​Acupuncture

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

A: Not usually. A dull ache often develops at the point (considered to be a good therapeutic sign) but the needles are so fine that people having treatment for the first time are pleasantly surprised, finding the treatment to be very relaxing and therapeutic.

1. How often will I need treatment?

It depends on the patient – normally the doctor recommends that patients attend once or twice a week at the beginning, but this could change to monthly once your system is stable.

2. Do I need to believe in acupuncture in order for it works? 

A: No.

3. How will I feel after acupuncture? 

A: Usually relaxed and calm. Occasionally you may feel tired or drowsy for a few hours if the treatment has been particularly strong or there may be a short term flaring up of your symptoms as your Qi clears and resettles itself.

4. What about the needles used? 

A: We only use single use pre-sterilized disposable needles, which are disposed of after each treatment. The Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (UK) members observe the Code of Practice which lays down stringent standards of hygiene and sterilization of equipment.

5. Is it safe? 

A: All members of FTCMP must observe the Code of Practice which defines the hygiene and safety standards relating to the practice of acupuncture

Chinese Hot Cupping:

6.  What is Hot Cupping?

It is an ancient Chinese medical therapy called cupping, which has similarities to acupuncture.

7. How does Hot Cupping work?

The therapy involves placing glass cups over acupuncture points to create a vacuum. This is supposed to aid circulation and help detoxify the body.

8. What is the theary behind this therapy?

The theory behind cupping is that we all have two long strings of lymph glands running down either side of the spine, which get clogged with toxins. This makes our bodies perform less efficiently. Slapping glass cups on the skin- heated to starve them of oxygen so that they create a vacuum-encourages these poisons to get sucked out expelled into the bloodstream or excreted.

9. Is it safe to do Hot Cupping? Are there side effects?

The cups are left on the body while the area beneath is treated and the energy, or qi, is moved. Mild reddening is common, however this disappears after a few days.

10. There are dark bruise marks after the cupping on my back, should I be worried?

After cupping, there is often a dark mark left on the skin. The Chinese call this mark “Sha.” The Sha may appear darker, reddish, or even purple. It resembles a bruise or abrasion in appearance, but it isn’t exactly either of those.

Traditionally, the Sha marks were indicative of toxins leaving the musculature and coming to the surface. The marks should go away within four days to two weeks as your body cleans itself. The Sha area is usually a painless area, but may shock people who have never seen Sha before. This is a result of a common Traditional Chinese Medicine technique. It shouldn’t hurt, and that your body’s reaction is perfectly normal.

11. What is the feeling of being cupped?

The treatment is not painful, but may be uncomfortable for some. It is a bit like being attacked by a giant octopus. It is suction, so it can be an uncomfortable senseation. Some people say it is rather like having a deep tissue massage–uncomfortable at time, but you feel brilliant after.

​Hot stone Massage Therapy

12. What is Hot stone Massage Therapy?

Hot stone massage therapy melts away tension, eases muscle stiffness and increases circulation and metabolism. Each hot stone massage therapy session promotes deeper muscle relaxation through the placement of smooth, water-heated stones at key points on the body. Our professional massage therapists also incorporate a customized massage, with the use of hot stones which offers enhanced benefits.

The premise behind hot stone massage therapy is that the direct heat of the stones relaxes muscles, allowing the therapist access to their deeper muscle layers. Combining hot stone protocols with a full body massage provides a very healing and effective experience. The hot stones also expand blood vessels, which encourages blood flow throughout the body. The hot stones have a sedative effect that can relieve chronic pain, reduce stress and promote deep relaxation.

Benefits of Hot Stone massage threapy

• Provides relief from pain associated with fibromyalgia, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other chronic conditions
• Decreases pain and muscle spasms
• Reduces chronic stress and tension
• Increases flexibility in joints, aiding in easier mobility and movement

Relieves pain and tension created by strained and contracted muscles

 Moxibustion

13.What exactly does the practitioner do?

In the U.S., practitioners generally hold a burning moxa stick close to, but not touching, the surface of the skin.

In this method, the moxa material is compressed into a stick or pole, looking not unlike an oversized cigar that can be lit and allowed to smolder, producing a unique form of very penetrating heat.

The smoldering moxa stick is held over specific areas, often, though not always, corresponding to certain acupuncturepoints. The glowing end of the moxa stick is held about an inch or two above the surface of the skin until the area reddens and becomes suffused with warmth.

14.What can I expect to feel?

It is not uncommon for patients receiving moxibustion to report a sudden flooding of warmth that quickly radiates along a specific pathway (usually corresponding with the jing luo channel that is being treated) away from the site of application. This is a good result, as it indicates the arrival of the Qi and signals that the flow of Qi and xue has been freed in the channel.

15.When is moxibustion used?

Moxibustion is used for:

• Pain due to injury or arthritis, especially in “cold” patterns where the pain naturally feels better with the application of heat
• Digestive problems and irregular elimination
• Gynecological and obstetrical conditions, including breech presentation in late term pregnancy
• Protection against cold and flu strains

Practitioners often do both acupuncture and moxibustion in the same clinic session when appropriate to the diagnosis and treatment strategy. Practitioners believe that the therapies increase each other’s effectiveness when used together.

Unlike acupuncture, which is almost always done by a trained practitioner in a clinic setting, moxibustion can be easily used at home. It is not uncommon for Chinese medical practitioners to train their patients to use moxa on themselves to strengthen the effect of the clinical sessions between appointments.

16.What does it smell like?

There is a small inconvenience associated with moxibustion: the smoke and odor. Although there are so-called smokeless varieties of moxa, the preferred true moxa (made from mugwort) does produce a lot of smoke when burned. Most TCM clinics are well equipped with a good ventilation and air purification system, so this is not a big problem.

However, the lingering odor produced from burning mugwort unfortunately smells somewhat like marijuana. Most TCM practitioners in the United States, place small signs around their office informing patients and visitors about the true nature of the odor that they may be noticing.