Frequently Asked Questions about Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

What can Acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture has received recognition in the West for the treatment of chronic pain and pre-operative analgesia. However, most are not aware that Acupuncture is an effective treatment for many conditions. In 1997, the National Institute of Health (NIH) published a Consensus Statement on what Acupuncture could successfully treat. This statement can be viewed at http://consensus.nih.gov/1997/1997Acupuncture107html.htm. 

Recently, the NIH has granted millions of dollars with the express purpose to study the effects of Acupuncture and other complementary modalities for the many challenging health concerns we face today.

In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) published an article that expanded the list of treatable conditions described by the NIH, titled “Acupuncture: Review & Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials.” This article was peered reviewed by John Amaro, D.C., FIAMA, Dipl.Ac., L.AC. and the findings were published in Acupuncture Today, (2004) available at http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2004/oct/10amaro.html.

Below is an abbreviated list of the many conditions for which the World Health Organization considers Acupuncture appropriate treatment:

Respiratory/Ear, Nose, Throat: colds & flu, asthma, bronchitis, sinus infections, allergies, earaches.

Musculo-Skeletal/Neurological: back/neck pain, arthritis, sciatica, bursitis/tendonitis, neuralgia, Bell's/Cerebral Palsy, headache, dizziness, stroke, sprains/strains.

Dermatological: acne, herpes, eczema

Genito-Urinary/Reproductive: impotence, infertility, PMS, PID, Vaginitis, irregular menstruation, cramps, uterine bleeding, menopausal syndrome, morning sickness, difficult labor, urinary difficulties.

Internal: hypo/hyperglycemia, hypertension, ulcers, irritable bowels/Colitis, hemorrhoids, diabetes, epigastic pain, abdominal masses.

Mental/Emotional: anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, palpitations.

Is it safe?
Historically in China, Acupuncture needles were made of stone, bone, silver and gold. Gold and silver needles are still used occasionally today, but they require special sterilization after each use. For your safety, we use sterile, one-use-only needles. Using disposable needles eliminates the risk of exposure to disease, and infection. The needles we use are made of very fine stainless steel filament, ranging from ¼ to 6 inches in length. Our licensed Acupuncturists have been trained to ensure you receive the proper treatment and care.