Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chinese Medicine?

Chinese Medicine is the oldest continually practiced system of medical care in the world, and it continues to flourish in the modern age. Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive, dynamic, and integrated system of health care that recognizes the body’s inherent capacity to heal, at the physical, mental-emotional, and spiritual level. Chinese Medicine gets to the root cause of illness, relieves symptoms, and ultimately restores health and harmony. The underlying medical philosophy of Chinese Medicine coupled with its various healing modalities offer a powerful way to maintain and improve your health.  At its core, Chinese Medicine recognizes that a wholeness of mind, body, and spirit is central to the restoration and maintenance of overall health, longevity, and vitality.

Chinese Medicine is rooted in a philosophy of our deep connection to the natural world. The theories are based on balance of Yin and Yang, the Five Phases, the Three Treasures- Jing Essence, Qi, and Shen. It is a medicine based on a profound observation of the natural world, the cycles of life, our deep connection to them and our ability to live in a reciprocal harmonious balance.

What is Yin and Yang?

Yin and Yang is a philosophical dualism that is inseparable, interchangeable, interdependent, mutually transforming and creating. For example, Yin is represented by the feminine, moon, nighttime, quiet, softness, stillness, cold, and the interior. Yang is represented by the masculine, sun, daytime, hardness, movement, warmth, and the exterior. Yet each are relative to each other and mutually supportive at all times. Within the body it’s the balance of that promotes health and well-being or lack of balance creates ill health.

What is the Five Phases?

According to Chinese Medicine, five phases, sometimes referred to as the Five elements, are a metaphor by which we can explain the manifestations of this world. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water help us define our relationship to the physical world, the spiritual world, and our bodies. They describe the flow of Qi (vital life force) in all things within the natural world and our bodies. Each phase corresponds to a seasonal time in nature, to a yin or yang organ system in the body. In balance, these elements help us live in harmony with the cycles of nature. In right relationship to their flexible and ever-changing co-existence we can achieve optimal health. 

What are the Three Treasures?

Jing- Essence can be translated as the fluids that nurtures growth and development. It is the energy inherited from the parents, the constitutional make-up. Jing evolves throughout your life stages.

Qi- is essential life force, the breath of life-vital energy, that pulses through everything in the universe. Truly it has no precise word in English for all the concepts it can hold. Qi protects the body from illness and empowers all forms of movement.

Shen- is the Spirit, consciousness, thought. It is the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspect that makes a unique you.

Each of these has many manifestations and each has the ability to mutually affect each other. A harmonious flow between these essential energies is fundamental to your good health. They are the to be protected, nurtured, and nourished throughout your life for vitality of body, mind, and spirit.

How are the organ systems defined in Chinese Medicine?

Chinese Medicine views each organ as part of a larger complex system that includes a correlation to the functional Western physiology. The Chinese concept of the organs, however, reaches beyond the physical function and recognizes each system as part of and influenced by all the other systems. Each organ also has a pathway of expression and connection (acupuncture meridians) that reaches beyond the organ itself and across the body to connect with the points for intervention to sustain a harmonious balance of the body’s functions. Each organ system is related to a Yin or Yang aspect, corresponds to one of the Five Phases, has a particular emotion, color, taste, specific body tissues and to an aspect of the spirit or soul.

As an example, the Liver system, as defined by Chinese medicine stores the blood, governs menstruation, is associated with spring, the color green, with upward and outward movement and with our vision of the future. The Liver is associated with the sense organ of the eyes, and with the emotion of frustration/anger and the virtue of patience/kindness. The liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body and the aspect of the soul associated with the liver is called the Hun and is closely tied to our dreams.

What conditions can Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine treat?

Many leading national and international health organizations have recognized Chinese medicine as an effective treatment for a wide variety of medical conditions. Chinese medicine is a holistic medical system that can diagnose and successfully treat a wide range of health concerns. Acupuncture is most commonly associated with the treatment of pain, however, the National Institute of Health and World Health Organization have recognized Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine as effective in the treatment of a range of medical conditions and illnesses, including:

• Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat conditions - vision issues, toothaches, tinnitus, sinus issues, etc.

• Various circulatory conditions – heart and blood

• Digestive conditions - abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, etc.

• Gynecological conditions - menstrual imbalances, fertility challenges, pregnancy care, menopausal symptoms

• Mental/Emotional concerns - anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress, etc.

• Musculoskeletal and Neurological concerns - headaches, migraines, neck pain, knee pain, back pain, hip pain, tendonitis, sciatica, etc.

• Respiratory conditions - allergies, asthma, colds and flus, sinus issues, etc.

• Treatment and support for chronic illness and pain

• Trauma (physical and emotional) - accidents, injuries, emotional trauma, etc.

[1] National Institutes of Health (NIH), World Health Organization (WHO), National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM).

Does Acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture treatments are deeply relaxing and uplifting. You may even fall asleep. When needles are applied, most people feel only a slight sense of pressure, warmth, or even a cooling feeling, as well as a radiating sensation either at the site of the needle or in other areas of the body. The radiating sensation you may feel are signs that your Qi and blood flow have been activated.  Some may feel a pleasurable sense of floating and lightness. Be sure to speak up and let me know how you are feeling as we work together.

How does Acupuncture work?

Chinese Medicine is based on the theory that an essential life energy, the body’s healing intelligence known as “Qi”, flows through the body in energy channels called meridians. Meridians are like river ways flowing through the body nourishing every gland, muscles, organs, and tissues. At its most basic, it states that when energy flows freely through the body’s energetic channels, health is maintained at the physical and mental-emotional level. When that flow of energy is blocked, absent, deficient, excessive, or interrupted, then health and wellbeing are disrupted, leading to illness and/or pain. The quality, quantity, and balance of Qi influences overall health.

In the Chinese Medicine perspective, acupuncture works by re-establishing balance and harmony. In the language of Chinese medicine, we balance the Yin and Yang, Five Phases, Qi, Blood, body fluids and the Qi of the Organ Systems. We balance by cooling, where the body is too hot, warming where it is too cold, drying where if it is too wet, moistening where it is too dry, building it up where it is depleted, smoothing or releasing energy where it is stuck. We balance the energies of the body with many tools, including acupuncture, herbs, and changes in lifestyle and diet.

There are various biomedical explanations and theories on how acupuncture works. The search for understanding the mechanism of action of this complex approach to health and healing continues to grow with the tools by which we measure it.  From fMRI to EMG and even by explaining its effect on connective tissue, theories grow but none captures the whole of its effects. Some say that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release beta-endorphins in the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. The release of these neurotransmitters influences the immune system and normalizes the autonomic nervous system. According to this theory, the effect is often a change in the perception of pain and may also trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones influencing the body’s own homeostatic processes. Some studies have demonstrated that acupuncture facilitates healing by allowing the transfer of electrical energy between healthy and injured tissues.

How does Reiki work?

“Ki’ is the Japanese equivalent of the Chinese word “Qi”. The theory of Reiki is that through a hands-on approach, we can influence the movement of this energy through the body, to restore balance. In effect each organ in the body has a pulsing electromagnetic field, the frequency of which can change during periods of illness. Reiki practitioners’ hands have been found to produce powerful pulsing electromagnetic fields. Controlled studies have shown that Reiki triggers the autonomic nervous to boost and improve innate immune responses.

How to prepare for your appointment?

Please wear loose, comfortable clothing. If you plan on exercising on that day, it is best to do so before the treatment rather than after. A calm activity like walking or resting is best after your treatment. Enjoy warm beverages and quiet activity after the session. You may also want to have a snack available before and after your appointment. If you do receive cupping, it is best to wait 24 hours to bathe to maximize benefits.

What can I expect during my first visit?

During your initial visit, I will connect with you about your current health goals and take a comprehensive health history. We will talk about your diet and lifestyle patterns, family and work life, interests and passions. A diagnosis and treatment plan will then be developed based on a systematic application of Chinese Medicine principles rooted in questioning, observation, and palpation. We will then discuss the details of your treatment plan. You may be prescribed Chinese herbal remedies and supplements specific to your needs. Also, we may discuss how best to support your goals through diet and lifestyle changes and therapies.

You will then relax on the treatment table for 20-45 minutes, receiving your acupuncture treatment and/or other Chinese Medicine therapies. I may also incorporate Reiki healing, breath work, Acupressure massage, and essential oils to enhance your healing.

Your initial visit will require about one and a half hours, and most follow-ups will last approximately one hour.

I believe that we are partners in your care. Please feel free to ask any questions about your treatment so that you may continue to make informed, empowering decisions regarding your overall health and care.

Why do I ask to look at your tongue?

The tongue’s color, shape, and size give me diagnostic information and reflects the state of your overall health, body, organ system and energy flow. Each area of the tongue corresponds to a particular organ system. I will discuss my findings with you at each appointment, but feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Why do I feel your pulse?

Your pulse also reflects the state of your overall health, offering me additional information about your organ system and general health. Feeling the pulse is an art form in itself, taking years and years of diligent practice. I don’t just check for your heart rate, but rather “listen” and “feel” for the tone, quality, and resonance of your pulse. 

Why do I observe your face?

Facial diagnosis is another Chinese Medicine tool and an important element of assessment and diagnosis. Like the tongue and pulse, areas of your face correspond with the rest of your body. The face is a reflection of your physical and emotional health. It is a beautiful combination of your genetics, dietary, lifestyle and environmental influences, and markings from the repetitive expressions of life over time. I observe the coloring, texture, quality, brightness and location of markings, etc.

The natural glow on your face, the brightness in your eyes, and your laugh lines are marks of a balanced life well-lived. In Chinese medicine these are ways in which we see healthy expression of your Shen or spirit.

How many treatments will I need?

This ultimately depends on the duration, severity, and nature of your health condition. Treatment plans call for healing sessions once or twice a week until conditions improve. For acute conditions, only a few sessions may be needed to achieve results. For more chronic conditions, a series of 6-12 may be necessary. It is generally recommended that a maintenance program of 6-12 sessions per year be scheduled to promote optimal health, balanced energy, vitality and to prevent illness.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is a good investment for your mind, body, and spirit as you set a healthy foundation for yourself today and tomorrow. Health is not just an absence of disease, but about how you feel on a daily basis at the physical, emotional, and spiritual level. Health means to feel vital, adaptable, able to grow, and with an inner resilience to meet the daily demands and stressors of life. Your health is the most important treasure and allows for a flourishing self.

Will my insurance cover the cost of Acupuncture?

I am not a covered provider with any insurance company at this time. I do not directly bill to insurance companies for you. However, I can provide you with a receipt with the required medical coding so that you can then submit it to your insurer for reimbursement, which some companies do offer. You may also be able to use a health savings account, (HSA), but please check with your insurer with questions about your plan’s coverage. I do accept Motor Vehicle Accident cases. I will always work with you and your financial needs to provide you with the ability to receive health care with Chinese medicine.