Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine

According to acupuncture authorities, acupuncture has been practiced for 5,000 to 7,000 years with its origins starting in China and spreading around the world. Acupuncture traveled through Asia and Europe, following missionaries and merchants. It wasn’t until 1971, when China and the U.S. opened diplomatic relations, that acupuncture became more nationally known and recognized.

Acupuncture is based on the principle that there is energy in your body and all around us. The energy is “contained” in channels, called “meridians” that act like pipes and carry it through the entire body to the different organs and systems in the body. These “meridians” are located just below the skin and follow a very specific path through your body.

Early Chinese physicians mapped this network of channels and some 1000+ acupuncture points along the way. Each of these “Acupoints” has very specific effects on the flow and movement of energy in the body.

Energy is essential for all parts of your body to work on a chemical, physical and energetic level.

Symptoms are typically a sign from your body that one or more systems in your body isn’t working correctly or at the very least can’t keep up with the work required.

Knowing that acupuncture helps control all the systems in your body, means acupuncture could help when any of the systems in your body that are not working as well as they could be.

Chinese Medicine has used acupuncture to help with almost every condition and most symptoms including:
• Back pain and headaches – which is a problem with the musculoskeletal system
• Heartburn and Acid Reflux – which is a problem with the gastrointestinal system
• Hot flashes and infertility – which is a problem with the endocrine and reproductive systems
• Anxiety, depression and addiction control – which are problems with the nervous system

How does acupuncture work?
The acupuncture system works meridian systems control electromagnetic system with all the other systems in your body, so when you develop symptoms, one of the first possible relief options is acupuncture.

Is Acupuncture Painful?
This is an important question, since for most people they have only experienced needles for drawing blood or injections – and those tend to be painful.

Most clients say the acupuncture needles hurt “less than a mosquito bite.” For some they don’t feel them at all and for some they feel a mild prick and some aching or heaviness in the area of the needle. Acupuncture needles are extremely slender, approximately as thin as your hair or very light fishing line – in fact several acupuncture needles can fit into the hole of most medical needles. If there is pain with the needle and the pain is more than mild, the needle can be removed or manipulated to reduce this sensation.

Acugraph®
Acugraph® is a great start to Acupuncture. By evaluating your twelve meridian systems in a pain free way, we can determine if acupuncture is right for you and which type of acupuncture should be used to give you the most relief from your symptoms. Acugraph® tests the frequency of each meridian and will graph out the results for you in an easy reference picture. It will show how balanced your body is and where any imbalances are. The graph is then color coded to indicate which channels are balanced and which are not balanced, with the following colors: Green = well balanced and in the normal range Red = too high, like a water hose with a gushing leak Blue = too low, like having a kink in your water hose Magenta = left or right side compared to the other there is a big difference in the communication between the two sides
You will also receive a chart explaining each of the meridians, and the symptoms that are commonly seen with imbalance. Acupuncture points are used to normalize and balance the energy flow in the meridians to commonly relieve many symptoms. **Please note that finding an imbalanced meridian does not mean you should have or will have the symptoms listed, or that the organ the meridian is named after is in danger. More information about acupuncture and how it works can be discussed at your visit with the doctor.