Where did you study Traditional Chinese Medicine?

  1993-2016 began my study with Robert Heyob, L,Ac. in Tai Qi, Chinese Pharmacology, Moxibustion, and Acupuncture.  BA in Art from the University of Southern Maine, finished pre-med requirements at City College of San Francisco, CA and went to The San Francisco School of Massage.

​

 2000-2005 I received my Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine Degree from The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco.  I  studied Tui Na (Chinese Massage) with Rocky Wang. I began my Kylin Qi Gong practice with Dr. Li Ping Zhu and have continued my practice with her for the past 23 years.

 

What should I expect during my first acupuncture appointment?

​

On your first visit,  your main health complaint or concern will be addressed.  We will discuss how this complaint/concern first began, discuss your current state of health, current lifestyle and dietary habits and significant health history  and  your personal health goals.  The inspection of the tongue and taking the pulse on both sides reading the 3 positions at the three levels is part of the diagnostic process to determine the internal activity of your body.  Once a diagnosis is made the treatment plan will be performed. The  Initial appointments generally last 90-120 minutes.

​

How will I feel after my treatment?

Patients are generally more relaxed after their acupuncture treatments. Occasionally, it has been reported that patients may experience side effects such as slight dizziness, light headaches, sleepiness or bruising. Staying hydrated after the treatment usually helps diminish any of these side effects. If you experience these sensations for more than a short period of time, please do not hesitate to contact me. Euphoria is the most common response. 

​

How long are the needles retained in the body?

Typically, during acupuncture needles are retained for 13-60 minutes depending on diagnosis. Sports Medicine protocol consists of 3 phases needling with the first 2 phases with shorter insertion times while the body is in motion with the third phase the needles are retained for at least 13 minutes. The Qi flows through the regular meridians in 12 1/2 minutes.

 

Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncturists in California are primary health care providers are trained to determine the safe depth/angle of insertion to avoid any injuries.  In the U.S. and other developed parts of the world, sterile single-use disposable needles are used and risk of infection is extremely low. Sometimes there is a little bleeding, soreness or bruising at the acupuncture site.

There are conditions wherein acupuncture is used with caution, for instance, in patients taking blood thinners, who have bleeding disorders, fluid retention or injury certain points are used with greater care or points on stronger areas of the body are used to effect the ailed area. Dancing Porcupine Acupuncture does not use acupuncture/herbs on pregnant women.

 

Does acupuncture hurt?  

Acupuncture needles are very fine and insertion is gentle. People experience acupuncture differently and some people feel very little or no pain during needle insertion. They may be a momentary prick type feeling that quickly resolves. Some people feel a heavy sensation, tingling, warmth or nothing at at. I work closely with patients and I will have patients take a deep breath and exhale making a loud sound.  The brain cannot register pain in the same way when it is making a sound.   Once we have determined what sort of response to needling you have we can modify from there.

Generally patients  diagnosed with an excess condition feel the pain more (and therefore would make a louder sound to counter balance)  and patients diagnosed with a deficient condition often don't feel anything because the Qi is hard to grasp when there is less available. 

 

Are there side effects from acupuncture?

A state of  euphoria and profound relaxation is the most common effect from acupuncture. Other than an occasional bruise and sometimes in rare cases there can be dizziness, there are no adverse side effects when acupuncture is performed appropriately.

 

Why is the pulse taken and the tongue observed?

A Traditional Chinese medical practitioner diagnoses your individual pattern of imbalance and determines which organs and acupuncture meridians are involved. This is in consideration of several factors, including inquiries to how your main complaint appeared, your lifestyle and nutritional patterns, palpation of acupuncture meridian pathways, observing the color, shape and coat on your tongue and feeling the rate and quality of your pulse on both sides in three positions in the three levels.
Initially, once a diagnosis is determined, a treatment plan will be formed and a treatment performed with appropriate modalities.

 

Will Chinese herbal treatments interfere with my other medications?

When administered properly, Chinese herbals generally do not interfere with Western pharmaceuticals. It is necessary for the patient to disclose which pharmaceuticals/medications they are taking so the practitioner can prepare/prescribe a formula that does not interfere with the effects. Generally, it is a good idea to take medications or food about 2 hours apart from the Chinese herbals. Chinese medicine is also very effective in helping people to safely come off their Western medications in some cases. In these cases the body would need to recover to health first so that it would not require the medication.

 

How many treatments do I need?

Your relief may be immediate, delayed for a few hours or may develop after 1 to 3 days. The body is very receptive to acupuncture yet individual response to treatment will vary. The effects of acupuncture is cumulative so as you continue with acupuncture treatments you will notice your body will acclimate, become more responsive and maintain results as health is restored.
Generally, the number of treatments is often relative to how long the condition has been in the body. Acute conditions tend to clear up in a few treatments, while conditions that have been going on for years may take longer. Because the body has expended an amount of stored energy during the illness, after you have recovered, it is important to follow up with one or two treatments to prevent new or repeated illness, this is referred to as “solidifying the constitution”.  It is also recommended to come in and get seasonal tune ups as health problems are often aggravated by seasonal transitions so you can prepare your body for the upcoming season before it becomes compromised.

 

How do I prepare for my session?

Wear loose fitting comfortable clothing, ideally so we can easily access your lower limbs and abdomen. Don’t come on an empty stomach or one that is too full, heavily fatigued, intoxicated or dehydrated. Do not scrape your tongue on the day of your visit.  

 

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?  

Due to insurance reasons Dancing Porcupine Acupuncture does not use Acupuncture or Herbs on pregnant patients.  It is contraindicated to move Qi or Blood during pregnancy because the baby needs to  stay in the womb to develop.  

 

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is the use of tiny needles to stimulate points on the body to repair and re-establish health. The movement and balance of energy brings the body back to homeostasis (balance).

 

What are the benefits of acupuncture? What conditions can it treat?

Acupuncture has been used for over 4000 years to effectively treat imbalances within the body.  Acupuncture treats most conditions without the often unpleasant side effects of Western medicine. The benefits of acupuncture may include the following:

• Alleviation of Pain

• An Overall Sense Of Improved Well-Being

• Better Sleep

• Increased Energy

• Improved Moods

• Emotional Balance

• Feelings Of Peace and Tranquility that help sharpen awareness throughout the body

• The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) released a report in 2003 titled “Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials”. This report lists the conditions that have effectively been treated with acupuncture, which include but are not limited to:

• Acute And Chronic Gastritis

• Acute Bacillary Dysentery

• Acute Epigastralgia

• Adverse Reactions To Radiation Or Chemotherapy

• Allergic Rhinitis, Including Hay Fever

• Biliary Colic

• Correction Of Malposition Of Fetus (Breech Presentation)

• Dental Pain

• Depression (Including Depressive Neurosis And Depression Following Stroke)

• Essential Hypertension

• Facial Pain (Including Craniomandibular Disorders)

• Headache

• Induction Of Labor

• Knee Pain

• Leucopenia

• Low Back Pain

• Morning Sickness

• Nausea And Vomiting

• Neck Pain

• Peptic Ulcer

• Periarthritis Of The Shoulder

• Postoperative Pain

• Primary Dysmenorrhea

• Primary Hypotension

• Renal Colic

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Sciatica

• Sprains

• Stroke

• Tempromandibular (TMJ) Dysfunction

• Tennis Elbow

​

How does acupuncture work?

Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in which a licensed practitioner gently inserts hair-thin needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture point information is based on ancient Chinese Medical Theory that umbrellas  Yin Yang Theory, 6 Levels of diagnosis and 5 Elemental Theory.  Acupuncture helps facilitate the body into balance and aids in directing Qi or vital energy to the areas it is needed throughout the body and/or by removing excess harmful misdirected energy. 

 

What is moxibustion and what's it for?

Moxibustion is made from aged mugwort.  It is often pressed into a roll, burned and passed over points or it can be loose and applied over a medium such as Ginger, Garlic, Salt, or Fuzi cake which is placed on the body and burned.

 

Indirect moxibustion uses:

Warms meridians and expels cold.

Induces the smooth flow of Qi and Blood.

Strengthen Yang from collapse 

Prevents diseases and improves health.

​

What is cupping?  

Cups of various sizes are quickly placed on the skin (generally on the back) by creating a vacuum that sucks the area up into the cup. Moving cupping is done by first placing a lotion or oil on the skin then the cups and then moving the cups while they are still attached to the skin.  This is particularly good as Qi and Blood to nourish sore tired back muscles.  It feels like a deep tissue massage where the pain is pulled out creating space and nourishing the tissue with Qi and Blood instead of pushed in.

 

Will I have big marks after my cupping session?

Yes, there is a very good chance that you will.  The darker the color of the mark left by the cup is in direct proportion to the amount of stagnation in the channel.  Often the first time that you are cupped is the most dramatic and with continued treatment the marks often become less and less as the stagnation leaves your body.  The marks can last anywhere from a couple hours to several weeks depending on the patient.

​

What is cupping used for?

Warming and promoting the free flow of Qi and Blood

Dispelling Cold Dampness

Diminishing swellings and pains

Pain syndrome

Lung disorder including cough, asthma, and skin conditions

Pull Evil Qi out of the body.  It can be very effective to prevent colds if done before the external pathogen has gotten a chance to sink into the body.

​

What is Electro Acupuncture?

After a needle has been inserted at a point and the Qi sensation obtained, an electric current is passed through the needle both to strengthen and alter the nature of stimulation.  Different waves can be sent into the needles for different effects.  A Dense regular wave sedates pain.  Muscle tightness is a form of a spasm and by sending a dense wave directly into the tense muscle it depolarizes it on a cellular level so it can relax.

A Disperse wave is used in cases of stroke or atrophy when exciting the muscle is required.  A Dense-Disperse wave is used to move fluids.

​

What kind of massage is available?  

A combination of Swedish and Tui Na (Chinese) Massage techniques are used.  In I 1996 studied  Swedish Massage at the San Francisco School of Massage. In 2004 I studied Tai Na with Dr. Rocky Wang while attending the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

​

What is acutonics?

Acutonics®:
Integrating Sound Healing into your Acupuncture Practice

By Donna Carey, PhD, Lac and Ellen Franklin, PhD

Acutonics is an integrated system of  sound healing  that works with the principles of Traditional  Chinese Medicine and the Music of the Spheres.  Sound is a vibration, a link between spirit and life force that affects every aspect of creation. This energy-based non-invasive treatment method is similar to acupuncture. The frequencies of the tuning forks are based on the work of Kepler, who in the 1620s discovered the elliptical paths of the planets. Kepler calculated the velocity of all known planets (invalidating the accepted concept of circular orbits). He presented scientific evidence of the relationship between the musical ratios and the planetary motion – the Music of the Spheres. In the 20th Century, Hans Cousto translated the planetary velocities into musical tone. Cousto’s musical transpositions of Kepler’s planetary orbits provided a foundation for the frequencies that are used in the Acutonics system.  These tuning forks represent a natural harmonic series based on the orbital properties of the Earth, Moon, Sun and other planets. They are used on specific points, with great transformation impact on the physical, emotional and spiritual body. It has profound results in the treatment of chronic and debilitating conditions and in helping people to balance spiritual, emotional and physical energies.

During a treatment after activating the tuning forks by tapping them lightly, the stem of the fork is placed directly on the indicated acupuncture points until they stop vibrating.

 

What are the 5 NADA Points?

NADA or National Acupuncture Detoxification Association Points are located in both ears which are microsystems of the the body:

​

Shen Men:  Spirit Gate, calms anxiety and slows the heart rate.  Alleviates feelings of impatience, mood swings, and replaces them with joy.

 

Sympathetic: relaxes nerves, reduces fight or flight response, improves digestive function, aids respiration, relieves anxiety, and produces calm.

 

Kidney:  Essential Energy, helps to release toxins through urine, rejuvenates and restores at a deep level of purification of the blood.  It is associated with relieving fear, paranoia, and anguish, and fortifying feelings of gentleness and awareness.

 

Liver:  Emotional Balance and restoration of the qi flow.  Cleanses the body of toxins and is related to emotional stability and balance.  It is associated with relieving feelings of anger, rage, and depression, and restoring balance and kindness.

 

Lung:  Life force balance- rules qi.  Nourishing, improving the immune system and eases breathing.  It is associated with relieving sadness and grief, and providing feelings of courage and righteousness.

 

This is the treatment protocol Acupuncturist Without Borders uses when it goes into disaster situations to treat the inability to think clearly due to the trauma. This treatment treats stress and post traumatic stress by allowing the person to return to themselves and make better decisions for themselves. There are many advantages of this treatment as it can be done in a group setting, no language or discussion of the trauma is needed. No diagnosis is made and no undressing is needed as the treatment is done only in the ear.