TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) Frequently Asked Questions |
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) Frequently Asked Questions
How can acupuncture help me?
Acupuncture and related treatments are established, clinically proven medical modalities that are over 5,000 years old. In conjunction with Chinese herbal therapy, they form a complete and comprehensive medicine.
What is acupuncture?
It is the insertion of very fine needles (sometimes in conjunction with electric stimulus) into the skin. The purpose of this stimulation is to influence physiological, emotional and psychological functions in the mind and body (Chinese medicine has always acknowledged that the mind and body are inter-related).
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a health care system that requires the balance of the body's different energies the proper flow of that energy throughout the pathways or meridians. These meridians are associated with the various systems of the body.
How does TCM work?
It works by restoring the body's natural blood and energy flow, or Qi (pronounced CHEE) to a balanced state within the body. Practitioners of TCM believe that illness is the result of an imbalance in one of the vital energies or a blockage somewhere along the meridians. This can be corrected by stimulating the related channels through acupuncture (the use of needles), acupressure (the use of pressure on specific points), electric pulse and herbal remedies.
By some unknown process, acupuncture raises levels of specific hormones, prostaglandins, white blood counts, gamma globulins, opsonins, and overall antibody levels. This is called "Augmentation of Immunity." The "Endorphin" Theory states that the acupuncture stimulates the secretions of endorphins in the body. The "Neurotransmitter" Theory states that certain neurotransmitter levels (such as Seratonin and Noradrenaline) are affected by acupuncture. "Circulatory" Theory: This states that acupuncture has the effect of constricting or dilating blood vessels. One of the most popular theories is the "Gate Control" Theory. According to this theory, the perception of pain is controlled by a part of the nervous system that regulates impulse that will be later interpreted as pain. This part of the nervous system is called the "Gate." If the gait is hit with many impulses, it becomes overwhelmed, and it closes, and prevents some of the impulses from getting through. The nerve fibers that carry the impulses of pain are rather small nerve fibers called "C" fibers. These are the gates that close during acupuncture.
Acupuncture physicians use sterile, single use acupuncture needles, in varying lengths, and width of shaft. Most needles used today are no bigger than a human hair, made of stainless steel and very strong.
Electro-Acupuncture is the use of very small electrical impulses sent through the acupuncture needles. This method is generally used for analgesia (pain relief or prevention). The amount of power used is only a very small amount, but the frequency of the current can vary from 500 to 2,000 Hz. Today, it is a common method of surgical anesthesia used in China.
The second commonly used treatment in the United States is auriculotherapy or ear acupuncture. It is based on the theory that since the ear has a rich nerve and blood supply, it also must have connections all over the body. For this reason, the ear has many acupuncture points which correspond to many parts and organs of the body. Auricular acupuncture has been successful in treating problems ranging from obesity to alcoholism and drug addiction.
The third treatment method is moxibustion. It is the treatment of conditions by applying heat produced by burning specific herbs on acupuncture points. Moxibustion is used for ailments such as bronchial asthma, bronchitis, and certain types of paralysis, and arthritic disorders.
The fourth method is cupping. This is a technique that involves the stimulation of acupuncture points by applying suction. This is with a metal, wood, or glass jar, in which a partial vacuum has been created. Cupping is used for low backache, sprains, soft tissue injuries, and in helping relieve flu, and fluid from the lungs in chronic bronchitis.
The last method, is acupressure. This is simply acupuncture without needles. Stimulation of the acupuncture points is performed with the finger or an instrument with a hard ball shaped head. Many diseases of the internal organs can be treated in this manner.
What conditions respond well to TCM?
Traditional Chinese Medicine can be used for nearly every medical condition. Acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs may address all chronic hormonal imbalances, immune system deficiencies, as well as neurological, psychological and metabolic disorders. The most common ailments currently being treated are:
1. Low backache
2. Cervical spondylosis
3. Condylitis, (inflammation of the joint structures)
4. Arthritic conditions
5. Headaches of all kinds (including migraine)
6. Allergic reactions
7. General and specific use for analgesia
8. Relief of muscle spasms
There have also been clinical trials in the use of acupuncture in treating anxiety disorders and depression. Likewise, very high success rates have been found in treating addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and "hard drugs." Acupuncture used in conjunction with counseling and 12 step programs has proven to be remarkably effective.
In 1979, The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a list of 41 diseases amenable to acupuncture treatment. These include ENT, respiratory, and digestive ailments, post-stroke paralysis, asthma and other allergies, eye diseases, nervous system disorder and various types of pain, to name just a few.
When is the best time to use TCM?
When your condition is chronic, you are an excellent candidate for Oriental Medicine. However, if you are experiencing an acute, life threatening medical condition, you should see a conventional physician.
When can I expect to see results while practicing TCM?
Because TCM is an individualized method of treatment, and every condition manifests differently in each person, it is difficult to predict when the results can be seen. Most people with soft tissue injury or recent trauma (sprains, strains, muscle pulls from injury or overuse) have immediate decrease in pain after being treated with acupuncture.
What to expect when you first see your acupuncture physician?
When you go to a Chinese medicine practitioner, whether for treatment of an illness, acute pain, or to begin a program of preventive care, the doctor will follow a system of evaluation and diagnosis that depends on observation and questioning. In accordance with the philosophy of the Tao, diagnosis is a procedure of perceiving signs and symptoms and relating them to one another, to reveal how they form patterns of harmony and disharmony. Each symptom or sign has meaning only in relationship to other signs and symptoms and to the whole of your mind/body/spirit. After your initial history intake, your practitioner will determine which of the modalities of treatment is best for you and your present complaint.
In conclusion, it is evident that acupuncture is an effective treatment modality, which should be taken seriously and considered a valid form of treatment alongside other "alternative" modalities as well as mainstream medicine. More and more insurance companies are discovering the cost effectiveness of acupuncture as both a preventative strategy for maintaining health and well being and effective treatment of many chronic ailments for which Western Medicine has no answer.
Now that you have an understanding of the basics of Chinese medicine and what to expect if you go for acupuncture or herbal therapy, you may be ready to make an appointment to see a Chinese medicine practitioner.
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