Dr. Zhang's Clinic

Natural Medicine is the longest researched and most used medical system and has over 4000 years of history. "More people have been treated with acupuncture and herbs than ALL systems of medicine combined." according to Dr. David Brestler, director of UCLA's Pain Center. Natural medicine is traditional medicine and offers treatment programs for many difficult diseases. Not only is acupuncture safe and effective for the treatment of pain and injuries, but also highly effective in treating many different types of diseases.

What Is Acupuncture?
Is Acupuncture Painful?
How Many Treatments Are Needed?

What Is Acupuncture?

Traditional Chinese medicine includes acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments. Acupuncture involves inserting needles into specific points (which is a painless procedure) as treatment for particular disorders, or to enhance the healing of chronic disorders. Moxibustion is the gentle burning of the herbal Artemesia Vulgaris (mugwort) to heat key points. Cupping involves applying suction cups to areas of extreme blockage and muscle tension. Further treatments include electrical stimulation, acupressure and Tuina massage.

Traditional Chinese medicine originated nearly 5000 years ago. Acupuncture originated 3000 years ago. Traditional Chinese acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of healing known to man. It is an "energetic natural medicine." that is, it seeks to restore the balance of vital energy, to stimulate the natural healing powers of the body, and to regulate the body's functions.

The Channels
Ancient Chinese medical experts thought that the body has many vertical and horizontal channels; some of them are big, and some of them are small. the vital energy or life force (Qi) and blood circulate through these channels, which maintain the activity of life and normalized the functions of the body. The body has 12 major channels and 8 special channels.

The Points
The points are places where channels move Qi and blood to the surface of the body. Most points are located on the channels; some, however, are located outside the channels. These are called special points on the out channels. The points cited in different books vary in number. The main body, many concur, has 434 points. The ear alone has an additional 81 points; in sum, the human body has 515 points.

The vital energy, or life force, known as "Qi," circulates from one organ to another along pathways or channels. This life force maintains and protects all of our activities and bodily functions. When Qi is impaired in its movement, or weakened, illness and pain result. By inserting needles in specific points, various effects can be achieved that move the energy to and from different areas, depending on whether if there is a deficiency, excess, or blockage.

Modern medical science now understands that acupuncture works by stimulating key reflex points that set off a complex series of reactions in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in' the higher neurochemical centers of the brain. These stimuli, activated by needles, cause the body's natural feedback system to correct and rebalance its energy functions.

Is Acupuncture Painful?

In most cases, the patient is surprised to find that the needles can hardly be felt at all, although some patients are very sensitive. Usually, patients feel only a slight prick initially, with a sensation of numbness, heat or vibration then relaxation .

How many Treatments are needed?

This depends on several factors: the patient's age, the degree and time of the problem, i.e., what kind of problem the patient has, the patient's general health.

Usually, one to three treatments a week are required, for any time between two and six weeks. Beneficial results should begin to be noticed within this time, and these should be followed up by a re-evaluation of the specific condition and its treatments.