WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE ?

Webster's defines Acupuncture as "An original Chinese practice of puncturing the body to cure disease or relieve pain." The practice of acupuncture dates back as far as 5000 years ago, and is based on the theory that internal energy of a human body flows through 14 pathways called meridians. If someone enters a clinic in China complaining of a migraine headache, a Chinese doctor would choose certain acupuncture points to "release" a blockage of the energy to relieve the migraine.

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ARE THERE DIFFERENT STYLES OF ACUPUNCTURE?

There are Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and French styles of acupuncture which vary widely in theory and technique. The Japanese use very small (diameter) needles with shallow insertion, the Chinese use thicker needles and deeper insertion compared with the Japanese; the Koreans tend to use mainly acupuncture points on the hands and the French use the meridian pathways for much of their healing.

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What conditions will it treat?

Some of the many conditions for which acupuncture is considered appropriate are listed by the World Health Organization of the United Nations:

INFECTIONS

Colds and flu

Bronchitis

Hepatitis

INTERNAL

Hypoglycemia

Asthma

High blood pressure

Ulcers

Colitis

Indigestion

Hemorrhoids

Diarrhea

Constipation

Diabetes

EYES-EARS-NOSE-THROAT

Deafness

Ringing in the ears

Earaches

Poor eyesight

Dizziness

Sinus infection

Sore throat

Hay fever

DERMATOLOGICAL

Eczema

Acne

Herpes

MUSCULO-SKELETAL AND NEUROLOGIC

Arthritis

Neuralgia

Sciatica

Back pain

Bursitis

Tendonitis

Stiff neck

Bell's palsy

Trigeminal neuralgia

Headache

Stroke

Cerebral palsy

Polio

Sprains

GENITO-URINARY AND REPRODUCTIVE

Impotence

Infertility

PMS

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Vaginitis

Irregular period or cramps

Morning sickness

MENTAL-EMOTIONAL

Anxiety

Depression

Stress

Insomnia

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Are there ailments acupuncture isn't effective to treat?

Cancer is not treatable by acupuncture, although it is effective in resolving the nausea associated with chemotherapy treatment. AIDS also does not respond to acupuncture, although acupuncture can be used to boost the immune system, it cannot reverse the effects of HIV.

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What is the typical length of treatment?

The first treatment can take 1 1/2 to 2 hours for the intake interview and medical history. A typical treatment lasts approximately 45 minutes.

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WILL THE TREATMENT HURT?

The needles used for treatment are typically 5 times the diameter of a human hair and are painless on insertion. Sometimes the patient may feel a little "pinch" like a mosquito bite and may also feel heaviness or an aching sensation at the point of insertion.

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What are the needles made of? Are they sterile?

Acupuncture needles are made of stainless steel and are sterilized and pre-packaged. These needles are disposable and used only once.

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HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?

The exact number of treatments depends on what your specific illness is and how long you've had it. Someone with lower back pain for 5 months will typically be pain-free in 6 treatments. If that person has had back pain for 5 YEARS, they will probably require more treatments.

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ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS TO THE TREATMENT?

Acupuncture has NO DOCUMENTED side effects. There are, however, POSITIVE side-effects to acupuncture. The most common are improved quality of sleep, increased energy level, and reduction in stress levels.

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DOES ACUPUNCTURE REALLY WORK?

In the late 1950's, the Chinese government was going to transition from "Traditional Chinese Medicine" (Acupuncture and Herbology) to Western medicine for basis of their health care system. The academic and clinical communities worked together to run well controlled studies of the effectiveness of acupuncture on different diseases and pain syndromes. A government panel studied the results of the tests and decided to integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Medicine for their health care system. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has sponsored countless studies on the efficacy of Acupuncture in treating a variety of illnesses.

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IS ACUPUNCTURE COVERED BY HEALTH INSURANCE?

More health plans are adopting acupuncture therapy in their coverage as more consumers are turning to alternative medicine to improve their health. Ask your insurance representative about coverage. If you have a deductible, most companies will accept the treatment costs toward the deductible.

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Is there a license required to practice?

Most states in the US require passing a board examination to be licensed. Some states just require a practitioner to graduate from an accredited program. You will see either LAc (Licensed Acupuncturist), MAc (Master of Acucupunture), Dipl Ac (Diplomat of Acupuncture), or OMD (Doctor of Oriental Medicine) after a practitioner's name. In Virginia, in order to be licensed by the board of medicine, a practitioner must (a.) graduate from an accredited university, (b.) Pass the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) board examination, and (c.) have no less than 1725 educational hours, and a minimum of 500 clinical hours.

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What is Herbology?

Herbology is Chinese Pharmacology. Various herbs, roots, and decoctions are made for specific ailments. Chinese herbs tend to be less concentrated than western prescription medications. BEWARE -- herbs can interact with prescription and non-prescription drugs. If you are taking herbs, you should make your physician aware of what specific type and how much you are taking.

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