| As an acupuncturist I explain to my patients and | | | | plans are unique to each patient and their specific |
| often remind myself that staying healthy requires | | | | imbalances. Results and length of therapy will vary |
| practices in prevention, self-awareness and | | | | according to severity of condition and the health |
| self-care. Knowing the underlying principles of care | | | | of the patient. For example, a chronic condition |
| and the health benefits that Traditional Chinese | | | | may need long term care in comparison to an |
| Medicine and acupuncture can offer is one step | | | | acute condition. A patient with a weak constitution |
| closer to optimal health. | | | | may need more therapy than a patient with a |
| The therapeutic benefits of acupuncture are often | | | | strong constitution. |
| misunderstood. Following through on a proper | | | | Acupuncture needles are very thin, sterilized, and |
| course of acupuncture treatment could be the | | | | solid as opposed to hollow. No substances are |
| different between finding relief and continuing to | | | | injected into the patient during an acupuncture |
| struggle with a chronic health condition. | | | | treatment. Such injections usually create dramatic |
| Good health is about good circulation. A common | | | | changes that are not naturally produced by the |
| condition that is often treated successfully with | | | | body. For example, cortisone injections are often |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is Qi and Blood | | | | used in Western medicine for chronic pain. You |
| Stagnation. Qi is recognized in TCM as a form of | | | | can only receive a few shots per year because |
| bioelectricity that circulates with blood through the | | | | overuse can stop the body from producing it's |
| body. Pain is obstruction to qi and blood flow | | | | own cortisone naturally. |
| preventing the transportation of healing agents | | | | Frequent acupuncture treatments are needed to |
| found in blood and qi to the affected area. | | | | awaken the body's own natural healing abilities and |
| Think about how the heart pumps blood through | | | | produce an accumulative and more beneficial |
| the entire body and you will understand how easy | | | | effect. The therapeutic gains of treatment build |
| it can be to develop Qi and Blood Stagnation. | | | | momentum from one treatment to the next. In a |
| Blood is pumped out of the heart into large blood | | | | condition such as chronic pain - circulation is |
| vessels called arteries. Blood is propelled fairly | | | | blocked preventing the healing agents found in |
| easily through these arteries with considerable | | | | blood to be delivered. Acupuncture therapy can |
| pressure as heart muscles contract. Arteries | | | | improve circulation and over time relieve pain. A |
| continue to narrow into very tiny vessels called | | | | proper course of treatment that is generally |
| capillaries than eventual spill the blood out into the | | | | accepted to be sufficient to produce a beneficial |
| narrow space between the body cells called | | | | effect is about 10 - 12 treatment sessions. A |
| interstitial space. Blood pressure at this point is | | | | patient stopping treatment after a couple of |
| weak. Body cells can extract nutrients from blood | | | | sessions has not given their body the chance to |
| cells that are speeding by so this is natural but the | | | | experience the accumulative benefits of |
| potential for obstruction is great. Injury can | | | | acupuncture therapy. |
| damage and obstruct circulation but simple muscle | | | | Relief therapy may require 2 to 3 treatments per |
| tension, poor posture, and artery clogging meals | | | | week for several weeks to relief a majority of |
| are some examples that can also impede | | | | the pain and restore function. Once benefits are |
| circulation. Squeeze your hand and your knuckles | | | | experienced after relief therapy it would be to |
| turn white blocking the flow of blood. If you tried | | | | soon to stop treatment. Often times healing is not |
| to maintain a tight fist for too long you would | | | | complete and to prevent the reoccurring pain |
| soon begin to feel numbness and tingling and | | | | stabilization therapy is necessary. Frequency of |
| eventually pain - Qi and Blood Stagnation. | | | | treatment may be 1 time per week or 1 |
| Chronic pain results when healing agents in the | | | | treatment every other week. After observing |
| blood and qi cannot reach to repair the injured | | | | stability in the condition through treatment then a |
| area. Acupuncture treatment can help promote | | | | patient progresses into maintenance care, which |
| circulation and restore the body's natural healing | | | | could be 1 treatment every month or every few |
| abilities. Acupuncture is a therapy meaning it often | | | | months. |
| requires multiple treatments to correct an | | | | Acupuncture therapy is focused on promoting and |
| imbalance and restore harmony in health. There | | | | maintaining health as opposed to the necessary |
| are phases of treatment that are important to | | | | but distinguishing care of Western medicine, which |
| understand in order to properly apply acupuncture | | | | mostly focuses on trauma. An internship for a |
| as an effective therapy for the relief of health | | | | medical doctor is often done in an emergency |
| issues such as chronic pain. | | | | room - a trauma focused environment. |
| Three Phases of Acupuncture Therapy | | | | Maintenance therapy is something that is |
| Relief Therapy | | | | encouraged under the scope of acupuncture and |
| - Relief of symptomatic pain / imbalance | | | | TCM. It only makes sense to be engaged in |
| - Frequent treatments | | | | prevention to promote optimal Health through |
| Stabilization Therapy | | | | such therapies as acupuncture, herbal medicine, |
| - Stabilize relief therapy so symptoms don't return | | | | diet therapy, healthy lifestyle cycles, and exercise |
| - Frequency is less | | | | like Tai Chi, Qigong, and meditation. Knowing how |
| Maintenance Therapy | | | | to take care of youself is power through wisdom. |
| - Maintain stabilization therapy | | | | Teaching self-care is a fundamental part of |
| - Frequent treatments are not necessary and | | | | acupuncture as a natural and holistic therapy for |
| only occasional | | | | the mind, body and spirit. Prevention starts with |
| A new acupuncture patient will often ask how | | | | awareness of your self and your personal |
| many treatments it will take to resolve their | | | | imbalances and then taking steps to restore and |
| problem? There is no exact answer. Treatment | | | | maintain optimal health. |