What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a form of medicine which dates back thousands of years, but is still evolving till this very day. The capacity for your body/mind heal itself is greater than anyone has ever told you. Tiny acupuncture needles, placed gently in very precise spots on your body, simply signal the body to heal itself to its own utmost ability. A needle on your wrist may signal the body to heal a stiff shoulder. A needle in your leg may signal your body to move chronic constipation. Usually a combination of several needles is used. You can read more from the National Institute of Health.
What needles do you use? Do they hurt?
Needles used in acupuncture are tiny. I also use a very light and shallow Japanese needling technique. Often, the patient may feel ‘De Qi’ (duh-chee), a distending sensation, which often means that the body has responded affirmatively to the needle, and the healing process is occurring. In trigger point therapy (sometimes known as ‘dry needling’, the most elementary form of acupuncture), I may use a longer needle to strategically stimulate trigger points or motor points in a muscle. In some cases, I may also apply gentle electrical (9-volt battery) stimulation to a pair of needles. Of course, needles come in sterile packaging, used once only, and then destroyed.
What about medical herbs?
Chinese herbal medicine is the oldest recorded system of herbology in the world. Some medical herbs are familiar to us, such as ginger and licorice. Other herbs are only found and harvested in very specific regions and climates in Asia. Minerals are also used in Chinese herbal medicine. Chinese herbal formulas are designed to gently bring the body/mind back to its own capacity of self-healing. Our training in the use of medical herbs is comprehensive; for example, we take into consideration the western pharmaceuticals the patient may be taking and adjust the herbs in our formulas accordingly, or choose not to use them at all.
Who is qualified to practice acupuncture and oriental medicine?
Although licensure laws vary from state to state, only Licensed Acupuncturists (L.Ac.) are qualified to make an accurate diagnosis and safely insert needles into a patient, and prescribe Chinese herbs. To become licensed, a practitioner must complete a 3000+ hour Masters program at an accredited college of acupuncture/oriental medicine, such as Southwest Acupuncture College, earn accreditation from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine after passing four national board exams, as well as earn a certification in Clean Needle Technique from the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. In short, the practitioner should have a Masters in Oriental Medicine, NCCAOM accreditation, and state licensure with the title ‘L.Ac.’ It is neither safe nor wise to accept acupuncture treatment from anyone without these qualifications, and you do so at your own risk.
Read more about who is and who is not qualified to perform acupuncture and dry needling.
What can you do without needles or herbs?
Plenty. I have extensive training in many forms of oriental physical therapy, such as tui-na, which aligns and adjusts joints and the spine in a gentle, harmless, holistic way. No force is used, and it is virtually risk-free. I am also trained in Shiatsu, Thai, and Burmese physical therapy. I usually integrate these into diagnosis and treatment of any illness. I also do medical cupping, as shown in the picture. This technique has been used for centuries all over the world, including China, Germany, Greece, Russia, and South America.
Is oriental medicine superior to western medicine?
No. There is no complete or perfect model of healthcare. If there were, there would be no sick people in the world. There is a time and place for acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and a time and place for western medical intervention and pharmaceutical drugs. I have benefited from and have a great respect for the miracles of modern medicine, surgery, and technology, and I will be the first to refer you to a specialist outside my area of expertise, should it be to your benefit. Your well-being is my greatest concern, and there is no place in civilized society for medical chauvinism.
Laith Naayem L.Ac., MSOM
Licensed Acupuncturist
New Windsor, NY
(845) 674-7639
We serve:
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Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Treat Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine cures pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). This disorder is an infection of the female reproductive organs and may present as an acute emergency or a chronic illness. PID commonly involves infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. In many cases, bacteria from the vagina or cervix transmits to these regions leading to PID. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are major causes of this disorder but there are many other causes including infections following Read more...
read moreAcupuncture and Herbs Restore Motility
Acupuncture and herbs restore motility for patients with motor impairments due to sports injuries. Researchers from the Physical Education Institute at Zhengzhou University investigated the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) style acupuncture and herbs on amateur and professional athletes suffering from motor impairments due to the demands of physical training. The researchers concluded that restoration of motility is significant as a result of applying acupuncture and herbs. However, Read more...
read moreTui-Na and Acupuncture for Muscular Dystrophy
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) improves patient outcomes for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Researchers from Zhengzhou Children’s hospital combined acupuncture, far infrared therapy, TCM tuina massage, herbal medicine, and drug therapy into a protocolized regimen of care. The combined therapy delivered significant results including reduced physical impairments and improvements in both walking and staircase climbing. In addition, significant reductions Read more...
read moreHerbal Medicine and Acupuncture Better than Drugs for Fallopian Tube Infertility
Acupuncture and herbal medicine outperformed drugs for the treatment of infertility due to fallopian tube obstructions. Researchers at the Maternal and Child Care Service Center of Puyang City (Henan) conducted a randomized controlled study of 200 patients with fallopian tube obstruction related infertility. Pregnancy rates were measured for the drug group and the acupuncture combined with herbal medicine group at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after completion of treatments. The acupuncture and herbal Read more...
read moreHerbal Medicine and Acupuncture for Weight Loss
Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture demonstrate efficacy in promoting weight loss and body mass index (BMI) improvements. A new report on the endemic spread of obesity reveals significant evidence that acupuncture and herbs synergistically enhance fitness and dietary modification programs for the purposes of reducing excess body fat. The report highlights research demonstrating that a special herbal formula called RCM-104 promotes weight loss safely. We’ll take a look at the ingredients in Read more...
read moreAcupuncture Protects Heart from Drug Side Effects
Researchers from the Department of Anesthesiology at the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing have discovered that acupuncture prevents dangerous side effects caused by an important anti-nausea drug. Droperidol is a potent antiemetic and antipsychotic medication. This medication runs the risk of causing QTc prolongation, a heart rhythm disorder. The investigative team found that the application of electroacupuncture at acupuncture point PC6 successfully prevented QTc interval prolongation caused by the Read more...
read moreAcupuncture Relieves Depression
University of York researchers conclude that acupuncture effectively reduces the severity of mental depression. In a randomized controlled trial, researchers note that acupuncture causes a “significant reduction in symptoms of depression in the short to medium term, and are not associated with serious adverse events.” The acupuncture continuing education researchers cite the use of anti-depressant drugs as the “front-line treatment in primary care,” however, their investigation reveals Read more...
read moreAcupuncture For Coronary Heart Disease
An important new acupuncture study from the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital successfully measured improvements in blood flow to the heart for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), researchers discovered that needling two specific acupuncture points caused significant improvements in patients with CHD. Acupuncture successfully increased “blood perfusion of ischemic myocardium.” Coronary Read more...
read moreAcupuncture Helps NBA Star Chandler Parsons To Victory
NBA Houston Rockets star forward Chandler Parsons tried acupuncture as a new way of treating his chronic back pain to get back in the game. Parsons commented that acupuncture significantly reduced his back pain levels. Parsons recuperated enough to make it back in the line up today. The rockets beat California’s Golden State Warriors in a 105-83 victory. Parsons demonstrated the benefits of receiving quality medical care through acupuncture. The Houston Rockets flew in an acupuncturist from Read more...
read moreAcupuncture Lowers Blood Pressure, Protects Kidneys
New research finds acupuncture effective for reducing high blood pressure and preventing damage to the kidneys. Acupoint LI11 LocationIn a controlled laboratory experiment, researchers applied two acupuncture points to laboratory rats with hypertension and renal interstitial fibrosis, a kidney disease characterized by destruction of the renal tubules and capillaries. Acupuncture “significantly decreased” blood pressure and decreased “damage of kidney morphology.” Three groups were Read more...
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