What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a system of medicine which is used in the restoration and maintenance
of health and prevention of disease. It has been practiced in China and the Orient
for at least 5000 years. Chinese medicine holds that any illness or symptom, whether
traumatic (a broken finger, sprained ankle), a headache, addictions, indigestion,
chronic (osteoporosis, arthritis, life), or emotional (depression, anxiety) is
an imbalance in the person's energy.
This energy, which makes a person run, is at the same time affecting physical
and emotional areas. Acupuncture affects the whole person, and treatment is
directed at relieving the cause of the problem, not just treating a symptom.
Qi (pronounced chee in Chinese, kee in Japanese) is the name of this energy,
and it travels in pathways known as channels or meridians from the surface of
the body to very deep in the body. Meridians correspond to the vital organs
such as heart, kidneys and liver.
More correctly these are called "organ systems" which consist of more than
the physical structure by which it is called. For example, the liver is not
just the flat organ your upper stomach area, but also affects digestion, neck and shoulders, smooth flowing Qi, both emotional and physical
elements, visual acuity, hearing sensitivity, anger, depression, tendons, and
ligaments. The nails can be used to tell the estate of the system. The liver
is referred to as the "relaxed wanderer", which gives a picture of the way its
energy should behave. Each of the 12 systems has its own set of qualities as
the liver does. Each system can have too much or not enough energy, or its energy
may be stuck or the wrong kind of energy.
How are problems diagnosed?
We can diagnose problems with the meridians by history, symptoms, thoughts, feelings,
objective tests like x-rays and blood tests. The major traditional ways to diagnose
is by special pulses on your wrists and abdominal palpation. We like to have a
list of all medications, and sometimes we will ask for a diary of what you eat
every day. To treat, extremely fine needles (sterile, single use) are inserted
into special points along the meridians to regulate the flow of Qi. Sometimes
a special type of heat is used in small areas, which is a burning herb called
moxa. There are many techniques of manipulating the skin, ligaments and muscles
to relieve discomfort. Massage techniques and electricity are used in the modern clinic for
even better treatment results.
What does Acupuncture treat?
The rule of thumb is that acupuncture can treat anything that has not caused gross
organ changes. However, this is not a hard-fast rule. Usually anything that western
medicine cannot treat well, Oriental Medicine does. Many problems may be corrected
before drugs or surgery are necessary. Pre- and post- surgical treatments will
increase healing, reduce anesthesia side effects. Oriental Medicine addresses
quality of life health issues, which surgery or modern Western medicine cannot
correct.
- Pain -- from long standing chronic types to acute injury. Back and joint
pain. Movement pain, adjunctive cancer/chemo pain and nausea.
- Stress and sleep disorders.
- Addictions and withdrawal.
- Dyslexia and Attention Deficit symptoms have lessened from special techniques.
- Immune --prevention and control of colds and flu, arthritis, chronic fatigue,
HIV/AIDS, "feeling tired".
- Cardiovascular --high blood pressure, palpitations, poor circulation, cold
feet.
- Respiratory -- Allergies (food and airborne), sinusitis, bronchitis,
asthma, airplane sickness.
- Digestive -- constipation, diarrhea, ulcers, poor digestion, heartburn,
reflux, stress ulcers, bowel problems.
- Gynecological -- PMS, dysmenorhia, pain, cramping, fibrocystic breast disease,
infertility, and male impotence.
What are the treatments?
The Hollywood Clinic specializes in the treatment of pain, especially joint, low
back and movement pain. We use the above techniques, but we also use state of
the art procedures. We were one of the first in the Northwest to use advanced
ear and hand diagnostic and treatment modalities. This means faster and longer
lasting pain relief in most cases. We use a Chinese electric moxa device which
gives the benefits of relief without the drawback of smoke.
