FAQ's on Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese practice that involves puncturing the skin with hair-thin needles at particular locations, called acupuncture points. Acupuncture is believed to help reduce pain or bring a body function into balance. Needles can be placed or they can be twirled given a slight electric charge or warmed (moxibustion).
Acupuncture is part of Chinese Medicine which incorporates a number of different healing modalities, although acupuncture has also been practiced as a stand-alone practice for over 2,000 years.s at particular locations, called acupuncture points. Acupuncture is believed to help reduce pain or bring a body function into balance.

What is the difference between Chinese medicine and acupuncture?
Chinese Medicine encompasses acupuncture, along with herbal medicine. Other aspects of Chinese medicine include Qi Gong (combines movement, breathing, sound and visualization for healing), Tui Na (gentle rocking massage), Gua Sha (rubbing technique using a jar cap or plastic spoon), moxibustion (applying heat with an herb called mugwart, I Ching (ancient Chinese numerology system) and diet (based on the Chinese 5 elements and energy characteristics of different foods).

How does it work?
Chinese medicine uses tiny needles and herbs to help nurture the body back to health by helping resolve energy imbalances.

What are the needles like?
Only sterile, disposable needles are used so there is no risk of infection. We use a needle once, then dispose of it. Acupuncture needles are small and hair-thin. They are solid, not hollow like needles used by doctors. The end of an acupuncture needle is smooth and rounded. Acupuncture needles are not designed to cut the skin. Instead, when an acupuncture needle is inserted, the round edge pushes the tissue aside without cutting it. Acupuncture needles are so thin it's as if they can glide through the spaces between the individual cells of the body.

Does it hurt?
There are different styles of needling. If any sensation is experienced during insertion, it is often compared to a mosquito bite and disappears very quickly. Once the needles are inserted, they may be manipulated to obtain a mild "Qi" sensation. This is how an acupuncturist engages the energy in your body in order to help balance it. Often people describe their sensations as warming, heavy, numb or tingling. Acupuncturists take great care to make their clients very comfortable so that they can relax while the needles are in place. The more you can relax during an acupuncture treatment, the better the results. Many people even fall asleep during treatment. Following treatment it is common to feel a tremendous sense of relaxation and calm.

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