FAQ's - Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, & Alternative Treatments

faq for acupuncture, tcm, alternative treatments

The consultation includes questioning, observing, examination of the pulse and tongue, as well as physical examination if required. What the physician is looking for are not symptoms in isolation but rather a pattern into which a total picture is woven of the patient. Tongue and pulse diagnosis are highly refined in Chinese medicine.

Treatments are approximately 1 hour long. The number of treatments required depends on the condition being treated and the response of the patient to treatment. Treatment of chronic conditions is usually once per week to begin with; and for acute problems, can be daily until the practitioner is confident that longer intervals are beneficial as the body’s healing abilities are enhanced.

We only utilize sealed, single-use disposable acupuncture needles, there is no risk of infection from the needles.

In a treatment, needles are inserted at various points on the body and limbs. The needles themselves are very fine (they could pass down the centre of a hypodermic needle). After insertion, they may be moved gently to produce the desired result on the energy (Qi), and then left in place for the required amount of time.

For many conditions, the sensation is no more than a slight prick (although sometimes a shooting nerve-like sensation is experienced).

It is common to feel very relaxed and even fall asleep during the treatment.

  • Ulcers, dyspepsia (indigestion), stomach pains, loss of appetite, anorexia,
  • Hiccups, difficulty swallowing, colitis, intestinal disorders, diarrhea, constipation,
  • Bloating, hemorrhoids, gallbladder problems, liver disease, vomiting.
  • Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, laryngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis (runny nose), cough, colds, flu, dyspnea (shortness of breath).
  • Numbness, cold limbs, chills, swelling, edema, hypertension, hypotension.
  • Prostate problems, cystitis, incontinence, difficulty urinating.
  • Vaginitis (vaginal infection, vaginal irritation), painful menstruation, heavy periods, irregular periods, missed periods, menopause, low libido, infertility, impotence, pregnancy problems.
  • Some types of hearing loss, tinnitus, ringing ears, Meniere’s disease, ear pain.
  • Some types of paralysis (including hemiplegia), muscular atrophy and muscular dystrophy.
  • Nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, stuttering, nervous tics, phobias, depression, general fatigue, obsessions, nightmares, bulimia, vertigo, tremors, loss of balance.
  • Eczema, herpes, zoster, boils, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, hives, athlete’s foot.
  • Hay fever, etc.
  • Arthritis, rheumatism, stiff neck (torticollis, wryneck), neck pain, sciatica, lumbago, muscle pain, headaches, migraines, sports injuries, tennis elbow, cramps, sprains, bursitis, trigeminal neuralgia, facial neuralgia, knee problems.
  • Diabetes, arteriosclerosis, cholesterol problems, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, anemia, mononucleosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, ataxia, myelitis, fibroids, addiction (e.g., smoking, drugs, alcohol, overeating).

Yes. In consultation, your TCM practitioner will advise if the condition is treatable and what improvements may be expected.

Yes. Traditional Chinese Medicine can be used to address common childhood diseases, colds, flu, infection, allergies, sleep problems and more.

TCM can be combined with Western therapies and alternative treatments. You should advise your practitioner of any other alternative therapies you are utilizing in order to insure effective TCM treatments.

TCM takes into account the whole person, not only the disease symptoms but also the age, habits, physical and emotional traits, and all other aspects of the individual patterns of disharmony that have arisen.

The treatments are cumulative toward replacing these patterns with healthy patterns so the body is able to heal and maintain itself more efficiently on its own.

Not always. It is strongly recommended for the best long-term results, that treatments be continued on your practitioner’s advice, although less frequent treatments may be warranted, until confidence that your body can maintain and continue the improvements on its own. This may prevent future relapses.