Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and improve function. This is done by inserting sterilized, stainless-steel needles (fine as a human hair) into specific points located near or on the surface of the skin that have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to treat a wide variety of illnesses.

Traditional Chinese medicine perceives an individual as a unified energy system, where the body and mind mutually influence and balance each other. Unlike Western medicine, which attempts to isolate and separate a disease from an individual, Chinese medicine emphasizes a holistic approach that treats the whole person.

Your acupuncture practitioner will make a Chinese medical diagnosis based upon a thorough examination and consultation. The examination includes the assessment of the pulse and tongue. Your acupuncturist will select the most suitable acupuncture points for treatment after making a diagnosis. 

The acupuncture term Qi (pronounced "chee") can be defined as the force or vital substance that animates and controls the observable functions of living beings. The basic foundation for Asian medicine is that this vital substance flows through the body on channels known as meridians that connect all of our major organs. Chinese medical theory states that illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or blocked.

The basis of acupuncture is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: "Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong," which means "Free flow: no pain, no free flow: pain." 

In other words, any kind of pain or illness represents an obstruction in the normal flow of Qi or life force. Simply put, acupuncture moves Qi, restoring free flow.

Researchers have shown that acupuncture points, areas of designated electrical sensitivity, are effective in treating specific health problems. The Chinese have meticulously mapped these points over a span of more than 2000 years.

Eastern Explanation:

The Eastern explanation for how acupuncture works is that the life energy flowing through the body, which is termed Qi (pronounced chee), can be influenced and balanced by stimulating specific points on the body. These points are located along channels of energy known as meridians that connect all of our major organs. Chinese medical theory states that illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or blocked. 

Western Explanation: 

Definition of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points located near or on the surface of the skin that have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect. 

Explanation of How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture points are areas of designated electrical sensitivity. When needles are inserted at these points, they stimulate different sensory receptors. These receptors then stimulate nerves, which send signals to the hypothalamic-pituitary system at the base of the brain. 

The hypothalamus-pituitary glands are responsible for releasing neurotransmitters and endorphins, the body's natural pain-killing hormones. It is estimated that endorphins are 200 times more potent than morphine. Endorphins also play a big role in the functioning of the hormonal system. This is why acupuncture works well for back pain and arthritis, as well as PMS and infertility. 

The substances released as a result of acupuncture not only relax the whole body; they regulate serotonin in the brain, which plays a role in human and animal disposition. This is why acupuncture frequently treats depression. 

Some of the physiological effects observed throughout the body include increased circulation, decreased inflammation, relief from pain, relief of muscle spasms, and increased T-cell count, which stimulates the immune system.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are extremely successful in the treatment of a multitude of conditions. Many people try acupuncture and oriental medicine as a "last resort" for serious and complex medical problems and find that it can help them when other treatments could not. 

People frequently use acupuncture as a preventative medicine. Many people see their acupuncturist only 2–4 times a year for a "tune-up" or "balancing" treatment. This can prevent disease and promote health, energy and vitality.

Your acupuncturist will have to look at the onset of your condition and see what your constitutional diagnosis is to determine if Oriental Medicine can help you. Each case is unique, and it would be difficult to determine how effective acupuncture will be for you without a full assessment. Please contact several licensed acupuncturists in your area for a consultation to find the best-suited practitioner for you.

The most common ailments presented to an acupuncturist tend to be pain-related conditions. For example, arthritis, back, neck, knee and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica. 

Traditional Chinese medicine is a complete medical system that is capable of diagnosing and successfully treating a wide range of conditions, including:

• Eye, ear, nose, and throat disorders
• Sinusitis
• Sore Throat
• Hay Fever
• Earache
• Nerve Deafness
• Ringing in the ears
• Dizziness
• Poor Eyesight 
• Circulatory Disorders
• High Blood Pressure
• Angina Pectoris
• Arteriosclerosis
• Anemia 
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Spastic colon
• Colitis
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Food Allergies
• Ulcers
• Gastritis
• Abdominal Bloating
• Hemorrhoids 
• Gynecological/Genitourinary Disorders
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Irregular/Heavy/Painful Menstruation
• Endometriosis
• Menopause
• Fibroids
• Chronic Bladder Infection
• Complications in pregnancy
• Morning Sickness
• Kidney Stones
• Impotence
• Infertility in Men and Women 
• Sexual Dysfunction 
• Immune Disorders
• Candida
• Chronic Fatigue
• HIV and AIDS
• Epstein-Barr Virus
• Allergies
• Lupus
• MS
• Hepatitis 
• Addiction
• Smoking Cessation
• Drugs
• Alcohol 
• Emotional and Psychological Disorders
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Depression 
• Stress
• Musculoskeletal & Neurological Disorders
• Arthritis
• Neuralgia
• Sciatica
• Back Pain
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Stiff Neck
• Bell's Palsy
• Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Headaches and Migraines 
• Stroke
• Cerebral Palsy
• Polio
• Sprains
• Muscle Spasms
• Shingles 
• Respiratory Disorders
• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Bronchitis
• Colds and Flus 
• Chemotherapy/Radiation Side Effects
• Diabetes
• Dermatological Disorders
• Weight Control

(This is by no means a complete list of what acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can treat.)

By nature, acupuncture operates on a stimulus-response basis. We stimulate your body with acupuncture needles, and we are looking for the body's desired response. Because each person will respond to acupuncture at their own unique pace, the number and frequency of acupuncture treatments needed will vary from person to person.

The nature of the health issue can also affect the number of acupuncture treatments needed. For example, at Nakamura Acupuncture, we have successfully relieved symptoms of Bell's palsy in three treatment sessions or less for cases where the onset of symptoms was within a week. For cases where a person has been suffering with Bell's palsy for more than 6 months, no case was ever fully resolved in less than six treatment sessions.

For a more accurate estimate of how many acupuncture treatments you may need, please contact our office to schedule a complimentary consultation.

At Nakamura Acupuncture, our goal is to have you experience a positive response to acupuncture treatment from the very first session. Of course, we cannot promise that you will see some improvement from your first treatment session here, but we are very confident in our ability to produce positive results quickly.

In general, we will ask for a minimum frequency of one acupuncture treatment session per week to resolve your health issue. The maximum frequency is usually no more than two treatment sessions per week.

At Nakamura Acupuncture, we do our very best to provide as comfortable of an acupuncture treatment experience as possible. We have six different sizes (in terms of diameter or how thick the acupuncture needle is) that we work with in our office. If our thinnest needle is a #1 and our thickest needle is a #6, our #5 needle is equal to the thickest human head hair at 0.25 mm in diameter or 32 gauge. It's not too often that we need to use a #6 acupuncture needle, so most of the time we are using acupuncture needles that are the same thickness as head hair or thinner. Even when we do need to use a #6, it's only 0.05mm thicker than the thickest human head hair.

The reference point we like to use is the brief discomfort associated with removing a hair from your eyebrow, chin, or head. When the acupuncture needle first breaks the skin, our goal is to have you experience as mild of a pinch or sharp (or nothing at all) and have it be easier than plucking a hair.

Whether you are new to acupuncture or a veteran, we want your feedback during the treatment. We are very responsive and will strive to make your acupuncture experience easy, relaxing, and effective.

The part of the body receiving treatment determines the insertion depth. Joints like the wrist, elbow, or ankle have very little space to insert acupuncture needles, so typical insertion depths range from just breaking the skin to about 1/4 to 3/8 inch. For back pain, the back muscles are quite a bit larger and can easily accommodate insertion depths of 1~1.5 inches. Please remember that most of the time we are using acupuncture needles as thick as your head hair or thinner. Outside of the mild pinch or sharpness you may feel when the acupuncture needle first breaks the skin, our goal is for you to not feel any sharp or other sensation of discomfort while the needle is being inserted.