Common Questions and Answers about Jing River Acupuncture

Q: What is a Typical Acupuncture Treatment Like at Jing River Acupuncture Clinic?

A: The clients usually complete a health history questionnaire. The acupuncturist then interviews the client, asking about his or her primary health concern, lifestyle habits, diet, emotions, menstrual cycle, sleep, temperature, appetite, stress, and sensitivity to foods. During the interview, the acupuncturist examines the client carefully, looking his or her face color, voice, and tongue color and coating, and feel the pulse at the wrist of each hand. After the interview, the acupuncturist gives a Chinese Medicine Pattern diagnosis and begins treatment. Treatment length varies from seconds to longer than one hour. The typical length is about 20 to 30 minutes. The acupuncturist may use the following techniques during the treatment:

Acupuncture – use sterile, disposable needles on different meridians to balance yin and yang, qi and blood, and help heal diseases.

Moxibustion – heating of needles with dried herb sticks to activate and warm the points to help the qi move more smoothly.

Cupping – the application of glass cups to create suction on the skin. This is to relieve stagnation of qi and blood to help relieve the pain, e.g. in sports injury.

Herbal medicine – Chinese herbs may be given in the form of teas, pills, and capsules to supplement acupuncture treatment. Chinese herbs are used for balancing, harmonizing, and cleaning the body’s systems. Jing River Acupuncture Clinic has a large selection of standard formulas and is well-trained in prescribing them.

Electro-stimulation – provides electrical stimulation on two to four acupuncture needles. This can be used for pain relief and muscle pain.

Traditional Chinese Wuxing (Five Elements) Therapeutic Music

Q: What is Acupuncture?

A: Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that originated in China over 5,000 years ago. The basic theory of acupuncture is based on the vital energy, called “qi”, that circulates through twelve energy channels known as meridians on the body. Each meridian is associated with a different organ system. The imbalance of the organ system, “yin” and “yang”, and the flow of qi and blood throughout a meridian is the cause of a disease. Acupuncture can regulate different kinds of imbalance to help heal diseases. There are over 1,000 acupuncture points on 14 regular meridians and eight extra meridians flowing all over the body. Acupuncturists insert needles into specified points along meridians to restore the balance of the flow of qi.

Q: Is Acupuncture Safe?

A: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used by qualified practitioners only. Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Jing River Acupuncture Clinic uses only sterile, disposable needles.

q: what situations acupuncture can treat?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of common illnesses including:

Migraines and tension headaches; Allergies; Common cold, sinusitis, asthma, cough, bronchitis; Trigeminal neuralgia, facial neuralgia, Meniere’s disease; Neck and shoulder pain, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, Sciatica, back pain, Arthritis, fibromyalgia; Nausea, constipation, diarrhea, IBS; Menstrual cramps, menopausal symptoms, PMS; Infertility, endometriosis; Anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress, poor memory; Weight loss, diabetes, thyroid problems; Addictions, quit smoking; Acne, eczema, shingles, psoriasis; Cancer support treatment, post surgical recovery; Cystitis, UTI, incontinence, sexual dysfunction.

Q: What Does Acupuncture Feel Like?

A: Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles are inserted. Some people feel a tight, numbness, tingling or electric sensation as well. Most people feel more energized after treatment, while others feel more relaxed. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. So, it is important to have treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner. Jing River Acupuncture clinic has well trained acupuncturist to make you feel more comfortable during the treatment.

Q: How Does Acupuncture Work?

A: Qi and blood flow in the energy channels is like river flowing through the body to regulate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up in others. The acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions at the dams, and reestablish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatments can therefore help the body’s internal organs to correct imbalances in their digestion, absorption, and energy production activities, and in the circulation of their energy through the meridians.

The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release neurotransmitters in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These neurotransmitters will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities, and in promoting physical and emotional well-being.

These are some mechanisms why acupuncture works:

acupuncture stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins

acupuncture influences the release of neurotransmitters, substances that transmit nerve impulses to the brain

acupuncture influences the autonomic nervous system

acupuncture stimulates circulation

acupuncture influences the electrical currents of the body.

Q: what is traditional chinese wuxing (five elements) therapeutic music?

A: The traditional Chinese medicine consider that the different main sound and the different sound waves and nature of waves arise from different melody and orchestration, the music in the five tunes has different effects on the internal organs and sentiments. For example, the music in the tune of Shang is regulative to the lungs, excretive to the spleen, tonic to the kidney and restraint to the liver. The music in other tunes has the same effects to corresponding internal organs. Jing River Acupuncture clinic chooses music for listening according to differentiation of season, time, person, symptoms and signs. It makes us relax, dissolved in nature and the lovely melody.