Traditional Chinese Medicine

by
Jason Luban, LA-C
With a history of over 5,000 years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the oldest documented medical system in the world. Taken at its most basic level, the Chinese theorize that the body has an energy force running throughout it, an energy they call “Qi” (roughly pronounced “Chee”). The Qi consists of all essential life activities which include the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical aspects of life. A person’s health is influenced by the balance and flow of Qi in the body, and a TCM doctor will look at how that Qi is “working.” If the flow of Qi is insufficient, unbalanced, or interrupted, the body becomes unbalanced, and illness may occur. Acupuncture and herbal medicine can restore the balance. The acupuncture points are specific locations where the meridians, or energy pathways, come to the surface of the skin, and are easily accessible by “needling,” moxibustion (application of heat), and acupressure.

How Do Western & Chinese Medicine Compare?
Where western medicine zeroes in on a specific agent causing a disease in isolation from the rest of the body and its functions (and often treats mostly the symptoms), Chinese medicine aims to treat disease from a holistic or “whole person” perspective, treating each symptom at its root, and looking for a “pattern of disharmony” in the body. As people, we exist as part of an energetic universe, and in Chinese Medicine, everything is mutually interactive. A person’s diet, lifestyle, work, family relationships, emotions, internal and external environment all affect one’s health and sense of well-being. Chinese medicine seeks to understand how the energy dynamics of each person lead to health or disharmony.

But I Hate Needles!
Though a lot of people are afraid of needles, acupuncture needles are different and should not be feared. Where Western medical procedures use relatively large, hollow needles, acupuncturists use extremely fine, filiform (non-hollow) needles that are inserted without pain. You are far more likely to experience a tickling sensation or a sensation of “electricity” in the treatment area than a conventional western needle “prick.” Further, all needles are sterile, disposable (used only once), and completely safe

What Disorders Can Be Treated With Chinese Medicine?
Being the oldest and most widely used medical system in history has allowed Chinese medicine to offer a very wide scope of treatments for a very wide variety of ailments. Because TCM focuses on “balancing” the body in relation to an illness or injury, its applications are virtually limitless. In America today, the most common ailments currently being treated are: orthopedic conditions of all kinds, headaches of all kinds (including migraine), allergic reactions, pain relief and analgesia (including surgery), issues related to women’s health, recovery from stroke and paraplegia, strengthening the body during and after long-term illnesses and traumas, and relief of muscle spasms. There have also been clinical trials in the use of Acupuncture in treating anxiety disorders and depression. Likewise, very high success rates have been found in treating addictions to alcohol, tobacco (nicotine) and “hard” drugs.

At Sports and Orthopedic Leaders, we are revolutionizing and greatly hastening the recovery process by giving treatments that involve both acupuncture and physical therapy. Receiving both acupuncture and physical therapy together (sometimes simultaneously) has proven especially effective when a patient is stuck at a “plateau” short of full recovery, and/or when many other treatment options have been exhausted.

What Is A Normal Course Of Treatment?
The number of treatments needed depends on the nature of the disorder and how long the patient has had the condition. A good acupuncturist should be able to determine the appropriate course of treatment at the first appointment.

How Do I Pay For It?
Acupuncture is already a permanent part of the Worker’s Compensation system in California, and most insurance companies will cover acupuncture treatments to some degree. Many insurance companies now realize that for many complaints, acupuncture is both a therapeutically sound and extremely cost-effective therapy that can actually preclude the need for more expensive forms of medical treatment later on. If you would like to try acupuncture, and are not sure if you are covered, we would be happy to provide your insurance company with whatever records or documentation they may require.

Can I Contact Your Patients?
Yes! We would be happy to provide you with patient references. We would also like to answer any other questions you may have by phone or during one of your visits to our office.


Study: Patients Vote Overwhelming “Yes” for Acupuncture
The first-of-its-kind “Patients’ Own Words” research project reflects what acupuncture users nationwide think of their treatment--if acupuncture provides what was expected, what they think of their practitioners, the costs, and more. In a nationwide survey of acupuncture patients published in Meridians Magazine,

[ 91.5% reported a “disappearance” or “improvement” of symptoms after acupuncture treatment;
[ 79% said they use fewer prescription drugs;
[ 70% of those for whom surgery had been recommended report that surgery was not indicated after doctors’ re-evaluation;
[ 77.7% said that some symptoms or complaints had been alleviated; and
[ Only 0.7% said that a symptom or complaint had gotten worse.

In no case did a respondent report any harm from an acupuncture treatment.


Is The Holistic Approach for You?
Chinese medicine can help you understand how your body and mind connect with all of the influences in your world, from the stresses of your job to the seasons of the year. Because Chinese medicine treats the whole person, people who incorporate it into their personal health regimen tend to be healthier, happier, and more resistant to disease. If you are suffering and would like to try a different approach, give Chinese medicine a try.