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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Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Side Effects
Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of breast cancer drug treatment side effects. The study focuses on acupuncture for the relief of symptoms due to aromatase inhibitor treatment intake. The researchers noted two interesting findings. First, acupuncture is statistically more effective than clonidine for the treatment of hot flashes due to breast cancer treatment. Secondly, statistical differences between sham acupuncture and real acupuncture did not exist in some quality of life measures Read more...
read moreAcupuncture Fights Depression
New lab experiments reveal acupuncture has antidepressant effects. An examination of brain cells following acupuncture treatments uncovered important mechanisms by which acupuncture exerts its antidepressant effects. Acupuncture caused the regulation of brain cell activity associated with therapeutic results. The researchers discovered that acupuncture exhibits regulatory effects on special brain cells in the hippocampus called neural progenitor cells (NPs). These cells contribute to the Read more...
read moreAcupuncture & Herbs For Menstrual Cramps
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is very effective for the treatment of menstrual pain. One study reveals the efficacy of a popular herbal medicine for the relief of cramping and pain. Another study found acupuncture as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for menstrual related pain. The first and most recent study on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the treatment of menstrual discomfort was conducted in Taiwan. This new study finds Dan Gui Shao Yao San Read more...
read moreAcupuncture Assists Penile Surgery
According to Translational Andrology and Urology, distal acupuncture is effective in assisting local anesthesia for surgical procedures on the penis. Acupuncture NeedlesAcupuncture has long been used in combination with conventional anesthetics during surgery and for post-operative pain. This new study investigates the effects of combining acupuncture points on the arm with local anesthetics to produce a more comfortable experience for the patient. The goal was to determine if this combination Read more...
read moreThai Yoga Therapy Workshop
How would you like to learn Thai Massage for yourself? Whether treating your friends of applying it professionally, this is an invaluable skill that promotes health, flexibility, happiness… and it's fun! Read more [...]
read moreAnxiety, Depression, Acupuncture
As our broadband speeds up and our phones get smarter, some matters regarding our health get overlooked — especially our mental health. Tablets and smart phones have made it more convenient to be connected, but a large number of people still feel disconnected. Fortunately, the Internet also has allowed people to explore the possibilities of trying complementary therapies such as acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine. It works on the principle of Read more...
read moreElectricity in Acupuncture Channels
A new study finds unique electrical phenomena through acupuncture meridians, channels. Researchers discovered that needling proximal acupuncture points causes significantly increased bioelectric amplitudes in distal acupuncture points along the same meridian. The same was not true of non-acupuncture points in similar regions of the body. The researchers note that the measurements indicate “electrophysiological uniqueness in the form of a greater bioelectric potential amplitude when a proximal Read more...
read moreHerbal Medicine Fights Breast Cancer
A traditional Chinese medicinal plant prevents the proliferation of tumors and causes the elimination of tumors comprised of breast cancer cells. A chromatographically purified form of the herb Tian Hua Fen was injected into laboratory mice with tumors caused by estrogen dependent and non-estrogen dependent breast cancer cells. Sterilized Tian Hua Fen, Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maximowicz, was injected intraperitoneally and caused significant reductions in both tumor weight and volume within 16 Read more...
read moreAcupuncture Heals the Brain
Acupuncture stimulates brain cell proliferation in the cerebrum. The researchers note that acupuncture “exerts a neuroprotective effect in ischemic stroke.” The researchers also successfully measured the biochemical pathway by which acupuncture exerts this medical benefit to the brain. Stimulation of two acupuncture points was shown to activate the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathway, an important protein communication pathway involved in cell proliferation. The experiment Read more...
read moreMenstrual Pain is Relieved by Acupuncture
Acupuncture is effective for relieving menstrual pain. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, periodic pelvic pain associated with dysmenorrhea is related to several differential diagnoses including cold stasis in the lower abdomen. In this investigation, researchers measured skin temperatures on the lower abdomen after the application of the warming needle technique to see if there is a relationship between warmth and comfort levels. The investigators made some important discoveries. At Read more...
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