What is TCM Acupuncture & How Does it work?

Even though acupuncture is becoming more mainstream in the western world, it’s been used for thousands of years to help treat an array of health conditions. From muscular pain, to irregular periods, to anxiety and everything in between.  Acupuncture involves inserting very fine, sterilized needles into the skin to stimulate specific points on the body (commonly referred to as acu-points). By activating these points, it allows energy (Qi) and blood to move more freely, as well as giving your body signals to help boost its self-healing ability. Pretty cool eh! 

There are different types of acupuncture, such as medical, motor point, and Japanese acupuncture. Which all use a similar fine, sterilized needle, but are based on varying focuses and philosophies. Hence the common, understandable confusion of what acupuncture is and people’s varying experiences with it. I’ll be discussing the acupuncture that I’m specifically trained in, which is traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture. 

What I love about traditional Chinese medicine is that it takes all aspects of an individual and their environment into account. It takes huge consideration into the mind-body connection and how they can directly influence each other. An important aspect in Chinese medicine is the concept of Qi. Along with other fluids in the body such as blood, water, etc, Chinese medicine views the body as also having an invisible substance called Qi. Qi can be generally described as a vital energy force in the body. It runs along specific pathways (called channels or meridians) that go all over the body and correlate to different organs. Qi helps the body perform important life functions such as circulation (moving/warming), immunity (protecting), storing (holding), and separating/absorbing nutrients (transforming & transporting). 

When Qi, blood, body fluids, and organ systems are performing all of their functions optimally, the body is in balance. However, if there’s disruption (such as falling on that lovely patch of ice, or being really stressed out about work), this can cause disharmony and energy to become stagnated. Similar to a nutritional view, some substances and systems may be used more (become deficient), while others overact (become excessive). So it’s our job as acupuncturist to recognize what substances/systems are being effected (based on your symptoms), find the root of where it began, then select & give points that help bring your body back in balance. 

We can also recognize what could potentially be an issue down the road. For example, menopause will have an effect on the body so we can alleviate symptoms associated with menopause by nourishing specific organ systems before menopause starts. Therefore, acupuncture works really well as a preventative measure of your health as well. 

So now you’d like to give it a try, what should you expect?

On the first visit, we’ll go through and discuss your medical history as well as other areas of your life (sleep, digestion, emotions/relationships, etc).  My goal is to get a full picture of you so I can make treatments as tailored and beneficial for you as possible.  

After the initial intake, which typically lasts 45 minutes to 1 hour, I’ll ask to look at your tongue and take your pulse.  Since different organ systems are reflected on the tongue and pulse in Chinese medicine, these are additional diagnostic tools that give me more insight into what areas are affected and nature of what’s going on (if areas are in excess or deficiency as I mentioned earlier). It’s less about there being something physically wrong with an organ, and more to do with its function in the body from a Chinese medicine perspective and how well it’s working with relation to other systems to keep the body in balance. 

The last 30 minutes will consist of an initial acupuncture treatment. Similar to a massage treatment, you’ll be lying on a massage table covered by cozy sheets. Very thin, fine, sterilized and disposable needles are used. So small that they are thinner than a hair strand!  Most of the time, you barely feel the needles go in. Some areas can feel more sensitive based on location and the patient. There may be a “mosquito bite” or a “hair pull” with initial insertion, but it should be minimal and dissipate shortly after. It’s common to feel other sensations while the needles are in (warmth, heaviness, movement, tingling) as this is a sign of Qi activating and moving—pain is not one of them. There shouldn’t be in any pain during your acupuncture treatment. If so, small adjustments are usually enough to alleviate it. 

The number of needles used and the needle’s locations on the body will vary depending on what condition you’ve come in for. Once all the needles are inserted, they’re typically left in for 20-30 minutes. After that time, the needles are removed (you’ll feel relaxed and fantastic), then we’ll discuss number and frequency of treatments that would work best for you.  

Follow-up treatments last 1 hour. We’ll discuss/check in what’s happened since last visit, look at the tongue/pulse again, and then move forward with acupuncture treatment. 

I hope this was a helpful explanation/introduction into TCM acupuncture, and also put you at ease with what to expect when you come for a visit.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Olivia