questions

Common Questions about Acupuncture

Does acupuncture work?

Clinical trials have proven the effectiveness of acupuncture. Trials on animals further show that this
is not just a placebo effect.
Please see the section Acupuncture Research for more specific information.

How does acupuncture work?

Western medicine can't fully explain how acupuncture works. It has been shown that acupuncture
releases endorphins, the body's natural pain killers. The most popular theory is that this is how
acupuncture treats pain. But this does not explain how acupuncture can treat other conditions. I like
the explanation that acupuncture activates the perineural system, which consists of the connective
tissues around all the nerves. It has only recently been recognized that this system has regulatory
functions and is active in the healing of injuries. For a more complete explanation, visit the Articles
section.

Does it hurt?

When done properly, acupuncture does not hurt. At most, you will feel a slight sting when the needle
initially enters the skin. Sensations afterwards might include feelings of itching, heaviness, throbbing,
a slight dull ache, vibrations, or a slight electric feeling.

Are there any side effects?

Acupuncture is extremely safe and has very few side effects. These are uncommon. The most
common include a minor feeling of soreness at a particular point that was needled, which rarely lasts
more than a day. In less than 10% of the time, a slight bruise might appear. Finally, a very small
portion of the population is sensitive to needles and might experience dizziness and lightheadedness
when the first needle is inserted.

How many treatments will I need?

Acupuncture can be practiced in two ways. First, to manage symptoms, such as reducing pain,
relaxing the body for a while, or getting a few nights of good sleep. Such an approach leads to only
temporary relief, but is necessary for acute suffering.
The second approach is to analyze the root of the problem and work on that. In this way, you might
not see immediate relief, but the results will last a much longer time.

Each person responds differently, but a general rule of thumb is that for every year that you had a
condition, it will take about a month of regular treatments to resolve the condition. Regular
treatments usually mean a visit once a week. For more serious conditions, I sometimes recommend
visits twice or even three times a week.
How you respond will vary depending on the severity of the condition, your overall state of health,
willingness to make a lifestyle change, and so on.

What should I expect during the first visit?

During the first visit, I will ask you a great deal of questions about your symptoms, health and lifestyle,
examine your tongue, take your pulse, and arrive at a diagnosis. After making a diagnosis, I will
prescribe an herbal formula and you will receive a treatment with acupuncture and/or other modalities
such as moxibustion, cupping, or gua sha. I will also provide lifestyle and dietary advice, along with
exercises aimed at improving your condition. Typically this first visit can be expected to take 90
minutes. During follow up visits, I will generally ask questions to update your situation, adjust the
herbal formula if necessary, and get right down to the treatment, which will take approximately 60
minutes.

Common Questions about Herbal Medicine

Chinese Herbal Medicine is a vast field with a rich heritage. Throughout the history of China, some of
the brightest minds in China have devoted their lives to this discipline.
In China, Oriental Medicine is mostly thought of as herbal medicine. For cultural and historical
reason, in America, Oriental Medicine is mostly thought of as acupuncture.
Therefore, the rich healing potential of Chinese Herbal Medicine is not known or appreciated here yet.

Chinese Herbal Medicine utilizes more than 400 different substances, most of which are plants, but
they also include animal and mineral substances. These are combined into hundreds of different
formulas aimed at addressing all the possible imbalances that can exist. Once an appropriate
formula is selected based on a diagnosis, the formula is modified and fine-tuned to make it
appropriate for the particular patient for which it is selected.

How is Chinese Herbal Medicine different from Western drugs and Western herbalism?

For acute or life-threatening conditions, many Western drugs are necessary and no one can deny
their potency. However, when it comes to chronic and degenerative conditions, many times Western
drugs offer limited options or provide only symptomatic relief. Chinese Herbal Medicine, because it
does not focus on the relief of symptoms (although it does address them), can approach virtually any
health condition by focusing on the underlying imbalance.

Western pharmaceutical drugs, to be profitable, have to be patented. This means a drug must be
manufactured in some way, and must be a single identifiable chemical. Furthermore, a particular
drug addresses a particular symptom. In comparison, a single plant may contain thousands of
constituents, which interact in synergistic ways we do not yet appreciate.
While Western herbalism uses whole plants, it tends to focus on the use of single herbs which again
address specific symptoms without taking into account a complex syndrome (imbalance). This is one
way in which it differs from Chinese Herbal Medicine. Also, while many Western herbs are taken as
leaves, Chinese herbs tend to be more often the roots of the plant.
In Chinese Herbal Medicine, single herbs are rarely used. Instead, a combination of herbs is used.
The herbs in the formula are selected to address a particular imbalance as well as all the
repercussions and side effects of that imbalance, and form a truly holistic treatment.

How are Chinese Herbs administered?

Three options exist in the way herbs are administered.

1. Decoction

Traditionally, the raw herbs were cooked in a special pot to form a water-based decoction. This is
best way of preparing the herbs, as the herbs are usually the freshest and the resulting extraction is
the strongest. However, many patients can’t find the time in their schedule to cook the herbs. This is
also the most expensive method.

2. Granules

Granules are powders which have already been cooked and dried. All that is needed is to mix up the
formula (done by the practitioner), spoon out the correct amount and dissolve it in hot water. Thus,
the time required is minimal. This is the option most people choose, as this allows for an
individualized formula, and it leads to an extract, which, while not as strong as a decoction, is still
quite potent.

3. Patents

Patents are premixed formulas, cooked and dried into little pills. The patient needs to only swallow
the required number of pills. While this is the most convenient and the cheapest method, the
resulting pills are often of dubious quality and not as potent as the granules or raw herbs.
Furthermore, since the formulas are predetermined, it is not possible to adjust the formula for a
specific patient.

How long do I have to take the herbs?

It depends on the seriousness of the condition as well as how long you have suffered from it. While
each person responds differently, as a general rule of thumb, for each year that you have had a
condition, it will take about a month of herbal therapy to get better. The herbs are usually taken 2-3
times a day.

Do the herbs taste bad?

Medicine is not supposed to taste good!
Many of the formulas taste bad to the average American palate, because they tend to be bitter or
taste ‘earthy’ or ‘rooty’. I personally think this is a small price to pay for health.
Also, the experience of the taste is part of the healing process. As an example, since most poisonous
things in nature are bitter, the body reacts to the bitter taste by trying to get rid of the ‘poison’ by
initiating a cleansing process.

How much do the herbs cost?

The herbs are considerably cheaper than Western drugs and many supplements. As a general rule,
the cost of the herbs is about $15 per week, unless some more expensive medicinals are used in the
formula, such as ginseng.

Are the herbs safe to take?

The herbs are very safe if prescribed correctly. Of course, incorrect prescriptions can cause harm.
That is why you should seek out a skilled practitioner.
In terms of quality, I deal with a reputable supplier that regularly tests for the presence of heavy metals
and bacteria, as well as the authenticity of the herbs.

Are there any side effects?

If prescribed correctly, side effects are uncommon. If they do occur, they are generally mild and
gastrointestinal in nature, such as abdominal discomfort or a bloated feeling. If this happens, taking
the herbs with a meal, rather than on an empty stomach, takes care of the problem.