What is Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are tools used in clinical Chinese medicine to restore the proper functioning of the body in order to eliminate illness and imbalances. This is what is meant by ‘holistic’- we treat the individual who has the ‘dis-ease’, rather than treating the disease. By treating the ‘root’, not only are current symptoms eliminated, but future illness is often adverted. ‘Treating the root’ means we re-establish the normal dynamics of the body that have somehow been thrown off. Chinese medicine has been time tested for thousands of years, morphing and evolving into a marvelous system of understanding the body and the factors of illness.
See Jennifer demonstrating an acupuncture treatment on About.com!- See Video
How Does Acupuncture Work?
Acupuncture works by inserting sterile, solid, hair fine needles into designated places on the body which lie along meridians. The needles help to restore the physiological dynamic flow of the life force. The meridians are like riverways. Acupuncture works to keep these meridians free flowing in order to prevent pain, and irrigate the body with beneficial fluids and energy.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture is safe practiced in the hands of a licensed professional. Practitioners must pass a national licensing examination and meet all state licensing requirements before they can legally perform acupuncture. I am certified by the Committee on Acupuncture for Clean Needle Technique. I use disposable, sterile needles. There are very few side effects from acupuncture.
What can I expect from an acupuncture and herbal treatment?
Many people find acupuncture to be very relaxing. Falling asleep during a treatment is not uncommon! A treatment lasts one hour. I will ask you questions and then use other diagnostic methods such as taking the pulse and palpating the abdomen. From these methods I come up with a Chinese medical diagnosis and acupuncture treatment. Other therapies are utilized including cupping, moxabustion, and massage, among others. Patients leave the treatment room feeling relaxed and rejuvenated with a greater sense of balance. Herbs are administered on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
What are Chinese Herbs?
Chinese herbs are a variety of natural substances found within the plant, animal, and mineral kingdoms. They are skillfully prepared and combined into formulas for the treatment of illnesses. Before the days of extracting and synthesizing natural substances into pharmaceuticals, there was the whole plant. Herbs can be thought of as very nutritious foods that heal.
Are herbs safe to ingest?
Herbs have been used for thousands of years to help people find their health. Many of the formulas we prescribe in the clinic have been used for 2,000 years! As long as the herbs are used correctly, they are safe and very helpful. The herbs we use in our clinic are of the highest quality. As a minimum, all companies comply with International GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards. They are free from sulfur and other harmful preservatives.