What is Acupuncture
Learn how malfunctioning organs, stagnant energy & stagnant blood effect your health.
Click on a question to learn more about Acupuncture.
Learn how malfunctioning organs, stagnant energy & stagnant blood effect your health.
Click on a question to learn more about Acupuncture.
Oriental Medicine recognizes 12 organs; the lungs, large intestine, stomach, spleen, gall bladder, liver, heart, small intestine, urinary bladder, kidney, pericardium, and the overall digestive tract. They produce blood and energy, which are the building blocks of proper body function. Blood flows in the blood vessels throughout the body. Energy flows on specific pathways throughout the body.
Physical, chemical, or emotional stressors can cause the organs to malfunction, blood to stagnate. The function and healing process of vital body parts are affected at this point and although extreme health problems have been observed, it is more often not noticed at all. If the condition is allowed to go untreated, the body will attempt to support the affected area, but as the problem increases, the area starts to degenerate.
The longer the condition is allowed to go untreated, the less chance there is for recovery. what began as a minor problem or discomfort may lead to irreversible damage.
Physical, chemical, or emotional stressors can cause the organs to malfunction, blood to stagnate. The function and healing process of vital body parts are affected at this point and although extreme health problems have been observed, it is more often not noticed at all. If the condition is allowed to go untreated, the body will attempt to support the affected area, but as the problem increases, the area starts to degenerate.
The longer the condition is allowed to go untreated, the less chance there is for recovery. what began as a minor problem or discomfort may lead to irreversible damage.
The purpose of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is to return the flow of energy and blood back to normal, and to reinstate optimal organ function. This will, in turn, restore function to the affected area and the body will begin to heal itself. If detected early, organ malfunction and blood and/or energy stagnation may respond well to Oriental Medicine with an excellent change for a complete and painless recovery.
You may experience two sensations with Acupuncture: the insertion (which may feel like a mosquito bite) and the arrival of energy at the tip of the needle (which may feel achy, radiating, electric, or warm) all very good signs. Each person has a unique response.
Yes, in fact, the National Institute of Health (NIH) points out that "the occurrence of adverse events in the practice of Acupuncture has been documented to be extremely low."
Yes. Acupuncture has not only survived the scrutiny of Western science and controlled double blind studies, it has been endorsed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) Consensus Committee for use as treatment for many health disorders. "The data in support of acupuncture is as strong as those for many accepted Western medical therapies."
Licensed Acupuncturists have one of the lowest incidences of malpractice suits among medical professions. Be sure to ask your Acupuncturist about their training (how many academic and clinical hours they trained) to ensure the best quality of care. Nationally, Acupuncturists are required to complete a minimum of 3 years of academic and clinical training or 5 years of apprenticeship. They must also pass national or state certification exams, much like allopathic physician's board exams, in order to practice. In, Iowa those who met this standard will be designated as Licensed Acupuncturists (L.Ac.).
The goal of acupuncture treatments are directed toward restoring normal function to your body. Through improved blood flow, we stimulate the bodies innate healing power, which is almost the opposite of covering up symptoms with medications. This corrective care approach works on the reduction or removal of the cause of your problem. We must treat you beyond the simple removal of your symptoms to properly re-establish balance to your body. When your condition reaches a 90% or better improvement score, we are roughly 50% through the treatment plan. The treatment beyond removal of symptoms is called stabilization or corrective care, and is necessary. Failure to continue with treatments may result in the return of your condition. However, once your condition is stabilized, no further treatment is necessary in the majority of cases.
Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as effective in treating these conditions:
• Addiction to Alcohol, Drugs or Smoking
• Arthritis
• Bronchitis
• Chronic Fatigue
• Common Cold
• Dental Pain
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Emotional Problems
• Facial Palsy/Tics
• Fertillity
• Gingivitis
• Hiccough
• Indigestion
• Low Back Pain
• Menstrual Irregularities
•Morning Sickness
• Osteoarthritis
• PMS
• Reproductive Problems
• Sciatica
• Shoulder Pain
• Sleep Disturbances
• Sore Throat
• Tennis Elbow
• Tooth Pain
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Wrist Pain
• Arthritis
• Bronchitis
• Chronic Fatigue
• Common Cold
• Dental Pain
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Emotional Problems
• Facial Palsy/Tics
• Fertillity
• Gingivitis
• Hiccough
• Indigestion
• Low Back Pain
• Menstrual Irregularities
•Morning Sickness
• Osteoarthritis
• PMS
• Reproductive Problems
• Sciatica
• Shoulder Pain
• Sleep Disturbances
• Sore Throat
• Tennis Elbow
• Tooth Pain
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Wrist Pain
• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Colitis
• Constipation
• Depression
• Digestive Trouble
• Dysentery
• Eye Problems
• Fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• Headache
• Incontinence
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Menopause
• Migraines
• Nausea
• Pain
• Pneumonia
• Rhinitis
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Sinusitis
• Smoking
• Stress
• Tonsillitis
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Vomiting
• Asthma
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Colitis
• Constipation
• Depression
• Digestive Trouble
• Dysentery
• Eye Problems
• Fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• Headache
• Incontinence
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Menopause
• Migraines
• Nausea
• Pain
• Pneumonia
• Rhinitis
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Sinusitis
• Smoking
• Stress
• Tonsillitis
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Vomiting
Currently, acupuncturists are required to complete 60-90 credit hours of undergraduate study. The acupuncturist then receives 3 to 4 years of comprehensive graduate training. All schools must be nationally certified and all acupuncturists must pass 5 national boards. Additionally, acupuncturists must meet strict guidelines to practice in every state. In Iowa, acupuncturists are governed by the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners.