“Doctor, what’s this acupuncture all about?”
A brief explanation for patients from
THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MEDICAL ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture: What is it?
Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. This is done by gently inserting needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points.
What it the scope of Medical Acupuncture?
Medical acupuncture is a system which can influence three areas of health care:
- Promotion of health and well-being
- Prevention of illness
- Treatment of various medical conditions
While acupuncture is often associated with pain control, in the hands
of a well-trained practitioner it has much broader applications. Acupuncture can be effective as the only treatment used, or as the support or adjunct to other medical treatment forms in many medical and surgical disorders.
The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture in the treatment of a wide range of medical problems, including:
- Digestive disorders: gastritis and hyper-acidity, spastic colon, constipation, diarrhea
- Respiratory disorders: sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, recurrent chest infections
- Neurological and muscular disorders: headaches, facial tics, neck pain, rib neuritis, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, various forms of tendonitis, back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis
- Urinary, menstrual and reproductive problems
Acupuncture is particularly useful in resolving physical problems related to tension and stress and emotional conditions.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDLES LIKE? DO THEY HURT?
People experience acupuncture needling differently. Most patients feel only minimal discomfort as the needles are inserted; some feel no pain at all. Once the needles are in place, there is no pain felt.
Acupuncture needles are very thin and solid and are made from stainless steel. The point is smooth (not hollow with cutting edges like a hypodermic needle) and insertion through the skin is not as painful as injections or blood sampling. The risk of bruising and skin irritation is less than when using a hollow needle.
Because your doctor uses disposable needles there is no risk of infection from the treatments.
Lei Zhang, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
About Dr. Lei Zhang
Dr. Lei Zhang graduated from medical school in Beijing, China. She practiced internal medicine for many years at the Beijing Second Hospital before coming to the United States. In New York City, Dr. Zhang worked in rehabilitation clinics for more than eight years. Later, she obtained a Masters degree from the New York College of TCM. She was also awarded a certification diploma for completing an overseas program at Beijing Guan An Man Hospital, the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is a NCCAOM certified acupuncturist, and licensed by the Commonwealth of PA and by the State of Maryland’s Board of Acupuncture. She also has completed the Advanced Constitutional Facial Acupuncture certification program by Mary Elizabeth Wakefield and Korean style facial acupuncture certification program by New Skin Acupuncture Training institute, California.
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