Energy Vital substance – produced by the organs – flowing on pathways to every cell in the body. Energy moves the blood.
Blood Fluid circulated by the organs and energy through the vascular system, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body. Blood nourishes the energy.
Organ Part of the body adapted for specific functions that govern health, including the production of blood and energy.
Acupuncture
Insertion of hair-thin needles into the body at specific points in the treatment of health problems.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Method of composing herbal formulas taken internally in the treatment of health problems.
Oriental Medicine
Term used to denote a complete medical system – in use for over 23 centuries – that includes seven major branches of healing.
Oriental Medicine recognizes 12 organs; the lungs, large intestine, stomach, spleen, gall bladder, liver, heart, small intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, pericardium, and the overall digestive tract. They produce blood and energy, which are the building blocks of proper body function. Blood flows in the blood vessels throughout the body. Energy flows on specific pathways throughout the body.
Physical, chemical, or emotional stressors can cause the organs to malfunction, blood to stagnate, and energy to stagnate. The function and healing process of vital body parts are affected at this point and although extreme health problems have been observed, it is more often not noticed at all. If the condition is allowed to go untreated, the body will attempt to support the affected area, but as the problem increases, the area starts to degenerate.
The longer the condition is allowed to go untreated, the less chance there is for recovery. What began as a minor problem or discomfort may lead to irreversible damage.
The purpose of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is to return flow of energy and blood back to normal and to reinstate optimal organ function. This will, in turn, restore function to the affected area and the body will begin to heal itself. If detected early, organ malfunction and blood and/or energy stagnation may respond well to Oriental Medicine with an excellent chance for a complete and painless recovery.
Q. How can I improve treatment results?
A. It is vital to follow these guidelines:
1. Come to your appointments. If you absolutely need to reschedule an appointment, we require 24 hours notice.
2. In order to get full treatment, you must be on time.
3. You must stay current on payments.
4. Do not submerge in water (e.g. shower, bath, hot tub, etc.) for at least 12 hours after acupuncture.
5. Eat something in the three hours before receiving Acupuncture.
6. If healing reactions occur while under Acupuncture care or while taking Chinese Herbal Medicine, we highly recommend calling and informing the office of specific body reactions.
Q. Is Acupuncture safe?
A. Yes. The sterile, stainless steel needles used at our clinic are of the highest quality. The areas on your body used in treatment will be cleaned in advance with a cotton ball saturated with food-grade ethyl alcohol. You may experience two sensations with acupuncture: the insertion (which may feel like a mosquito bite), and the arrival of energy at the tip of the needle (which may feel achy, distending, warm, electric...each person has a unique experience).
What is the target or goal?
The goal of corrective care is the removal or reduction of the cause of your problem, allowing the relief or removal of the symptoms.
To accomplish correction
To accomplish correction your Acupuncturist analyzes your individual needs and develops a plan to help you reach this goal. Along the way your Acupuncturist will check to see how your body is progressing and that the cause of your problem, if not yet completely eliminated, is well on its way.
Symptoms, Relief
Symptoms, although the first to disappear, are the last stage of a problem. It takes time to eliminate the cause of a problem, but the results are more permanent.
Progress: How do I know when I’m there?
There are many methods of measuring your progress. Your symptoms may disappear or return and, therefore, are not a safe measure of the correction of your problem.
To consider the injured area corrected, authorities say a person’s symptoms must be gone and not return for at least 12 months. To ensure achievement of your goal, correction of the cause of your problem, your Acupuncturist will check you regularly to see that your organs are becoming more balanced and that the blocked Qi in the meridians has been reduced. Your Acupuncturist will explain to you how you will be checked and kept up to date on your progress.
If you are balanced and free from Qi blockage on several consecutive visits, your Acupuncturist will reduce the frequency with which he sees you.