Healing Traditions Oriental Medicine

So many people I meet who have heard of Acupuncture, Chinese and/or Oriental Medicine or are interested in Acupuncture and Chinese/Oriental Medicine often say to me, “Gina – I think I might be interested in trying acupuncture and Chinese/Oriental Medicine, but I have some questions.”  Below are some frequently asked questions I encounter both in my practice, as well as, on the street.

Is Acupuncture Painful?
Most people who have had acupuncture would describe it as virtually painless or far less painful than plucking out a hair. The sensations that follow, range from nothing at all, to mild tingling, to slight heaviness or aching moving up and down the channels/meridians, to electrical pulsations in areas distant from the site of insertion. All these sensations usually subside once the needles have been in place for a while or are removed. The needles used for acupuncture are typically not much thicker than a strand of hair, do not draw blood and are solid, not hollow.  Many people find acupuncture very relaxing.

Is Acupuncture Safe?
When performed by a competently trained, license professional, acupuncture is extremely safe.  All licensed acupuncturists today use individually packaged, sterile, disposable needles, so there is virtually no chance of infection of contagion.

Are there different styles of acupuncture?
Acupuncture originated in China, but has spread to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Europe and America.  In different countries, different styles have developed based on differing opinions as to theory and technique.  Patients should talk to their practitioner about his or her particular style and choose the style that will best suit their constitution and preference.

What criteria should I use in choosing an acupuncturist?
Prospective patients should ask about where the practitioner trained and for how long he or she has been in practice, and most importantly, what experience the practitioner has had in treating your specific ailment.  Acupuncture is a licensed and regulated health care profession in over 40 states in the U. S.  In addition, the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certifies both acupuncturists and Chinese herbal practitioners.  Acupuncturists who have passed the NCCAOM exams are entitled to add Dipl. Ac (Diplomate of Acupuncture) or Dipl. O.M. (Diplomate in Oriental Medicine ~ includes certifications in both acupuncture & Chinese Herbal medicine) after their name.

What should I know about the proposed treatments?
Your practitioner will explain the nature of your problem in Oriental medical terms, as well as, translate that into terminology that can be easily understood, and then proceed with explaining what treatment he/she is recommending.  Your practitioner will explain to you the benefits and risks of the proposed treatment and what other treatment options are available to you through this practitioner or by referral to another practitioner or physician.

Is there anything I need to do before receiving an acupuncture treatment?
The following suggestions will help you get the maximum benefits from your treatment:

Wear loose fitting clothing.  Women should not wear one piece dresses and should avoid wearing stockings.  If however, these suggestions are not convenient, the practitioner will provide a treatment gown if needed.

Avoid treatment when excessively fatigued, hungry, full, emotionally upset, or shortly after sex

Is there anything I need to do while receiving acupuncture?
RELAX.  There is no need to be frightened.  Ask your practitioner any questions you may have along the way, so that you can get the most benefit possible from the treatment.  However, try to limit your conversation as this will ultimately detract from the treatment.

Do not change your position or move suddenly while the needles are being retained.  If you are uncomfortable, tell your practitioner so that he/she may accommodate you accordingly.

What can I expect after treatment?
Patients often experience dramatic results in the first treatment.  Some patients experience an immediate total or partial relief of their pain or other symptoms.  This relief may last  or some pain/discomfort may return.  In a few cases, there may be no immediate relief only to notice the pain & or discomfort diminish over the next couple of days.  Generally, you should expect to feel better.

How many treatments will I need?
This question is always answered on a case-by-case basis.  While some acute conditions can be resolved quickly, other chronic conditions may require more visits as well as maintenance "tune-ups" after symptoms reside. During your initial consultation, your practitioner should discuss a proper treatment plan with you.

However, each person is unique and will be treated with an individualized treatment plan. No two conditions or people respond exactly the same. The length of treatment depends on the type, severity, and duration of the condition, and the patient’s physical state at the time of treatment. Both the examination and your response to your first few treatments will give us an idea of the course of treatments that might be needed . Each time you come in we will reassess your progress and treatment plan. The best therapeutic results are attained by following the treatment plan and recommendations. It is important to complete the course of therapy for best and longest lasting results.

Ongoing treatments for health maintenance are designed and aimed to prevent disease and promote health and longevity, as well as, vitality and a better quality of life. It can improve your body’s threshold to handle life’s everyday stressors and the imbalances created by the common day lifestyle.

**What is the difference between a licensed acupuncturist and a doctor or chiropractor who does acupuncture?
Licensed acupuncturists have completed a minimum of a 4 year full-time academic and clinical study dedicated to learning acupuncture and Chinese medicine with usually over 3,000 hours in professional and clinical training, earning a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate in Oriental Medicine. 
Most Acupuncture schools require between 3,000-3,500 hours of academic and clinical training before graduation.  

Also, Licensed acupuncturists should be NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) certified Diplomates in either Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine (includes certifications in BOTH Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine).  To become a certified diplomate in Acupuncture &/or Oriental Medicine, candidates must sit for 5 National Board Examinations and must pass all 5 of the National Board Examinations which cover: 1) Chinese Medical Theory and Diagnosis, 2) Acupuncture Point Location, 3) Acupuncture Theory and Skills, 4) Chinese Herbal Therapy (Chinese herbal Formulas & Single Herbs), & 5) Western Biomedicine (Western Diagnosis & Disease Differentiation, Western Pathology, Western Pharmacology, & Anatomy and Physiology).  A Minimum of 2,500 hours of Chinese Medical Education and Supervised Clinical training, plus graduation or pending graduation from an Accredited Acupuncture School is needed to sit for these National Board Examinations. 

In regards to Licensing in Colorado, The Colorado State of Regulatory Agencies regulates acupuncture in the state of Colorado.  Only those who pass the NCCAOM Exams are awarded the title of “Licensed Acupuncturist” (L.Ac) by the state of Colorado.

The Acupuncture Association of Colorado (AAC) is the Professional Association for NCCAOM Board Certified - Licensed Acupuncturists in the state of Colorado.  AAC Members are L.Ac and/or NCCAOM Diplomates in Oriental Medicine (Certified Diplomate in BOTH Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine) or NCCAOM Diplomates in Acupuncture (Certified Diplomate in Acupuncture).

**There are Different Standards for OTHER PRACTITIONERS Calling Themselves “Acupuncturists” in Colorado**:

Western Medical Doctors, Chiropractors and Physical Therapists who advertise that they practice acupuncture, for the most part, learn the basics of acupuncture with elective courses, usually only having a few hundred hours of academic and clinic training under their belts. 

Chiropractors:  Need only 100 hours of training, review 25 case histories, and NO  EXAMINATION to legally “do acupuncture” in Colorado.

Medical Doctors (M.D.’s) & Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O.’s):  Have NO MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS for Training to “Do Acupuncture” in Colorado.  They call themselves “Medical Acupuncturists”.  There are classes, however, designed especially for physicians to learn “acupuncture”.  These classes usually consist of roughly 350 hours of training.

We always recommend using a licensed acupuncturist who has earned a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate in Oriental Medicine and who is a certified Diplomate in Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine, for the best results.

Tune in next time for my blog which will be discussing some common "Questions and Answers" discussing "Acupuncture" from a Western-Biological Perspective.   For more information on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and for more information on Healing Traditions Oriental Medicine, please call me today at 303-997-9414 or email me at gina@healing-traditions.com or visit me online at www.healing-traditions.com.

Acupuncture consists of the insertion of very thin, hair-like needles into the body at specific points along distinct channels of energy (called meridians) that cover the body somewhat like the nerves & blood vessels. 

The first record of acupuncture is found in the 4,700 year old Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine), which is said to be the oldest medical textbook in the world.

There are over 2,000 acupuncture points located all over the body, shown to be effective in the treatment of specific health problems.

These points were mapped to 14 major meridian or Channel lines, one meridian for each of the 12 inner organs, one meridian along the spine, and another along the mid-line of the abdomen & chest.  In addition to the 14 main Meridians/Channels, there are also 8 extraordinary or secondary meridians/channels through which the energy of the body, or Qi, moves and flows.  However, these 8 "extra meridians" do not have acupuncture points of their own, but rather, share acupuncture points from the 14 main meridians.  Specifically, the meridians of the body conduct Qi flow between the surface of the body and internal organs.

The main meridians are classified into two opposing categories: Yin meridians and Yang meridians. Yin meridians link to the "Yin organs" of the body and Yang meridians link to the "Yang organs" of the body.  Yin and Yang meridians thus, form a complex network of pathways, guiding and regulating the proper flow of Qi through the whole body.

Traditional Asian Acupuncture is based on Ancient Chinese theories regarding the flow of Qi through these distinct channels/meridians that cover the body.  According to this theory, acupuncture adjusts the flow of Qi in the body, leading it to areas where it is insufficient and draining it from areas where it is stuck and/or superabundant. In this way, acupuncture restores the harmonious balance of the body and its parts.  In Chinese, there is a saying, “if there is pain, there is no free flow; if there is free flow, there is no pain”.  Acupuncture, therefore, promotes and reestablishes the free flow of Qi, as well as, influencing the qi to move in its proper directions.  Similar to acupuncture, are moxa and cupping therapies, which affect the acupuncture points using heat and pressure.  These therapies also adjust & reestablish the free flow of qi within the body, thus, contributing to and restoring the harmonious balance within the body.?

Tune in next time for my blog which will be discussing some common "Questions and Answers" regarding Acupuncture.   For more information on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and for more information on Healing Traditions Oriental Medicine, please call me today at 303-997-9414 or email me at gina@healing-traditions.com or visit me online at www.healing-traditions.com.

     In addition to your physician’s Western medical Diagnosis, Chinese medicine has its own system of personalized pattern discrimination.  A Chinese medical pattern is a professionally recognized grouping of signs and symptoms.  These signs and symptoms are collected by the practitioner by what in Chinese Medicine is called the “Four Examinations”.  These Four Examinations are Looking, Listening-smelling, palpation, and questioning.

Looking:
    Looking means looking at the patient with normal eyesight. Your practitioner looks at the brightness and clarity of your eyes, the color and luster of your complexion, your facial expression, and your posture and movement.  He or she will also visually inspect any problem areas you report.  For instance, if you have a skin rash, your practitioner will want to see its shape, color, location, and size.  Similarly, if you complain of your elbow hurting, your practitioner will also visually inspect your elbow and its surrounding tissue to look for swelling, changes in color, and/or changes in shape.

    Looking also means Looking at the Tongue.  It is believed that changes in the internal organs manifest in changes in the shape, color, and fur or coating of the tongue.  Each area of the tongue corresponds to one of the viscera or bowels of Chinese Medicine.  Therefore, changes in shape, color, or fur/coating, in these areas is believed to reflect changes in these organs.  In modern Chinese medicine, tongue examination is extremely important, and your practitioner will typically spend some time checking and rechecking your tongue.

Listening-Smelling:
    In ancient Chinese, there is a single verb which covers both listening and smelling.  Your practitioner will listen to the sound of your voice and the clarity of your communication.  He or she will also listen to the sound of your breathing and the sound of any coughing or wheezing.  In terms of smelling, these days this is mostly covered under questioning, where your practitioner may ask you about bad breath, unusual body odor, or the smell of your feces, urine, and/or vaginal discharges.

Palpation:
    Palpation means feeling with one’s hands.  There are two divisions to the palpation examination in Chinese medicine.

    The first of these is general palpation of any areas of pain or discomfort.  For instance, if you have sprained your wrist, your practitioner will want to feel the wrist.  Likewise, if you say you have abdominal pain, your practitioner will want to feel your abdomen.  Some practitioners may palpate every patient’s  abdomen on a routine basis due to the fact that there is a whole system of Chinese Medical Diagnosis based on abdominal palpation.  However, not all practitioners use this system.   

    The other main type of palpation in Chinese medicine is palpation of the pulse.  This primarily means feeling the radial arteries at the wrists of both hands.  Chinese doctors have believed for at least 3,000 years that one can diagnose all the main viscera and bowels through palpation of these arteries.  Although there are several different styles of pulse palpation currently in use, all are based on the division of this section of these arteries into three areas which correspond to three areas of the human body and their organs.  By exerting different degrees of pressure at these three areas on the wrist, we believe one can detect pathological  changes in all the main viscera and bowels of Chinese medicine.  In order to describe and record the feelings under their fingertips, Chinese doctors use 28 different pulse images or feelings.  One or more of these pulse images may combine together, thus forming a large number of possible variables.  Pulse examination is the seemingly most arcane of the four Chinese medical examinations.  However, it is based on definite standards and it has proven its worth in over 4,000 years of recorded clinical history.  Some practitioners may also palpate other pulses on the body, such as the carotid pulse located at the front of the throat or the pedal pulse located at the top of the instep of the foot.  This may be done routinely or only in certain situations.

Questioning:
    Questioning is, in many ways, the most important of the four examinations.  Your practitioner may question you in either or both of two ways:

   1) by a written "in-take” form and
   2) by oral questioning

   You will typically find that Chinese medical practitioners ask many more questions than do most Western MDs.  This is because Chinese medical patterns describe the whole person, not just there disease or major complaint.  We want to know about your appetite, diet, elimination, energy, sleep, emotions/mood, perspiration, sex drive, body temperature, menstrual cycle, reproductive history, medical history, and as many details as possible about your complaints.  By the time your chinese medical practitioner is through asking you questions, he or she should have a pretty complete picture of you as an individual person.  Of course, all answers to these questions are protected by professional confidentiality.

Conclusion:
    Although there are four examinations, for the purposes of professional pattern discrimination, the information gathered by these four examinations is summarized under three main headings: general signs and symptoms, tongue diagnosis, and pulse diagnosis.  It is the confluence of these three groups of information that establish a Chinese medical pattern & diagnosis.  When treatment is given based on a combination of both your Western disease diagnosis and a Chinese medical pattern discrimination, you can be sure you are receiving the most comprehensive, holistic care available in the world today.

For more information or questions regarding Chinese Medical Diagnosis or Oriental Medicine, and for more information on Healing Traditions Oriental Medicine, please call me today at 303-997-9414 or email me at gina@healing-traditions.com or visit me online at www.healing-traditions.com.

New and returning patients alike, as well as, new health care consumers I meet often say to me, “Gina – What exactly is “Qi”?  This is a frequently asked question in my practice.
 
My column today focuses on “Qi”  - The central concept in Oriental Medicine.

The concept of “Qi” is difficult to define.  It is often translated as “breath”, “life-force”, “vitality”,  “prana”, “energy” or simply as “that which makes us alive”.  If there is no Qi, there is no life.  For instance, a wilting flower or plant is lacking Qi; a feeble person and a weak voice both show a lack of Qi; strong, lively, energetic people have plenty of Qi; There is a lot of Qi at a children’s party; and there is a lot of Qi in quiet strength.  In illness, the Qi is depleted, causing tiredness, depression, digestive complaints, frequent colds, etc.; or the Qi may be disturbed, causing irritability and bodily over-reactions. 

Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine makes a detailed study of Qi, dividing it into many different kinds depending on its function – such as nourishing or protecting, as well as, views the direction (s) it is taking within the body.  These different forms of Qi enter the body via the respiratory and digestive systems and are sustained and nourished through diet, lifestyle, exercise. 

These forms combine with the body’s congenital energies, to provide the body’s Qi, blood, & body fluids necessary for life.  The unobstructed & proper flow of Qi, blood & body fluids throughout the body provides a basis for harmony, balance, health & wellness.? ?

Along with the notion of Qi, Chinese Medicine recognizes a subtle energy system by which Qi is circulated through the body in a network of channels or ‘meridians’.  There are 14 main channels/meridians in the body assigned with acupuncture points, one meridian for each of the 12 inner organs, one meridian along the spine, and another along the mid-line of the abdomen & chest.  In addition to the 14 main Meridians/Channels, there are also 8 secondary meridians/channels through which the energy of the body, or “Qi”, moves and flows.  Specifically, the meridians of the body conduct Qi flow between the surface of the body and internal organs.? ?When an acupuncture needle is inserted into one of these points, it is the Qi that is affected.  This interlacing network of meridians is the crux of traditional acupuncture. The Chinese themselves have compared the flow of Qi through the meridian system to water irrigating land: feeding, nourishing, and sustaining the substance through which it flows.  It is similar in some ways to the blood circulation and nervous system but is invisible to the eye, although it can be sensed by a trained practitioner, often felt by the patient and has been charted since more than 4,000 years ago. 

By needling the points, the Qi can be ‘tapped’ or affected to influence the state of health. ??Chinese/Oriental medical procedures may not always be able to diagnose or locate the abnormalities as defined in the Western medical criteria, ie., certain early-staged cancers, which may be better detected by the diagnostic interventions of high technology.  Therefore, based on this point of view, in Chinese Medicine it is said that “Western medicine locates the disease, Oriental medicine treats it”.?? 

Traditional Chinese medicine also heavily stresses and emphasizes preventive measures taken in the patient’s and in one’s health.  A maxim in TCM says, “A top healer treats those when the disease has not yet developed.”??Chinese/Oriental medicine strives to bring a person’s body into balance using a variety of Treatment methods including: Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Asian Body Work (such as Tuina & Shiatsu), Dietary Therapy and Meditation.
 
For more information on the Healing Traditions Oriental Medicine and to discuss your personal situation and needs, please call me today at 303-997-9414 or email me at gina@healing-traditions.com or visit me online at www.healing-traditions.com.

New patients and new health care consumers I meet often say to me, “Gina - tell me more” about the basic principles underlying “Oriental Medicine.” This is a frequently asked question in both my practice, as well as, in my daily life when I meet people and explain the medicine I practice.

My column today focuses on the Basic Principals of Oriental Medicine.

The “Self-Healing Mechanism of the Body: Central to the concepts behind Chinese Medicine is the idea of the body as “self-healing”. That is, as living beings, we are all naturally full of vitality and are continually, and quite unconsciously, being rebalanced and regenerated from within everyday. This is not difficult to understand. For instance, cuts heal ‘on their own’; women have the creative power to develop and produce children ‘on their own’, and the children in turn grow and develop from babies to toddlers, young children to teenagers, teenagers to adults – all ‘on their own’. In a similar way, food is broken down, transformed and separated into useful parts that are absorbed by the body and useless parts that are evacuated – all automatically, without any conscious or outside influence. In other words, there is a great source – and resource – within the body that continually maintains order, working ceaselessly for our benefit and health.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine sees the body as a self-rectifying dynamic whole, a network of interrelating and interacting energies. Their even distribution and flow maintains health, but any interruption, depletion or stagnation leads to disease. Chinese Medicine is a system of medicine which seeks to aid these natural processes, helping the body to correct itself by nourishing and or realigning or redirecting the “energy” or “Qi” (pronounced ‘chee’).??

The basic principals of Oriental Medicine are founded in the concepts of Qi and in the duality of Yin & Yang. Qi exists in various forms in & around us, as a version of energy or a manifestation of matter. In its least substantial and more energized state, it is considered more yang in nature. In its more substantial and least energized state, it is considered more yin in nature. The concept of yin and yang is probably the single most important and distinctive theory of Chinese Medicine. It could be said that all Chinese medical physiology, pathology and treatment can, eventually, be reduced to yin-yang.

The concept of yin-yang is extremely simple, yet, very profound. Yin and yang represent opposite, yet complimentary qualities. Yin and yang are convenient labels used to describe how things function in relation to each other and to the universe. They are used to explain the continuous process of natural change. Yin and yang, contain within themselves the possibility of opposition and change. All things in nature have two facets: a yin aspect and a yang aspect. The character of ‘Yin’ originally meant “the shady side of the slope”. It is associated with such qualities as cold, rest, passivity, darkness, interior, downwards, inwardness, decrease, satiation, tranquility and quiescence. The original meaning of ‘Yang’ was “the sunny side of the slope”. Yang is associated with qualities such as heat, stimulation, movement, activity, excitement, vigor, light, exterior, upwardness, outwardness, and increase. Yang is associated with arousal, beginning and dynamic potential. Within Yin, there is the seed of Yang and within Yang there is the seed of Yin. Thus, one cannot exist without the other and although yin and yang can be distinguished, they cannot be separated. They depend on each other for definition and distinction.

Yin-Yang theory is well illustrated by the traditional Chinese Taoist symbol (see below). The circle representing the whole is divided into Yin (black) and Yang (white). The small circles of opposite shading illustrates that within the yin there is yang and vice versa. The dynamic curve dividing them indicates that yin and yang are continuously merging. Thus, Yin and Yang create each other, control each other, and transform into each other.

Tune in next week for “part two” of “The basic Principles of Oriental Medicine” where we will be discussing the concept of “Qi”!

For more information on the Healing Traditions Oriental Medicine and to discuss your personal situation and needs, please call me today at 303-997-9414 or email me at gina@healing-traditions.com or visit me online at www.healing-traditions.com.