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Frequently Asked Questions about
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Q: So, acupuncture, how does that work?
A: The basic principle of Chinese medicine (including acupuncture) is that when the yin and yang
in your body are out of balance, there is sickness. When yin and yang are in balance, there is
health. Acupuncture needles inserted in your body move qi in specific ways (depending on the
points selected) to rebalance the yin and yang in your body and produce health.
Q: What are yin and yang?
A: Yin and yang are two categories into which all the things in your body (and all the things in the
world) are divided. They are opposites, but the concept in Chinese culture goes further than that.
The yin and yang of living things contain each other, depend upon each other and transform into
each other. If this doesn’t make sense to you, don’t worry. You don’t have to
understand Chinese culture to benefit from acupuncture.
Q: What is qi?
A: Basically, qi (pronounced “chee†as in cheese) is the life energy or life force that flows in
your body. Chinese medicine is an energetic (meaning “dealing with energy,†not “livelyâ
€) rather than an anatomic medicine. Western medicine is based on a view of the body as a
machine. Chinese medicine is based on a view of the body as a bureaucracy.
Q: I have never been treated with acupuncture or Chinese medicine before. What can I expect?
A: Chinese medical diagnosis seeks to determine the deeper, underlying causes of your illness or
disorder. The diagnostic process uses skills and techniques with which you may be unfamiliar.
Visual inspection of the surface of the tongue and reading of the wrist pulses are two examples of
highly developed, diagnostic arts allowing the practitioner to understand numerous aspects of your
physiological processes. The types of questions asked by the practitioner may also be unfamiliar to
you. Please be assured that each question is asked and each diagnostic step is performed to help
determine the best therapeutic approach for your health needs.
Q: Is there anything I should do before I come?
A: Yes, please be sure to eat something before you come. This will help to reduce nervousness
and fatigue so you will get the most from your treatment.
Q: How long will my appointment last?
A: In order to allow time for a complete health history review, the new patient appointment lasts for
2 hours. Follow up appointments are one hour long.
Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: Individuals vary greatly in how well they respond to acupuncture, which makes it impossible to
predict the number of treatments in advance. In general, we can say that the longer you have had
a problem, the more treatments it will take to resolve the problem. Of course, some problems are
easier to treat than others. Your response to the last treatment will be discussed at the beginning
of each session and that will be what determines how many additional sessions will be needed.
Q: Will it hurt?
A: I specialize in the treatment of the needle sensitive and needle phobic. Although I cannot
guarantee that the treatment will not be uncomfortable or painful, I do everything in my power to
minimize any discomfort. If you can’t tolerate acupuncture treatment, let’s discuss what
other options are available.
Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Q: So, acupuncture, how does that work?
A: The basic principle of Chinese medicine (including acupuncture) is that when the yin and yang
in your body are out of balance, there is sickness. When yin and yang are in balance, there is
health. Acupuncture needles inserted in your body move qi in specific ways (depending on the
points selected) to rebalance the yin and yang in your body and produce health.
Q: What are yin and yang?
A: Yin and yang are two categories into which all the things in your body (and all the things in the
world) are divided. They are opposites, but the concept in Chinese culture goes further than that.
The yin and yang of living things contain each other, depend upon each other and transform into
each other. If this doesn’t make sense to you, don’t worry. You don’t have to
understand Chinese culture to benefit from acupuncture.
Q: What is qi?
A: Basically, qi (pronounced “chee†as in cheese) is the life energy or life force that flows in
your body. Chinese medicine is an energetic (meaning “dealing with energy,†not “livelyâ
€) rather than an anatomic medicine. Western medicine is based on a view of the body as a
machine. Chinese medicine is based on a view of the body as a bureaucracy.
Q: I have never been treated with acupuncture or Chinese medicine before. What can I expect?
A: Chinese medical diagnosis seeks to determine the deeper, underlying causes of your illness or
disorder. The diagnostic process uses skills and techniques with which you may be unfamiliar.
Visual inspection of the surface of the tongue and reading of the wrist pulses are two examples of
highly developed, diagnostic arts allowing the practitioner to understand numerous aspects of your
physiological processes. The types of questions asked by the practitioner may also be unfamiliar to
you. Please be assured that each question is asked and each diagnostic step is performed to help
determine the best therapeutic approach for your health needs.
Q: Is there anything I should do before I come?
A: Yes, please be sure to eat something before you come. This will help to reduce nervousness
and fatigue so you will get the most from your treatment.
Q: How long will my appointment last?
A: In order to allow time for a complete health history review, the new patient appointment lasts for
2 hours. Follow up appointments are one hour long.
Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: Individuals vary greatly in how well they respond to acupuncture, which makes it impossible to
predict the number of treatments in advance. In general, we can say that the longer you have had
a problem, the more treatments it will take to resolve the problem. Of course, some problems are
easier to treat than others. Your response to the last treatment will be discussed at the beginning
of each session and that will be what determines how many additional sessions will be needed.
Q: Will it hurt?
A: I specialize in the treatment of the needle sensitive and needle phobic. Although I cannot
guarantee that the treatment will not be uncomfortable or painful, I do everything in my power to
minimize any discomfort. If you can’t tolerate acupuncture treatment, let’s discuss what
other options are available.
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