Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine - FAQ

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine - FAQ

Does acupuncture hurt and is it safe?
Acupuncture consists of gentle insertion and stimulation of thin, disposable, sterile needles at strategic points near the surface of the body. Most people's fear revolves around its association with the much thicker and painful hypodermic needle. An acupuncture needle is considerably thinner and not designed for injections. When the mental hurdles are removed most find acupuncture to be therapeutic and relaxing.

What is Chinese Medicine?
Depending on who one talks one may get a completely different perspective of what Chinese medicine entails. Quite simply, Chinese medicine is a very broad term that encompasses a medical and health care system that started over 2500 years ago. It is a constantly evolving system that is still used actively in modern China. It is constantly integrating new knowledge and experience (for example, Western sciences and medicine) into its theory and practical applications. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy are the most predominate and well-known components of the system.

Since Chinese medicine originated in a time where technology was minimal, and People's connection and dependence with the environment was essential, it has developed some very important attributes that benefit us tremendously in our modern era. The exploration of this development is important in understanding CM and its terminology. Firstly, because Chinese medicine did not have the luxury of sophisticated diagnostic technology, a very detailed system of correspondences and observations, within the body arose. Seemingly insignificant signs and symptoms that make little sense to the average modern western practitioner can have profound meaning in Chinese medicine. For example, slight differences in the quality of sleep, elimination, digestion, emotional activity, temperature and sweat in different regions of the body, all have significance in diagnosing underlying pathologies. Also because of lack of this technology doctors developed other ways of assessing the body through observing the tongue and palpating the pulse and abdomen. These seemingly basic procedures can elicit very detailed information in relation to the patient and his/her imbalances in the disease process.