EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU SEE AN ACUPUNCTURIST

DAVID CAI L. AC,; L.M.T.

Positive growth.

How can I feel peaceful?

It is totally normal to want to try to control. It’s human nature to want to do this for many reasons: safety, protection, anxiety, competency, fear, achievement, you name it! However, the more we learn to observe and let go, the more peace we gain. There is a lot in life we cannot control. The more we hold on to things, the more our body holds onto those things too. We get attached and stagnated. We feel like we need external things, people and knowledge to make us happy and healthy. But in reality, releasing our bodies and minds and letting go is true inner peace and health.

2 simple yet very effective ways to find inner peace is through meditation and yoga. These practices allow us to be present with our body and mind. When we are present, we become observers flowing through life with more objectivity and clarity. This allows us to create a stronger ability to take appropriate action/make the healthy changes we need in our lives.

How do I start practicing meditation?

An easy way to start your meditation practice is to do it 1x a day everyday. In the beginning, a lot might come up. You might be flooded with more pain, tightness, thoughts and feelings. This is actually a good thing! When you meditate, you begin to observe and see the state of your body and mind.

Here is how to do a simple standing meditation:

-Try to do this 1x a day everyday

-The earlier in the morning the better!

-Allow your breath to slow down a little but don’t try to control it too much, let yourself breathe naturally

-You can keep your eyes open, half closed or closed

-Closing your eyes makes it easier to relax but do what you are comfortable with in the beginning

-If thoughts and feelings come up, try not to grab on to them (let them flow past and allow yourself to just notice them)

-Stand straight with feet shoulder width apart

-Relax the top of your head, neck, shoulders and arms

-Bend your knees slowly as if you were sitting on a high chair

-Keep your upper back straight

-Imagine the top of your head is gently being pulled up towards the sky (this will help keep your body straight)

-Focus on your wrists and use that point to pull your arms up slowly until they are comfortably in front of you (do not raise them above your shoulders)

-Relax the hands, elbows, shoulders and neck

-When you feel comfortable in this position turn your hands so that your palms are facing each other

-You might begin to feel energy between your hands and an energy ball between your hands and abdomen area

-In Chinese medicine we call this energy “Qi”

-If you don’t feel the Qi, don’t worry! It will come naturally as you practice your mediation more

-You might begin to feel more tension in your muscles, your knees might get wobbly and many thoughts/feelings might run through your head

-This is natural! Let these sensations, thoughts and feelings be instead of trying to connect with them. Observe them and let them flow like a river

-If your muscles continue to feel tight and painful, you may be in the wrong position. Adjust as needed and your body will naturally relax

-Continue your meditation for as long as you can. In the beginning you might only be able to do this for 30 seconds and that is ok! Keep practicing until you can do this standing meditation for 10 minutes or longer.

-When you are done slowly turn your palms face down

-Slowly bring your arms down until they are at the side of the legs

-Shift your weight onto one leg

-Pull the other leg/foot towards that leg

-Then shift your weight to the center

-Bring your knees straight up so that you are back to your normal standing position

-With palms facing up in front of your body, raise your hands slowly. Use your hands to bring the Qi from the lower part of your body to the upper part of your body as you take a deep inhale

-When your hands reach about your chest level, slowly begin to turn them outwards so that your palms face down when they reach right above your head

-Hold your hands above your head for a second or 2 and then lower them to the lower part of your body

-Do this motion of brining the Qi up and down your body 3x

-End this meditation by shaking out your limbs and/or patting/tapping your body

After about 2-3 weeks of doing this meditation for 10 mins or more everyday, you will begin to feel benefits. These benefits include better sleep, a clearer mind, increased concentration, stronger health, peace of mind and increased relaxation in everyday life.

When or why should I seek help from acupuncture and Chinese medicine?

When something isn’t balanced in our bodies, our bodies communicate with us through different types of symptoms. As we all know, symptoms are usually uncomfortable (headache, upset stomach, cough, fever etc.). However, they’re a good sign because our bodies are signaling that something is wrong so that we can take proper action to heal.

If we continuously ignore these symptoms, our health will suffer. The body is holistic in nature, all of its systems interact and affect one another. So the more we ignore our bodies trying to communicate with us, the more imbalances are created within many different systems of it.

If you are constantly feeling unwell but all tests and checkups from your doctors come back as normal/they can’t find anything wrong, it is time to try to get help from acupuncture and Chinese medicine. If you experience symptoms in 2 or more of these categories, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help balance your body and mind so that health can be restored.

Chronic fatigue: No matter what you do (sleep, rest, eat healthy, caffeine etc.) you feel tired
Poor sleeping: You can’t fall asleep, stay asleep (tossing and turning) and/or don’t feel rested after you do sleep
Upset stomach/Poor Digestive issues: You experience abdominal upset such as constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, heartburn, bloating, IBS, general abdominal pain etc.

-You experience sinus/allergy issues and tend to catch colds easily (these are related to your digestive system too!)

Body aches/pain: You experience pain all the time. The pain can be traveling, meaning you don’t necessarily have the same pains in the same places all the time but just in general your body experiences aches.
Low sexual drive: You have low or no interest in sexual activities and/or you have a hard time getting aroused, you experience infections in the genital area and/or have frequent urination
1. For men: Erectile dysfunction and low testosterone
2. For women: Intercourse is painful and/or not enjoyable, hands and feet easily feel cold and period issues

What is acupuncture & how does it work?

Acupuncture is a system of medicine that was developed around 4,000 to 5,000 years ago in China. It is a part of mainstream medicine in China and is increasingly becoming popular in the West. It is one of the oldest systems of healthcare in the world and continues to be used because of its astounding efficacy.

There are 20 acupuncture meridians in the body. Each meridian has a paired meridian. One is yin and one is yang. Each meridian is also connected to an internal organ. For example, there is the lung meridian, the heart meridian, the stomach meridian etc. As you can see, these systems all connect to each other to form a holistic network with parts that work together to keep the body and mind happy and healthy.

The 20 meridians contain the acupuncture points. These points are like energy stations. When these stations become blocked or have too much or too little energy, pain, sickness and symptoms begin to occur. Energy in the body also flows in certain directions and to certain locations. However, this can get thrown off or blocked, which also creates health problems and pain. Over time, because of all of this, it is common for the systems in the body to become disconnected from each other. When there is so much disconnection in the body, chronic health issues thrive.

Practitioners use the acupuncture points to diagnose and treat health problems. Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into these points in order to unblock stuck/excess energy. It also redirects the flow of energy so that it flows in the correct direction and to the correct location. This is a very crucial step because it opens up your body. When this happens, you feel more peaceful, less stressed and pain reduction begins with each visit.

Acupuncture also works to take care of underlying issues that cause health problems. It rebalances the entire holistic system of the meridians and body to produce more energy. When your body produces more energy, it has the ability to prevent your problems from coming back.

Lastly, acupuncture will reconnect any systems that may have been disconnected for a long time so health can be harmonious.

Chels writing: When your body can produce healthy abundant energy, it can fend off health problems and prevent future issues from occurring. (wrote the same thing twice about producing more energy and preventing health issues from coming back)

How many sessions do I need in order for the acupuncture treatment to work?

Everyone and every health condition is different so this really depends. However, after a couple of treatments you should begin to feel something. These include sleep improvement, more relaxation and decrease in pain.

During your first treatment we will do a full evaluation to see if acupuncture will be effective for you and your condition/s. If acupuncture is good for you, the average amount of treatments most people need to feel an abundance of improvement is 10-15 sessions.

What is the philosophy behind acupuncture?

The practice of acupuncture is rooted in the philosophy of Zhong Yi 中医and it has 2 main principles.

The first is the principle of Zhong中. This means middle, balance, center etc. In the most simple terms we are trying to balance the body. If something is hot we treat it with cold. If something is weak, we strengthen it.

The second is the principle of Yi医. Yi refers to the medical modalities used within TCM to bring balance back to the body to restore health. These modalities include acupuncture, cupping, herbal medicine, tuina etc. These modalities correct the direction, location and timing of the flow of Qi. Qi flows through certain meridians in the body at certain times. When this flows correctly, there is health. If this does not flow correctly, health suffers. Even if your body has enough Qi, if it is not flowing in the correct direction to the correct locations at the RIGHT time, health will also suffer.

Like a Fish pond

How does acupuncture heal? Zhong Yi 中医， acutherapy?

In general, acupuncture helps our bodies create an environment where health always thrives. Let’s think about a fishpond. There are fish, good bacteria and bad bacteria that live there. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine work to create a healing environment where the bad bacteria naturally die and the fish and good bacteria continue to live and grow. This obviously does not happen overnight, which is why reaching your health goals with acupuncture takes time. Essentially acupuncturists are repairing an entire holistic system so that it can sustain and heal itself by living in homeostasis.

Let’s look at this fishpond example again. In general, Western medicine works more on targeting the bad bacteria. It is very efficient and can quickly get rid of the bad stuff that causes harm to the body. Sometimes though this treatment can be very strong and also kill the fish and good bacteria that create the ecosystem of the fishpond. When this happens, sometimes more problems can arise.

The combination of both medicines works the best when it comes to treating your health. Harmful factors in the body can be rid of quickly while also maintaining an environment that supports health.

DAVID CAI L. AC,; L.M.T.

KNOWLEDGE IS THE POWER

How come I feel worse and/or more tired after my acupuncture treatment?

For most people, a decrease in symptoms begins to happen after the start of acupuncture sessions. However, there are certain instances where you may feel worse or exhausted after treatment. This is also a perfectly healthy response! Sometimes your body begins some heavy repair work after acupuncture. You can think of it like a car accident. A car accident causes a blockage on the road just like how health issues cause a blockage of the energy flow in your body. When this happens police come to help the problem. For a short time traffic is jammed up and cars have to take alternative routes to get to their destinations. It’s a mess. However, after this, the blockage in the road is cleared up and traffic flows normally again. This is similar to acupuncture because it is working on repairing your health issue while redirecting the flow of energy for a short time. It may feel like a lot but it is actually the feeling of healing happening.

(After the first treatment, many people experience sleeping longer than they normally would. As we go through life, stress builds up in our bodies. It’s very common to become tense and hold on to many things. Naturally this becomes the new normal. Your body feels a false sense of protection or safety within this constant tenseness because it is there all the time. When you receive your first acupuncture treatment, it allows your body to totally relax. When this tenseness feels relief for the first time in a long time, you begin to feel everything and this can be really uncomfortable! This includes your body feeling tired from all the pain and stress it has been carrying.)

What should I expect during my first treatment?

When you first arrive our receptionist will greet you. The medical assistant will help you fill out our new patient forms if you have not done so already online. The assistant will check your weight, height and blood pressure. After this she will give you a little tour of our clinic and then bring you to the treatment room. Here, the assistant will begin to do your medical intake. She will collect info about your health troubles and inquire more about your medical history. After this intake, you will wait for the doctor.

When the doctor comes in, he will continue your intake to find out more details on your issues. Some of these details include: medication history, treatments you have done for this problem, what makes your condition better or worse, if this issue interferes with daily life etc. He will also discuss your health goals with you, do a physical exam and see if you need energy testing.

If you do need energy testing, you will lay on the table and relax. The medical assistant will perform the energy testing. This takes about 10-15 minutes and you will not feel anything. After this you will watch a 4 minute video about acupuncture and how it works.

The doctor will come back after this, explain the energy testing and discuss your treatment plan. If you accept these terms of treatment, we will quickly discuss payment details and options.

After this the doctor will perform your acupuncture treatment. The treatment will last between 30-45 minutes. This depends on different situations (how busy we are, your condition etc.).

After your treatment, try to relax if you can. The next day after treatment you may feel more peaceful, you might feel worse, you might feel changes, you might feel nothing at all.These are all normal because everyone is different.

Is there anything I can do to improve my condition?

Yes! We recommend these 5 steps for improving overall health and wellbeing. The order of these steps is very important. If they are being done out of order, there will be little to no benefit from them.

Create inner peace: It is definitely not always easy to feel content in this busy and sometimes stressful life. Check out the question: “How can I feel peaceful” for tips and further exploration on this topic!
Rest/Sleep: Without proper rest, nothing works or functions.
Nutrition: It is more important to have a regular eating schedule and to listen to your body’s hunger cues than it is to focus on diets and what or what not to eat. Routine is important in nutrition and for the digestive system. It is a good idea to try to eat around the same times you usually do everyday. Everyone’s body follows their own unique schedule and getting to know this regular schedule can be very healing for your health. Listening to your body is so vital. When you feel hungry, eat. When you feel thirsty, drink.
Love: Love is having the ability to give when someone is in need.
Fitness: Movement and activity help keep the body and mind from stagnating. However, you cannot get much benefit from fitness unless you are getting proper rest, nutrition and working on inner peace. Exercise does not always have to be intense. In fact, the best exercise is to play with someone you love. Joyful movement is key.

What feelings should I expect during an acupuncture treatment?

During treatment, it is totally normal to feel different sensations as the needles are inserted. These sensations are called De Qi (your body’s response to the needling or the signal that energy is starting to move). These sensations can feel sore, numbness, bloating, heavy, tingling, radiating, dull or electric. These feelings are a good sign. What you are feeling is stagnant energy becoming unblocked.

Sometimes you can feel burning or sharp sensations after needle insertion. This usually means the needle positioning is off. Please let us know if you feel these sensations so that we can change the needle position. It is also important to remember not to move once needles are inserted. This could also change the angle of the needle and cause the sharp or burning sensations.

Sometimes after treatment, you may experience a lingering feeling of heaviness. It may even feel like the needles are still in! This is a good sign, signaling that the treatment is working well.

Do acupuncture needles hurt?

In general, acupuncture needles do not hurt and most people don’t feel much. However, sometimes you can feel an “ouch” like a mosquito bite. Some points are more reactive and sensitive than others, making pokey feelings normal. Certain sensations signal that stuck energy is beginning to move, which is a very good thing! Other sensations can be a bit strong, in which case we can always adjust the position of the needle to alleviate this.

Is there anything I should or shouldn’t do after treatment?

After treatment it is important to drink one cup of room temperature water. After that, please relax for 10-15 minutes. These two simple tasks can really help the body to better receive the benefits of the acupuncture treatment. After this you can go on with your day as you usually would. However, if you do feel tired, let yourself relax or sleep if you can.

If you are going to shower, we recommend waiting a few hours after treatment before doing so.

It is better to avoid cold things after treatment for the remainder of that day. This includes ingesting cold foods/drinks and engulfing yourself in cold water or temperatures. Avoiding cold is especially important when dealing with stomach issues and pain. It is also very crucial for women to avoid cold because in Chinese medicine cold can lead to or exacerbate menstrual issues. If you are seeing us for a few sessions, please avoid cold things for the duration of the course of treatment.

DAVID CAI L. AC,; L.M.T.

KNOW YOURSELF

What if I am scared of needles?

There are a few things we can do to try and help you relax during your treatment. Often, the doctor will talk to you as he inserts the needles. Enjoying light conversation can help to keep your mind off the acupuncture.

Another technique that can help is the usage of a small massage device. The sensations can help relax your body and mind as the needles are inserted.

Some patients also like when we tap or gently press the part of the skin where the needle will go right before insertion.

Why does my acupuncturist ask me about my stress/mood when I am coming in for physical pain?

In Chinese Medicine, all issues start with changes or disruptions in Qi flow. Emotions are natural. However, when a person feels certain emotions in excess or does not deal with them healthily they can disrupt the Qi flow and manifest in the body as physical pain.

In Chinese Medicine, the human body is looked at as very similar to nature. The air is like your Qi. It floats naturally and when air circulation is good, there is good health. Emotions are also energy and can be thought of as vibrations that change the flow of Qi. For example, anger is like a tornado that disrupts the air circulation and causes harm to the environment. Depression is like a stuffy room with little circulation, leaving the room vulnerable to problems like mold. These occurrences in the energy flow lead to physical manifestations.

Some simplified examples of the connection between mood and physical pain are:

Easily getting angry in females: Issues in the uterus and female system
Carrying a lot of stress: More pain in neck and shoulder
Stuck mood (not happy but not totally depressed yet): Pain in shoulder blade and breast area (for females)
Indecisive/ Not getting the respect one deserves even when they do good things: Stomach/Digestive issues
Holding in emotions/Carrying responsibility that isn’t theirs, especially in family matters: Low back/Leg pain

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DAVID CAI L. AC,; L.M.T.

CONTROL YOUR TEMPER

How frequently do I need to get acupuncture in order for my condition to improve? How much do I have to commit to treatment so that I can see results?

This is a question that comes up often and it is best to think of this in terms of a metaphor. When you boil water, the stove takes a little while to heat up. When you first turn the heat on, you don’t really see anything happening in the pot even though you know the water is warming up. After a few minutes, you begin to see some bubbles and movement in the water. When the water reaches boiling point that is when we see a lot of movement in the water and steam coming out of the pot.

This process of boiling water is a lot like acupuncture treatments and your body. In the beginning it is important to consistently go to treatments. Of course the frequency of treatments depends on each person’s condition and situation but the average first course of treatment is 2-3x a week for 6-8 weeks. This is usually the amount of time that is needed to accumulate benefits by restoring your body’s energy system. After this first course of treatment, we will discuss if you need another course of treatment. This depends on how you are feeling and if health goals are met at this time.

Going back to the metaphor, acupuncture would be the heat from the stove, helping your body’s own healing abilities begin. Just as the water in the pot warms up, you may not notice much in the beginning even though your body is accumulating a lot of energy and benefits. And just like the very end of the process of boiling water, you will see a significant amount of benefit because of the consistent heat or acupuncture treatments.

If you were to try to boil a pot of water by constantly turning the stove on and off, it might get a little warm but overall this would be useless. Not enough energy would be accumulated in order for the water to boil. This is just like the frequency of acupuncture visits. If you go every once in a while, you will see a little bit of benefit but committing to a frequent and consistent treatment plan in the beginning will help your body’s healing abilities really get started and acquire the most benefits.

Why are my emotions so important when it comes to my health?

In Chinese medicine we see the body and health as a kind of reflection of what is going on in nature. The 5 elements in nature are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Each corresponds to different organs in the body and to different emotions.

Fire corresponds to the heart and small intestine. The emotion that correlates with these organs is joy.

Earth corresponds to the spleen and stomach. The emotion that correlates with these organs is worry/overthinking.

Metal corresponds to the lungs and large intestine. The emotion that correlates with these organs is grief.

Water corresponds to the kidneys and urinary bladder. The emotion that correlates with these organs is fear.

Wood corresponds to the liver and gallbladder. The emotion that correlates with these organs is anger.

There is a natural holistic interaction between all the elements. Each generates one and each controls one to make sure there is balance. For example, the kidneys generate the liver and the liver controls the spleen.

However, if unbalanced the elements can hurt each other. For example, if the spleen is weak, the liver can over-control and hurt it. If the spleen is in excess, it can overpower the liver. The liver cannot do its natural job of controlling the spleen.

This is why emotions are so important. Emotions have the power to help or hurt physical aspects of our health too. Taking the time to work on your emotional wellbeing and find what makes you feel peaceful is a valuable tool you have to improve or balance your own health.

What is the difference between acupuncture, physical therapy and massage?

Physical therapy is a functional therapy. It teaches you how to move and exercise your body in order to help your injuries, range of motion and pain. Massage involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body with varying techniques in order to relax muscles, reduce pain, increase circulation and help improve other health conditions. Acupuncture works on the physical body and energy flow to unblock areas of blockage and reconnect all the systems in the body to foster holistic health.

This is a very simplified version of these therapies. They are all different and none of them are better or worse than the others. What is important to understand is that different health issues can need different healing modalities. It is crucial to understand your body and what it needs/what will work best.

Our suggestion is that the combination of these 3 therapies at the appropriate times produces the best results.

What should I look for when choosing an acupuncturist?

There are a few things to keep in mind when finding a practitioner that best works for you:

-The acupuncturist has had formal education and training

-Proper credentials

-Someone with a lot of clinical experience

-A license for acupuncture

-Someone with good ethics

-Someone who is able to keep a steady and neutral energy level. A practitioner that meditates and harnesses a stable state of mind is able to keep their energy at a place of non reactiveness and objectivity. This is one of the most important traits to look for in an acupuncturist.

DAVID CAI L. AC,; L.M.T.

BE PEACE & JOY

Why do different practitioners use different methods and treatments to treat the same problem?

Just like in life, there are many different paths to get to the same destination. This is like acupuncture and Chinese medicine. There are many different acupuncture points and Chinese Medicine tools that acupuncturists use (acupuncture, tuina, acupressure, herbal medicine etc.). There is flexibility within the tools. Tackling issues from different angles and perspectives can all get to the same result because the theoretical foundation behind them all is the same.

Everyone is different and each of us is different everyday. Many factors affect our bodies and minds at any given moment so we are constantly in different states of energy. Every acupuncture treatment is not only tailored to your individual needs but your energetic state in the present moment as well.

Because of these 2 big factors, treatment plans are constantly changing.

Yin-Yang

The theory of yin and yang emphasizes that everything in this universe has 2 sides. For example, day and night, hot and cold, male and female, winter and summer etc. Yin and yang are opposing but also one and the same. Yin transforms into yang and yang transforms into yin constantly. There is always yin within yang and yang within yin. The two can be divided into endless amounts but everything will always contain both yin and yang.

In nature, yin and yang keeps everything in balance. These 2 forces are always changing and moving to keep everything in equilibrium. If these forces stagnate, then balance is thrown off and problems occur.

In Chinese medicine our bodies and minds are seen as a reflection of nature and what is going on in it. With that in mind, the balance of yin and yang within us and all our parts is crucial when it comes to our health.

Can you fix me?

The truth is, no one person, treatment or thing can fix anyone. Healing begins with wanting and being ready to change. If you are ready to make lifestyle changes, we can definitely help you on your healing journey!

Oftentimes we become so used to our health problems because we’ve had them for so long. Sometimes we don’t want to accept this current condition so we do things to distract or numb. Or we try quick fixes in hopes a miracle will happen and our troubles will disappear. However, these things are only a temporary relief and will often lead to more troubles piling up. The body might take a while to heal itself after being in a cycle like this for years. It takes commitment, acceptance and a readiness to heal your pains. Therefore, wanting to change is key. It’s not always easy but when you’re ready, we are here to support and help you as much as we can!

Why don’t I know what is wrong with me?

We hear a lot of clients saying “I don’t know what is wrong with me”. A lot of times, our environments or situations we are consistently in can cause disconnections within us. For example, everyday we go to work and it’s fast paced and busy. We skip lunch sometimes or stay after hours because there are so many things to get done. Basically we are ignoring our natural bodily cues and needs. Sometimes when we do have time to relax, we feel like we cannot because we are so used to being busy. Or we might sleep for an excess amount of hours because exhaustion has caught up to us. Our hunger cues and eating habits might get thrown off as well from eating quickly as we work or subbing food for coffee etc. There is a natural numbing that occurs. Work, school, technology, relationships etc. So many factors affect our sensations and feelings. The physical, mental and emotional communication within us becomes disconnected as we become used to familiar external factors that throw off our natural state. This is often when we feel confused and like something is wrong with us. Things seem off but we can’t really pinpoint anything because our sensations have become unbalanced and this is now normal. Practices like meditation, yoga etc. help reconnect the mind and body relationship. They help bring back a more balanced state in this busy life.

Why do I always have the same issues?

In life, we can’t control much. Many times, external situations sway how we feel and think. However, our minds have a lot of influence on how we are feeling emotionally and physically too. When we learn to take on different perspectives, the same issues and situations will also appear differently. It’s not always easy to accept what’s in front of us or perceive things in a neutral or positive way. Perception isn’t always everything but it is a great tool for improvement of wellbeing that can be accessible through things like meditation, yoga etc.

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WHY DO I

always have the same issues?