yes, if prescibed by a professional TCM practitioner. Chinese herbal medicine has been used for over 2,000 years to treat more then two score of diseases and symptoms occurring during pregnancy without harm to the fetus. Likewise, lactating mothers can take Chinese herbal medicine safely as long as they are prescribed by a trained practitioner.

Q: How long does it take to see results with Chinese herbal medicine?
In acute conditions, results can be expected in a matter of minutes. In chronic conditions, some results should be seen within two weeks. Although chronic conditions may requiretaking Chinese herbal medicine for a long time, nonetheless, signsthat the medicine is working should be apparent to patient and practitioner alike almost from the very start.