WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture is an Oriental form of treating many medical problems by inserting fine needles into various active points on the body. Acupuncture is 4000 to 5000 years old. The first written reference about acupuncture dates back to somewhere between the 5th and 3rd century BC. Acupuncture began in China , but soon spread to the other Oriental countries and in the past century have been practiced in Europe and the Soviet Union .
ACUPUNCTURE: IS IT FOR YOU?
Acupuncture is a form of Treatment for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health, and the prevention of disease, which is several thousand years old and yet has really only come into the vocabulary of the average American in the past few years. Although many people are skeptical about acupuncture, Acupuncture gained increasing acceptance as more and more people who have been treated and helped by it. The facts that acupuncture benefits many people that have not been helped by conventional medical methods are indicative of its potential usefulness in this country.
People who choose to undergo acupuncture treatments frequently have little knowledge about acupuncture in general and the actual treatment procedure in particular. Certain questions seem to be repeatedly asked in acupuncture clinics. This booklet is a collection of these questions, with answers provided by doctors involved in the day-to-day treatment of patients using acupuncture. It is in no way a textbook on acupuncture, but will hopefully serve as a reassuring guide for someone contemplating acupuncture treatment.
WHAT TYPES OF CONDITIONS ARE TREATED?
There is wide variety of illnesses which acupuncture may treat. Almost any painful condition may treat, provided there are no medical contraindications, which prevent this. These conditions are treatable, such like osteo-arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, sciatica and chronic headaches. Complication medical problem that has thoroughly diagnosed and treated but in which the pain has been unable controlled. Other maladies that have not responded to medicinal or medical treatment could be help by Acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Deafness due to nerve problems, carpal tunnel and fibromyalgia syndrome, sinusitis, asthma, chronic diarrhea or constipation, painful menstrual period, certain symptoms of multiple sclerosis and other neuralgic conditions as will as various other diseases are treatable with acupuncture.
DOES ACUPUNCTURE HELP WITH WEIGHT CONTROL AND EXCESSIVE SMOKING?
Acupuncture can have good results in treating obesity, excessive smoking, alcoholism and drug addiction and many types of nervous disorders.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDLES LIKE?
Acupuncture needles are far different from the hypodermic needle that used in giving infections. First, the needles are solid and no medicines put on them or injected through them. The needles are varying in length. They are inserted into the skin, from 1/8 to several inches ‘areas of the body with overlying fat. There only use disposable needles. The skin cleansed with alcohol before they inserted.
WHAT ARE ACUPUNCTURE POINTS AND MERIDIANS?
Acupuncture points are those areas on the skin that have shown to have some influence on pain or body function when stimulated by a needle prick or heat. These points are quite small and exact localization is quite important to attain maximum benefits from a given treatment. Acupuncture points invented over many years of close observance and trial and error. Certain areas of the skin may become painful or tender to the touch in certain conditions and many points found in this way by astute Oriental physicians. The points organized into twelve classic meridians and several extra meridians. The names of the classic meridians are lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen-pancreas, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidney, pericardium, triple-heater, gall bladder and liver.
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF BEING HELPED?
No doctor can cure all the people who come to him and no individual can ensure success with a particular medicine or type of treatment. Most people in the West who seek acupuncture have conditions that have proven resistant to other types of treatment. In a nationwide survey of acupuncture users:
Respondents also reported that they very satisfied with acupuncture care with its cost and with their individual practitioners. Many also said that with acupuncture they were saving money on their overall health-care costs. Acupuncture helps them feel and function better.
WILL IMPROVEMENT FROM ACUPUNCTURE BE LONG LASTING?
Many people who have been helped may retain their improvement for months or years depending on their conditions. Those people whose symptoms return may help again with only a few additional treatments. It is extremely important to take an adequate amount of treatments in the beginning to abstain the best results and thus the restoration of good health is more permanent.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NECESSARY?
It usually recommended that a series of 10 treatments be given. Many patients will obtain the best results after 6 or 12 treatments, so it is best to consult with the acupuncturist about your particular case. The treatments preferably given twice or three times a week in the beginning and then spread out as the patient begins to improve.
WHAT TRAINING DO THE DOCTORS HAVE?
All members of Florida Acupuncture Association all trained in the traditional Chinese method acupuncture. Theses members must have a minimum of 10 years experience. You can be confident that we use only the traditional Chinese method and have the most qualified acupuncturists to do it.
There are four basic healing techniques that the acupuncturist needs qualified.1. Acupuncture 2. Moxibustion. 3. Herbal therapy and dietary therapy. 4. Qi Gong exercise and meditation. Acupuncture is an element within the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health system that also includes Herbs, Acupressure, exercise, and diet.
HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
Objective Scientific evidence shows that acupuncture has physical bases, and proves that it does not work by hypnosis or suggestion. Scientists know that acupuncture produces measurable changes in the brain, at least in part by releasing opioids, natural morphine-like substance. Traditional Chinese texts show that there are about 350 acupuncture points in the body connected by meridians- the pathways beneath the skin through which healing energy flows. People get sick when these life forces knocked out of balance and the job of the acupuncturists is to nudge Qi -the energy back into equilibrium. They do this by pushing needles through the skin at specific points, along the meridians. Recent studies show that acupuncture meridians are transmission lines to the central nervous system. Messages telling the body to begin the healing process pass along these meridians.
DO THE TREATMENTS HURT?
Most the people agree that acupuncture is practically painless. The needles used are extremely fine and skilled acupuncturists will cause a minimum of pain. The needle is not felt as it enters the skin. However, a slight pressure or surge may be felt when it reaches the correct spot under the skin. It is interesting that the needles cause no bleeding when they inserted or removed.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE?
One of the great advantages of acupuncture is that is no harm; unlike drugs and surgery. Acupuncture has virtually no side effects. There is in contrast to many potent Western medicines in which severe side affects in certain cases may be worse than the disease being treated.
WHAT DO I DO AFTER THE TREATMENNT?
An hour rest recommended after treatment to obtain the best results from the treatment. All patients encouraged to report the exact results of each treatment to the acupuncturists or staff so that they can best determine how to handle your individual case.
DOES MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAY FOR ACUPUNCTURE
It is necessary to check with your insurance company to verify if your policy covers the acupuncture treatment and we shall be happy to fill the papers out or assist you for reimbursement. Acupuncture treatments are totally tax deductible as a medical expense on your yearly tax report.
WHAT IS THE COST?
Consultations or information is FREE. If you are considering treatment but would like to discuss your specific program with the doctors or staff, we invite you to make an appointment for a consultation. There is no charge or obligation.