Acupuncture 

Acupuncture is used to treat the symptoms, and eliminate the root cause of health care problems. Acupuncture procedures incorporate tiny, hair-thin pins that are shallowly inserted on the surface of the skin at areas of the anatomy called acupuncture points. These acupuncture points reflect the natural, electrical, inherent energy flow that moves through every living being. This energy is called "Qi" by the ancient Chinese. Disease or imbalance in body results from improper flow of this energy. A trained acupuncturist knows how to affect these acupuncture points so that proper energy flow can be obtained, thereby correcting the disease or imbalance and helping to reduce pain and heal areas of ill health.

Eastern concepts/theories about medicine date back 5,000 years and are incorporated as bona fide healing systems of the world’s 6.6 billion 2007 population; one-third, or, 2.2 billion use different aspects of Oriental medicine. Many people decide to visit an acupuncturist as a last resort when, in fact, the acupuncturist should have been the first choice of health care.  When Western therapies haven’t been successful, or time doesn’t heal the problem, the patient's condition will have deteriorated, causing a delay in the healing process, and, more likely, a longer course of treatment. 

Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years to help people feel better, be more vital and live longer. Many of them have also been used for treating various illnesses and restoring the normal body functions for hundreds of years, and have proved their effectiveness. One of the most appealing qualities of Chinese herbs therapy is the low risk of adverse reaction or side effects, especially when compared to pharmaceutical drugs. 

Records of the Chinese pharmacopoia date back to the third century B.C. and have been updated regularly since then. During the second century B.C., the Chinese were the first to extract male and female hormones from urine. Chinese doctors were also the first to synthesize thyroid hormone from jujube dates to treat goiter.

Chinese herbs are designed to help the body produce the proper levels of hormones on its own. Many of the ingredients in Chinese herbal formulas may have little or no hormonal effects, but the effect of the whole formula will substantially increase hormone levels. Herbs contain natural energetic substances whose essence gently corrects underlying deficiencies or removes obstructions. The synergy of these substances produces their potent effects. The active ingredients are buffered by the whole plant and blended with other herbs, reducing their side effects. 

To accommodate specific needs of each patient, we Chinese medicine doctors often adjust a traditional formula based on the patients unique constitution and the condition of the illness. However, the quality of Chinese herbal products available in the market varies greatly. Our center uses herbal products that are manufactured to an extremely high level of hygiene, safety and quality control.  

The standard of care in Chinese herbal therapy is to use herbs in their raw form. Patients make decoction of the raw herbs and drink the “tea” throughout the day. However, the smell, taste and the amount of effort to cook the tea often make patients less compliant.  I have found that most of my patients prefer to take their herbs in power or pill form. While this may slightly decrease the herbs’ potency. I believe it is better to offer a prescription that the patient will follow. Consistency, accuracy, and patience are important. Take what’s prescribed in the recommended dosage; be consistent and accurate. Also, be patient. While you may see improvements in your symptoms quickly, bringing the body back into harmony takes time.

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years; in fact, the actual Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion." The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain general health.

In traditional Chinese medicine, moxibustion is used on people who have a cold or stagnant condition. The burning of moxa is believed to expel cold and warm the meridians, which leads to smoother flow of blood and qi. In Western medicine, moxibustion has successfully been used to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the Bladder meridian. Other studies have shown that moxibustion increases the movement of the fetus in pregnant women, and may reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps when used in conjunction with traditional acupuncture.