Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture. Massage. Yoga. Health.
Foster Wellness
The theory: What is Chinese medicine?
We have multiple ways of viewing and understanding the body and its relationship to the world. From a traditional western perspective, we describe the body in terms of gross anatomy and cellular physiology. For example, our hearts (gross anatomy) pump blood, in which red blood cells carry oxygen from our lungs to our extremities and return carbon dioxide back to the lungs (cellular physiology). From a traditional Chinese perspective, we describe the body in terms of yin (cool, calm, deep), yang (hot, energetic, superficial), and qi, which is the energetic result of the interplay of yin and yang. In this context, the body is animated by qi [pronounced chē], which is found in everything from the air we breathe down to the bones which make up our most internal, most solid structure. The slower the qi moves, the more solid a substance becomes, and vice versa.
Both the Western and Chinese paradigms offer different contexts in which to view the human body and, thus, different ways of healing it. Western medicine, through modern inventions, provides miraculous ways of bringing one’s body from the brink of death and treating very advanced conditions. For many circumstances, Western-trained practitioners offer procedures and pharmaceuticals which can improve the quality of one’s life.
Traditional Chinese medicine goes back thousands of years and focuses on bringing the body back into balance. Rather than aiming merely to relieve symptoms, Chinese medicine sees “becoming healthy” as returning the body and mind to a balanced state. Thus, as a Chinese medical practitioner, in addition to relieving you of your symptoms (the “branch,” such as a sore back or headache), my goal is also to identify the fundamental cause of those symptoms (the “root”, such as an underlying organ deficiency). The treatment of both is critical in bringing one’s body back to a balanced, healthy, symptom-free state.
Living in the United States, we are blessed with some of the most advanced medical technology in the world. My aim as a Chinese medical practitioner is to support your health along with other medical practitioners in your life, so that you remain strong and healthy and need less invasive procedures down the road. I view myself as a partner with other healthcare providers, including everyone from your family medical doctor, your endocrinologist, your dermatologist, to your physical therapist, so that when that technology is required, I can enable you to be in a more balanced state as you undergo other treatments.
The method: A Chinese medical treatment.
The body is made up of the animating force of qi. Chinese medicine relies on many different methods of connecting with that energy in order to supplement or remove blockages. The first step is to assess the body to determine how and where the condition is manifesting. Through observation (looking at your tongue, your skin color, etc.), palpation (feeling your pulse, palpating specific acupuncture channels and points, the abdomen, etc.), observing and listening (asking questions about the history of your condition, including discussing medical records from other healthcare providers), I will determine a differential diagnosis.
Once I have made my diagnosis, we will discuss with the proposed treatment plan and, with your permission, we will proceed with the treatment. For example, if you complain of a painful shoulder, I might diagnose “stagnant qi.” Blocked or stagnant qi in a channel or area of the body can be the source of physical pain. I may use any number of tools including needles, Chinese massage (tui na), cupping, moxibustion, etc., depending on the circumstances, in order to unblock the qi and allow it to flow freely which will relieve the pain. If your condition warrants, I may also prescribe Chinese herbs which might be in the form of granules or raw herbs. Acupuncture (using needles to affect a person’s qi) plays a large role in a Chinese medical treatment, but sometimes needles don’t always have to be used to produce results; if you are sensitive to needling there are other options for addressing your condition.
The number of treatments a person might need to address a particular condition varies greatly. For some, a single treatment might resolve the issue, while for others, ongoing treatment might be necessary to maintain satisfactory results. Older conditions (such as an injury from years ago currently causing stiffness and pain) or chronic diseases typically require regular ongoing treatments.
The results: Efficacy and clinical research
In 2003 the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report listing the diseases and conditions which clinical research has shown to be successfully treated with acupuncture. Click here to link to the WHO website and view the report.
What to expect regarding your treatment.
Preparation:
- Before attending your first visit, please complete the intake paperwork. This will allow us to spend the maximum time discussing and treating your condition.
- Please do not brush your tongue the day of your treatment. The thickness and color of the “moss,” or tongue coat, is important in making certain diagnoses.
- If possible, please eat a light meal 1-2 hours before your treatment. This may be important in helping you remain grounded during your treatment.
- As necessary, please use the bathroom before your session. It is, of course, always possible to remove the needles and end a treatment early if you end up needing to use the restroom.
Duration: You can expect to be in a Chinese medical treatment for 75-90 minutes (usually 90 minutes for a first visit and 60-75 minutes for follow-up visits).
Sharing information: There are various questions I will ask which, to the uninitiated, seem a bit odd. For Chinese medical practitioners, the answers are vital to fully understanding a patient’s health. I will ask about these areas in addition to those directly related to your main concern.
- Take note of your sleep patterns.
o What time do you go to bed?o How many hours do you sleep per night? o Do you wake up during the night? If so, do you have problems going back to sleep? What time do you tend to wake up during the night?o If you recall your dreams, what are they about?o What time do you typically wake in the morning?o Do you feel refreshed or tired in the morning? Does that typically change through the day (for example, do you get excessively tired in the afternoon or early evening)?- Know your poo.
o Do you have an easily passed and predictable bowel movement every day? If not, how often do you have a movement and do you have difficulties in any way?o What is the consistency of your stools? Are they loose (for example, like diarrhea) or are they dry and solid (for example, like pebbles)?o Are they clearly affected by anything, such as changes in diet or stress?- Be one with your belly.
o Are you able to eat all types of foods or do some foods cause you discomfort (gas, bloating, indigestion, etc.)?o What foods do you eat on a regular basis (what is your typical diet – not your ideal diet, but what you actually eat)?- For women:
o Are you still having your menstrual cycle? If so, how many days long are both the cycle and number of days between cycles?o Do you have emotional (such as tension) or physical changes (such as cramping or headaches) before, during, or after your menstrual cycle?o What is the color of the blood through the phase of the cycle and, if there are clots, what is their estimated size (for example, are they as small as a rice grain or as large as a dime)?Feedback
Finally, please ask me questions and make your needs known. Even more than any of the items above, it is most important that you feel comfortable and relaxed before, during, and after your treatment session. The moment you think of something during the treatment please tell or ask me. If you need additional warmth, or if you have questions about a certain technique, or if you simply need to pause for a drink of water, you have my full attention.
What to expect after a treatment.
The effects of a treatment will last some time after you leave the clinic, even if you do nothing but go about your regular routine. To supplement the effects, however, you might receive advice or exercises to complete between sessions. As your treatment plan will be in the context of Chinese medicine, you may receive advice you’ve never gotten from your other healthcare providers, possibly including qigong movement exercises, Chinese nutritional advice (e.g., eat warm, cooked foods), and you might even be prescribed a Chinese herbal formula. Following suggestions for physical movement, herbal treatments, or other advice can help to consolidate the original treatment and make it more effective. We will discuss all of this at the end of your treatment, including how often you should come back for additional treatments, if necessary.
Following the treatment, regardless of whether you’ve received acupuncture, massage (with the exception of pre-event invigorating sports massage), cupping, or other treatment, it is important to move back into your day slowly. It can be mentally and even physically jarring to jump right back into a busy workplace, car traffic or hectic home environment. So take a few moments to collect yourself, whether in the waiting room, in your parked car, or even during a brief walk in nearby Discovery Park. This will enable you to seamlessly reintegrate while maintaining the effects of your treatment.
Rates and insurance information for acupuncture services.
Currently accepted insurance plans for acupuncture services include:
- Aetna
- CIGNA Health Care
- Corvel
- First Choice Health Networks
- Great West Healthcare
- Premera
- Principal Financial Group
- United Healthcare
Others are pending, so please contact me if your insurance plan is not listed.
It is important to contact your insurance provider prior to treatment to confirm your acupuncture benefits as well as to determine if a prescription is required. I have created a series of questions to guide you when you contact your insurance representative. Click here to access an Adobe pdf version of the questions.
A word on insurance. In order to provide the most effective care, I frequently use a combination of acupuncture, manual or massage therapy, and heat therapy in a single session. I bill for each of these treatments accordingly. While all of these modalities are within the scope of an acupuncturist, some insurance companies combine the latter modalities with physical or massage therapy benefits and thus those benefits might be affected. It is important for you to fully understand your own insurance plan so you know what to expect after a session. Please use me as a resource if you have any questions before or after you speak with your insurance representative so you can make an informed decision about how to best utilize your benefits.
Payment at time of service rates are available. Please contact me for details.
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info@fosterwellness.com 206.856.4096
