FAQ
Traditional Chinese Medicine includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage (tui-na), acupressure, moxibustion, cupping therapy, reflexology, heat treatment, diet advice and etc.
Acupuncture
1. What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing developed over thousands of years as part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine.
TCM believes:
Good health---Qi (vital energy) flows freely through the meridians
Illness---Qi is blocked, weakened, unbalanced
Acupuncture---using very fine needles, correcting the flow of Qi, so illness can be cleared and good health restored.
The principal aim of acupuncture in treating the whole person is to recover the equilibrium between the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the individual.
2. Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture is not painless but neither can it be described as painful. Acupuncture needles bear little resemblance to the injection needles. They are much finer, and are solid rather than hollow. When the needle in inserted, the sensation in often described as a tingling. Some people may not feel anything at all.
3. What if I have needle phobia or I really have not got the courage to have acupuncture now?
You can try one needle first. It may not as bad as you thought. If you still can not do it, doctor will do acupressure (Tui-Na), moxibustion or other treatment which is needle free for you. It is completely painless. You should feel very comfortable with the treatment.
4. How long does a treatment take?
The first consultation and treatment may last between forty minutes and one hour. Subsequent treatments may be a little shorter. A series of treatments will be required and the number will depend on the patient’s body condition.
5. How often will I need Treatment?
In traditional acupuncture philosophy each person is considered as unique, and therefore the number of treatments required depends on the individual. Some change is usually felt after five treatments. Normally you are recommended to visit your acupuncturist once or twice a week at first, although some conditions may need less frequent attention.
Sometimes the effects of the treatment are dramatic and only one or two treatments are required. With other patients, the effects are more subtle and they may’ need treatment over several months.
6. What conditions are treated?
Acupuncture can and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions. In traditional acupuncture in which illness is seen to result in an imbalance of energy, treatment can benefit almost any ill person as long as a degenerative process is not too extensive. Typical conditions treated are: anxiety/depression, arthritis, asthma, pain, eczema, sports injuries, allergies and hayfever, migraine, menstrual disorders, gastrointestinal problems and pregnancy management and delivery. It is also used in a preventative manner to keep the body in tune.
7. Who Has Acupuncture?
Many people come to acupuncture for help with specific symptoms or conditions. These might include anxiety states, arthritis, asthma, back pain, circulatory problems, depression, facial paralysis, fibrositis, high blood pressure, indeterminate aches and pains, infertility menstrual problems, migraines, rheumatism, sciatica, skin conditions or ulcers.
Acupuncture is a safe treatment for all. It has proved to be effective in pregnancy management and for the relief of pain in childbirth. Acupuncture is also helpful for people trying to overcome addictions such as those related to smoking, alcohol, food or drugs.
Some people may have acupuncture as a preventive measure to strengthen their constitution, or because they feel unwell in themselves without being ‘ill’ in the Western sense. It can also be used alongside conventional medicine in the treatment of both acute and chronic disease. As with any therapy, the response to acupuncture can vary from one person to another.
8. How does acupuncture work?
There are more than 400 acupoints along the 12 meridians and 8 extraordinary channels. These points provide us gateways to influence, redirect, increase or decrease body’s Qi(vital energy), thus correcting many of the unbalances.
Many science reports show that acupuncture can improve blood circulation and immune system, balance hormone, and block the pain signal from reaching the brain.
9. Do I need to get undressed when I have acupuncture?
Not really. Most of times it is necessary to roll up trousers and shirt sleeves-----providing the clothes are loose enough. Occasionally, you will need to remove clothing down to underwear.
10. Why should I have acupuncture/herbal treatment?
Because:
A. They are safe and effective.
B. They are holistic and aim to restore the body’s balance.
C. They treat the both the symptoms and the root of the illness.
D. They can treat problems which may not have a clear western medical diagnosis.
E. They have been practiced for thousands of years. TCM is a well-established medical system and has been developing fast in the last 50 years. Lots of researches have been done to improve the quality and effectiveness of the products and treatment.
F. They can help you to come off certain prescription drugs(with your GP’s consent).
G. Many people come to the clinic as the last resort because all the other conventional of alternative medicine failed to help them.
11. Does everyone practice the acupuncture the same?
There are a few different styles of acupuncture all over the world, but it is originally from China. All our doctors are graduated from reputable Traditional Chinese Medicine Universities and practiced in TCM hospital for a significant number of years, which give them excellent theoretical back ground and practical experience, they are all well trained, fully qualified and highly experienced in TCM and western medicine, in other words they are masters in diagnosis, prescription of herbal medicine, and physiotherapy practice. We often hear patients’ comment that Chinese style acupuncture seem to be stronger and more effective.
Furthermore all our practitioners are registered with ATCM (Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, UK), which is the only recognisable governing body of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the UK, and they all insured for a practice liability insurance of 3 million pounds.
12. What should I do before the treatment?
Nothing is specific. If possible, do not miss the meal or have a big meal before your treatment in case you get dizziness during the treatment.
13. How will I feel after acupuncture?
Usually relaxed and calm. Occasionally you may feel tired or drowsy for a few hours if the treatment has been particularly strong, but you should feel fine over night.
14. Is acupuncture safe?
Yes, absolutely. We follow the strict hygiene procedures set by British Acupuncture Council. Those procedures have been approved by the department of health, and provide protection against the transmission of infections diseases.
15. Are your needles sterilized?
Yes they are, plus we only disposable needles, that is, all the needles are only used once and we throw them away after they have been used.
Herbs
1. Why choose herbal remedy rather than pharmaceutical drugs?
Herbal medicine is distinct from medicine based on pharmaceutical drugs. Firstly, because of the complexity of plant materials it is far more balanced than medicine based on isolated active ingredients and is far less likely to cause side-effects. Secondly, because herbs are prescribed in combination, the different components of a formulae balance each other, and they undergo a mutual synergy which increases efficiency and enhance safety. Thirdly, herbal medicine treats the root of the problem as well as the symptom. It is also designed to encourage the self-healing process.
2. Who can have the treatment?
Herbal medicine can be used by people of any age or constitution. Practitioner may adjust the dose for a child. Practitioner will take extra caution for the pregnant women.
3. Is the treatment safe?
Yes, it is. Chinese herbal medicine has been tested for thousands of years, and it is very safe should you strictly follow the instruction when prescribed correctly by a properly trained practitioner. Over the centuries doctors have compiled information about the pharmacopoeia and placed great emphasis on the protection of the patient. Allergic reactions are rare, and will cause no lasting damage if the treatment is stopped as soon as symptoms appear. All the herbs we use are legal and are included in the government’s herb list.
4. Endangered species
Herbalink is very concerned about the threat to wild animals and plants. We strongly condemn the illegal trade in endangered species and prohibit the use of any type of endangered species. We do not stock any tiger bones, bear’s bile, rhinoceros’s horn, etc. All these medicines have been forbidden in the early 80’s in China.
5. Taste of the medicine
There is a Chinese saying---the bitterer medicine, the better result. Chinese Herbal Medicine is very strong in taste. Each person's experience is different, some say that it's not actually the taste that bothers them, it's more the foreignness of taste that they are not used to,but as long as the result is good, you should persevere it.
You can add honey of sugar (or sugar substitute for diabetes patient), juice, milk to alter the taste (if the practitioner advised to do so). Have a mint before and after taking the medicine or brush your teeth afterwards. For children, besides above methods, the parents can use straw or syringe to help them to drink, or drink a few times a day instead of two.