Oriental Medicine

Information about Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture

What is Oriental Medicine?

Oriental medicine is a comprehensive system of health care with a continuous clinical history of over 5000 years. Oriental medicine includes acupuncture, Oriental herbology and bodywork, dietary therapy and exercise based on traditional Oriental medicine principles. These therapies work with the natural vital energy inherent within all living things to promote the body’s ability to heal itself. This system of health care is used extensively by one-quarter of the world’s population residing in Asia and is rapidly growing in popularity in the West. Traditional Oriental medicine uses an intricate system of pulse and tongue diagnosis, palpation of points and meridians, medical history and other signs and symptoms to create a composite Oriental medical diagnosis. A treatment plan is then formulated to induce the body to a balanced state of health.

How does Acupuncture work?

Acupuncture is practiced based on an energetic model rather than the biochemical model of Western medicine. Ancient Asian physicians recognized a vital energy Qi(pronounced chee). In developing an understanding of the prevention and cure of disease, these healing practitioners discovered that this energy flows along specific pathways called “meridians”. Each pathway is associated with a particular physiological system and internal organ. Disease is considered to arise due to a deficiency or imbalance of energy in the meridians and their associated physiological systems. Acupuncture points are specific locations along the meridians. Each point has a predictable effect on the vital energy passing through it. Modern science has been able to measure the electrical charges at these points, thus corroborating the locations of the meridians mapped by the ancients.

What Can I Expect?

Many conditions may be alleviated very rapidly by acupuncture and Oriental medicine. However, some conditions, if left to develop for many years, may require slow and steady treatment. As in any form of healing, the patient’s attitude, diet, determination, and lifestyle will affect the outcome of the treatment. Patients are encouraged to actively participate in their healing process. There are cases where Western medicine can be effective as well. In such cases, your acupuncturist will recommend you contact a Western medical doctor. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine should be seen as complementary to Western medicine.

Is Acupuncture Safe?

In the hands of a comprehensively trained acupuncturist, your safety is assured. Acupuncture needles are sterile and are either disposed of or autoclaved between treatments. If you have a preference, you should discuss the type of needles to be used with your practitioner.

Is Acupuncture Painful?

Acupuncture bears no resemblance to the feeling of receiving an injection since the main sources of pain from injections are the larger diameter of the needle, the hollowness of the needle, and the medication being forced into the tissue by pressure. Acupuncture needles are very fine and flexible; a needle’s diameter is roughly the same as a human hair’s. In most cases, your practitioner will also recommend herbs and/or dietary and lifestyle changes.

What does Acupuncture treat?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes acupuncture and traditional Oriental medicine’s ability to treat over 43 common disorders including:

• Our specialties: Diabetes Mellitus, Hepatitis, and Nephritis
• Gastrointestinal Disorders, such as food allergies, peptic ulcer, chronic diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, gastrointestinal weakness, anorexia, and gastritis
• Urogenital Disorders, including stress incontinence, urinary tract infections, and sexual dysfunction
• Gynecological Disorders, such as irregular, heavy, or painful menstruation, infertility in woman and men, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Respiratory Disorders, such as emphysema, sinusitis, asthma, allergies, and bronchitis
• Disorders of the Bones, Muscles, Joints and Nervous System, such as arthritis, migraine headaches, neuralgia, insomnia, dizziness, and low back, neck and shoulder pain.
• Circulatory Disorders, such as hypertension, angina pectoris, arterioscleroses and anemia
• Emotional and Psychological Disorders, including depression and anxiety
• Addictions, such as alcohol, nicotine, and drugs
• Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders
• Supportive therapy for other chronic and painful debilitating disorders