FAQ
What is Oriental Medicine?
Oriental medicine is a system of healthcare more than 5,000 years old. It is comprised of five main components: acupuncture, herbology, various forms of Oriental massage, dietary therapy and qi gong (energetic exercises). Your treatment may be comprised of one or more of these components, depending on your condition.
How does it Work?
The ancient Chinese believed that within the body, there are channels of energy called meridians, which regulate your body’s functions. Any imbalance in energy or qi (pronounced chee) causes illness. With acupuncture, needles are used to manipulate the energy along meridians and their corresponding organs in order to bring about balance. From a western viewpoint, we know that all matter is made up of atoms. The building blocks of atoms are essentially bundles of energy which vibrate at different frequencies to form different atoms. The needles are used to restore the original frequency (balance-harmony-good health) bringing about a balance in energy.
Herbal prescriptions (raw herbs or prepared supplements) are often used in conjunction with an acupuncture treatment or may be used in place of acupuncture. Each herb in a prescription has a particular function. Unlike Western pharmaceuticals which may use the isolated active ingredient of an herb to treat a disease or a synthetic version of an active ingredient, most herbologists work on the premise that a herb should be used in its entirety. There are complementary ingredients in an herb that balance out the main ingredients. This is why there are so few side effects with most herbs and herbal formulas.
Does it Hurt?
Some acupuncture points may be sensitive. The most pain clients usually feel is equal to someone pressing their finger on your arm with moderate pressure. Any pain usually disappears within seconds after the needle is inserted.
How do I Choose an Acupuncturist?
Licensed acupuncturists have one of the lowest incidences of malpractice suits among medical professions. Be sure to ask your acupuncturist about their training (how many academic and clinical hours they trained) to ensure the best quality of care. Nationally, acupuncturists are required to complete a minimum of 3 years of academic and clinical training or 5 years of apprenticeship. They must also pass national or state certification exams, much like allopathic physician’s board exams, in order to practice. In Missouri, those who met this standard will be designated as Licensed Acupuncturists (L.Ac.).
Support for Oriental Medicine
The National Institute of Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism have begun demonstration projects using acupuncture treatment for crack cocaine detoxification and alcoholism. The U.S. Government has spent $1 million funding acupuncture drug detoxification treatment programs in New York City, NY; Miami, FL; and Portland, OR. The number of cities with an acupuncture component to their drug detoxification programs is continually expanding.
The National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement in November 1997, acknowledging acupuncture as being “an effective adjunct therapy, acceptable alternative or part of a comprehensive treatment program for (but not limited to) addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia (general muscle pain), low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma.” The World Health Organization (WHO), the medical branch of the United Nations, issued a provisional list of diseases responsive to acupuncture treatment .
