Acupuncture Frequently Asked Questions

---

Before providing acupuncture treatment or  prescribing herbs, we will assess your body by asking you questions  about your medical history, reviewing western medical findings, looking  at your tongue, feeling your pulse at your wrists, palpating your abdomen and meridians along the body, checking the appearance, texture, colour and temperature of your skin, assessing how your voice sounds,  evaluating your gait, facial diagnosis, and also several other diagnostic techniques. The doctor can then provide a medical diagnosis, and will treat you accordingly. 

Following the diagnosis, acupuncture  points are carefully chosen on the body along specific acupuncture meridians. Needle stimulation of these points increase the body’s healing energy or Qi. The body has approximately 1,000 acupuncture points where disease can enter and exit. When the flow of Qi is blocked due to trauma, poor diet, medications, stress, hereditary conditions,  environmental factors or excessive emotional issues, the system is disrupted and illness is generated.

In accordance with ancient theory, acupuncture allows Qi to flow to areas where it is deficient and away from areas where it is in excess. In this way, acupuncture regulates and restores a harmonious energetic balance in the body.

Qi (pronounced “chee”) is based on the ancient Chinese theory of the flow of energy. Qi fills every part of our bodies by flowing through distinct meridians or pathways. Open meridians are essential for optimal health. 

Needle size and insertion depth depend upon the nature of the problem. Depths can be from 1/5” to 3” Also taken into consideration are the patient’s size, age, and constitution. Scientific research has discovered that acupuncture points show a  variety of unique bioelectric properties.

Stimulation of acupuncture points causes physiological reactions and promotes brain activity that releases pain-killing endorphins, influences blood  pressure, enhances the immune system, balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and enhances the endocrine system. Most of all, acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal itself, regain homeostasis, and maintain its relationship with nature. 

No. It is the needle itself that initiates physiological changes and stimulates the movement of Qi to cause a  corrective change in the body.  

At the time the needle is inserted, some may feel soreness or slight pain — others may feel nothing. Common Qi  sensations around the needle include: tingling, electrical sensations that may travel above or below the needle, or a sense of swelling at the insertion site. Stimulation of needles can be done manually, or by  attaching electrodes that transmit a weak current. Some people are  energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. If  you experience discomfort during or after the treatment, it is usually mild and short term — there are no long-term negative side effects. Relaxation and a sense of well-being often occur during and after  treatment. Often patients become so relaxed that they sleep during  treatment. 

Yes. Best Choice Acupuncture uses only pre-sterilized, non-toxic needles. Needles are only used once and then disposed of safely.

All aspects of our existence can be explained and understood in terms of yin-yang as it represents the two most general categories into which everything is divided. As it relates to acupuncture, it is used as a means of observing the way energy moves  and manifests in the body. Symbolically viewed as polar opposites, yin is dark, and yang is bright; yin is cold, and yang is hot; yin is passive, and yang is active; yin is female, and yang is male; yin is rest and yang is activity.The changes to yin-yang always move in relationship to each other.The ideal is for each to exist in harmony with the other. Acupuncture seeks to create a balance of yin and yang that is essential to health. A deficiency of either principle can manifest as disease and imbalance.  

 Individual treatments will vary in length, but tend to last approximately 20-30 minutes. 

Each patient is unique and responds to  acupuncture differently, so the number and frequency of treatments will  vary from patient to patient.The number of treatments needed to address a specific health concern depends upon the duration, severity, and nature of your complaint. You may need only a single treatment for an acute condition or a series of five to fifteen treatments to resolve chronic problems.Your body constitution, severity of problem, and the length of time that you have been sick, will all play a part in your treatment plan. Since acupuncture addresses the health of the whole body, there are many people that seek regular acupuncture treatment to maintain good health and as a preventative measure.  

A partial list includes:

• Musculoskeletal: neck pain, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, back pain, knee pain, sciatica foot pain, sports injuries
• Neurological/Nervous System: headache, insomnia, stroke, stress disorders, bell’s palsy, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, neuralgia epilepsy
• Gynaecological: fertility (male/female), menstrual pain, PMS, menopause,
  pregnancy discomfort, cysts
• Respiratory: asthma, cough, sore throat, common cold, hay fever, allergies
• Gastrointestinal: constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, nausea, stomach pain, poor digestion
• Other: heart disorders, high/low blood pressure, chronic fatigue, cancer  treatment symptoms, men’s health issues, addiction, accident-related injuries, anxiety and  depression, skin disorders

Chinese herbal medicine consists mainly of vegetables, leaves, flowers, twigs, stems, roots, tubers, rhizomes, and bark.There are animal and mineral products used on occasion when necessary.
Medicinal herbal formulas are dispensed to each patient based upon the patient’s individual  constitution and current medical condition. Unlike western herbs, Chinese herbs are used in very specific combinations, as opposed to singular herbs. A herbal formula may be comprised of as many as 15 herbs, all having specific purposes within the formula. These herbal formulas, like acupuncture, work to unlock the Qi, to nourish, and to repair the organs.