FAQ
Acupuncture Therapy
What is acupuncture?
What should I expect from a treatment?
How many treatments will I need?
Is acupuncture painful?
What is electronic stimulation?
Are there conditions that should not be treated with acupuncture?
Are there any risks I should be aware of?
How can I find a qualified practitioner in my local area?
How much does a treatment cost?
Will my medical insurance cover acupuncture treatments?
Chinese Herbal Therapy
There are various modes of herbal medication. In our clinic, we carefully select the standardized full-spectrum extracts, which we think are the most appropriate and beneficial herbs for our patients.
What are herbal extracts?
Are there any side effects?
Can I take herbal supplements with my prescription drugs?
Are there herbal alternatives to prescription medication?
Can children and elderly patients take herbal supplements?
Can pregnant or nursing women take herbal supplements?
How should I store herbal medication?
Why do you select standardized full-spectrum extracts in your practice?
Acupuncture Therapy
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a system of healing that dates back thousands of years. At the core of TCM is the concept that a type of life force or energy called qi (pronounced “chi”) flows through channels in the body known as meridians. Each meridian is connected to a specific organ or group of organs that governs particular bodily functions. When there is too little or too much qi in a meridian, or when the qi stagnates or becomes blocked, illness can occur. Acupuncture involves inserting thin stainless steel needles at specific points on the body—known as gateways—to unblock or rebalance the flow of qi.
top of pageWhat should I expect from a treatment?
Treatments generally take about 45 minutes, allowing sufficient time for a consultation with your acupuncturist. Your first session may last a little longer so the acupuncturist can get to know you. In addition to asking questions, the acupuncturist may take your pulse at several points on the wrist and examine your tongue for its shape, color, and coating. They may also observe the color and texture of your skin, your posture, and other physical characteristics that provide clues to your overall health.
You will then be asked to lie down on a padded examination table while the acupuncturist inserts the needles, gently twirling or jiggling each as it is placed.
You may not feel the needles at all, or you might experience a brief twitch or twinge that subsides once the needle is fully inserted. Once all the needles are in place, you will rest for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, you will likely feel relaxed, may become sleepy, and could even doze off. At the end of the session, the acupuncturist will quickly and painlessly remove the needles.
How many treatments will I need?
The number of acupuncture treatments needed depends on the complexity of your condition, whether it is chronic or recent, and your overall state of health. For example, you may need only one treatment for a recent wrist sprain, whereas a long-standing, chronic condition may require treatments once or twice a week for several months to achieve optimal results.
Is acupuncture painful?
One might assume that inserting a needle into the skin would be painful. While you may feel the needle being inserted, most patients do not describe it as painful; instead, they report a sensation of mild to moderate heaviness or tingling.
In general, patients find the treatment very relaxing, often experiencing a sense of well-being. Many are surprised at how comfortable the session feels and how easily the needles are placed. Some even fall asleep during treatment.
What is electronic stimulation?
Needles clearly still have a place in clinical practice. However, many physicians certified in acupuncture and licensed acupuncturists now use electronic or laser stimulation on acupuncture points, achieving results comparable to traditional needle therapy. Both of these methods are painless and are quickly becoming standard worldwide.
The “tapping needle” is not actually a needle, as it does not pierce the skin. It produces a mild to moderate sensation, similar to tapping a ballpoint pen on the skin. This form of stimulation has been used successfully for centuries. Thumb pressure is also highly effective and is not considered painful.
Are there conditions that should not be treated with acupuncture?
Some physicians and practitioners may choose to avoid treating patients during pregnancy.
Are there any risks I should be aware of?
If your acupuncturist is qualified to dispense herbs and recommends taking them as part of your treatment, discuss it with your physician first. Herbs are potent substances that can be harmful if you have certain medical conditions and may also interact with medications you are taking, potentially causing side effects. Additionally, ensure that your acupuncturist uses only disposable needles.
How can I find a qualified practitioner in my local area?
There are several ways to find a qualified practitioner. Some states require acupuncturists to be licensed and allow them to use a professional title, such as L.Ac., to identify themselves. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certifies acupuncturists (Dipl. Ac.) and practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine (Dipl. C.H.) upon successful completion of a qualifying examination.
How much does a treatment cost?
Each visit at our clinic costs $100. Herbal therapy, if needed, is an additional $50 per bottle. An initial consultation fee of $100 to $150 is also charged for your first visit.
Will my medical insurance cover acupuncture treatments?
An increasing number of insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Oxford, and Kaiser Permanente, now cover all or part of the cost of acupuncture treatments. However, coverage may be limited to certain conditions. Check with your insurance company to determine what your policy includes. If your insurance plan covers acupuncture, you will need to file the claim yourself, as we do not submit claims on your behalf.
Chinese Herbal Therapy
What are herbal extracts?
Herbal extracts are the “essence” of bulk herbs. Through a long and sophisticated process, the active components of the herbs are extracted and concentrated. As finished products, herbal extracts typically have a 5:1 concentration ratio, meaning that 5 pounds of raw herbs yield 1 pound of concentrate.
The manufacturing process for our herbal extracts follows the standards of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), ensuring both the safety and potency of the herbs. It begins with the selection of the finest raw herbs, continues with strict manufacturing procedures, and concludes with rigorous quality assurance testing.
Are there any side effects?
All herbal extracts from our clinic are 100 percent natural. They contain no harsh chemicals or preservatives and are gentle on your system. However, sensitive patients may experience mild reactions, such as minor stomach discomfort. If this occurs, you can reduce the dosage, take the herbs with food, or adjust the herbal formula.
Can I take herbal supplements with my prescription drugs?
Most herbal supplements can be taken safely by individuals who are also using prescription medications. However, it is recommended that herbal extracts be taken on an empty stomach and at least two hours apart from any prescription drugs.
Are there herbal alternatives to prescription medication?
Many conditions can be treated with either prescription drugs or herbal remedies with comparable effectiveness. Patients who prefer not to take prescription medications, or who cannot tolerate them due to side effects or adverse reactions, do have alternatives in herbal treatments. Just ask us.
Can children and elderly patients take herbal supplements?
Yes, children and elderly patients can take herbal extracts, and they often achieve excellent clinical results. However, dosages must be adjusted for each patient based on age, body weight, specific condition, and overall health.
Can pregnant or nursing women take herbal supplements?
In general, we exercise extra caution when using herbs during pregnancy. However, if the potential benefits outweigh the risks, herbs may be used at a low dose under professional supervision. We also specialize in the use of herbs during breastfeeding. Since herbs can be secreted into breast milk and passed to infants, they may affect the baby if the nursing mother is taking herbal remedies.
How should I store herbal medication?
Herbal supplements should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and moisture. UV radiation from sunlight can alter the properties of the products. Storing herbal extracts in a damp or humid environment, such as a kitchen or bathroom, may cause the powder to clump due to excess moisture.
Why do you select standardized full-spectrum extracts in your practice?
All herbal products have their advantages and disadvantages. There are various types of herbal preparations and delivery systems. At our clinic, we carefully select standardized full-spectrum extracts, which we believe are the most effective and appropriate type of herbs for our patients. Below is a comparison of the pros and cons of each preparation and delivery system:
Herbal Decoctions: Although effective, herbal decoctions have several potential disadvantages. Patients often find them time-consuming to prepare and sometimes unpleasant in taste or smell, which can lead to poor compliance. If the formula contains herbs requiring special handling, the complicated preparation process may be difficult to follow. Suboptimal cooking can result in incomplete extraction of active ingredients, reducing the overall effectiveness of the formula.
Raw Herb Capsules: Raw herb capsules may contain high levels of fiber, bacteria, fungi, mold, or sulfur from fumigation. Additionally, the bulk fiber requires digestion and may not be suitable for patients with weak constitutions or compromised digestive systems. While raw herb capsules are common in the market, they are not ideal for therapeutic use by practitioners.
Raw Herb Tablets: Raw herb powders are compressed into tablets using chemical binding agents, which may be harmful to the body. All the disadvantages of raw herb capsules also apply to raw herb tablets. Some manufacturers add excess fillers that dilute the potency of the final product, while others claim to sell concentrated tablets that actually contain mostly raw herb powder, evident from visible fibers. Due to the slow onset of action and low concentration of active constituents, raw herb tablets are not ideal for therapeutic purposes.
Freeze-Dried Herbs: Freeze-dried herbs have their moisture removed while frozen to prevent hydrolysis. However, these products are highly unstable due to their hygroscopic nature (tendency to absorb moisture from the air). Their shelf life is short because they rapidly degrade biochemically.
Standardized Extracts: Standardized extracts often use toxic solvents (e.g., acetone or hexane) and high heat to concentrate one active ingredient. While this provides standardization based on a single compound, it ignores the other active constituents and their therapeutic actions. This type of product is common in health food stores and is comparable to pharmaceuticals, making it unsuitable for practitioners who utilize the full spectrum of therapeutic properties in herbs.
Standardized Full-Spectrum Extracts: Standardized full-spectrum extracts are highly concentrated using a low-temperature vacuum evaporation process, which preserves the integrity of all active compounds. Quality control includes both qualitative and quantitative analysis using advanced techniques such as High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), and Liquid Column Chromatography (LCC).
This extraction process retains the full spectrum of active constituents, producing effects similar to decoctions because the extracts contain the complete range of compounds naturally present in fresh herbs. It is the most effective delivery system available today and is the preferred choice for our patients.