BELOW YOU WILL FIND THE ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does acupuncture work?
The effect of acupuncture can be compared to tuning a musical instrument or (version for engineers) optimizing the production process. The aim of the procedure is to tune the entire system so that it plays the most beautiful, most harmonious music. Sometimes this means stimulating a lethargic system into action (so called toning), and sometimes it involves releasing excessive tension (sedation). Using the traditional language, we can also say that we harmonize the circulation of qi in the body. Although it may sound a bit exotic, it translates into tangible physiological changes: regulating the secretion of hormones in the body, changing blood pressure, intestinal peristalsis, etc. Each of the punctured meridians has its own characteristics that are an expression of health for it. The balance in the body of a woman and a man or people of different ages is also different. For this reason, each organism must be treated individually and tuned in accordance with its unique internal harmony.
Is acupuncture painful?
This is an individual issue.
Acupuncture needles are so thin (about 0.2-0.3 mm in diameter) that they don’t break through the tissues, but spread them apart. Therefore, most often, after removing the needle, no trace is visible. Sometimes, if you hit a capillary, there may be no more than a drop of blood, but no bleeding. For this reason, acupuncture doesn’t cause the kind of pain that we associate with, for example, making an injection when the tissues are actually torn.
You can usually feel what the Chinese call deqi - literally the arrival of qi. This means that when we stimulate an acupuncture point, it may feel like a slight current, tingling, or hot/cold sensation through the body. Such a sensation occurs only for a moment and is not the same at all points. Some experience it as pain, for others it’s pleasant. I can say that the level of discomfort we feel is related to the fear we attribute to it: the more we can relax, the less unpleasant the procedure is. I use techniques such as needling while consciously exhaling if necessary, and points that are too painful can always be released a little.
Can I come to acupuncture if I'm afraid of needles?
Yes. Acupuncture needles are very thin and have rounded tips, so they’re very different from injection needles. Many of my clients declare that they’re afraid of needles, but tolerate acupuncture very well. It’s a matter of taming and discharging fear.
If you still don't feel ready for needles, but want to come in for a consult, no problem. I’ll gladly write down the herbal recipe and advise you on some lifestyle changes.
Are there any contraindications to acupuncture?
Yes. There are few universal contraindications, others depend on the style of work of a given therapist. Personally, I don’t do acupuncture to people after transplants (excluding from this group people who have had a transplant of their own tissues). I avoid treating pregnant women unless it’s absolutely necessary or a gentler technique can be used instead. It’s similar with children - they respond to treatment well, but it’s difficult for them to lie down still for 20 minutes.
Sometimes you can hear that acupuncture is not done to women during menstruation. Indeed, some therapists don’t do it, especially if they’re not also herbalists or nutritionists. You can come to me for a treatment during menstruation, it’s often even worth it if you suffer from e.g. menstrual pain. In addition, every situation is different and needs to be considered individually.
If you want to come for acupuncture, but you’re afraid that you have a health contraindication, it's best to call. Usually a few minutes of conversation explains everything 😊
How often should one go for acupuncture?
It depends. It depends on the problem being treated and the therapist's style of work. In acute conditions, e.g. with bronchitis or sciatica, the procedure can be performed even every day. Chronic conditions have a different dynamics and then it’s worth to space the treatments out. It also depends on whether the client is drinking herbs, following a diet or other recommendations. Ultimately, everyone also has their own budget, which must be included in our plans. I see most chronic problem clients (most cases) weekly or bi-weekly. If you’re able to come more often, you can also repeat the treatments 2 times a week.
How long do I have to keep coming?
An old Chinese rule states that healing takes at least one tenth of the duration of the disease. Of course, this is just a general rule, because there are many variables in the whole process. I always recommend starting therapy as soon as possible, when the problem is easier, faster and cheaper to treat.
In practice, many people go to a Chinese medicine specialist only when Western medicine has failed them, and the ailments don’t go away or have been complicated by unsuccessful treatment. In such a situation, you need to be more patient and adjust to the fact that lifestyle changes will be needed, incorporating diet, herbs, exercise, etc. Even if the process of complete healing takes a while, your wellbeing should improve along the way.
If we have a ‘new’ problem, e.g. an injury or infection, which has only lasted for a few days, 1-2 treatments are often enough. Of course, we don’t consider recurring problems to be new.
In general, the more our lifestyle supports the recovery process, the less work will be needed.
Are there any alternatives to acupuncture?
Of course. It all depends on why we’re looking for a different solution. Some people think that maybe acupressure will be less painful - in practice it's the other way around. To create a similar level of stimulation as with a needle, the point must be pressed firmly for several minutes. During acupuncture, the very moment of needling may be unpleasant, but nothing hurts afterwards. I definitely recommend needles 😊
However, it should be noted that this kind of therapy is not for everyone. If you're going to be stressed every time you come in for a treatment, you might want to consider other options. Herbal medicine and diet can be used independently of needles. If you want to come for a consultation, but you’re not convinced about acupuncture, no problem. Of course, I'm of the opinion that it's worth trying at least once.
Can acupuncture be combined with other forms of therapy?
Yes. Combining needles with physiotherapy or osteopathy gives very good results, especially in convalescence after operations, for frozen shoulder or injuries. Acupuncture also complements well with reflexology and as a supplement to psychotherapy. It's always a good idea to consult a therapist already working with you first. More and more often I see that M.D.s refer their patients to acupuncture or herbal treatment.
How is acupuncture different from dry needling?
Dry needling has its origin in acupuncture, it’s usually performed by physiotherapists. In general, sore, tense places, mainly muscles, are punctured. In Chinese, they’re called ashi points. Acupuncture surpasses dry needling in that it goes hand in hand with the complex knowledge of the meridians and energy channels in the body. This means that during the procedure I select both the most important points that manage the circulation of qi in a given area of the body and I can additionally puncture ashi points. Often the most important are distal points, i.e. located in a different part of the body than the one to be treated. This is useful when the affected area is either too painful to be treated directly, there’s an open wound, or, for example, a cast. All this requires advanced knowledge and we won’t get that during a dry needling procedure.
Is acupuncture just needles?
No. The prototype of this technique was the use of heat, i.e. moxotherapy. It’s an integral part of acupuncture. Moxa has traditionally been used in several ways. It’s a herbal powder made of mugwort, which is set on fire and the heat emitted by it warms the given acupuncture points. Due to the content of, among others, essential oils, it has its fans to this day. The disadvantages are primarily associated with smoke and smell, which are difficult to get rid of. For this reason, in my office I mainly use a TDP infrared lamp. It emits a thermal spectrum that reflects a moxa treatment without the unpleasant odor and smoke.
In addition, we use techniques such as guasha, a type of massage, cupping, herbal compresses, patches, ointments, etc.
Are disposable needles used?
Yes, this is standard practice. Of course, once used needles can be used again by the same person, but for the customer's comfort, I use new needles each time. After such a procedure, you can, for example, donate blood, because there’s no danger of contracting a disease.
Do you need to disinfect the skin before the procedure? Should an acupuncturist wear gloves?
We disinfect only if there’s a skin lesion (e.g. a burn), in other cases it’s not necessary, especially due to the sterilization of the protective layer that we have on the skin. The acupuncture needle is so thin that it spreads apart the tissue, but doesn’t break it. This makes the procedure safer than medical procedures with tissue disruption. Gloves are not needed, the most important thing is to wash your hands (also those in gloves) 😊 Places where a drop of blood appeared after removing the needle should be disinfected.
If there’s a need to bleed a point (it’s punctured with a lancet to cause a few drops of blood to flow out), this place is of course disinfected before and after the puncture.
Can I come for a consult if I’m taking medication?
Yes. In acupuncture, the use of drugs is not a contraindication, and in the case of phytotherapy, the herbalist must adjust the prescribed mixture of herbs so that they don’t interact with drugs. I always ask during the interview if the client is taking any medications and I take them into account.
Be prepared, however, that if you ask your doctor about it, you will often hear: no. This is due to the fact that M.D.s usually don’t know about herbs and it’s safer for them to say not to use anything else just in case. Trained herbalists learn about the interactions between herbs and drugs and know how to compose an effective and safe mixture.
Can herbs cause adverse reactions?
Of course, phytotherapy is after all a form of pharmacology.
If we take herbs for the first time or after a long break, the typical reaction (similar to changing the diet) may be looser bowel movements (excluding the case of herbs prescribed for diarrhea). Usually everything settles itself within a few days and you don't have to worry about it. Other reactions depend on the herbs prescribed, e.g. after drinking diuretic herbs, we’ll pee more often, etc.
If I expect a specific reaction, I inform about it during the visit. If any worrying symptoms appear, it’s best to contact the person who prescribed the herbs as soon as possible. Sometimes it's enough to change the dosage or add an ingredient to achieve satisfactory results. In other cases, a change in the composition of the recipe is required.
Are Chinese herbs safe?
The distributors of herbs I work with import goods from the largest, well established exporters operating throughout the world and the EU. This means that the herbs meet all EU standards in terms of the content of pesticides, heavy metals, etc. These ingredients are completely safe, I also use them for myself and my loved ones. However, I don’t recommend buying Chinese herbs from an unknown source.
Of course, the repertoire of Chinese herbal medicine also includes plants that grow locally. Dandelion or mint can be obtained from European resources.
Will the herbs taste bad?
There's a good chance they will. The recipe is selected for action, not for pleasant taste. It usually consists of several - a dozen or so herbs, so the decoction is more dense than, for example, a mint infusion, and the taste is more intense. Still, you can largely get used to drinking herbs. If they’re well matched, often according to customers, "they’re not that bad". In the event that someone has problems with drinking herbs, we look for a solution, e.g. start with a lower dose or suggest herbal tablets.
What are the different forms of Chinese herbal medicine?
Traditionally, recipes from raw herbs are prepared in the form of a decoction, powder, alcohol tincture (so called jiu) or tablets formed using, for example, honey (so called wan). It all depends on what ailments we suffer from and for how long.
You need to spend some time preparing the decoction: the herbs must first be soaked and then boiled for 20-60 minutes depending on the ingredients used (usually 20-30 minutes). Powders, tablets and tinctures are usually taken with warm water.
Today, other options are also available, i.e. concentrated powders (CP) and herbal pills.
CPs are produced in a similar technology to instant coffee. The advantage is convenience and preparation time: just pour hot water over the herbs to have a ready decoction. We can choose each ingredient in the formula. The disadvantage is a much higher price and weaker therapeutic effect (similarly to instant coffee, which is weaker than ground coffee).
CP pills are often cheaper than powder, but we have to choose a readymade recipe, i.e. it’s not possible to modify the ingredients. Such solutions work well, for example, with seasonal diseases (colds, flu, cystitis) or when we go on vacation and don’t want to bother with cooking herbs.
It’s impossible to determine in advance which form of administration of herbs will be the best in a given situation. It depends on the condition of the client, his ailments and his lifestyle. During the consult, we determine together what’s possible to achieve maximum results with minimum work.
Is Chinese medicine particularly good for specific diseases?
Chinese medicine has been the primary care medicine in China and to some extent in other Asian countries for millennia. Hence, it has developed tools to treat both everyday, minor problems (cold, indigestion, torn muscle) and chronic diseases (menstrual disorders, diabetes, gallstones, insomnia, high blood pressure, etc.). In the West, Chinese medicine’s associated with the treatment of infertility (and more broadly gynecological diseases), migraines, back pain and digestive issues. The effect of acupuncture on eliminating the results of stress, and thus on civilization diseases, is famous. Personally, I highly recommend acupuncture as an element of recovery after surgery - especially when treating scars and burns.
All this makes it impossible to exhaustively describe the diseases "for which Chinese medicine is good". Often people who come to us have not found effective treatment in Western medicine and have very different conditions. In other cases, acupuncture or herbal medicine is complementary to conventional treatment. There are many possibilities, and every case is different. If in doubt, please call before making an appointment.
Do Chinese medicine specialists have any specialties?
Yes and no. Chinese medicine is a holistic system. From our point of view, for example, migraine, painful menstruation, IBS and hypertension may have the same cause. For this reason, we can’t just focus on one thing. On the other hand, everyone has their interests. This is often due to the fact that one client comes with a given ailment and when he’s satisfied with the results, he starts recommending acupuncture to all his friends who have the same problem. A Chinese medicine specialist often doesn’t choose his specialization himself, his clients choose it for him 😊
In my case it was the same. Many people have always come to me with problems due to chronic stress. In order to help them, I had to educate myself in this direction. Occasionally there are people who specialize in certain fields, but I don't see it very often.
Is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) one and the same?
Yes and no. The answer to this question requires a brief dive into history:
TCM is a simplified form of Chinese medicine, created by the communist government of China. It resulted from the need to provide basic medical care in a country where poverty and hunger prevailed at that time, and in many places there was no access to doctors and hospitals. During the Cultural Revolution, the so called "four old things" (ideas, culture, customs, habits) were being destroyed. Not only art and culture fell victim to this process, but also medicine. After several years of purges, attempts were made to rebuild the country. The communist authorities came to the conclusion that due to the poor condition of medical care, it was necessary to quickly train as many specialists in traditional medicine as possible. They could provide basic care, especially in poorer, more isolated parts of the country. After all, needles and herbs from the surrounding forests are much cheaper than lab equipment. However, a problem arose because Chinese medicine is a complex system that requires many years of study. It was decided to shorten and simplify everything so that it would be possible to quickly educate many specialists. This is how TCM was born. Of course, its paradigm comes from the classical theory of medicine, but simplifications have resulted in a rather symptomatic therapeutic approach.
Anyone who’s seriously interested in Chinese medicine appreciates its individual approach to each person (we treat the person, not the disease) and work with the cause of disorders. Therefore, over time, the term Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) began to be used to distinguish it from TCM. CCM is deeply rooted in tradition and focuses on individual diagnosis. Only such a process enables comprehensive treatment - dealing only with symptoms is no different from taking a painkiller. Of course, it’s worth doing something to relieve the symptoms, but without understanding their cause, the problem recurs.
Most of the Chinese medicine materials available today are TCM materials. Consequently, most therapists trained in both the West and China are TCM therapists. Fortunately, we are currently dealing with a renaissance of Classical Chinese Medicine and it’s gaining more and more supporters. Still, remember that not everyone who practices Chinese medicine actually practices the same medicine 😊
If you haven’t found the answer to your question in this section, please contact me by phone or e-mail
Ewa Iwanowska Gabinet W PUNKT