"The most significant indicator of health is not what happens to us, but how we respond to what happens to us physically, mentally and emotionally."
Chinese proverb

What is acupuncture?
Healing is our body's natural response that spontaneously occurs when we are not functioning well (out of balance), and as a result, become sick or injured. There are times when this healing response becomes blocked or is so weak it becomes ineffective. Acupuncture is a medical technique used to correct these imbalances naturally ­ without drugs or surgery, so that our bodies may heal.

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How does it work?
Oriental medicine is based on the understanding that life is created and maintained by an unseen force known as Qi (pronounced "Chee"). Qi flows throughout our body and connects all of our major organs with each other and with the surface of the body. This has the effect of delivering ³life² to every aspect and to every part of our being. The unobstructed flow of Qi is responsible for normal functioning of the body and mind and promotes growth, development, and longevity. Over the last 5,000 years acupuncturists have discovered points just beneath the surface of the body where our Qi can be manipulated ­ calmed down or stimulated. Qi manipulation has a positive effect on healing our mind and body.

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How is acupuncture performed?
Acupuncture is performed by the skillful insertion of specialized needles, which are as fine as a human hair, into specific points of the body known as acupuncture points. The center of each point is found beneath the surface of the skin and therefore requires a needle to stimulate it. Stimulation of an acupuncture point influences many areas of the mind and body, not just the specific area of complaint.
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Is it painful?
The sensation felt during the insertion of acupuncture needle varies, depending on the persons state of health, but most patients report little or no pain and even a pleasant sensation is frequently noted. Blood vessels and nerves are avoided during the procedure and nothing is injected into or drawn out of these points.

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How safe is it?
Acupuncture needles are made from surgical grade stainless steel, are pre-sterilized, and intended for single-use only. The FDA officially recognizes them as "medical devices." The National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both acknowledge known conditions for which acupuncture is indicated (please refer to www.acupuncture.com for more information).

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What kind of training is required to practice acupuncture?
In California, a four year Masters degree with clinical training is required to become licensed in this powerful healing method. California also has the highest standards in the nation for licensing in acupuncture (which includes full training in Chinese medical herbology). Acupuncturists, like medical and chiropractic doctors, are trained to diagnose and formulate treatment plans, which are unique skills of primary health care providers (as opposed to medical technicians, nurses and physician assistants who do not diagnose). Acupuncturists are licensed as primary health care providers in California. Oriental medicine diagnoses illness and disease differently from the Western perspective and therefore requires separate training ­ their respective knowledge bases are not inter-changeable. In China, where the practice of acupuncture began more than 5,000 years ago, six years of university level training is required before insertion of the first needle. While a few American medical doctors recognize the need for study in acupuncture and actively seek out qualified programs, MDıs, by virtue of their license, are not required to study acupuncture and Oriental diagnosis before they can practice and charge for services. (see www.acupuncture.com for more on licensing requirements in America).

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Can acupuncture help me?
Clinics that promote natural and holistic methods of treating disease and improving health, use Oriental medicine to treat the broadest range of conditions. Properly trained and experienced acupuncturists treat pain control, internal medicine, orthopedic, pediatric, gynecological, geriatric, mental/emotional conditions, and other areas of medicine. As a medical technique, the practice of acupuncture in America is fast becoming incorporated into many areas of our traditional medicine. Pain control and detoxification from addictions are two of itsı modern usages based on the scientific understanding of how it works and are now commonly utilized in hospitals and medical clinics throughout the nation.

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What is the cost of treatment?
Acupuncture treatments are affordable, costing no more than a typical massage. It is rarely provided on a one-time basis but rather as a series of treatments - usually ranging from eight to twelve - and the cost assessed accordingly. One or more series of treatments may be required to accomplish the patientıs need for healing and relief. The good news is that once normalization of the bodyıs systems is accomplished, periodic "tune-ups" can work like magic for maintaining high levels of health and well-being.

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Does my insurance cover acupuncture?
The Advanced Wellness Center is dedicated to assisting all patients. Many types of medical insurance do cover acupuncture, including many PPO plans, workers' compensation and personal injury (i.e., auto accidents). A call to our office can confirm if a particular insurance carrier covers certain types of treatment.

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How long does a treatment take?
An acupuncture treatment generally takes about an hour to complete. The first visit may, and usually does, take up to two hours, as it includes a review of the patient's medical history and a subsequent consultation. Diagnosis of the patientıs complaint(s) and the impression of their overall state of health is made at this time, along with a comprehensive treatment plan to correct the situation.

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Is acupuncture used by itself?
There are many different diagnostic and treatment methods used in Oriental medicine. In America, the most famous of these is acupuncture. However, Chinese medicinal herbs are the largest and most highly developed method of Oriental medicine from China. But there are many more methods of treatment such as Tai-qi (a form of martial art), Qi-gong, breathing techniques, meditation, moxibustion,
diets and exercise to name a few. All of these are based on assessing the state of a personıs energy, determining any imbalance and then normalizing it. This approach contains the wisdom of five thousand years and is aimed at improving all medical conditions, optimizing our chances for longevity, and heightening our sensitivity so that we are more calm, giving, and understanding of ourselves and others. TOP

What is Qi?
All cultures throughout time have sought to answer the big questions in life: Who are we? Where do we come from? Is there a purpose to life? Based on the cultural answers to these questions, social and political structures were developed, each with a variety of philosophies on health and illness.

Oriental medicine is based upon ancient Chinaıs answers to these big questions. It stems from the oldest known philosophy known to man - Taoism - which states that everything in the universe that is known and unknown is connected, and intertwined. Taoists believe that these things aren't just connected (like a wire between two objects) but that everything we see, feel, touch, taste and hear, including the stars and planets, all come from a single source - the source of life. The Chinese term for this source is "Qi" (pronounced Chee) and means "the life or energy inherent within all things and events." This force, or energy, is what causes our hearts to beat continuously, our stomachs to digest, our brains to think, seeds to grow into plants, the Earth to spin around the sun, and so on. All of these things occur spontaneously and with an endless supply of energy. Taoists understand that this spontaneity is an example of this one source in perpetual action.

One unique aspect of Qi is that it's not directly visible to the human eye. Like the high-pitched sounds that only a dog can hear, Qi is not detectable to our visual senses. We can, however, sense it indirectly when we experience feelings, intuition, and dreams. Because we canıt see (and therefore measure) Qi, certain branches of science such as Western medicine have been slow to accept its existence. However, some branches of science such as physics know there are aspects of reality that we cannot see directly but are known to exist, such as gravity. So there is a need for science to find new ways of measuring our world beyond what is presently known.

As all things are made from Qi, according to ancient Taosim, so are human beings. Qi runs through our body like blood flowing through vessels. Because of Qi's seemingly invisible nature, the "vessels" through which it runs are also invisible to the naked eye. These have many different names depending on what source you refer to including meridians, channels, conduits, and lines.

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How is illness defined?
All diseases arise from our bodyıs self-regulatory responses becoming stuck or too weak to resolve the problem by itself. Illness in Western, terms separates the person from the illness and is described as biology gone awry, or pathology. Different people with similar symptoms can all have the exact same pathology and therefore the same disease. In Chinese medicine, the person cannot be separated from the illness. Therefore, different people with similar symptoms have different illnesses that are unique to them. This is called the holistic view of disease. Both approaches provide useful information that will direct treatment. In the West, this new dimension of holism is slowly being added to medical awareness.

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What is the definition of health?
Health, according to ancient Chinese philosophy, is defined as our ability to adapt to change. Illness is defined as adapting poorly to change. Change occurs with age, location, money availability, mobility, perceptions, seasons, social status, work environment, etc. If we roll with the "punches" of life and maintain a sense of well-being, then we are adapting well. This doesnıt mean that we are without challenges, stressors or illness, but how we handle and adapt to them is how health is defined. When we get frustrated, angry, feel guilty, depressed, anxious or worried, we are challenged. How we cope with these human experiences is what is meant by, "adapting well or poorly." Becoming "stuck" is one significant cause of and contributor to the disease process.

Oriental medicine helps us through our "stuck" places - even serious places. As long as we are flowing and moving and changing we are adapting well, enjoying life and learning from our seemingly negative experiences including illness, disease and infirmity.

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I hope this information has answered some of your questions and stimulated a desire to learn more about this powerful method of healing. For specific information about an Oriental Medicine approach to treating allergies and detoxification, please click on these links.

Feel free to contact our office with questions regarding your condition or insurance needs.

Dr. Allen Arnette, DC, LAc
Director, Department of Oriental Medicine