Frequently Asked Questions

Traditionally, Chinese Medicine was used as a stand alone form of healing.  If one was to look through the ancient or modern textbooks, they would see that all diseases can be addressed with Acupuncture and Herbs.  In today’s world, Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with many Western Medicine modalities.

These are some of the most common conditions I’ve treated in my clinic:

• Pain: this is the most common reason people seek out acupuncture.  Pain in all areas of the body are treated, with the most common being pain in the low back or neck.  Pain levels can range from mild and chronic to acute and debilitating ones.  Acupuncture is very successful in treating pain.
• Allergies: all types of allergies are treated successfully, both airborne and food.  Even intense local allergies to ragweed and cedar can be relieved with treatment
• Emotional Wellness:  Anxiety, Depression, Bi Polar Disorder, general life stress
• Sleep Issues
• Cardiac Conditions:  Chest pain, Arrhythmia, Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension
• Addictions and Smoking Cessation
• Headaches
• Digestive Disorders
• Female Reproductive Issues
• Common Colds/acute illnesses

These are some other conditions I’ve treated in the clinic as well:

• Arthritis: Rheumatoid and Osteoarthritis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Asthma
• Skin disorders
• Infertility

The most common form of Acupuncture practiced in the United States is Traditional Chinese Medicine.  It became the main export of Chinese Medical knowledge after the cultural revolution took over in China in the 1950’s.  It represents the government’s attempt to create a unified theory and practice of Medicine.  To do so, some information and practices were left out.

Classical Chinese Medicine refers more to a style of practice that is rooted in the ancient classic textbooks.  The particular style practiced during your treatments comes from a lineage of Daoism.  My teacher, Jeffrey Yuen, is the 88th generation of the Daoist Jade School of Purity.  They verbally pass down their teachings from master to student, thus much less information was lost during the cultural revolution.

Both Classical and Traditional Chinese Medicine offer a lot of health benefits to those receiving treatments.  I have personally found that as I learn more about Classical Chinese Medicine, i have found more success with complicated illnesses, even those who have sought out many different healing modalities.

Most people who are afraid of needles are so because of their experience with hypodermic needles (which are used for injecting fluids or drawing blood).  Acupuncture needles are different in two ways; they are much smaller and are not hollow as they don’t .  This makes insertion into the skin much gentler, and your skin doesn’t get damaged in the process.  

There is some feeling associated with Acupuncture, though it is very different than with a hypodermic needle.  You could liken it to when you’re getting a good, deep massage.  It can be intense on occasion but it’s a “good hurt”.  I have personally treated many people with a stated fear of needles.  The vast majority of the have a pleasant experience and reschedule for another visit in the future.

Here are some of the different sensations that can be experienced with acupuncture:

• mild pressure or a dull ache
• hot or cold sensations
• sensation traveling along the associated meridian
• pressure relief or a feeling of things “escaping from the needle”
• a generally pleasant pulsing sensation
• your body feeling like it’s getting lighter
• your body feeling like it’s melting into the table

If you have a fear of needles, please share it either when booking your appointment or at the beginning of your session.  The utmost care will be taken in making sure that you are comfortable during the treatment; you will be given every chance to slow things down if needed to.

Every case is different.  Everyone heals at a different pace.  Some people experience “miracle healing”, where everything becomes instantaneously better.  Other conditions are more stubborn and can take a while before healing starts to set in.  Most cases fall somewhere in between.  Generally speaking, there are a couple of determining factors in how quickly you’ll find the relief you’re seeking.

• Duration of problem: The longer you’ve had a problem, the longer it will usually take to heal.  A general way to calculate time of recovery is that for every month you’ve been dealing with something, you will need one week worth of sessions to recover.  So if you’ve been dealing with a problem for 8 months, you might plan on 8 weeks of treatment.  This is a conservative number; healing can definitely happen faster than this in the right circumstances.
• Other health complications: A lot of times, the discomfort you’re seeking relief from stems from underlying problems.  Relief from symptoms will become more permanent once the root imbalance is properly addressed
• Compliance to treatment plan:  People with multiple health issues often will be given instructions on what needs to change in their lives.  This can include diet, lifestyle, exercise instructions or herbs/supplements to take.  The more action you can take in your personal life, the quicker things will heal for you.  You are the greatest instigator of change in your life.  Some of the greatest healing some will experience derives from the actions they take.