Classic Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an effective form of health care. It can help to relieve symptoms and signs of many health problems. It can also uncover the underlying root causes of those symptoms. The goal is to activate the natural self-healing abilities of the body. It is also used to strengthen and support the body to prevent future illnesses and disease.

Acupuncture is safe, natural and drug-free. It has been used for thousands of years in China, Japan and Korea, even if we mostly think China when we hear about acupuncture. Each country has developed their own style and system and their own approach. There are also many schools of thought within each country. This does not make acupuncture less effective.

The body consists of 14 major meridians, or channels, in which the Qi circulates. There is no word in English that quite capture the meaning of Qi. It is the vital force; many call it energy, that circulates the body. The meridians are invisible and they each have specific points where the Qi can be accessed and stimulated if there is an aberration of the flow. These are called acupoints. When Qi flows smoothly and harmoniously throughout the meridians, each bodily system and organ interacts with and affects all the other systems and organs. Everything works together to make us feel whole and healthy.

The main objectives of acupuncture are to:

Relieve pain
Strengthen the immune system
Balance, harmonize and integrate functions of the organs with each other, making for a unified, healthy person

A thorough full health history is taken during the initial exam, going through symptoms, health and lifestyle etc. The pulse is palpated and the tongue is looked at. The acupuncturist may conduct a physical exam. This information is then organized to create an accurate diagnosis according to Chinese medicine. If for example your acupuncturist tells you, you have weak Kidney Qi, this does not mean there is something necessarily wrong with your physical kidneys. The Chinese view is totally different from what we are used to in the Western world.

After having come up with a Chinese diagnosis the acupuncturist decides on which acupuncture points to use. The acupuncture needles are very fine and flexible, no bigger than a human hair or thread. It does not normally hurt when a needle is applied, sometimes there can be a slight initial pain but it usually goes away quickly. There may be a feeling of warmth, tingling or sometimes like an electric shock. This is not dangerous and it does not mean the needle has hit a nerve. It is just the Qi that grabs the needle. If you continue to have discomfort after a couple of minutes, let you acupuncturist know so she/he can remove the needle. The amount of needles that are put in depends on many different things, from your diagnosis, to what school of thought your acupuncturist is educated in. The needles are mostly left in for 20-30 minutes. Many patients find the treatment very relaxing and fall asleep.

The number of treatments needed to treat your condition depends on many different things. An acute condition requires normally less treatments than a chronic condition. If you can get treatments several times a week, it is easier to receive a positive result than if you only can get a treatment a week. When your condition has improved, the time between treatments can be spaced out. Many patients continue to come for a tune-up every couple of months to remain healthy.

Other Modalities

Classic Acupuncture
Ear Acupuncture
Tui Na
Cupping
Gua Sha
Korean Hand Acupuncture