Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been integral to healthcare in China for over three thousand years. For the Chinese, this kind of medicine is not an “alternative” but a default course of treatment to take. Additionally, TCM and acupuncture play a large role in guiding the Chinese regarding decisions about their daily lives and health. While these practices are gaining recognition worldwide, they may still be unfamiliar to many in the United States. TCM encompasses various modalities, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, and dietary therapy, with herbs and acupuncture being primary treatments. This FAQ aims to address common questions and provide clarity on these time-honored practices.
Please contact us directly with any ideas or questions so we can address them in our blog or FAQ. Our e-mail address is info@acupuncturechineseherbs.com.
General Questions
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic healthcare system practiced in China for over three thousand years. It incorporates various modalities, including Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, preventive care, personal hygiene, dietary therapy, Qigong, and Taiji. TCM addresses a wide range of medical fields, paralleling those in modern Western medicine, such as internal medicine and surgery.
The term “Chinese Medicine” can refer to two concepts: (1) the comprehensive medical system practiced in China today, which includes both modern Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), often integrated for enhanced efficacy; and (2) TCM alone, encompassing traditional practices like herbal medicine and acupuncture.
Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is a fundamental component of TCM, utilizing a variety of herbs to treat diverse health conditions. In China, CHM is widely used and has been found effective in managing numerous diseases, with many patients experiencing positive outcomes.
Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique involving the insertion of extremely fine needles – comparable in thickness to a human hair – into specific points on the body. This practice aims to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes, restore balance between yin and yang energies, and enhance overall physiological function.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originated over 3,000 years ago, rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy and observations of natural phenomena. Early practitioners recognized patterns in nature, such as day and night, hot and cold, activity and rest, and conceptualized these as yin and yang. This dualistic framework became fundamental to understanding health and disease in TCM, emphasizing balance and harmony within the body and between the individual and their environment.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plays an important role in maintaining health in everyday life. One common example is how TCM principles relate to the way we use computers. Computers have become essential to modern living and offer great convenience, but prolonged use without proper habits can lead to health issues.
From a TCM perspective, holding the same posture or repeating the same motion for too long can disrupt the body’s balance and flow of energy, known as Qi. For example, staring at a screen for extended periods without moving your eyes can lead to vision problems. Sitting still for too long can cause neck pain, arm discomfort, dizziness, or tingling in the fingers. In our clinic, we frequently see patients in the IT and office fields who experience symptoms like neck stiffness, arm pain, finger numbness, and eye strain.
These issues often stem from what TCM refers to as neck vertebrae syndrome. This condition is caused by chronic tension in the muscles of the upper back and neck. Over time, this tension can affect the spine, especially the cervical vertebrae and discs. As the space between the vertebrae narrows, it can put pressure on the nerves, leading to symptoms such as headaches, tingling in the hands, and blurry vision.
TCM treatments like acupuncture and herbal therapy can help relieve muscle tension, reduce spasms, improve circulation, and ease pain. Just as importantly, TCM emphasizes prevention. Making small adjustments—such as changing your sitting position regularly, raising your screen to eye level, or taking breaks to stretch—can help prevent these issues from developing in the first place.
During your visit, we begin by checking your tongue and pulse to make a diagnosis based on TCM principles. We also ask questions about your lifestyle, diet, sleep habits, and current symptoms. If available, we review your lab work and conventional medical diagnosis. After evaluating your condition, we explain our findings, propose a treatment plan, and provide acupuncture and/or herbal medicine as needed.
Yes. We offer free consultations to better understand your health concerns and determine whether acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine may be right for you.
Special Questions
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) remains highly popular and widely practiced throughout China. Nearly every province, city, and county has dedicated TCM hospitals, some with as many as 1,500 beds. These hospitals serve large populations and are fully integrated into the national healthcare system.
On the scientific front, a significant amount of research is conducted each year by TCM universities, hospitals, and research institutes. This includes studies on herbal medicine, acupuncture, integrative therapies, and their effectiveness in treating a wide range of conditions.
In terms of education, China has 28 full-time, five-year TCM universities that enroll students nationwide. After completing the core program, students also have the option to pursue additional degrees through two- to three-year advanced programs, depending on their area of interest and qualifications.
Yes, we have over 40 years of experience treating infertility. Our acupuncture and herbal medicine programs are designed to balance hormones and enhance fertility naturally. We’ve helped many couples successfully conceive, often after other fertility treatments have not worked.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the lungs are believed to govern the skin and body’s exterior defenses. When the lungs are strong and functioning well, the skin serves as a protective barrier against external pathogenic factors such as cold air, allergens, or environmental irritants. If the body’s defenses are weak, these factors can more easily invade and trigger conditions like asthma or allergic reactions.
Another important concept in TCM is the role of the urinary bladder meridian, which is the largest energy channel in the body. It plays a supportive role in strengthening the body’s resistance to external triggers. In addition, the proper function of other internal organs also contributes to a balanced immune response.
Acupuncture works by strengthening the lungs, skin, and related meridians. It helps regulate the body’s energy (Qi), improves immune function, and reduces hypersensitivity. Over time, this can reduce the frequency and severity of asthma or allergy symptoms, and in some cases, lead to long-term relief.
However, not all types of asthma or allergies can be fully treated with acupuncture alone. For example, asthma related to heart disease or allergies caused by specific medications may require other medical interventions. Acupuncture can still offer supportive care in such cases, but a full evaluation is important to determine the best treatment approach.
People experiencing stress often report symptoms such as low energy, fatigue, headaches, cold hands and feet, poor memory, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, frequent sighing, and mood swings. Everyone reacts to stress differently, so some individuals may experience only a few of these symptoms, while others may feel them more intensely.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these signs are often linked to imbalances in Qi – the body’s vital energy. Common patterns include Qi stagnation, Qi deficiency, or Yang deficiency. When Qi is not flowing smoothly, it can lead to both physical and emotional discomfort.
Acupuncture is highly effective at regulating the flow of Qi throughout the body. It helps release blockages, strengthens areas of deficiency, and restores balance. By doing so, acupuncture can relieve tension, lift mood, boost energy, and improve sleep.
In our clinical experience, nearly all patients dealing with stress experience significant improvement after acupuncture treatment. While individual results vary, acupuncture is consistently beneficial for managing the physical and emotional effects of stress.
Like many forms of medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture rely heavily on clinical experience. In China, ten years of hands-on practice is often seen as a strong qualification. This is because TCM doctors may treat 30 to 50 patients a day, and sometimes even more. Over the years, they accumulate a deep understanding of different health conditions by treating thousands of cases.
Because of the complexity of TCM, a good practitioner should have both formal training and extensive real-world experience. At each visit, a skilled acupuncturist will examine your tongue, feel your pulse on both wrists, and ask detailed questions about your symptoms and medical history. They will also assess how your condition is changing over time.
Your treatment plan should be adjusted based on your progress. The acupuncture points and herbs used should not remain the same every session, since your body’s condition naturally shifts. A good practitioner will take time to explain your diagnosis and the reasons behind the specific treatments they recommend.
In Chinese medicine, clear communication between doctor and patient is very important. A thoughtful acupuncturist will also offer personalized advice, including which foods may help support your healing and which should be avoided, based on their energetic qualities in TCM theory.
Yes and no. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), about 30% of the concepts related to internal organs align with modern biomedical understanding. The remaining 70% are quite different, as TCM views organs more conceptually.
In TCM, an “organ” refers not just to the physical structure, but to an entire system of related functions and energetic relationships within the body. For example, the heart in modern medicine is responsible for pumping blood. In TCM, the heart also governs mental activities, consciousness, emotions, and overall vitality. It plays a central role in both physical and emotional health.
This broader view applies to all organs in TCM. Each one is part of a larger network that includes associated tissues, sensory organs, emotions, and physiological functions. Understanding these relationships is essential to how TCM diagnoses and treats illness.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), foods are categorized by their energetic properties, not just their nutritional value. These properties include qualities such as cold, cool, warm, hot, damp-producing, dry, or stagnating. Your TCM practitioner recommends foods based on your body type and the nature of your health condition.
For example, if you are considered a “cold” type or your condition is caused by internal cold, your practitioner may advise you to avoid cold or cooling foods and instead favor warm or hot foods. This isn’t about the food’s temperature when served. Rather, it refers to the food’s inherent energetic quality. Spicy foods like ginger or chili are considered warming, while many vegetables and some fruits are considered cooling.
The goal is to bring your body back into balance. Certain foods that seem healthy in general may actually worsen your condition depending on your constitution. That’s why dietary guidance in TCM is highly personalized. For the most accurate recommendations, consult your practitioner about which specific foods are best for you and which ones to avoid.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the human body is viewed as existing in one of three states: normal, pre-disease, and disease. The “normal” state represents good health. The “disease” state refers to conditions that are clearly recognized as illness. The most important and often overlooked stage is the “pre-disease” state, also called the pre-abnormal stage.
This pre-disease state is when the body begins to show signs of imbalance, even though medical tests may not reveal anything abnormal. These subtle symptoms are early warnings that the body is no longer in harmony.
For example, we once treated an 87-year-old woman named Mary Smith, who experienced a mysterious condition for two years. She felt waves of warmth rising from her lower body to her stomach every two to three hours. These episodes caused intense discomfort and fear, sometimes making her feel as if she were dying. She had a poor appetite and avoided warm foods. Despite multiple emergency room visits and medical exams, no clear diagnosis could be found. However, through TCM diagnosis, we identified excess internal fire as the cause. After a few treatments, her symptoms completely disappeared.
In another case, a patient complained of a persistent bad taste in the mouth for months. Modern medical tests found nothing wrong. In TCM, we diagnosed him with yin deficiency, and with acupuncture and herbs, his symptoms resolved.
Many people experience symptoms like cold hands and feet, sudden changes in mood, frequent thirst, poor sleep, or sudden memory problems. Modern imaging tools such as MRIs or CT scans may show no abnormalities, but TCM recognizes these as signs of early-stage imbalance. We treat these signs right away, and often see excellent results.
This illustrates a core difference in how TCM views disease. In TCM, both clear diseases and subtle pre-disease conditions are treated as part of the same spectrum. The goal is to restore balance before minor imbalances develop into full illness.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), wind, cold, summer heat, dampness, dryness, and fire are terms used to describe natural environmental factors. They are known collectively as the “Six Qi” when they occur as part of normal seasonal changes. In a healthy context, these shifts in nature – such as cold in winter, warmth in spring, heat in summer, dampness in late summer, dryness in autumn, and wind throughout the year – help support the body’s natural rhythms. For example, spring wind is considered especially beneficial.
However, when these environmental factors occur out of season or in extreme or unusual patterns, such as unseasonal heat in winter or a cold spring, they can negatively affect the body. In these cases, they are referred to as the “Six Evils.”
Even under normal conditions, some individuals are more sensitive to environmental changes due to underlying imbalances or weaker constitutions. For them, the Six Qi may still act as harmful influences and are also considered “evils” in those cases. In TCM, recognizing and treating the impact of these external influences is a key part of preventing and managing illness.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), mental and emotional health is not seen as the responsibility of the brain alone. Instead, it is closely connected to the function and balance of the internal organs. Each type of emotional disturbance is believed to affect a specific organ system. For example, dwelling on past experiences can weaken the spleen, excessive worry can disturb the lungs, fear can affect the kidneys, and overexcitement or restlessness can strain the heart.
It is important to note that in TCM, the organs are not limited to their physical functions. Each organ represents a broader system. For example, the heart does more than pump blood. It is also associated with emotional stability, clarity of thought, and mental well-being.
When treating stress, anxiety, or depression, the main organ systems involved are the liver, spleen, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are used to regulate these systems, restore balance, and improve emotional resilience. The specific treatment plan and the amount of time required depend on the individual. Some people may respond within a few weeks, while others may need several months of consistent care.
Caring for the internal organs benefits both physical and mental health. Even for people who eat well and live a healthy lifestyle, TCM provides valuable support for emotional balance, especially for those who are prone to stress, low mood, or anxiety.
Acupuncture can support fertility, stress reduction, pain relief, and overall wellness by promoting balance in the body.