Better Health Starts Here

TCM starts with the concept of Qi (pronounced "chee").

Qi is energy in the very broadest sense possible. Qi is universal. Qi embraces all manifestations of energy, from the most material aspects of energy (such as the earth beneath your feet, your computer, and flesh and blood) to the most immaterial aspects (light, movement, heat, nerve impulses, thought, and emotion). Life, it is said in the Chinese medical classics, is a gathering of Qi. A healthy (and happy) human being is a dynamic but harmonious mixture of all the aspects of Qi that make up who we are.

Qi is in a state of continuous flux, transforming endlessly from one aspect of Qi into another. It is neither created nor is it ever destroyed; it simply changes in its manifestation.

In order to talk about the relationships between the various aspects and manifestations of Qi within a given context, Chinese philosophy employs the concept of yin and yang.

In the Chinese perspective, given the importance of "taking everything as a whole," all things are relative. A thing can be understood only in relation to something else. This is the essential idea behind the use of the terms yin and yang.

Yin and yang are terms used to describe relative opposite qualities or manifestations of Qi. If yin is form, then yang is function. If yin is material, then yang is immaterial.

Yin refers to aspects or manifestations of Qi that are relatively material, substantial, condensing, solid, heavy, descending, cold, moist, cooling, dark, passive and quiescent.

Yang refers to aspects or manifestations of Qi that are relatively immaterial, amorphous, expanding, hollow, light, ascending, hot, dry, warming, bright, aggressive, and active.

Acupuncture is one of the safest treatment options available when performed by a licensed practitioner. Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA, despite the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. The incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than many drugs or medical procedures used for the same conditions. Acupuncture needles are solid, stainless steel, disposable, and are no bigger than a human hair or piece of thread. They do not contain a pharmaceutical agent.

The government requires acupuncturists to follow very strict sterilization procedures. In addition, pre-sterilized acupuncture needles are manufactured, packaged, and shipped in sterilized containers. There are virtually no negative side effects from acupuncture. Most people feel very relaxed and often fall asleep during a treatment. Following an acupuncture treatment many report feeling ‘euphoric’, which is likely due to acupuncture stimulating the central nervous system to release opiods (pain relieving substances) and serotonin (the ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter in the brain).

No. Acupuncture can sometimes feel dull, achy, heavy, warm, and is usually not painful. Most people are quite relaxed during treatments and often fall asleep.

Absolutely. Acupuncture is a medicine of prevention, rather than intervention, meaning that we aim to prevent illness before it arises. Proper diet, exercise, balance of work and rest, emotional and mental stability, and acupuncture treatments are all integral components of maintaining good health. If every system is working in harmony and you have no health concerns, the minimal treatment plan is four times per year at the change in seasons. There are seasonal shifts (even in SoCal!) that affect our systems and energy cycles.

Many times patients try acupuncture once and decide it didn’t work for them. In Western medicine we often look to strong prescriptions or surgery to “fix” the problem as quickly as possible. In Eastern medicine, the focus is on restoring balance within all systems of the body, which often takes more than one session. Each treatment process is unique, with progress varying greatly depending on past and current medical history, age, diet, lifestyle, and genetic make-up. Also, each practitioner has a different style of treatment, so try out a few before you decide on one you like.