The following is from the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture (www.pihma.edu)

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a method in which very fine needles are used to stimulate the body’s natural healing. After careful assessment the acupuncturist can identify energy patterns that are disrupted and insert needles into specific anatomically defined locations to help restore the energy patterns to their optimal state. As such, the acupuncturist is using needles to assist the body’s own self healing response. Some conditions may call for additional electrical stimulation to enhance the effects of the needles. They may also use heat therapy by burning a specially processed herb next to the needle.

What does Acupuncture Treat?

Acupuncture has been used as an effective medical modality for over 2000 years. It has been recognized by the World Health Organization to treat over 300 conditions. In the US, people commonly seek treatment for the following conditions:

• Digestive disorders: gastritis, colitis and hyperacidity, spastic colon, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss. 

• Respiratory disorders: allergies, asthma, sinusitis, sore throat, chest infections, colds & flu. 

• Neurological and muscular disorders: migraines, neck pain & tension, bursitis, low back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis, acute trauma. 

• Urinary, menstrual, and reproductive problems: infertility, pre-menstrual syndrome, prostate problems. 

• Emotional disorders: insomnia, addictions, stress, detox for chemical dependencies, PTSD.

Here is a link to the 2003 WHO review of clinical trials investigating acupuncture's effectiveness: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js4926e/2.html

What can I expect during my Acupuncture session?

Your treatment begins with an extensive conversation about your medical history, current health and lifestyle. Many first-time patients are amazed at how comfortable they feel during an acupuncture treatment. When the needle accesses the flow of Qi, a slight tingling, a heaviness, or a tugging sensation may be felt. Acupuncture needles have been scientifically proven to release endorphins giving patients a pleasant experience.

Course of Treatment: Initial treatments take approximately 1-2 hours in which full history and overview of patient health is assessed. Follow-up appointments generally last between 45 minutes to 1 hour. The length of the course of treatment depends upon several factors such as age, severity of condition and length of disease. Everyone reacts differently to acupuncture and will respond at different rates. Typically, acute cases resolve more rapidly than chronic cases which may take a course of approximately ten acupuncture treatments. Many people continue to use acupuncture to maintain good health by keeping the body’s immunity strong and emotions balanced.

Additional Therapies of TCM

Tui Na is a specific practice of Chinese bodywork or massage. It is literally translated as 'Push-Grasp' and this terminology paints an accurate picture of many of the Manual techniques used. With Tui Na deficient qi (which impairs proper functioning of the body) can be addressed by tonifying it, or stagnant qi (which causes pain) by dispersing it, depending on the individual's needs. Diagnosis and treatment are based on the same Traditional Chinese Medical theory used in Acupuncture, only the practitioner is using his hands instead of needles to manipulate the patient's qi for the treatment.   

Cutaneous Therapy, including cupping, Gua Sha, and plum-blossom needling are therapies aimed at relieving stagnation in the patient's qi and blood circulation by applying certain deep-pressure techniques to the skin and underlying tissues. In cupping the practitioner creates a vacuum inside of small glass globes which, when applied to the skin, causes a powerful drawing suction that aids in the removal of stagnation and the elimination of pain. Gua Sha is a therapy administered by using various flat-edge and blunt-tip instruments applied in rhythmic strokes with moderate pressure in order to help reestablish proper circulation in the afflicted area of the body by causing local petichiae or 'sha.' Plum Blossom therapy involves a small instrument with 7 needles on its surface. These needles are applied with a light tapping motion in order to stimulate the flow of qi and blood. Most cutaneous therapy leaves an area of petichiae or bruise after the treatment, but these generally disappear in 2-5 days.    

Tai Chi and Qi Gong are ancient Chinese exercises for cultivating strong, healthy qi and thus a strong, healthy body, mind, and spirit. The individual exercises are designed to specifically harmonize and strengthen certain organs and/or meridians simply by their practice. Much of the benefit of these exercises comes from the strengthening of muscles, ligaments, and tendons, as well as optimizing these tissues' flexibility in such a way as to help establish proper posture during the exercise and also encouraging unconscious maintenance of proper posture all of the time. Tai Chi and Qi Gong also help to improve our proprioception, which is the sense in your brain that tells you things like "my right hand is at my side" or "my left foot is on top of my right" without you having to actually see the individual parts of your body. This sense is intimately related to our coordination and balance. Another tremendous benefit these exercises offer is to help train the body in proper breathing habits so that the blood is more oxygenated which in turn helps increase our energy; deep-breathing exercises also help to gently massage the thoracic and abdominal organs, improving the arrival of nutrients and the elimination of metabolic waste-products and toxins.