What is acupuncture?
What causes Qi to become blocked?
What does acupuncture do?
How many needles are used?
Does acupuncture hurt?
Is acupuncture safe?
Why choose acupuncture?
What can be treated by acupuncture?
How long will it taketo treat my condition?

What is acupuncture? Acupuncture is an ancient Eastern medical art that utilizes the placement of sterilized, pre-packaged, very fine needles into specific acupoints along meridian channels found on the surface of the skin. Meridians are channels that are filled with a vital life energy called Qi (chee). These meridians are like rivers that flow which bring nourishment to all parts of the body. They transport life giving Qi to every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body, providing good physical, emotional and spiritual healthy living. When there is a blockage along a channel, Qi becomes obstructed, similar to damming a river, and pressure builds in the area. Subsequently, opposing areas become depleted and deficiency occurs. Since the body strives for homeostasis (balance) on every level, acupuncture helps by facilitating a harmonious internal meridian and organ environment thus creating health and well being in the individual.

What causes Qi to become blocked?
• Physical, emotional, spiritual trauma
• Prolonged chemical, physical and emotional stress
• Poor diet and/or lack of self nourishment
• Adverse weather conditions (damp, cold, heat, dry, etc.)
• Hereditary factors

What does acupuncture do?
Acupuncture treats the source of the imbalance, as it does not just treat the signs and symptoms. When this root is located and corrected, your body can begin to heal on the deepest levels. It allows the body to enter into a parasympathetic state of “rest and digest” as to counterbalance a stressful life in a sympathetic dominant society of “fight or flight”, thus balancing the Autonomic Nervous System.

How many needles are used?
The amount of needles that are used during a treatment can vary greatly from patient to patient or session to session.

Does acupuncture hurt?
Since the concept of pain is subjective, one will experience the movement of Qi quite individually. When the needle is inserted into the correct acupoint, one often feels a dull, aching sensation around the needle site. For those that have more body felt awareness (meridian sensitive), one might feel a traveling sensation up or down the channel being needled. In fact, some people don't even feel the needles being inserted, however feeling the movement of Qi energy indicates a beneficial treatment!

Is acupuncture safe?
Your safety is assured in the hands of a comprehensively trained, licensed and board certified acupuncturist. I have obtained a Masters degree in Acupuncture after having completed a 3 year graduate program which was comprised of didactic and clinical skills training totaling over 3000 hours of study. This significantly differs from the 300 hour physician acupuncture certification courses offered to Western medical doctors.

Why choose acupuncture?
The holistic health care system looks at the body differently than Western medicine. The body, according to Oriental medicine is a garden that should be cultivated and maintained in order to grow well and remain healthy. This occurs when all the organ and meridian systems are working together and balanced. When balanced, the body produces the correct quality and quantity of Qi energy, which is vital to support good health. This is very different from the Western perspective which usually looks at the body as a machine, in which each organ is separate from the others, and worn out parts can be replaced or mended. Acupuncture is a safe, natural, drug free and effective holistic system that treats many conditions.

What can be treated by acupuncture?
The World Health Organization recognizes over 43 common conditions that Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has success in treating:

Pain conditions
Headaches / migraines
Facial pain (TMJ. Bell's Palsy)
Tooth pain
Neck pain
Upper back pain
Low back pain (Sciatica / Piriformis syndrome)
Shoulder pain
Lower extremity pain
Repetitive strain injury
Tennis Elbow / Carpal Tunnel
Osteoarthritis

Gastro-intestinal conditions
Constipation / Diarrhea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Reflux Esophagitis

Gynecological conditions
Amenorrhea (lack of menses)
Dysmenorrhea (painful menses)
Infertility
Post partum depression
Irregular menses
Menopausal symptoms

Respiratory conditions
Allergies
Sinusitis / Rhinitis
Asthma
Bronchitis
Common Cold

Miscellaneous conditions
Anxiety / Stress / Depression
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue
General Well Being
Weight Loss
High / Low Blood Pressure
Post Stroke sequellae
Substance abuse
Smoking cessation
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Urinary dysfunction

How long will it take to treat my condition?
Acute conditions generally take a shorter course of treatment: 5-6 consecutive weekly visits. Most acute symptoms will resolve within this time frame. However, some chronic disorders are difficult to treat or may take several months of weekly sessions because the body has become significantly depleted. Since acupuncture works by restoring an energetic balance to the body and stimulates its healing powers, if the body is depleted there are very few reserves to call on and the healing time is slower. Just as there are people that do not respond to drugs, there are those that do not respond to acupuncture.