Uchida Acupuncture

Oriental Medicine

What is Oriental Medicine?

Beginning in China over 4,000 years ago, spreading throughout Asia and the rest of the world, the whole of
Oriental medical history can be distilled into one fundamental truism - Only your body has the capacity to
heal itself. This is true whether you see an acupuncturist or a family practice physician, a homeopath or an
orthopedic surgeon. No one can fix you. No one can replace your broken health. The best that any
healthcare professional can hope to accomplish is to facilitate your body's own ability to heal itself.

The strength of Oriental medicine rests upon recognition of this basic fact. It informs the way in which an
acupuncturist will diagnose and treat your medical complaint. For example, if you have an infection, your
MD will first attempt to identify the pathogen that is causing the disease. Only then will she prescribe
medication to eradicate that pathogen. In contrast, your acupuncturist will attempt to identify what
metabolic weakness or imbalance is allowing that pathogen to take hold in the first place. Then he will
proceed with therapy to correct those imbalances, thus altering your internal environment to make it less
hospitable to that pathogen.

Which is the better strategy for treating your infection? For acute and possibly life-threatening situations,
antibiotics can be very fast and effective. However, a recurring infection or a chronic complaint with no
evidence of infection indicates that the problem might better be addressed by strengthening weak metabolic
function. In this case, acupuncture and herbal therapy may be the more effective way to go.

What is Yin and Yang?

The duality of yin and yang is based in Daoism, one of the philosophical pillars of Chinese civilization. It
signifies the importance of balance, moderation and the inter-connectedness of seemingly disparate forces.
However, yin and yang is not just a set of esoteric concepts, but rather principles that can be applied to
medicine as well.

For instance, two of the primary communication networks in the body are the autonomic nervous system
and endocrine system. These are regulatory mechanisms to maintain physiological homeostasis (ie balance)
through hormonal regulation and balanced sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow. Yin symptoms as
described in classic Chinese medical texts correspond to the parasympathetic, or relaxation response,
whereas yang symptoms correspond to the sympathetic, or stress response.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Depending upon the placement of the needles, acupuncture can yield one or more of several effects on your
body. Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins and other neuropeptides that results in markedly
noticeable pain-killing effects as well as a profound sense of well-being. It releases trigger points and
reduces muscle spasm to increase joint range of motion and treat muscular pain and stiffness. Acupuncture
increases local blood flow and oxygenation at the site of injury to accelerate the healing of damaged tissue.
Acupuncture also reduces the harmful effects of stress on the body by normalizing the sympathetic/
parasympathetic nervous system. This is why acupuncture excels at treating stress-related disorders such as
irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and menstrual cramping.

Why Would I Need Herbal Medicine?

Chinese herbal medicine can be used as a primary therapy or adjunctively to facilitate the effects of
acupuncture treatments. It is particularly useful in cases where progress with acupuncture is slower than
expected, or in the uncommon circumstances where acupuncture causes symptoms to flare-up. This occurs
when the patient suffers from a severe metabolic deficiency usually caused by chronic illness, injury or
emotional stress. In these cases, performing acupuncture on a patient with severe metabolic deficiencies is
like turning the spigot on a faucet with low water pressure. Turning the spigot completely will still draw only
a trickle. Herbal medicine therapy, however, is like increasing the water pressure so more water will flow
from the faucet.Your acupuncturist is the only health professional who has received extensive training in
using Chinese herbal medicine.

What does a Licensed Acupuncturist do?

Like all healthcare professionals, acupuncturists must pass a rigorous licensing examination in order to
practice in the State of California. Acupuncturists are authorized to perform acupuncture and manual
therapies such as therapeutic massage and joint mobilizations, prescribe herbal formulas, give nutritional
advice, and advise you on rehabilitative stretching and exercise regimens. While licensed acupuncturists are
considered general practitioners, many have undergone additional training in medical specialties such as
orthopedics, gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine.