Tell Me About Acupuncture

A balanced body is a Healthy body. At Faccin Chiropractic, our goal is to optimize your health and wellness by balancing your entire body, mind and spirit. We believe that while ailments have localized or branch symptoms, they all have underlying root causes.

These root origins are imbalances, which, over time, manifest in varying symptomatic problems throughout the body. Left untreated, this begins the progression of disease. Our treatment methods utilize thousands of years of Chinese Medicine to balance the whole person - body, mind and spirit. Acupuncture can also be used for weight loss and smoking control.

Acupuncture Philosophy

One of the fundamental differences in philosophical approaches between the East and the West stems from the fact that in aand around Europe, people related more to the idea of the Shepard Controlling his flock. In the East, however, that was not true as farming was more idealized. Therefore, how one viewed the natural world was affected thusly: The West, one of controlling and action, the East, one of passivity, abserving, and watching which led to the Chinese philosophical tenets of Yin and Yang.

The idea behind Yin/Yang is that everything in nature is cyclical. In other words, winter turns to spring, then summer, fall, and back to winter. Also, for every up there is a down; for every inside there is an outside; one would not know what light is without dark. Therefore, both light and dark must have been neccessarily, simultaneously created. Thus, the diametrically opposed dynamic relationship of Yin and Yang; one polar extreme leading to the other and back again.

Most acupuncture systems have at their core this Yin/Yang relationship as the fundamental philosophical basis which helps the clinician understand the inner workings of the body. And, due to the cyclical nature of life and the observations of clinicians over those thousands of years, Meridian Energetics was born. These Meridians are akin to the electro-magnetic meridians that you learned about when studying the earch and its north and south poles. Over the years, clinicians made observations and 'connected the dotss' so to speak, and a circadian relationship of the twelve primary organ meridian systems were noticed and recorded.

The focus of an Acupuncture treatment is not to treat the malady but to balance the person so that the person's own body heals itself.

How Does It Work?

Far too often in the medical professions, a patient is told after extensive examination, "There is nothing wrong," "It is all in your head," or "Sorry, you'll have to to learn to live with it." The examining doctor unable to find the cause of the problem has little else to tell the patient. Fortunately, many physicians ore now referring their patients for an Acupuncture evaluation as a last resort.

The human body's energy flow courses over twelve meridians or channels that are normally well balanced. If a disruption of energy flow exists, it can alter the entire system, producing pain or symptoms in the body.

If we were to compare a 175 pound man on one end of a seesaw and a 45 pound child on the other end, it becomes obvious the seesaw would be "broken" due to the fact the heavier person would be sitting on the ground and the lighter would be dangling in the air. Even though the seesaw is producing a symptom of being broken-extensive examination would not reveal anything wrong with the seesaw. The obvious answer is in the balance. Correction of the balance corrects the problem.

This is Acupuncture's goal - to restore normalcy to the body's energy balance by utilizing a combination of Acupoints located on the twelve meridians. This is accomplished by a variety of means, the needle is just one.

Medical research continues in this country and others to attempt to explain in western scientific terms what the ancient Chinese seventy centuries earlier described. Today, many theories have been postulated as to why Acupuncture is so effective in pain control. However, as more discoveries are made, more research is indicated.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

One would assume inserting a needle into the skin would be painful since most of us can relate to being stuck with a pin or having a hypodermic injection. However, four Acupuncture needles can easily be inserted into the hollow tube of a hypodermic needle. Because of the extreme slenderness of the needle, most people compare the sensations "less than a mosquito bite." A phenomena referred to as "TEHCHI" occurs when the energy is contacted. This sensation is felt as a mild to moderate heaviness of tingling.

If you are one of the 70% of Westerners who is afraid of needles, there are extremely effective needleless applications of the acupuncture philosophy. The practitioner can employ TENS, or Trans Cutaneous, Neuro-Stimulation. This feels like a very mild, buzzing sensation. Another technique is the application of Low Level Laser or, its close cousin, the LED or Light Emitting Diode. This application is painless. The clinician can employ a tapping technique by using a not-puncturing blunt "Teishan." There is the time honored technique of using the fingers and thumbs to perfom Acupressure. The clinician can also use a cauterization technique called Moxibustion. There are other techniques as well.

Most of the time, after the treatment people have a feeling of relaxed well being. Occasionally, some people feel tired. Most people report that they have never slept so well. Also, a small percentage of the time, on can actually feel slightly agitated. But of all the after effects, this is the rarest.

Home Many Treatments Are Usual?

Obviously, the number of treatments vary with different conditions and individuals. Chronic problems generally require more treatment than acute ones. Some patients notice an immediate improvement after the first treatment, whereas others may not notice any effect until the seventh or eighth visit. Its been shown that a certain percentage of patients receive maximum benefit up to three months following a course of therapy.

A small numbe of patients will experience a worsening of symptoms, as the body's energies are returning to normal. This is usual and no need for alarm. It is followed by improvement. Researchers internationally agree the usual number of treatments is between eight and sixteen. The usual frequency is between two and four times a week.

Patients are urged not to enter an Acupuncture program with the thought of "taking a few" to see what will happen. Even though it is possible to achieve success; a program often visits would have a better chance for success. Patients are encouraged to be patient with the healing process. If the treatments are recommended and results occur in just five visits, the doctor may elect to discontinue treatments or continue their use to stabilize the condition.

Are Results Psychological?

Many critics of Acupuncture have suggested the science is hypnosis or "mind over matter". This criticism is totally unfounded as Acupuncture has startling effects in infants and toddlers as well as veterinary applications. The effecte it has in surgery as an anesthetic further disclaims the skeptics. Even total disbelievers report favorable response to Acupuncture.