Frequently-Asked Questions

Note: I've provided some foundational information about TCM in the "Chinese Medicine at a Glance" subsection. Supporting links tosome of this content appear in the following responses and will open in new tabs when visited. Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions you might have. Thank you for your interest!

How Does Acupuncture Work?

There are numerous ways in which acupuncture accomplishes pain relief, inflammation reduction, accelerated injury-recovery and performance enhancement. All of these effects share a common mechanic, the smooth flow of Qi and Blood. When Qi and Blood flow smoothly in adequate abundance, all of these effects are potential results. Below are several explanations of how this works from perspectives of traditional Eastern physiology, Western biomedicine and theoretical physics. Also, follow this link for an introduction to the concept of Qi:

Biomedical Explanations

Below are several explanations of acupuncture efficacy based on anatomical structures and established physical and chemical principles of tissue functionality. The fields of biochemistry, biophysics, histology and neurophysiology are constantly evolving and new perspectives on such topics are continually emerging. I will continue to post compelling new arguments as they become available.

Connective Tissue, Fibroblasts, Collagen & Fascia Planes

Connective tissue, CT, exists at both macro and microscopic levels of our anatomy. Each tissue structure and individual cell of the body is integrated via a system-wide network of connective tissue that plays direct roles in movement, fluid dynamics and metabolism, as well as tissue adaptation, cellular behavior and even genetic expression. Although blood and lymph vessels and nerves are distributed consistently throughout most structures, only connective tissue reaches all structures, tissues and cells of the body and joins them into a structurally and functionally-integrated whole.

Although CT goes by different names according to the kinds of tissue it connects, it is generally consistent in structural composition, from the larger fascia tissues of muscle casings, tendons, ligaments and bone casings, to the microscopic scaffolding that suspends cells in their fluid media, called the extracellular matrix, to the corresponding infrastructural scaffolding inside all cells, known as the intracellular matrix. All levels of CT are composed of the same basic array of proteins such as collagen, elastin and others, carbohydrates and fats.

All CT is also managed by the same types of cells, primarily fibroblasts, which lay down collagen networks which form the skeletal structure of all CT. Fibroblasts have the capacity to change shape or morphology, alternating between a sheet-like structure and a ball-like structure, each of which puts different kinds of stresses on surroundig collagen networks. Fibroblasts have been found to change morphology in response to acupuncture stimulation, thereby tightenning or loosenning CT networks both locally and distally. As the CT matrix throughout the body is continuous, adjustments made to one region can have mechanical effects on other regions. This is useful in treating conditions of spasticity (excess ) or flaccidity (deficiency) of muscles, as well as in improving fluid dynamics around joint structures caused by local CT dryness or rigidity.

Collagen also exhibits piezoelectric behavior, transmitting electromagnetic energy under mechanical pressure. Most CT structures are semiconductors and can propgate EMF signals throughout the body and into cells. In addition to known brainwave frequencies and their associated physiological states, different tissues have different resonant properties that can be amplified by stimulating CT via Tui Na or acupuncture manipulation, helping to prioritize the healing of specific tissue types. Resonance characteristics can also be used diagnostically. For example, the periosteum, or bone casing, is a kind of CT that resonates with the key of C and a tuning fork vibrating at this frequency can be pressed to bone adjacent to a suspected fracutre site to ascertain if, in fact, a fracture exists, in which case the vibratory stimulation should elicit pain. Electroacupuncture uses specific frequencies that are channeled between needles through intervening tissues to accelerate recovery from both sports injury and stroke as wellf as stimulate CT in the face for cosmetic rejuvenation. Acupoints are often sites exhibiting higher-than-average conductivity relative to other areas on the body's surface. Classical needle manipulation techniques involve repeated rotation of the ferrous needles, which causes small EMF fields in the immediate vicinity. Such fields may be more likely to propagate along conductive tracts of tissue if introduced at regions with lower electrical resistance.

Lastly, there is growing evidence that fascia planes, or the planar surfaces formed from continuous expanses of fascia and CT in the body are organized according to the most economical three dimensional vectors for embryological development and that stem cell directives for tissue development may be defined according to fascia plane gemoetry. Furthermore, many of the channel pathways follow the course of the fascia planes in t he body. An excellent book by the English surgeon, Ted Kaptchuck, on this subject is listed in the references sub-section.

Coincidence between Acupoints & Channel Pathways and Crucial Biomechanical Structures

In addition to following fascia planes, many channel pathways follow major blood vesseles' trajectory along portions of their own trajectories. Many acupoints are also distributed near neuromuscular junctions and nerve bundles, as well. Others lie near lymph nodes, and mechanoreceptors in the limbs or neck. Many lie in the potential spaces between bony structures in joints.

Traditional Explanations

Several classical explanations for acupuncture's efficacy exist and all are predicated on the concept of the Twelve Channel System of Qi and Blood flow throughout the body...
What is the Twelve-Channel System?One of the classical models likens the channel pathways to watershed pathways through a landscape. Each pathway has a point of welling up, a point of springing forth into sheet-like flow on a slope, a point of stream-like meandering flow through valley heads, a point of river-like passage through mature valleys with eddies and laminar flow properties, and a point of oceanic or tidal flow. Such watershed symbolism describes the behavior of the channels on the four limbs. In the torso and head, the channel pathways mingle with one-another in complex networks and enter the vital organs. Acupuncture and Tui Na massage, as well as Qi Gong and herbal therapy, all serve to manipulate the way that Qi and Blood flow through these channel pathways. Acupoints are locations where the flow can be enhanced, drained or diverted or converted to affect the availability of Qi and Blood to structures and Organ Systems with overlapping watersheds, so to speak. If one region is experiencing a drought while another is flooded, intervening waterways can be opened to mitigate deficiency or excess.

Another classical model is predicated on the Five Phases...
What are the Five Phases? Acupoints are regions with distinct topography or tissue intersection and they are often named after geographical characteristics of a wild landscape or ecosystem. There is a concept of 'as without, so within,' so to speak that compares our bodies to natural landscapes and our physiological processes to the ebb and flow of natural forces and resources. Five Phase dynamics, modeled after fundamental patterns in the natural world and applied, in turn, to the classification of our Organ Systems, can be used to balance the elemental interactions between Organ Systems and their associated tissues or vital processes. For example, if one's lifestyle or profession involves high levels of stress and/or repressed creativity, one may experience digestive upset and gut issues preventing proper nutrient uptake. This would be diagnosed as 'Wood overacting on Earth,' or Liver overacting on Pancrease-Spleen, which is to say anexcss condition of the Wood Element bringing about a deficiency condition in the Earth element. Part of the treatment protocol might involve employing Metal to check Wood by strengthening the Lungand Large Intestine through treatment and breath work, as well as exercise that cultivates deep respiration. Specific point combinations and needle techniques can drain or fortify different elemental energetics to balance the whole system.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

There are a variety of sensations that you may experience, including warmth, pressure, tingling, a sensation of movement up or down the adjacent channel pathways and electrical pulses but stark pain is seldom one of them. That said, there is sometimes a slight sting as the needle penetrates the skin but it is generally no more intene than a mosquito bite and lasts only a moment. Once the needle has crossed through the skin, this stinging sensation does not persist. Many people, myself included, come to appreciate the positive effects of the process and are able to enjoy the stimulation. Needles are raditionally manipulated to some extent once they are brought to therapeutic depth and patients are gradually introduced to such stimulation over time. For newcomers, the first few sessions involve minimal stimulation of needles so that patients develop a sense of confidence and assurance of safety.

How Often Should I Visit?

Every two to three dayas for acute pain conditions. Once a week for chronic conditions or non-acute pain conditions. Less frequently or as needed for constitutional maintenance, herbal treatment or counseling.

What Conditions can Acupuncture Treat?

As a rule, TCM treats disease patterns rather than symptoms. These patterns are defined using traditional models for balance and imbalance, excess and deficiency, Yin and Yang and the 12 Organ Systems model. Unique patterns of individual constitution and medical history also factor into a diagnosis. The symptoms or conditions associated with a biomedical diagnosis are usually regarded as the evidence for underlying patterns which are to be treated, rather than the the subject of curative intervention. A classical saying emphasizes how similar symptoms may be handled very differently depending on patient constitution and underlying patterns, while very different conditions and symptom sets may be treated similarly if constitution and underlying pattern dynamics are similar. Therefore, there are no conditions that are any more or less treatable than any others but there are varrying levels of constitutional imbalance or difficulty of patients' health goals that dictate a prognosis. Each case must be addressed individually and approached holistically.

Will My Insurance Cover Treatements?

I am working to hire an assistant to help with office paperwork involved in processing insurance claims. At present, this process is prohibitively time-consuming and I am unable to accept insurance but hope to expand within the next year or so to do so.