What Is Acupuncture and How Does It Work?

Practiced for over 2,500 years in China, acupuncture is part of a holistic system of Traditional Chinese Medicine based on the philosophy that Qi (pronounced “chee”) or life energy, flows through the body. Qi helps to animate the body and protect it from pain and disease. When Qi flows freely throughout the body, one enjoys physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

An obstruction or imbalance of Qi within the body can be caused by many things such as physical and emotional trauma, stress, lack of exercise, overexertion and poor dietary patterns. Normally when imbalance occurs, the body naturally bounces back, returning to a balanced state of health. When the disruption to Qi is prolonged or excessive, or if the body is in a weakened state, then illness, pain or disease can set in.

Acupuncture works by stimulating the flow of Qi. Qi flows through a system of 12 major pathways or meridians. Each meridian is connected internally to a specific organ or gland. An acupuncturist will place fine, sterile needles at specific acupoints on the body to bring attention to the area, restore the free flow of energy and promote natural healing. It is a safe and effective way to treat a wide variety of problems.

One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of the many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions.

From a Western medical standpoint, there are many current theories on the mechanism of acupuncture. The 1997 National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus concluded that studies demonstrate that acupuncture causes multiple biological responses, mediated mainly by sensory neurons, to many structures within the central nervous system. Acupuncture causes vasodilatation (increased blood flow), affects the activity of hormones and neurotransmitters, and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing patients to achieve very deep relaxation.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

No. Most people find acupuncture to be painless. It bears no resemblance to the feeling of receiving an injection since the main sources of pain from injections are the diameter of the needle and medication being forced into tissue under pressure. By contrast acupuncture needles are hair thin, sterile, single use stainless steel. The location, depth and number of needles are determined by the nature of the problem.

What Education Is Required To Be A Licensed Acupuncturist?

Kelly is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist in the state of California. California requires completion of a 4-year full-time Masters program from an accredited Chinese Medical University. In addition to extensive training in Oriental medicine, which includes acupuncture, herbal medicine and nutrition, there is also a substantial portion of Western medical training. This includes courses in biology, chemistry, physics, western nutrition, laboratory analysis, pharmacology and one year of training in each of the following subjects: anatomy and physiology, pathology, and Western clinical medicine. Furthermore, a minimum of 900 hours of clinical internship is required to be eligible to take the state medical board examination in acupuncture.

What Are Some Conditions Commonly Treated With Chinese Medicine?

According to the World Health Organization, and the National Institutes of Health, acupuncture can effectively treat many acute and chronic health conditions as well as provide preventative care. The following disorders may benefit from treatment:

  • Gastrointestinal: Food allergies, peptic ulcers, constipation, colitis, Crohn’s disease, diarrhea, gastritis, IBS, nausea, vomiting
  • Urogenital and Reproductive: Endometriosis, infertility,menstrual problems, menopause, morning sickness, PMS, prostate problems, sexual dysfunction, UTI, vaginitis
  • Dermatological: Acne, dermatitis, eczema, herpes, hives, warts
  • Emotional and Neurological: Anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress, Bell’s palsy, headaches, migraines, MS, neuralgia, paralysis, tremors
  • Other Disorders: Diabetes, fatigue, hypoglycemia, hepatitis, HIV and related conditions, relief from the side effects of other therapies (i.e. chemo, radiation, surgical)
  • Musculoskeletal: Arthritis, neck and back pain, fibromyalgia, bursitis, sciatica, sports injuries, TMJ, tendonitis
  • Ear Nose and Throat: Allergies, asthma, bronchitis, common colds, flu, emphysema, eye diseases, tinnitus, vertigo, sore throat, sinusitis
  • Cardiovascular: Angina, atherosclerosis, anemia, hypertension, palpitations, coronary heart disease

What Will The First Session Include?

During an initial exam a full health history will be taken. Questions will be asked regarding symptoms, health and lifestyle. Kelly will take your pulse and look at your tongue as part of the diagnosis. There are 12 pulse positions on each wrist that will be palpated. Each position corresponds to a specific meridian and organ. She will be looking for individual qualities that relate to overall health. If there are problems they may appear in the pulse. The tongue is a map of the whole body. It reflects the general health of the organs and meridians; it will be evaluated for color, shape, cracks and coating. This information is then organized to create a complete, accurate, and comprehensive Chinese medical diagnosis to see where the Qi has become blocked or imbalanced.

For the initial visit plus acupuncture plan for 1.5-2 hours.