Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments |
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The four main forms of treatment used in Traditional Chinese Medicine are acupuncture, herbal medicine, acupressure and Qi Gong. Your condition may call for treatment by one or a combination of these techniques. If you are unfamiliar with Traditional Chinese Medicine, you may have questions about how these procedures work and what they can do for your condition.
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How many treatments will I need and how long before I see any results? |
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That depends upon the duration, severity, and nature of your complaint. You may need only a single treatment for an acute condition. A series of five to fifteen treatments may resolve many chronic problems. Some degenerative conditions may require many treatments over time. Dr. Wu will tell you what progress to expect, what to do if you donīt experience that progress and what to do if you feel worse. |
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| Q. |
What is acupuncture? |
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Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese medicine in which needles are inserted into a patientīs skin as therapy for various disorders or to induce anesthesia. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the Qi (life force) flows through the body along meridians (channels); blockage in one or more of these meridians is believed to cause ill health.1 Inserting fine needles into the body at specific points can be very effective in treating specific health problems. The Chinese began mapping these points over two thousand years ago, and modern electromagnetic research has recently confirmed their locations. Modern research provides several theories explaining the effectiveness of acupuncture. One theory suggests that acupuncture causes the release within the central nervous system of morphine like substances, called endorphins, which act as natural painkillers. Another possibility is that insertion of the needles stimulates peripheral nerves, acting as a distraction from or a counterirritant to the original pain.1 However, while science strives to explain why it works, the most important fact remains - it does work! |
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What problems can be treated by acupuncture? |
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You have probably heard of acupuncture being used as an effective anesthetic during surgical operations. In a similar application, it can be used to reduce pain after operations and to relieve chronically painful conditions, like arthritis, that are not responding to other treatments. It can be particulary effective for treating conditions of the muscles, bones, joints, eyes, heart, and the digestive, resiratory and nervous systems. It is also used to help treat depression and anxiety. According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture is suitable for treating the following conditions:
Ear, nose and throat disorders: Tooth-ache, pain after tooth extraction, earaches, sinus inflammation, nasal inflammation or dryness.
Respiratory Disorders: Uncomplicated bronchial asthma in children or adults.
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Digestive tract problems, hiccups, inflammation of the stomach and colon, chronic duodenal ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, and dysentery.
Eye Disorders: Inflammation of the conjunctiva or the central retina and uncomplicated cataracts.
Nervous System and Muscular Disorders: Headaches, migraines, certain facial paralysis or nerve pain, partial weakness after a stroke, inflammation of nerve endings, bed wetting, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, joint pain, sciatic, knee pain, ankle pain, back and neck pain, sprains and strains, osteoarthritis.
Gynecological Disorders: Abnormal menstruation menorrhea and menopause.
Other Disorders: Depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue, and insomnia.2 |
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| Q. |
Does it hurt? |
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| A. |
When correctly done, acupuncture is surprisingly painless. Occasionally the patient will feel a very mild, momentary discomfort as the needle is inserted. During the procedure, it is natural to experience feelings which range from minor cramping, heaviness and distention, to tingling or an electric sensation either around the needle or traveling up or down the affected meridian. |
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| Q. |
How do you know the needles are clean? |
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Dr. Wu uses only sterilized, individually packaged, disposable needles, which eliminates the possibility of transmitting any communicable diseases through contaminated needles. |
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Is there anything else I need to know before receiving an acupuncture treatment? |
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The following suggestions will help you get the maximum benefits from your treatment.
Wear loose clothing and avoid wearing jewelry. Women should not wear one-piece dresses. Avoid wearing tight stockings.
Avoid treatment when excessively fatigued, hungry, full, emotionally upset, or shortly after sex.
Always maintain good personal hygiene to reduce the possibility of bacterial infection.
While you are being treated, do not move or change your position suddenly. If you are uncomfortable, tell Dr. Wu.
If you are tense and nervous, you could experience dizziness, nausea, cold sweat, shortness of breath, or faintness during treatment. If you do, inform Dr. Wu immediately so he can readjust or withdraw the needles.
If you ever feel an increasing amount of pain or a burning sensation during treatment, or if you find the treatment unbearable at any point, be sure to speak up so Dr. Wu can make the proper adjustments or stop the treatment.
Most importantly, remember to relax. There is no need to be frightened. If you have any questions, be sure to ask Dr. Wu so you can get the greatest benefit from your treatment.
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What is Chinese Herbal Medicine? |
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Herbal medicine is the main method of treatment used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Although acupuncture was the first Chinese method to gain wide acceptance in the U.S., Chinese herbal medicine is also becoming a popular and effective alternative therapy. |
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How are Chinese herbal medicines taken? |
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The most common method is to drink a liquid prepared by boiling a mixture of herbal ingredients into a tea. Alternatively, the herbs can sometimes be taken as pills, tinctures, or powdered extracts. |
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What is Chinese herbal medicine used to treat? |
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Chinese Herbal Medicine strengthens the bodyīs own ability to heal itself and recover from illness. Therefore it can be used to treat a wide range of diseases. Examples include acute diseases like intestinal flu and the common cold; chronic diseases such as allergies, gynecological disorders, autoimmune diseases, and chronic viral diseases; and degenerative diseases due to aging. |
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Does Chinese herbal medicine work for Western patients? |
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Yes, Chinese herbal medicine works just as well for Westerners as it does for Chinese, and has been used successfully all over the world |
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What is cupping? |
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Cupping is a therapy using negative pressure to treat various injuries and diseases. First, negative pressure is created inside the jar by holding a heat source in the form of an ignited material in the cup until the air inside is depleted. Then the jar is applied to the surface of the skin, causing local congestion. The jars are made either of bamboo or glass. Since the glass cup is transparent, the local congestion can be seen so as to control the treatment. |
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What is cupping used to treat? |
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Cupping is used to warm and promote the free flow of qi and blood in the meridians, which can diminish swellings and pain. In clinics, the cupping method is mainly used to treat pain of the lower back, shoulders and leg; gastointestinal disorders such as stomachache, vomiting and diarrhoea; lung diseases such as cough and asthma; and acute sprains accompanied by blood stasis. |
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1
American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, p. 66
2
Information for Patients, American Society of Acupuncturists, Blue Poppy Press, 1996
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