Understanding What is Acupuncture

1) ACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES

Complying with international standards, only disposable needles are used in this clinic. No needles are shared or reused.

2) COMMON SENSATIONS DURING/AFTER ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT

During an acupuncture session, patients might experience soreness and/or numbness in areas where the needles are being inserted. This is a natural reaction of the body on the intrusion of a foreign object. It is also based on this principle, that acupuncture stimulates and hence, induces the body to perform self-repair (healing) functions. In some cases, strong stimulation is necessary and when this happens, an ‘electrifying’ sensation could be felt. However, if the sensation is too strong or unbearable, it is important that patients alert the attending physician immediately.

Sensitive Patient may experience nausea, or superficial bleeding or tenderness on the acupuncture areas or encounter superficial hematomas (bruises) after treatment. This is considered normal and it will usually disappear after a few days.

In addition, moxibution and cupping might also yield the same effects. As the condition of individual body’s varies, the extent of which, the body reacts to needle stimulation and the duration of these effects will also differ.

3) ANCIENT NEEDLE TECHNIQUE

Hook needle, charn needling and hot needling are kinds of ancient therapy. These therapies are commonly used on patients whose conditions require stronger stimulation, such as those suffering from chronic diseases and persistent problems and do often produce greater sensation than normal acupuncture treatments. These treatment methods involve applying strong stimulation on selected acu-points to remove blockage, promote positive re-growth and strengthen the immune system that will destroy the disease and prevent recurrence.

These methods are only performed upon special requests by patients or under the recommendation of our physicians. Before commencing such treatments, the physician will give further explanation and advice to the patient.

4) CASES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE COURSE ARRANGEMENT

Fever, flu, common cold, acute sore throat, cough, headache, stiff neck, twisted of wrist, constipation, diarrhea, dysentery, insomnia etc. Normally required 1 – 3 treatments.

5) CASES THAT REQUIRE A COURSE OR MORE TREATMENTS FOR EFFECTIVENESS

Chronic headache, migraine, tinnitus, bronchitis, asthma, shortness of breath, dyspnoea, vertigo, mental disturbance, depression eczema, menopause syndromes, dermatomyositis. Required 2 – 3 courses with daily 1 or 2 treatments. Prevention treatments may be recommended.

Otorrhea, otitis media, rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, hey fever, chronic pharyngitis, chronic laryngitis, urticaria, herpes zoster, chronic gastritis, chronic colitis and diseases of gynecology. Required 10 – 15 sittings on alternate day. Prevention treatments may be recommended.

Neurological disorders, rheumatology and orthopaedic disorder, stroke-paralysis, neuritis, neuralgia, arthritis, rheumatism, gout, post-operative pain syndromes etc. Require a course of 15 sittings and prevention treatments are needed.

All patients will be given reading materials to help them gained further understanding on their cases.

Duration of standard treatment is about 15 – 20 minutes, full treatment about 30 – 40 minutes.

The estimated time needed to complete an acupuncture session on a new patient’s first visit is about 1 hour. This includes waiting time, special acupuncture diagnosis, treatment time, explication of treatment procedures and basic TCM concepts governing patients’ complaints, and questions & answers session.

Acupuncture on Chronic Cough

Mr Gwee K.H., 89, Singapore, Retiree, 0610-40

Mr Gwee had a history of chronic cough for over 6 months. There were throat irritations, hoarse voice, and dry sputum. The extent of coughing had been worrying to his children. He had been seen and treated by doctors and TCM practitioners for several years with no results and Chest X-ray showed no active infected nodes.

On his first visit, he had uncontrollable cough, which had caused alarm to other patients. From the Auricular finding, the energy levels at 89/54 with Lungs 87. Therefore, points taken on him were mainly regional- such as on the Chest and the Lungs – and Large Intestine channel, included ECIWO Lungs, E-system Neiguan, Tiantu, Zhongwan, Zhusanli and Feishu.

His cough had been under control after 3 sittings of treatments. I had prescribed some pills that helped him to lubricate the throat and tonics for the lungs. However, he had been coming back on a regular basis to keep up his health. His daughter would bring him in on all his appointments.

Acupuncture on Chronic Sinusitis of 6 years

Mr. Wen K.F. , 50, Singapore, Driving Instructor, 0612-10

Suffered from Chronic Sinusitis for 6 years and had a history of Asthma. Easily affected by weather, air pollution and sensitivity. Points selected from ECIWO Head and Shangxing Baihui, Yingxiang, Zusanli, Neiting. His wife noticed the difference that night he went home and he had managed to sleep very well.

Other points included Neiguan, Yintang, Waiguan, Baihui, Dazhui and Fengchi. Additional points applied on him including, Feishu and ECIWO Lungs of the 2nd metacarpal bone. It took him 11 sittings altogether.

Because he was recovered from acupuncture treatments, he introduced a fellow colleague who had suffered from Severe Rhinitis and Tinnitus to treatment with Acupuncture too, in hope that he was able to benefit from this ancient form of medicine.

Acupuncture on Severe Chronic Lumbago

Mrs. Khalsom, 46, Japan, Housewife, 9307-19

First visit in July 1993, with great amount of pain even when she was put on a wheel chair. Back pain for 30 years. 10 years ago had an episode of Acute Lumbago was treated with one acupuncture treatment in Japan and was cured. Two weeks before she had a sneeze and developed Chronic Lumbago since then. Went to hospital and was diagnosed as spinal cord displacement, causing her the pain and treated with cortisones and which seen no results. Upon my Diagnosis, it was Inflammation of the Large Intestines, a progressive inflammation of her appendix. Positive findings were made from points Kongzhui and Shangjuxu. The inflammation of these organs had caused the severe pains in the back, which caused her to be immobile.

Points selected were E-System Appendix, Hegu and treatment once a day for 3 days, followed by alternate days. To help her sleep better, moxibustion was used. To help with her lower limbs, Yanglingquan and Xuan Zhong was used.

Due to the immense pain she experienced, she had wanted to return to the hospital for her strong painkillers as I was due to travel to US the following day. However, I had advised her to continue the treatments here. By the 2nd treatment, patient was already feeling much better and was sleeping well. On the 4th treatment, she was able to walk a little on her own. Following treatments were focused in reinforcing her large intestine, gall bladder and liver. On the last treatment, the Auricular Diagnosis showed that her large intestines were low in demand.