Ping TCM FAQ’s
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine at Ping TCM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine in the America. Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It is based on the belief that living beings have a vital energy, called “qi”, that circulates through twenty invisible energy lines known as meridians on the body. Each meridian is associated with a different organ system. An imbalance in the flow of qi throughout a meridian and organ is how disease begins.
Acupuncturists insert very fine needles into specified points along meridian lines to influence and restore balance to the flow of qi. When the needle is first inserted, you may feel a “prick” and tingling or numbing sensation in that particular area, or sometimes it can be deflected to another part of your body. We call this “energy transfer”. Acupuncture can also be relaxing. In fact, clients often fall asleep during treatment due to the relaxing effect.
There are numerous modern theories about how acupuncture works. Some of them are as follows.
- Acupuncture stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins.
- Acupuncture influences the release of neurotransmitters, substances that transmit nerve impulses to the brain.
- Acupuncture influences the autonomic nervous system.
- Acupuncture stimulates circulation.
- Acupuncture influences the electrical currents of the body.
Most important question in Acupuncture: I am afraid of needles, will the Acupuncture needles hurt?
That indeed is a good question, many people including myself are afraid of needles, but Acupuncture needles are different than the needles/shots that doctors give you. Acupuncture needles are virtually painless and can be tolerated by all.
How many visits will I need?
Our Acupuncture treatments are specifically designed to each individual patient depending of their age, medical history and disease status. Such as acute Pain is often resolved with a short series of treatments while Chronic Pain may require consistent treatments which can lead to a complete pain free.
How long does it take to get results for skin condition treatment with acupuncture?
The amount of time it takes for skin conditions to resolve varies depending on duration and severity of the condition. In general, results are sometimes noticed as early as one week into treatment, but often take several months to clear up significantly. This is because it takes longer to balance the body from the inside out, rather than just address the problem topically or temporarily. However, the treatment of the whole body, rather than just the skin, is the key to eliminating the problem and not just covering it up. According to Chinese medicine, when a chronic condition has settled in the skin, it is an indication that the person’s general health has been compromised for quite a long time. Treating skin conditions with Chinese medicine is well worth the time and patience it requires. A healthy balanced body is significantly less likely to have a recurrence of the skin condition.