Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese/Oriental Medicine?
What is Cupping?
What is Moxibustion?
What is Gua Sha?
What is Electrostimulation?
How does acupuncture work?
What does acupuncture treat?
What are acupuncture needles like?
Is there medicine on the needle?
Are the needles sterile?
Is acupuncture painful?
Are there side effects of acupuncture?
How do you make your diagnosis and treatment plan with Oriental medicine?
What is the length of an acupuncture treatment?
How many treatments will I require?
What level of education do acupuncturists need to be licensed?
Can medical doctors practice acupuncture?
What is the difference between licensed acupuncturists and medical acupuncturists?
Is the use of acupuncture and alternative medicine increasing in the U.S.?
Who can benefit from Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine?
What is involved in Chinese Herbal Therapy?
Who can benefit from Chinese herbal medicine?
How are the Herbs Available?
How much will they cost?
Are herbs safe?
How can Chinese herbs help?
Why are herbs processed before use?
What is the difference between Chinese patent and prescribed herbs?
Can I buy Chinese patent herbs from herb store directly?
Are concentrated herbs as good as the raw herbs in prescribed herbs?
How are herbs taken?
What is Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese/Oriental Medicine?
Oriental medicine has been practiced for more than 2,500 years and includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxibustion, Oriental massage and Oriental nutrition. Acupuncture is a treatment method that encourages the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning by inserting very fine needles (about the size of a human hair) into the body. These thin, solid, metallic needles are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation to reduce pain or induce anesthesia. Acupuncture is said to be “A method of producing analgesia or altering the function of a body system by inserting fine, wire-thin needles into the skin at specific sites on the body. Acupuncture is highly effective in treating both acute and chronic pain associated with multiple causes”. (Mosby’s Medical Dictionary 2006 7th Edition page 30.)
Cupping-
Cupping is a therapy, which requires the placing of a cup (most often glass or plastic) over specific areas of your body. A vacuum is created under the cup using heat or suction and may be moved over an affected area or left in place. This therapy is designed to stimulate the flow of blood and Qi within the superficial muscle layers. It is used to relieve symptoms of indigestion, hypertension, sore muscles, tension, low back and neck pain and the common cold.
Moxibustion-
Moxibustion is a technique involving the burning of mugwort, a Chinese herb, and applying the resulting heat to specific points on the body. The moxa is supplied either in tiny cones, sticks-large cigar-like tubes or can be twisted onto the end of an acupuncture needle. It is used for diseases associated with cold and damp- such as certain forms of arthritis and back pain.
Gua Sha-
Gua Sha is another technique that involves the use of a round edged instrument that is gently scraped or rubbed on the skin over the affected area. It is often used to release muscle tension, tightness, fever, chills, cough, and nausea.
Electrostimulation-
After the needles are inserted and the Qi is obtained, wire clips with electrodes are attached to the needle and an electric current is passed through to strengthen and alter the nature of the stimulation.
Chinese Herbal Medicine-
Chinese Herbal medicine is the use of herbs in the form of pills, powders, teas, tinctures, or liniments, for the treatment of disease or illness. It can be used in conjunction with acupuncture to enhance the treatment or can be used alone as a separate therapy.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture treatment is rendered based on an Asian/Oriental medical diagnosis that includes an assessment of pulse quality, shape and color of the tongue, medical history and whole body evaluation. Following the diagnosis, acupuncture points are chosen on the body along acupuncture meridians, or pathways. Needle stimulation of these points increases the body’s healing energy or Qi. The body has approximately one thousand acupuncture points.
Qi circulates throughout the body within the meridians, which also are related to the internal organs. Qi surfaces to the skin level at specific points. Good health depends on the smooth flow of Qi. When the flow of Qi is blocked due to trauma, poor diet, medications, stress, hereditary conditions, environmental factors, or excessive emotional issues, the system is disrupted. Illness is then generated. In accordance with ancient theory, acupuncture allows Qi to flow to areas where it is deficient and away from areas where it is in excess. In this way, acupuncture regulates and restores a harmonious energetic balance in the body. There is a Chinese saying, “There is no pain if there is free flow; if there is pain, there is no free flow.”
Scientific research has discovered that acupuncture points show a variety of unique bioelectric properties. Stimulation of acupuncture points cause definite physiological reactions affecting brain activity, such as releasing pain-killing endorphins, influencing blood pressure, enhancing the immune system, balancing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and enhancing the endocrine system. Most of all, acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal itself, regain homeostasis, and maintain its relationship with nature.
What does acupuncture treat?
A partial list includes:
Musculoskeletal: Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel, Back Pain, Knee Pain, Sciatica Foot Pain, and Sports Injuries Neurological/Nervous System: Headache, Insomnia, Stroke, Stress Disorders, Bell’s Palsy, Hyperthyroidism, High Blood Pressure, Neuralgia Epilepsy Gynecological: Fertility (Male/Female), Menstrual Pain, PMS, Menopause, Pregnancy, Cysts Respiratory: Asthma, Cough, Sore Throat, Common Cold, Hay Fever, Other Diverse Allergies Gastrointestinal: Constipation, Diarrhea, Acid Reflux, Nausea, Stomach Pain, And Poor Digestion Others: Heart Disorders, High/Low Blood Pressure, Chronic Fatigue, Impact Cancer Treatment, Men’s Health Issues, Addiction, Accident Related Injuries, Anxiety & Depression, Skin Disorders.
According to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) the following diseases, symptoms or conditions for which acupuncture has been proven—through controlled trials—to be an effective treatment are:
• Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
• Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)
• Biliary colic
• Depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)
• Dysentery, acute bacillary
• Dysmenorrhoea, primary
• Epigastralgia, acute (in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm)
• Facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)
• Headache
• Hypertension, essential
• Hypotension, primary
• Induction of labour
• Knee pain
• Leukopenia
• Low back pain
• Malposition of fetus, correction of
• Morning sickness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Morning sickness
• Neck pain
• Pain in dentistry (including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction)
• Periarthritis of shoulder
• Postoperative pain
• Renal colic
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sciatica
• Sprain
• Stroke
• Tennis elbow
• Diseases, symptoms or conditions for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed:
• Abdominal pain
• Acne vulgaris
• Alcohol dependence and detoxification
• Bell’s palsy
• Bronchial asthma
• Cancer pain
• Cardiac neurosis
• Cholecystitis, chronic, with acute exacerbation
• Cholelithiasis
• Competition stress syndrome
• Craniocerebral injury, closed
• Diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent
• Earache
• Epidemic hemorrhagic fever
• Epistaxis, simple (without generalized or local disease)
• Eye pain due to subconjunctival injection
• Female infertility
• Facial spasm
• Female urethral syndrome
• Fibromyalgia and fasciitis
• Gastrokinetic disturbance
• Gouty arthritis
• Hepatitis B virus carrier status
• Herpes zoster (human (alpha) herpes virus 3)
• Hyperlipaemia
• Hypo-ovarianism
• Insomnia
• Labor pain
• Lactation, deficiency
• Male sexual dysfunction, non-organic
• Ménière disease
• Neuralgia, post-herpetic
• Neurodermatitis
• Obesity
• Opium, cocaine and heroin dependence
• Osteoarthritis
• Pain due to endoscopic examination
• Pain in thromboangiitis obliterans
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome)
• Postextubation in children
• Postoperative convalescence
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Prostatitis, chronic
• Pruritus
• Radicular and pseudoradicular pain syndrome
• Raynaud syndrome, primary
• Recurrent lower urinary-tract infection
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• Retention of urine, traumatic
• Schizophrenia
• Sialism, drug-induced
• Sjögren syndrome
• Sore throat (including tonsillitis)
• Spine pain, acute
• Stiff neck
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
• Tietze syndrome
• Tobacco dependence
• Tourette syndrome
• Ulcerative colitis, chronic
• Urolithiasis
• Vascular dementia
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
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What are acupuncture needles like?
Acupuncture needles are sterile surgical grade steel needles. The needles used in almost all clinics in the U.S. are single use needles. This means that they come from the manufacturer in sterile packaging and are only opened immediately before insertion.
The needle itself is only slightly thicker than a human hair. Acupuncture needles are solid unlike the hypodermic needles used by physicians, which are hollow and cut away more tissue. Needle size and insertion depth depend upon the nature of the problem and part of the body. Depths can be from 0.2 to 3 inches. Also taken into consideration are: the patient’s size, age, and constitution.
Is there medicine on the needle?
No. It is the needle itself that initiates physiological changes and stimulates the movement of Qi to cause a corrective change in the body.
Are the needles sterile?
Yes, the needles used at Acupuncture Associates of Long Island are pre-sterilized, non-toxic and disposable. Communication of disease through acupuncture has not been an issue in the U.S.; a record, few other health care professions can claim.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires manufacturers of acupuncture needles to label them for single use only.
Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA when considering the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used.
Is acupuncture painful?
At the time the needle is inserted, some may feel soreness or slight pain. Others may feel nothing. Common Qi sensations around the needle include: tingling, electrical sensations that may travel above or below the needle, or a sense of distention or swelling at the insertion site. Stimulation of needles can be done manually, or by attaching electrodes that transmit a weak current. Some people are energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed.
It is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner to ensure proper needle placement and stimulation. In any case, if you experience discomfort during or after the treatment, it is usually mild and short term. Because the purpose of acupuncture is to balance your body, there are no long-term negative side effects. On the contrary, relaxation and a sense of well-being often occur during and after treatment. Often patients become so relaxed that they sleep during treatment.
Are there side effects of acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a considerably safe treatment method. The incidences of negative outcomes or reactions to acupuncture are statistically negligible. The most common ill effect that most people have is simply some slight light headedness when getting off of the table, also occasionally bruising can occur.
How do you make your diagnosis and treatment plan with Oriental medicine?
There are a number of different approaches for diagnosis and treatment in acupuncture that incorporate medical traditions from America, China, Japan, Korea and other countries.
Before providing acupuncture treatment or prescribing herbs, an Oriental medical doctor must take an assessment of your body by using diagnostic methods such as: asking you questions about your medical history, reviewing western medical findings, looking at your tongue, feeling your pulse at your wrists, palpating your abdomen and meridians along the body, checking the appearance, texture, color and temperature of your skin, assessing how your voice sounds, evaluating your gait, facial diagnosis, and also several other diagnostic techniques particular to the style of the doctor’s practice. Soon after, he or she will come up with an Oriental medical diagnosis, which is quite different than a western medical diagnosis. Then, they will treat you accordingly based upon their assessment. Because of the fluid and ever changing nature of the human body, an Oriental medical diagnosis and treatment protocol can change as well.
What is the length of an acupuncture treatment?
Individual treatments will vary in length from 45 minutes to one and a half hours. The initial visit is much more entailed and will last for approximately one and a half to two hours, please plan accordingly.
How many treatments will I require?
Each patient is unique and responds to acupuncture differently, so the number and frequency of treatments will vary from patient to patient.
The number of treatments needed to address a specific health concern depends upon the duration, severity, and nature of your complaint. You may need only a single treatment for an acute condition or a series of five to fifteen treatments to resolve many chronic problems. Your body constitution, severity of problem, and the length of time that you have been sick, will all play a part in this. Since acupuncture addresses the health of the whole body, there are many people that seek regular acupuncture treatments to maintain good health and as a preventative measure.
What level of education do acupuncturists need to be licensed?
To qualify for licensure in New York, a practitioner must qualify for and pass the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) Acupuncture Board exam. To qualify to sit for the NCCAOM exam, a student must complete a 4050-hour master degree level program at a NYS approved school and complete 650 hours of supervised clinical acupuncture experience. Entrance into an approved school requires at least 60 semester hours at an accredited college or university. Including at least 9 semester hours in Biosciences. Throughout the licensing period the licensed practitioner is required to participate in state and nationally recognized continuing education classes, equalling at least 60 hours.
Can medical doctors practice acupuncture?
The term used for the practice of acupuncture by medical doctors is “medical acupuncture”. The consumer should be aware that unless medical acupuncturists carry the designation of L.Ac. they are not licensed or trained the same as an acupuncturist, their training in Oriental medicine and acupuncture may most likely be significantly less.
What is the difference between licensed acupuncturists and medical acupuncturists?
>A New York State L.Ac. is required to take at least 4050 of classroom instruction in acupuncture and Oriental medicine theory, and have 650 hours clinical experience plus an additional 450 hours of clinical experience in herbal medicine. In contrast, MDs certified in “medical acupuncture” by the American Board of Medical Acupuncture are required to take only 200 hours of Classroom training in acupuncture and 100 hours of clinical training.
Do not rely on an Oriental medical diagnosis of disease by an acupuncture practitioner who does not have substantial Oriental medical training. Because an individual is a medical doctor, it does not automatically mean that he or she has also had Oriental medical training.
Is the use of acupuncture and alternative medicine increasing in the U.S.?
Acupuncture and Asian/Oriental Medicine has gained worldwide acceptance and recognition as effective medical treatment and is now being taught by many American Medical Schools including Harvard Medical School. Over 15 million Americans have been treated by Acupuncture.
Increasingly, acupuncture is complementing conventional therapies. For example, doctors may combine acupuncture and drugs to control surgery- related pain in their patients. By providing both acupuncture and certain conventional anesthetic drugs, some doctors have found it possible to achieve a state of complete pain relief for some patients. They also have found that using acupuncture lowers the need for conventional pain-killing drugs and thus reduces the risk of side effects for patients who take the drugs.
It is being used more often in western medical facilities for the use of drug addiction and detoxification, in integrative alternative world-renowned cancer institutes (Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and at many Hospital and Institutions to assist with labor and Delivery.
>p?In A Complementary Alternative Medicine National Health (CAM) interview survey conducted by the Centers for Disease control and prevention in which tens of thousands of Americans were interviewed about their health and illness related experiences suggests approximately 38% of US adults and 12% of children used some form of CAM. This is an increase of 2% from 2002.
Who can benefit from Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine?
Our Philosophy is that people should try everything out there until they find what works best for them. Ideally, it is easiest to treat conditions the closer to the injury as possible. However, many people have overcome chronic pain and other conditions through consistent treatment.
What to Expect at Your First Treatment?
Your first appointment will last about one and a half to two hours.
If you did not fill out your intake forms and paper work before coming, please arrive at 15-20 minutes before your scheduled time to fill out the paperwork in the office.
To begin your practitioner will do an overall observation.
He/She will then follow up with the information on your intake form and ask you questions about your health and your health concerns. These questions, and your answers, allow your practitioner to formulate a diagnosis, which will then direct your treatment.
The diagnosis will include looking at your tongue and checking your pulses to form a TCM diagnosis.
Although acupuncture and herbs may be used with other forms of treatment, if you are taking ANY medications or supplements, it is very important to let your practitioner know.
After the initial interview, you will be asked to lie on the table. The acupuncturist may do some palpating in certain areas or on certain points. The appropriate acupuncture points will then be cleaned with alcohol, and very thin sterile, disposable needles will be inserted into the appropriate points. Your practitioner may feel it necessary to use adjunct therapies in addition to the acupuncture treatment. That will be discussed and explained at that time if found necessary.
Your practitioner will then make sure you are warm and comfortable. In most cases unless time constraints exist your practitioner will allow you to stay on the table for as long as your body feels it to be beneficial.
Depending on the treatment protocol, which your practitioner has found appropriate for you, you may also be treated face down as well.
After the practitioner removes your needles he/she will discuss with you their treatment plan as well as any herbs, supplements, exercises or other additional adjuncts to your treatment that may be important.
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What is involved in Chinese Herbal Therapy?
In addition to your acupuncture treatment your practitioner may feel your condition can benefit from the use of Chinese herbs. Chinese herbs can be used in conjunction with your acupuncture treatment or taken alone. Chinese herbal medicine consists mainly of vegetable sources, leaves, flowers, twigs, stems, roots, tubers, rhizomes, and bark. In addition, there are animal and mineral products used on occasion when necessary. Most acupuncturists use herbal medicine in raw, powder, and pill form. Raw herbs take some cooking and may taste strong or undesirable. There is a saying in Chinese, “bitter mouth, good medicine.” Herbal pills may be prescribed instead of raw herbs for less severe conditions. Likewise, herbal medicines are rapidly increasing in economic importance, with the U.S. claiming over $60 million in world market herbal sales, including raw materials.
In China, herbal medicine has traditionally been the most fundamental method of treatment. Medicinal herbal formulas are dispensed to each patient based upon the patient’s individual constitution and current medical condition. Unlike western herbs, Chinese herbs are used in very specific combinations, as opposed to singular herbs. An herbal formula may be comprised of as many as 15 herbs, all having specific purposes within the formula. These herbal formulas, like acupuncture, work to unlock the Qi, to nourish, and to repair the organs.
Who can benefit from Chinese herbal medicine?
People of any age or constitution can use Chinese medicine. Your practitioner will take any previous or current illness or medication into account before prescribing herbs to you. With suitable adjustments for dosage and with some provisions, which your practitioner will determine, children and pregnant women can very well be treated by Chinese medicine.
Traditional Chinese Herbal Therapy is prescribed for many conditions. The herbs can be used singularly or most often combined together to work synergistically in formulas. The focus of herbal formulas is to treat illness and disease. Herbs may also have different effects on different channels or parts of the body.
How are the Herbs Available?
Herbs are now available in a number of formats, both traditional and modern. The traditional method is to boil a mixture of dried herbs to make tea or to use pills. Formulas and herbs are also now commonly prescribed as concentrated granules freeze-dried powders, which can be drank as tea or taken in pill form. Patent Chinese Herbal formulas (pre-mixed herbal combinations) are also commonly used in this clinic. Formulas and herbs can also be available as liniments or tinctures.
How much will they cost?
There are no standard prices for consultations or for herbs. Each formula can be different for each patient so pricing varies. You should inquire about charges if your practitioner suggests a specific formula for you.
Are herbs safe?
Chinese herbs are very safe when prescribed correctly by a properly trained practitioner. Herbalists have placed great emphasis on the protection of the patient and over centuries have compiled detailed information about the pharmacopoeia. Adverse reactions can occur with any form of medicine. In the case of Chinese Herbal Medicine these cases are rare. A Chinese Herbalist has had additional training in the effects and use of Chinese herbs and had to pass a NCCAOM certification board exam.
How can Chinese herbs help?
In general, herbs can treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions, both acute and chronic. It can help strengthen the body, aiding in recovery, and maintain health by keeping balance within the body. Chinese herbal medicine is often gentle and safe to use, without causing side effects. Some side effects that may occur among a few herbs can be easily counteracted with other herbs. For this reasons, people turn to herbal therapy for an alternative approach to western medications.
There are many very effective Chinese herbal patent medicines and prescribed herbal formulas for the medications taken for pain syndromes, gastrointestinal disorders, neurological disorders, stress related syndromes, respiratory disorders, heart problems, sexual dysfunction, allergies and immune system deficiencies, as well as replacements for antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Chinese herbs can be taken to reduce the side effects of other medication such as antibiotics, chemotherapy, etc. Antibiotics can weaken the immune system and herbal therapy can strengthen the system. Also, during chemotherapy, the white blood cell count drops, which causes fatigue, lack of energy and appetite. Herbal therapy has proven quite successful in relieving the side effects of chemotherapy.
Chinese herbal medicine can be used for disease prevention and general health maintenance. Herbs are also used to prevent the flu, menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome, among other things. Many herbs are used to increase energy and to slow the aging process. They are also used for enhancing sexual energy and for cosmetic purposes.
Why are herbs processed before use?
Processing can reduce any possible side effects of herbs by detoxifying the herbs. Each herb is inspected for herb quality, identification, heavy metals, and presence of any contaminants. It filters out impurities such as dirt and sand and softens the strong taste or smell of herbs. Processing herbs can enhance their functions.
What is the difference between Chinese patent and prescribed herbs?
Chinese Patent herbs are premixed herb combinations according to the traditional formulas developed by experts in traditional Chinese medicine through over 3000 years. They are similar to over-the-counter-drugs and usually in the form of pill, capsule and liquid. The advantages of Chinese patent herbs are convenient, easy to take, and less expensive. However, patient’s symptoms must fit the patent herb’s narrow indications.
Prescribed herbs are mixed by an herbalist according to an individual patient’s symptoms and diagnoses. Prescribed herbs can be more effective than patent herb.s Prescribed herbs are tailored to your symptoms and conditions exclusively by your herbalist.
Can I buy Chinese patent herbs from herb store directly?
Although Chinese patent herbs are relative safe and have fewer side effects, I do not recommend you buy Chinese patent herbs from the store or other channels without obtaining advice from a certified herbalist.
Are concentrated herbs as good as the raw herbs in prescribed herbs?
Yes! The concentrated herbs are made from the raw herbs. The best herbal sources are selected. These raw herbs are purified, and then processed through steaming, cooking, and finally condensed into fine granular particles. Therefore, they are easy to be dissolved and absorbed and enhance the healing process.
How are herbs taken?
Prescribed herbal medicine is traditionally taken in tea form. The human body absorbs tea easily and quickly so it is the most commonly used method. Sometimes, capsule or tablet form of this herbal medicine is recommended. Tea should always be warm, and capsules or tablets should be swallowed with warm water. Generally, it is best to take herbs just before you serve meals. You should consult an herbalist for specific instructions on taking herbs. For example, tonic herbs, to promote health, are best taken before meals. Purgative herbs, to cleanse the system, are best taken on an empty stomach. Herbs that either irritate the stomach or are taken to protect the stomach should be taken after eating. Herbs for insomnia and other sleeping disorders should be taken at bedtime.