What is Acupuncture?
What does Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Treat?
Does Acupuncture hurt?
Is Acupuncture safe?
How do I know if my practitioner is qualified?
Alphabet soup of titles and professional designations
Glossary of terms and adjunct therapies
What does 'Qing Ting' mean?
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture
is a
comprehensive healing system from Asia that has been used for well over
3000 years. Acupuncture works with the body's vital energy called Qi
(pronounced Chee),
that flows throughout the skin, muscles and organs along
patheways called meridians. By stimulating specific points on the
meridians, acupuncture directs energy through the body's networks and
unblocks obstructions that cause pain, disharmony or disease.
Acupuncture therapies encourage the body to restore its own equilibruim
and can help the body heal itself.
What does Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Treat?
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture has proven effective in the treatment of many common health problems. Following is a partial list of illnesses and conditions for which acupuncture has proven to be effective. If you'd like to know whether Acupuncture and/or herbal medicine can help you with a specific condition or problem not on this list, please call.
| • allergies / asthma |
• hip pain / sciatica |
| • arthritis / joint pain |
• indigestion / reflux / GERD |
| • back pain |
• insomnia / sleep disturbance |
| • bladder disorders / frequent urination | • knee pain |
| • bronchitis / pneumonia | • menopausal symptoms |
| • bursitis / swelling | • menstrual irregularities / PMS |
| • carpal tunnel syndrome / wrist pain | • muscle pain / muscle tension |
| • chronic fatigue | • nausea / vomiting |
| • constipation / diarrhea | • neck pain / shoulder pain |
| • cough / cold / flu | • neuropathy / numbness / tingling |
| • depression / anxiety | • post operative pain / surgical recovery |
| • digestive disorders / IBS | • sinusitis / nasal congestion |
| • earache / ear problems | • smoking cessation / addictions |
| • facial palsy / tics / bell's palsy | • sore throat / post nasal drip |
| • fibromyalgia | • sports injuries / sports performance |
| • foot pain / plantar fasciitis | • stress / tension |
| • headache / migraine | • tendonitis / strains / sprains |
Does Acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture uses very fine needles approximately the size of a hair to engage the meridians. As they are gently manipulated, patients typically feel a dull ache, tingling or heaviness in the area or along the meridian. These sensations are attributed to the arrival of Qi and signal the beginning of the healing process. Although each individual will experience acupuncture differently, common responses are a feeling of renewed energy and deep relaxation.
Is Acupuncture safe?
When performed by a qualified, licensed professional, acupuncture is one of the safest medical procedures in the world. Only single use, sterile packaged needles are used. There are no known side effects and complications are exceedingly rare. The CCAOM has published an information sheet titled "Know Your Acupuncturist" to help patients understand the training standards required of practitioners.
How do I know if my practitioner is qualified?
In Colorado, Licensed Acupuncturists must have graduated from a specialized, accredited masters degree program, be nationally board certified by the NCCAOM, actively pursue continuing education, and will have the designation 'LAc' or 'Licensed Acupuncturist' after their name.
Other medical practitioners may 'do acupuncture', but unless they have been board certified by passing the comprehensive NCCAOM national exams, they may not have much, if any training in Acupuncture and/or Oriental Medicine. Please read through the next FAQ section to see training requirements for a wide variety of healthcare providers.
Alphabet soup of titles and professional designations:
The deluge of acronyms in the profession of AOM (Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) can make for an alphabet soup that can be difficult to digest. Hopefully this list will help.
AOM Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Lic. Ac. Licensed Acupuncturist. Same as above.
M.S./M.A. Masters degree - graduate level. Ask your practitioner what subject they studied for their MS or MA degree. Most practitioners will have a masters degree in TCM, AOM or Acupuncture.
B.S./B.A. Bachelor's degree - undergraduate level. Most people with a masters degree also hold a bachelor's degree. This degree may or may not have anything to do with Acupuncture or healthcare.
D.A.O.M. Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This is the only accredited clinical doctoral program degree available in the US.
Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy - this may or may not have anything to do with Acupuncture or healthcare. However, your practitioner may have studied something related such as Chinese Philosphy, Language or Research. Ask.
NCCAOM National Certification Comission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine - our national certification board for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Dipl. Ac. Diplomate of Acupuncture. This designation means that the practitioner has qualified for, taken and passed the national board exam given and certified by the NCCAOM.
D.C. Doctor of Chiropractic - In Colorado, a DC can legally perform acupuncture with only 100 hours of training plus 25 unsupervised case studies. Some DCs have completed the full AOM training and hold NCCAOM national board certification. You should ask what your DC acupuncturist's training involved and make the decision you feel most comfortable with.
M.D. Medical Doctor - In Colorado, an MD can legally perform acupuncture without any training. Some MDs have completed the full AOM training and hold NCCAOM national board certification. Some have taken a 350 hour 'Medical Acupuncture' course. You should ask what your MD acupuncturist's training involved and make the decision you feel most comfortable with.
D.O. Doctor of Osteopathy - In Colorado, a DO can legally perform acupuncture without any training. Some DOs have completed the full AOM training and hold NCCAOM national board certification. Some have taken a 350 hour 'Medical Acupuncture' course. You should ask what your DO acupuncturist's training involved and make the decision you feel most comfortable with.
P.T. Physical Therapist. Education for PTs ranges from an associate degree to an undergraduate program to doctoral status. In Colorado, any PT can perform an acupuncture technique called 'Dry Needling' or 'IntraMuscular Stimulation (IMS)' with only one weekend of training and no certification requirement. The state does not provide oversight for this technique when performed by PTs. Some PTs have completed the full AOM training and hold both NCCAOM national board certification and state acupuncture licensing. Ask your PT what their education background and training involved before you let them insert needles and make the decision you feel most comfortable with.
NOTE: Please also see the Links page for a list of AOM related organizations and their acronyms.
Glossary of terms and adjunct therapies:
An explanation of the various methods of treatment in Traditional chinese Medicine.
Needles: Acupuncture needles are hair-thin, solid wire with a tapered tip. They are used to manipulate Qi within the body. This office only uses sterile packaged, single use disposable needles.
Herbal Medicine: The use of Chinese herbs has a long clinical history of treating acute and chronic conditions. In the hands of a well-trained practitioner, Chinese medicinal herbs are safe and effective.
Auriculotherapy: A form of acupuncture that uses tiny needles, tacs or seeds on the ear to stimulate healing in different parts of the body.
Electro-stimulation: A small current is passed through the needles to stimulate and direct the flow of Qi in the meridians.
Cupping: Glass or plastic cups that create suction are placed on the body to stimulate blood flow, draw out toxins or relieve pain. The technique may temporarily leave red or purple marks on the skin which will typically clear within a few days.
Gua Sha: Gua Sha is performed by rubbing or scraping the skin with a gua sha tool in areas where stuck qi or stagnated blood is found to reside. Small red or purple dots (petechiae) come to the surface. This may temporarily redden the skin and will clear within a day or two.
Moxibustion: The medicinal herb Mugwort (Artemesia Vulgaris, Moxa for short) is burned above the skin or placed on top of an acupuncture needle, creating a sensation of warmth in the area or along the meridian to nourish the body.
Tui Na, Shiatsu and Acupressure: These are forms of Asian therapeutic massage which utilize non-needle stimulation along the meridians to harmonize the flow of Qi, relieve pain and encourage healing.
What does 'Qing Ting' mean?
For those wondering, Qing Ting (pronounced Ching Ting) is the Madarin Chinese (pinyin) word for Dragonfly. Dragonflies are beautiful, etherial, and iridescent in color. They provide a service by eating mosquitoes and other small insects which helps to prevent the spread of disease. It is said in some Native American beliefs that dragonflies are a symbol of renewal after a time of great hardship. As a totem, its medicine beckons you to seek out that which needs changing and will guide you through illusion to the path of transformation. In China and Japan dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength and happiness. In some parts of the world it is considered very lucky to have a dragonfly land on you. I simply find them fascinating. This is why I named my Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine practice Qing Ting Acupuncture LLC.
You may have noticed that my dragonfly logo has the image of mermaids in its wings. This is significant to me because I was a competitive swimmer, instructor and coach for over 20 years and spent many hours each day in and around the water. Thus the dragonfly logo is also a symbol for my life then and now.
For more information about dragonflies, click the picture below.
