faq

1) what is acupuncture ?
2) how long does the treatment take ?
3) selecting an acupuncture practise
4) what are the needles like ? do they hurt ?
5) how many treatment will i need ?
6) how do i prepare for acupuncture treatment ?
7) what should i expect after my first treatment ?
8) are there restrictions after ?
9) what if i would like an eastern treatment, but don't want acupuncture ?
10) what type of equipment do you use ?

1) what is acupuncture ?

acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points to treat certain health problems. the chinese have mapped these points over a period of two thousand years. the western medical view is that acupuncture has several mechanisms of action, including the release of endorphins and other neurochemicals and the activation of "gate" in the nervous system that blocks pain. the eastern view of the traditional chinese medicine believes that emotional and physical energy, known as "qi" ( pronouce "chee"), flows through the body along specific pathway or "meridians". when qi is flowing smoothly, the body is in balance. physical illness may result if energy flow slows or is blocked by factors like injury, poor diet, stress or environment factors. acupuncture acts to release blockages and improve or balance energy flow.

2) how long does the treatment take ?

for the initial visit, the doctor has to do the physical examination. the initial visit takes about 1-1/2 to 2 hours including treatment. follow-up treatments will last approximately 1 to 1-1/2 hours depending on how critical the conditions is. during the treatment, needles remain in the body for twenty minutes and the patient enjoygs listening to music.

3) selecting an acupuncture practise

patients will benefit from asking about the training and experience of practisioner. since not all states require licensing, ask if the practisioner is certified by the national certification commission for acupuncture and oriental medicine (n.c.c.a.o.m), or a licensed acupuncturist by the state of california, which is the best choice.

4) what are the needles like? do they hurt ?

we use sterile, disposable and single-use needles only. people experience acupuncture needling differently. most patients feel only minimal pain as the needles are inserted; some feel no pain at all. once needles are in place, there is no pain felt. acupuncture needles are very thin, not like needles used to draw blood. two sensations coomonly occur during acupuncture treatment. the first is a tingle at the skin surface. the second is the the sensation of qi, which occurs when the practisioner contacts energy in the channel. this sensation is that of a mild ache beneath, or radiating from the acupuncture point. both of these sensations are brief. during the remainder of treatment, relaxation and a sense of well being are present in most people.

5) how many treatment will i need ?

the number of treatments needed differs from person to person. the length of treatments depends on the duration, severity, and nature of a problem. some acute problems respond well to a single treatment. for complex or long standing conditions (chronic) one or two treatments per week for several months may be recommended. for health maintenance, four sessions a year may be all that is necessary.

6) how do i prepare for acupuncture treatment ?

let the practisioner know which health problems are most bothersome to you. eat regularly and avoid alcohol that day.

7) what should i expect after my first treatment ?

one of four things will take place.

1. the symptoms will gradually and progressively resolve.
2. the treated symptoms will progressively improve and then gradually return. as the practitioner provides further-treatments, the length of improvment and the time between treatments will increase.
3. the treated symptom will worsen temporarily and then return to its previous state. this effect is termed "rebound" and is good sign that the treatment affected the proper energy pathway. rebound may occur after the first one or two treatments and then lead to improvement with future treatment.
4. it is possible to have no effect noted after the first treatment, the practisioner will reconsider the treatment plan.

8) are there restrictions after ?

yes. to enhance the value of a treatment the following guidelines are important.

• do not eat an unusually large meal immediately before or after your treatment.
• do not over-exercise, engage in sexual activity, or consume alcoholic beverages within 6 hours before or after treatment.
• plan your activities so that after the treatment you can get some rest, or at least not to be working at top performance. this is especially important for the first few visits.
• continue to take any prescription medicine as directed by your regular doctor. if you are taking herbs, take the herbs and the prescription medicine two hours apart.
• remember to keep good mental or written notes of what your response is to be treatment. this is important for your doctor to know so that the follow-up treatments can be designed to best help you and your problems

9) what if i would like an eastern treatment, but don't want acupuncture ?

you may choose acupressure, stimulating acupuncture points with finger pressure, not needles. other options are "qi gong" (a form of exercise that balances energy within the body); deep tissue massage (tui-na); reflexology; or taking chinese herbal medications.

10) what type of equipment do you use ?

i am using the acutron micro-current machine. micro-current and needle acupuncture is combined for the optimal effect of a face-lift effect. the various treatments involve a trained acupuncturist specialized in non-invasive / non - surgical face-lifts. the acupuncture physician directs cotton-tipped electrodes over the skin targeting acupuncture points related to the face-lift effect. these emit a painless micro-current which stimulates the underlying muscles. the result is recharged and toned muscles and improved circulation to regenerate and repair skin, post-surgical bruising and healing of post-surgical scaring. this also helps to improve lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness, especially around the eyes, or on the body, helping to breakdown cellulite. the aim is an overall effect for a brighter complexion with improved blood circulation. if client suffering from epilepsy, migraine or certain skin condition, needle treatment may only be preferred without the micro-current, discuss this with your acupuncture physician.

if you want to know more about microcurrent treatments, please visit www.microcurrentresearch.com