FAQ
Traditional Chinese Medicine can evaluate your health from a variety of different aspects or paradigms. There is a lot of overlap between these inter-connected points of view, and all share a comprehensive holistic approach. But each has its advantages in different situations. Meridian theory is especially helpful in selecting acupuncture points. “Zang Fu” or organ function theory is more commonly used by herbalists. Your health can also be evaluated in terms of “Vital Substances” (such as Qi, Essence, Blood) or as affected by the traditional categories of pathogens (such as Wind, Heat, Phlegm, etc.)
For your visit, loose, comfortable clothing is appropriate. You should be aware that your acupuncturist may need to access points on your torso as well as on your arms and legs. Stimulation of specific areas on or beneath the skin affects the functioning of certain organs in the body. However, those areas may not be close to the part of the body where the problem is experienced. For example, if you suffer from headaches, needles may be inserted in your foot or hand.
There are around 500 acupuncture points on the body, from which your acupuncturist will use a selection of perhaps ten or twelve of these for each treatment. It is common that during a course of treatments, different points will be selected as your condition changes. Usually acupuncture is done with you lying comfortably on a treatment table, but sometimes it is more appropriate to have you sitting. In some cases, especially for pain problems, you will be asked to move the affected part of the body while treatment is applied to another area (that is related to the pain by meridian connections).
Acupuncture may be supplemented with moxa, a smoldering herb which is used to warm acupuncture points to encourage the body’s energy to flow smoothly. Other methods of stimulating acupuncture points include using lasers or electro-acupuncture. Chinese bodywork(Tuina)is particularly suitable for small children or for people with a fear of needles, but it is also used before or after needling for conditions affecting the muscular levels of the body.
How can I get the most from my treatment?
- You should not receive acupuncture on an empty stomach, when intoxicated, or if unusually weak and debilitated.
- Don’t scrape or brush the coating off your tongue, and avoid eating or drinking things that could change the color of your tongue (coffee, juice, gum) for a couple of hours before your session.
- Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes.
- Bring a list of the drugs/supplements you are taking.
- Come 15-20 minutes early to complete your patient information and health history forms (or download them here)
Can TCM be used together with Western medicine?
Yes! We have a great deal of respect for the knowledge, training, and responsibilities of your medical doctor, and have no desire to interfere with the care you receive from your MD. On the other hand we are pleased to offer TCM options where they seem well suited for our patients. We are happy to discuss our TCM treatments with your doctor so that they may be fully appraised of our treatment strategies. This can be particularly appropriate when you are taking nutritional supplements or herbs at the same time as pharmaceuticals.
In America, Integrative Medicine is becoming a hot topic. The term “CAM” (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) is sometimes used in reference to treatments like acupuncture, nutritional supplements and physical medicine that many Western MD’s are integrating into their treatment plans. Ted Kaptchuck, a Chinese-trained Oriental Medicine Doctor is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Hospitals are putting acupuncturists on staff. In New Mexico, acupuncturists are licensed as Doctors of Oriental Medicine and are considered primary care physicians.
In modern China, traditional medicine has long been practiced alongside Western medicine, even within the same hospitals. In fact, both traditional and Western trained practitioners are considered Doctors, and their scopes of practice overlap. TCM doctors might prescribe antibiotics, for example, and perform minor surgical procedures. Western-trained doctors are somewhat familiar with Chinese herbs, and may prescribe them to their patients. Braxton’s training has been with TCM doctors who have learned this integrated approach, and he supports it wholeheartedly.
Herbal medicine in Europe rather well accepted. Germany’s Commission E has published monographs on medicinal herbs that are considered authoritative in their review of safety and efficacy criteria. They are heavily relied upon in Western publications, including the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) for herbs.
Page 2 of 9 | Previous page | Next page