What Is Acupuncture?
It is the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points which has been empirically proven effective in the treatment of specific disorders. These points have been mapped by the Chinese over a period of 3,000 years. Recently, their location has been confirmed by electromagnetic research.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is made up of Five Branches. The Five Branches are Acupuncture, Herbal Formulas, Massage, Qi gong, and dietary recommendations. TCM has been practiced in China for over 3000 years.

How Does It Work?
Currently, there are a number of theories as to how exactly acupuncture works. Traditionally, acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of Qi or Energy and Xue or Blood through the discrete channels or meridians which transverse the body, similar but not identical to the nervous and blood circulatory system. According to this theory acupuncture regulates the flow of Qi guiding it to the areas where it is deficient and draining it from where there is excess. The purpose is to restore the harmonious energetic balance of the body When the balance of this energy is disturbed, pain or illness results. Acupuncture treatment corrects the energetic imbalance by encouraging the body's natural ability to heal itself, without the use of drugs or surgery. Acupuncture essentially promotes the free balanced flow of Qi and Blood.

In the Western anatomical and physiological view it was once thought that inserting needles into specific parts of the body affected nerves and could inhibit their signal transmission. This was thought to explain why acupuncture could treat pain so well. When doctors mapped the acupuncture points over the known nerve network they found that there was some correlation, but not nearly enough to explain most of its effects. There is a group of researchers who are now looking at how needles affect activity in the brain. In one study, they needled a point in the foot related to vision and cat scanned the optical center of the brain. They found out that this area lit up, the way it would if you flashed a bright light in someone's eyes.

Another theory stated that acupuncture stimulates the release of opioids and endorphins in the central nervous system. Although this could explain certain analgesic effects, it could not explain many others. The most current theory speculates that acupuncture points are actually strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals throughout the body. Stimulating points along these pathways, influences neurotransmitter rates and resets the polarity of different parts of the body.

Does Acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture in general is not painful. Acupuncture needles extremely thin (about the width of 2 human hairs), solid, disposable and flexible. Some needles you may not feel at all. The needle sensations, that patients normally experience, ranges from a tingling to a dull ache, sometimes an electric feeling to a feeling of heaviness and warmth. Most people find acupuncture centering and relaxing. Many people fall asleep during a treatment.

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" - 1" in depth.

Are The Needles Clean?
The needles we use are disposable and come in pre-sterilized, individual packages. This assures that there is no transmission of communicable disease from patient to patient.

How many acupuncture treatments will I need?
The number of visits you will need depends on several factors. One is how long you have had your current condition. Acute conditions, like a cold or flu will generally only require one or two treatments. Conditions that are more recent, like sudden pain from an injury or seasonal allergies may require 3 or 4 treatments before symptoms are reduced. Chronic conditions like PMS, asthma, back pain or other problems that you have had for many years may take anywhere from 4 to 10 treatments until you notice significant changes. At your first visit, your acupuncturist will take a detailed health history and will determine an appropriate treatment plan based on your signs and symptoms and the findings of that visit.

Is Acupuncture The Only Method of Treatment?
Most practitioners are also trained to use a number of adjunctive therapies. These typically include: moxibustion (heat), gua sha (scraping), Auricular Therapy (ear acupuncture), Cupping (suction), electrical, various types of massage, acupressure, herbal therapy and/or Qi gong therapy. All of these therapies make up the whole of what in the West is called Traditional Chinese Medicine.

What Can I Expect After A Treatment?
Patients often experience the most dramatic results in the first treatment. Some patients experience an immediate total or partial relief of their pain or other symptoms. This relief may last or some pain may return. In a few cases, there may be no immediate relief only to notice the pain diminish over the next couple of days. Generally, you should expect to feel better.  

How safe is acupuncture?
Acupuncture when practiced by a licensed professional is very safe. Like most acupuncturists we use sterile, disposable, one time use needles. Side effects from acupuncture are rare, but may include: bruising, drowsiness, light headedness or soreness. All of these are temporary and short lived. The cause of the last three: drowsiness, lightheadedness and soreness may be related to the adjustment in the channels.

How can acupuncture help me?
Acupuncture is used worldwide both as a primary and complementary form of medical treatment. The list of conditions that acupuncture may help is essentially limitless. The healing effects of acupuncture come in large part from the way that the body and mind are viewed and treated in Chinese medicine. While there are basic treatment protocols for many conditions, every treatment is tailored to your specific set of signs and symptoms. Treating you as an individual with a unique set of signs and symptoms, rather than a person with a specific condition, is the advantage that eastern medicine offers.

What does acupuncture treat?
Currently, the (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO) have determined that acupuncture is effective in treating over 40 different disease categories. Following is a list of illnesses and conditions for which acupuncture has been proven to be effective. It is possible to treat these and many other conditions with acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

· Addictions

· Allergies

· Ankle Swelling

· Arm and Shoulder Pain

· Arthritis

· Attention Deficit Disorder

· Back Pain

· Bed Wetting

· Blood Pressure

· Bronchial Conditions

· Bursitis

· Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

· Circulatory Issues

· Colds

· Colitis

· Constipation

· Cough

· Depression

· Detox

· Diarrhea

· Diverticulitis

· Dizziness

· Emphysema

· Fatigue

· Feet

· Fibromyalgia

· Flu

· Gall Bladder Disorders

· Gas

· Gynecological Concerns

· Hay Fever

· Headache

· Heart Problems

· Hemorrhoids

· Hip Pain

· Immune System Deficiency

· Indigestion

· Infertility

· Injuries

· Insomnia

· Joint Pain

· Kidney Problems

· Knee Pain

· Leg Pain, Cramps

· Liver Problems

· Neck Pain, Stiffness

· Nervousness

· Neuralgia

· Pain

· Pleurisy

· PMS

· Pregnancy Symptoms

· Prostate Problems

· Rheumatism

· Sciatica

· Shingles

· Shoulder Pain

· Sinus Trouble

· Skin Problems

· Sports Injuries

· Stomach Problems

· Sore Throat

· Thyroid Conditions

· Ulcers

· Urinary Problems

· Whiplash

If you are curious if acupuncture can help you with a different or specific condition, you can call our clinic to speak with one of the acupuncturists directly. You can call 423.821-8770 today.

How does a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner diagnose?
There are four diagnostic methods, namely, inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiring and palpation.

Inspection refers to the process in which the doctor observes with his eyes the systemic and regional changes in the patient’s vitality, color and appearance. Auscultation and olfaction determine the pathological changes by listening and smelling. Inquiring means to ask the patient or patient’s companion about the onset and progression of the disease, present symptoms and signs, and other conditions related to the disease. Palpation is a method of diagnosis in which the pathological condition is detected by feeling the pulse and palpating the skin, epigastrium, abdomen, hand, foot and other parts of the body. (CAM, p.266)

The Medical Book by Master of Danxi says: “One should observe and analyze the external manifestations of the patient in order to know what is happening inside the body, for the disease of internal organs must have its manifestations on the body surface.”

Do you accept insurance?
The majority of insurance companies do not cover acupuncture and those that do only cover certain conditions or reimburse low amounts. In an effort to keep our treatment fees low and provide you with the best service, we do not directly bill insurance companies. We will, however, provide you with a receipt with the required medical coding so that you may submit it to your insurer for a reimbursement - which some offer. If your insurance does not cover acupuncture, you may be able to use a health savings account which will allow you to save money tax free and use it for medical expenses outside of your coverage such as acupuncture, eye care, etc. You should contact your insurance company and/or banking institution with questions about these plans.

Is there anything I need to do before receiving an acupuncture treatment?

The following suggestions will help you maximize the benefits from your treatment.

Wear looses clothing.

Women should not wear one piece dresses.

Avoid wearing stockings.

Avoid treatment when excessively fatigued, hungry, full, emotionally upset, or shortly after sex.

Is there anything I need to do while receiving acupuncture?
The most important thing to do is relax. There is no need to be nervous. Ask your practitioner any questions you have along the way so that you can get the most benefit possible from the treatment. Secondly, do not change your position or move suddenly. If you are uncomfortable, tell your practitioner.