Mr. Michael andrew Chow, MAOM, LAC

In my experience, acupuncture and the treatments are individualized for the patients. Not every patient experiences or presents the same exact symptoms and so does not receive the same exact treatment. Because of this alone, everyone experiences acupuncture relief differently and the effects may range from within the hour to within the week. Some patients have told me they feel sore for a few hours then the relief comes for their back pain treatment and others have told me it takes a few days. It may also depend on the methods of treatment, like if fire cupping was added to the acupuncture treatment, then the patient may feel sore for a couple more days - especially if they did not keep hydrated. Generally speaking, most back pain relief from acupuncture is experienced around treatment visit number 5-8. Complete relief may not be felt, but at least a significant decrease in pain level and increased flexibility. Please consult your primary to see if you are a good candidate for alternative medicine and ask your acupuncturist what kind of prognosis to expect.

Live Happy,

Michael

Research in acupuncture has demonstrated that it can manipulate the brain functions triggering the release of beta-dopamine, feel good chemicals. Other research has shown acupuncture can help release alpha-adenosine, chemicals that help the muscles relax exactly the same as massage therapy’s effect only on a cellular level with acupuncture needles’ penetration. In TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), we use acupuncture to promote circulation and harmonize qi flow. With this method, we can treat or improve the quality of life for almost every condition affecting the back. Most popular back disorders treated with acupuncture are sprains, strains, fibromyalgia, tension, spasming and disc degeneration. Personally, I like to incorporate fire cupping with acupuncture treatments for the back as I have noticed an overall improved effect. Definitely check with your primary to see if alternative medicine is a good option for your condition.

IBS is definitely one of the conditions acupuncture can help improve the quality of life for. Some theories are dedicated to the gut system entirely and have even helped for chronic conditions. Check with your primary to see if alternative medicine would be a good option for you.

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Michael

Hegu, also labeled as Large Intestine 4, is a very good acupuncture point to stimulate for any pain in the body. Sometimes it helps to stimulate points around the ankle, often what other therapists will refer to as trigger points. But a true treatment & prognosis will depend on the diagnosis of what is causing the pain. Please see your primary care physician and discuss if
alternative medicine would be a great option.

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Michael

With negligence, acupuncture can be harmful for a diabetic, or immunocompromised patient. But we take these conditions into consideration and before treatment I always ask to confirm if there are any complications like the above stated conditions. Every acupuncture point is cleaned & wiped with a 70% alcohol wipe. If the patient is compromised, it will be
cleaned further with iodine, similar to cleaning prior to surgery to sterilize the field. If acupuncture is too invasive of a procedure, there may be other methods of treatment to decide from like fire cupping (massage with glass cups); gua sha/tui na (Chinese massage techniques); herbal supplementation or even moxibustion (use of burning mugswort to calm and soothe circulation). Definitely check with your primary for any concerns and to see if these alternative therapies may be great options.

Live Happy,

Michael

Acupressure is a form of acupuncture; and acupuncture is one of the best methods of treatment for headaches. Acupressure is like a pressure massage for a trigger point, only the
trigger point is an acupuncture point, most commonly HeGu (Large Intestine 4). This point is located in the middle webbing between the first (index) finger and the thumb. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) states to stimulate (massage) 300-500 times a minute for about 10-15 mins. This can get a little tiresome if you’re not used to it that’s why I prefer acupuncture where we can let the needle be "retained." Check with your primary to if this might be a good option.

Live Happy,

Michael

Acupuncture is focused on regulating your circadian rhythm, hormones, and circulation flow. Headaches are most often from excess blood flow to the head. With acupuncture focusing on regulating circulation flow, the main theory is that it will help drain the energy & blood flow in the head down to the legs & feet balancing it out. Some headaches may have a different cause, where modern medicine will prescribe medication for the headache in hopes to resolve it Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can specify the diagnosis and cause by the symptoms presented, i.e., a patient presenting with tension headaches along the side of the head are most likely from stress, and someone presenting headaches along their forehead may be suffering from skipping a meal. In any case, always get checked by your primary and find out what methods of treatment are best for your condition.

Live Happy,

Michael

Generally speaking, Large Intestine 4 (Hegu) is the best acupuncture point to use for almost any issue you're dealing with. It is located at the base between the index finger and thumb, in the webbing. It is difficult to prescribe a "point to press for a cold" because 'colds,' and most other medical conditions, are further categorized in Traditional Chinese Medicine unlike the modern medicine we're used to. Colds can be a true cold presenting with chills, or even heat related presenting with fevers. That is why current doctors must study 'Wen Bing' (warm diseases), often from The Sanford's Guide to Antimicrobial & Febrile Diseases. There are even 'colds' that present with both fever and chills, and suitable treatment methods to match all the different presenting conditions. Assisting acupuncture points for treating cold-cold conditions will change from cold-heat conditions, and using the same points may exacerbate the condition therefore diagnosing is very important for relief and treatment. Check with your primary to see if you'd be a good candidate for alternative medicine and have the practitioner diagnose your condition more accurately. They will then be able to prescribe the best points to help you.

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Michael

One time, I treated a family friend, she was complaining of knee pain and because I didn’t have needles (acupuncture) on hand I resorted to acupressure. She didn’t feel relief, sometimes immediately with acupuncture & sometimes not. But months later, she did and her knee pain went away. She didn’t tell me until the following year or so though.

Acupressure can be just as effective, but it requires repetitive massaging at the acupuncture points and can less efficient than acupuncture where acupuncture can address more acupuncture points to treat while retaining that many more needles than acupressure can focus on. I believe acupressure can cure diseases, but I think it will be limited to certain diseases and much more minimal than the number acupuncture will be able to treat just based on the efficiency.

I could be very wrong because I do not specialize in acupressure, but if you find an expert that says otherwise I would appreciate the enlightenment.
Best of luck!

Live Happy,

Michael

Current research has found that acupuncture will stimulate beta endorphins, a 'feel good' chemical, in the brain and tells the body to heal itself. Other research has shown that acupuncture is very similar to massage therapy in terms of their effect on muscles: like massages, acupuncture can help the muscles release alpha adenosine, chemicals that help the muscles relax, only because the filiform acupuncture needles are inserted they have a micro-cellular level approach meaning they are effective on a deeper level. Please check with your primary if you would be a good candidate for alternative medicine.

Live Happy,

Michael

Research within the past few decades has proven acupuncture can relieve conditions relating to pain and anxiety/stress as well as sleep. Those research studies have stated that the insertion of filiform needles (acupuncture needles) will stimulate alpha-adenosine in the muscles, similar to the relaxation effect of massages on the muscle tissue, only on a deeper and microcellular level. Other research articles state that with the insertion of the needles beta-endorphins, those feel good chemicals, are released in the brain and therefore pain is relieved with the stimulation of the needles signaling the body to repair itself. More research has also found that acupuncture can relieve the inflammations in the body, including inflammations caused by stress like sore muscles or tension headaches. So, stress affecting someone with physical pain, inflammation, added anxiety and affecting the quality of life can benefit from acupuncture in these aspects. In my years of practice, patients have also told me the side-effects they've experienced have benefitted them as well, like stimulated metabolism/bowel movements and easier sleep cycles.

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Michael

Acupuncture is the insertion of filiform needles (solid, not hollow) in acupuncture points and are retained for therapeutic treatment. Acupressure is massaging of the acupuncture points and are limited to the physical contact a practitioner has on the client. Personally, it’s easier for me to treat with acupuncture instead of acupressure because I can treat with multiple points whereas with acupressure I can only juggle with my two hands. Of course, certain conditions may be easier for acupressure. Double-check with your primary to see if alternative medicine (Traditional Chinese medicine) would be suitable for your condition and you can further discuss with a practitioner which method would be best.

Live Happy,

Michael

Carefully? I’m sorry. I’m not sure I quite understand what you mean. Generally speaking, with acupuncture, we remove the needles as carefully as possible to avoid skin grabbing on to the needles or anything that might cause discomfort.

Anxiety may be due to various causes and the treatment will depend on the cause. One general anxiety point (Yin yang) is on the glabella, AKA the "third eye." It is located between the eyebrows in the depression on the forehead’s skull & the eyebrow bones. One can depress it for several minutes, they say 300-500 stimulations per minute.

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Michael

Acupressure, using pressure to massage acupuncture points, can be very effective, but tedious. Acupuncture, needling acupuncture points, may be a better alternative. I have had better success using acupuncture for neck pain, but as an individual rubbing my neck all day, I would opt for acupressure.

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Michael

Pressure points on the foot belong to the kidney, urinary bladder, spleen, stomach, liver and gall bladder meridians along with what we reference to as medial and lateral extra channels (yin/yang qiao). Reflexologists also have their own reflexology anatomy of various organs along the plantar aspect of the foot. Physical therapists will refer to any tender point along the foot as a ‘trigger point’ that they can use to treat/massage. Acupuncturists also use these tender points and call them ah shi points that can be used as acupuncture points. Please consult with your primary to see if alternative therapy would be an option for you.

I’m sorry, I’m not sure I understand the question. There are pressure points on the feet. They can often be referred to as trigger points, different than acupuncture points, and are often massaged/rubbed to ease their tenderness. There are also points on the feet reflexologists use to massage and comfort the body as a whole.

I wouldn't use the word "cure," but acupuncture and TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) can treat and slow, if not stop, the progression of cataracts. The acupuncture points used to help treat cataracts can help clear the visibility of the eye as well as addressing any circulation issues, but the best therapy would come from the synergistic effects of the herbal supplements. Together, they have proven the most effective treatments for cataracts in research. For advanced cases, there is a technique very similar to a surgical approach. Generally speaking, it will
depend on how advanced the condition is and if you have already tried all the mainstream medical approaches as acupuncture is an alternative medicine. Some cataract patients have tried and not found any relief with mainstream medical approaches, but were able to get relief with TCM. Check with your primary to see if you would be a great candidate for acupuncture.

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Michael

Yes, I have had success using acupuncture to resolve several patients’ complaints of ear problems. But it really depends on what the issue is and what may be the cause. Consult with your primary to see if you would be a good candidate for acupuncture/TCM.

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Michael

First, I would like to mention I am a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which involves herbs, but not necessarily essential oils. I have learned treatments with essential oils for TCM, but I do not claim to be an expert in this field and to my understanding France is one of the few places that accept this as a professional therapy.

It is very dependent on the essential oil. Some oils are fine to take a few drops like peppermint and orange oils in cooking. Others are chemically manufactured usually like winter green and should definitely not be ingested at all. There isn’t too much research into ingesting oils and it’s a risk if you’re unsure which are edible, so I would avoid that and keep the use of essential oils more as a topical or as aromatherapy, scent/smelling. The possibility of poisoning is too high. Even topically, it is suggested to use a carrier oil like caster oil. Taking it internally is too much risk. Please check with your primary and/or consult with a professional aromatherapist/herbalist.

Live Happy,

Michael