Frequently Asked Questions

How does Chinese Medicine work?
To understand how Chinese medicine works, one must first concede that there is no separation of mind, body, and spirit. The body cannot live without the mind and vice versa. Western medicine seeks to separate and examine each of these components of the human experience in minute detail. Unlike Western medicine, the Eastern system does not seek to quantify the measure of health in the body. Instead, Eastern medicine seeks to qualify the measure of health in relation to the health, or lack thereof, of its relative function or another aspect of health.

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Do you have to believe in Chinese Medicine in order for it to work?
Chinese Medicine is not a belief system as many believe. It is important to understand that there is significance to perceptions of health. One way to help doctors of both systems to give a more accurate prognosis is the perception of a patient ability or desire to get better. If there is no desire to fight for health the body begins to break down. There is no placebo effect per se. Research has proven time and time again that picking random points is nowhere near as effective as choosing points indicated for a particular function. Chinese medicine is over 4000 years old. The system of Acupuncture took thousands of years to standardize based on trial and error of hundreds of thousands of cases and treatments. Today there are 361 standard points and much is known about them. Recently, more and more research is being done by western medicine to gain an understanding about some of these points. Overall, there are over a thousand points known now along well established channels, further complimenting the new research being done.

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Is Chinese Medicine safe?
Chinese medicine is probably the safest kind of medicine there is. The needles are all sterile, filiform (solid), and come in single use blister packs in today’s medical practice. There is little concern of cross contamination or infection as Chinese Medical Practitioners utilize “universal precautions.” If you are taking aspirin or other pain relievers regularly tell your practitioner, since they can exacerbate any minor bruising from the needles. Herbal medicine is a bit more of a concern because some of the materials used for formulas may have slightly to very toxic herbs in them. One thing to note, though, is that almost always there are other herbs that moderate and mediate the toxic properties of the herbs in question.

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What is the difference between a Chinese Medicine Practitioner (CMP) and an Acupunturist?
Acupuncture is a global term recognized to represent Chinese Medicine, but this is somewhat of a mistake in nomenclature. Acupuncture is a modality found under the umbrella of Chinese Medicine. Along with Acupuncture, other modalities include Moxabustion (a special herb that is burned to promote circulation), Cupping (suction cups that help release soft tissue and pull out toxins from the muscle layer), Gua Sha (a scraping technique that brings fresh blood and oxygen to the surface to release toxins), Tui Na (Chinese deep tissue massage), herbal prescriptions, and life counseling.

Unfortunately, one of the other reasons the term acupuncturist is used is to reduce the science of Chinese medicine to a simple technique or technical profession. The reality is that CMPs attend medical school for between 4-5 years of intensive study and have to do a residency in the last year of school. The scope of practice for Chinese Medicine in China and throughout Europe include areas involving but not limited to gynecology, psychiatry, endocrinology, cardiology, neurology, anesthesia, pediatric and geriatric disease, and other internal medical disciplines.

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How does one achieve Wellness?
You have heard it said before, “everything in moderation.” Health and wellness are found in the in the ability to moderate all aspects of life including emotions, stress, diet, lifestyle and physical work. Finding the proverbial “middle ground,” is the key. A healthy diet low in carbohydrates, greasy fast food, sugars, and refined grains, promotes low cholesterol, normal blood pressure, and can help control diseases like Crohn’s disease, diabetes, and heart disease. Regular exercise, that is not overdone, helps to improve circulation and maintains joint integrity (especially qi gong and tai chi) controlling diseases like arthritis and heart disease. Lastly, like working on a car, general maintenance is needed keep all of the connections between the functions of the individual organs operating to their highest capacity. Acupuncture as a modality in Chinese medicine helps to do just this.

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What is integrative health or integtrative wellness?
Integrative Health is the combination of a number of different modalities as fore mentioned that act to harmonize the systems of the body to prevent and treat disease, but most importantly to improve the quality of life. All too often, the health care profession confuses improving the quality of life with simply sustaining or prolonging life. It is the sworn duty (Hippocratic Oath) of health care practitioners to first do no harm. It is a common trend in this day and age to first recommend surgery or harmful chemicals instead of providing counseling and medical alternatives which may address not only the chief complaint but all secondary symptoms for a fraction of the cost and down time.