FAQ
Basic questions
What is Chinese Medicine?
Chinese medicine is a systematic approach to health and healing developed in East Asia over the last several thousand years. It is sometimes referred to as 'Oriental Medicine' in recognition of its practice in Japan, Korea, Vietnam and elsewhere. I use the term Chinese Medicine with the understanding that China has been the major cultural and historical force behind the development and preservation of this medicine.
Chinese Medicine employs several therapeutic techniques or "modalities" such as acupuncture, herbal therapy, and medical massage. Acupuncture is a modality that is unique to Chinese Medicine and because of this the terms are often thought of as being synonymous.
Chinese Medicine is a holistic system of natural medicine. Holism is the idea that the whole is more the just the sum of its parts and thus medical holism means that disease must be addressed on many levels. For example, acid reflux and stomach pain can be thought of in terms of the functions of the stomach as an organ but should also be understood in the context of other dietary, emotional, or lifestyle factors.
Natural medicines are those that attempt to address illness by working within the 'natural' parameters of the body. Diet, lifestyle and exercise are avenues that natural medicines explore which are mere modifications of the such daily activities as eating, planning your day, and moving.
To sum things up, Chinese Medicine:
- is a system of medicine with unique perspective on health and disease.
- was developed and preserved largely in China but has strong traditional roots in other Asian countries as well.
- employs many modalities including acupuncture, herbal formulas, and medical massage.
- is a holistic natural medicine.
How safe is Chinese Medicine?
Chinese Medicine is very safe in the hands of a well-trained and experienced practitioner with disposable single-use needles. The number of possible adverse effects from treatment is small.
The National Institute of Health currently says, "Relatively few complications have been reported from the use of acupuncture. However, acupuncture can cause potentially serious side effects if not delivered properly by a qualified practitioner." Adverse effects are generally temporary such as is the case with fatigue, soreness at the site of needling, bruising, and fainting during treatment. Your practitioner takes special precautions to try and avoid these effects but they do occur occasionally. With regards to acupuncture,
With herbs, adverse effects tend to relate to the digestive system. Many of the herbs used have strong flavors and can upset digestion even when used properly. This can cause symptoms such as stomach discomfort and loose stools.
What conditions is Chinese Medicine good for?
Chinese Medicine can be used for almost any condition. Of course, this does not mean that every practitioner can treat every disease. The experience of different practitioners varies with regard to certain disorders and some practitioners choose to specialize.
My practice has been fairly general treating a wide range of disorders in addition to using acupuncture and herbs to keep people well and prevent disease. I use different modalities and different styles of treatment to be able to work on a wide range of problems.
In particular, I have found the following disorders to respond well to treatment:
- Insomnia
- Headaches and migraines
- Stroke sequella
- Menstrual problems
- Pain or bloating with digestion
- Physical trauma or injury
Do people ever come in without specific health problems?
Generalized treatments can be done without addressing a particular health problem. I refer to these as general wellness treatments. These treatments can serve to prevent disease. For example, treatments in the summer or fall might be used to help prevent colds or the flu in the winter time. Wellness treatments can be optimize health such as when an athlete want to maximize their performance capacity.
For general wellness, I often recommend that people make appointments four times a year, at the change of seasons.
How many treatments will I need and how often will I have to come in?
The course of treatment varies between people and from disorder to disorder. Some people respond very well and need only a few treatments. Others progress more slowly and need regular treatments several times a month.
One of the nice things about acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is that treatment schedules can be very flexible. I like to work closely with my patients to create a treatment program that fits their needs. This means that treatment frequency can range from several treatments a week to one treatment a month. As far as number of treatments, a short course of treatments for an acute disorder would be 3 - 5 treatments, a standard course would be in the range of 10 - 15 treatments and a ongoing course would be several treatments per month.
For questions regarding the typical course of treatment for specific disorders please call the office (607-237-4140) for a free 15 minute consultation.
How does acupuncture work?
For an extended answer to this question, please read this.
The short answer is that acupuncture stimulates the innate healing abilities of the body. The specific mechanisms by which this stimulation occurs is a matter of dispute and discussion with answers ranging from the chemical to the spiritual but these mechanisms all generalize to the notion of manipulating the body's natural functions.
As a "natural medicine", acupuncture relies on the fact that your body built itself and has a certain capacity to repair and regulate itself. Acupuncture seeks to restore or maximize this capacity.
More Questions?
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