In Latin, acus = needle, pungra = to prick. So, to prick a needle for treatment is acupuncture.
The combination of acupuncture and moxibustion is known in Chinese as CHEN CHIU [ needle & heat therapy ]. Usually acupuncture needles are retained for 20-30 minutes for therapeutic response.

2. What is Electro Acupuncture ?

Electro acupuncture - A variation of traditional acupuncture treatment in which acupuncture or needle points are stimulated electronically.

3. What is ACUPUNCTURE POINT ?

Acupuncture point means a specific spot on the body surface where needling is done to get particular therapeutic response.

4. Is Acupuncture Painful ?

It is said that acupuncture is more painful to onlookers and less painful who experiences.
Usually you will feel a slight prick. Weather it is painful or not depends entirely on you. Emotion is very strong component of pain. If you are very afraid of needles you may feel it more than others. Actually the feeling is much less than having an injection or being pricked by a sewing needle.

5. What is Moxibustion ?

Heat treatment with dried herb ( MOXA PLANT) is Moxibustion . The use of dried herbs known as MOXA PLANT ( Artemsia vulgaris) is used in acupuncture. The dried herbs are placed on top of acupuncture needles and burned or MOXA CIGARS are used to heat acupuncture points. This method is believed to be more effective in certain conditions than using acupuncture needles alone.

6. What is “Dequi” ?

After the acupuncture needle is inserted, some kind of sensation is generated. It may be slight tingling, heaviness, warmth, soreness or numbness. It may appear locally or in a somewhat distant part of the body. This is known as “dequi” and is considered good sign and found in fast responders. Recent studies, however indicated that absence of “dequi” is not a bad sign either.

7. How many treatment sessions ( sittings ) are needed ?

There is no fixed formula. It depends upon the severity of the disease and its duration. Shorter the duration of disease, lesser sittings are needed. More severe or advanced stage of disease needs longer treatment.
Do not count number of sitting but count results, get full recovery. Always remember to take treatment till full recovery or till saturation point is reached.

8. Is Acupuncture useful to everyone ?

Like any other medical treatment, the result of acupuncture will not be known until after it is done. Your doctor is the best judge. However, it is effective in as many as 70-90% of the patients who have failed to respond to conventional medical or surgical management. Acupuncture is not useful in infective or dying patients. Our results which were about 60% in the beginning of practice have reached in the range of 90% with the grace of God.
There is a tremendous individual difference of response to acupuncture from patient to patient. There is no guarantee or warranty of how you are going to respond to acupuncture. But, it is indeed a very valuable addition to our western medicine.

9. What are precautions, do & don’ts for Acupuncture ?

PLEASE REMEMBER.....precautions before your acupuncture treatment
Do not have acupuncture
• Immediately after heavy meal
• On empty stomach /while hungry or thirsty
• Immediately after physical exercises
• Under the influence of alcohol
• Immediately after a bath, do not have bath immediately after acupuncture           treatment.
• While sweating profusely

For best results, Please be relaxed while under treatment, do not have acupuncture in a hurry / tensed. Please leave your jewelry at home. Better results are obtained when jewelry, watches, shoes and socks are not worn during acupuncture treatment.

10. Is rest needed after acupuncture treatment ?

Usually not, But very few may report drowsy or sleepy after treatment, it is better to REST for few min and then drive any vehicle.

11. Is there any bleeding after needling ?

Usually not, You may even not see a needle mark. Sometimes, however, a minute invisible blood vessel underneath the skin may be pricked during the insertion of the thin needle. Or there may be a drop of blood while removing needle. Very rarely, there may be a black and blue spot.

12. What happens / what is felt after first treatment ?

That depends entirely upon the person. A few patients may have extremely satisfactory relief of pain after the very first treatment. More severe & fresh pain – result is immediately known. For most people with chronic diseases, several sessions of treatment are necessary before any kind of relief is felt. Just like any other kind of medical or surgical treatment, there is no way to predict the results. For very few persons symptoms increase during treatment.

13. What are the contra-indications ?

There are no absolute contraindications for Acupuncture Therapy, but FIRST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY, CONGESTIVE CARDIAC FAILURE ( CCF / heart failure ), SEVERE DEBILITY IN OLD AGE, PRESENCE OF SEVERE INFECTION are considered relative contraindications.
DIABETES MELLITUS is not a contra indication at all.

14. Are there any side effects ?

It is usually said that there are “NO BAD” side effects. But there are “ GOOD” side effects, which are termed as “Positive side effects” . Most will get improved sleep with no hangover, improved appetite, pleasant feeling of fatigue, more active / alertness and (“feeling energised” ) , calmness, euphoria, relaxation etc, and above all feeling of well-being & cheerfulness

15. Why acupuncture do not have side effects ?

Let us see why we get side effects. In modern medicine , drugs are directly used to oppose the presenting symptom, ( directly antagonize a pathological process) for e.g. use of anti-pyretic to bring down high fever, use of anti-hypertensive to bring down high blood pressure and altogether different drug to increase low blood pressure.
In acupuncture, same point is used to decrease or increase blood pressure thus no direct opposition to a pathological process. It indirectly adjusts the process and restores normal function by activating the network of organizing centers in the organism. The activation of the self-organizing activity is less likely to cause the adverse effects resulting from directly antagonizing a pathological process, which often overlap with other normal and beneficial physiological processes

16. Are there any complications ? What are they ?

Yes, but they are not common. They are very much preventable.
Complications of Acupuncture ( accidents ) can occur from improper technique, lack of skill, or failure to observe certain guidelines and are very much PREVENTABLE . They are

i. PAIN :on insertion of the needle may be because of Bad acupuncturist \ Bad needle \ Bad posture \ Bad patient

ii. FAINTING – common as with any injection

iii. BLEEDING sometimes occurs on withdrawal of the needle.

iv. THE FORGOTTEN NEEDLE – therapist forgetting to remove all needles

v. BENT, BROKEN OR STUCK NEEDLE – needle may bent or get broken, if of poor quality.

vi. INFECTION – if needles are not sterilized properly. PERSONAL SET of needles are used to take away the fear of AIDS / HEPATITIS B / DISPOSABLE needles may be used

vii. INJURY TO INTERNAL ORGANS OR VITAL STRUCTURES – if proper precaution is not taken while using dangerous points.

viii. OVER CORRECTION OF CERTAIN PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS if wrong points are selected

ix. COMPLICATION FROM ELECTRO – ACUPUNCTURE- - sudden breakdown / failure of equipment used.

x. ADDICTION TO ACUPUNCTURE – in very few cases.

xi. ABORTION: certain points in first trimester may induce abortion

17. Is acupuncture safe in the era of AIDS / HEPATITIS B etc ?

It is safe when all the precautions are taken and is as safe as other medical interventions. In India most of the centres are using “personal set of needles” with proper re-sterilization, so no fear of getting infection from others. In selected cases daily are used. Disposable needles for single use are available.

18. Is acupuncture safe in patients with pace-makers ?

Yes, acupuncture is safe but electro-stimulation is to be avoided.

19. Can Diabetics on insulin take acupuncture treatment ? Is acupuncture safe in DIABETIC patients on INSULIN ?

YES, acupuncture is as safe as other medical interventions. Insulin should not be stopped and please inform your acupuncturist about dosages etc to have better treatment.

20. Is acupuncture safe in pregnancy?

Yes, it is safe. As with any medication, it is better to avoid during first three months ( first trimester ) . If it is a must, few strong points like Hegu ( L I 4 ) & other acu points should be avoided.

21. Is acupuncture results lifelong ?

It is very difficult to answer, it depends on many factors – the nature of disease, duration of disease, damage done by the disease and so on.
Usually, acupuncture induces long lasting remission and improves quality of life. It may last lifelong in many conditions.

22. Is it true that no medicines works after acupuncture ? So, acupuncture should be taken as a last chance.

It is absolutely false. Rather medicines may work better after acupuncture treatment, i.e. small dose gives better results. On the contrary, acupuncture may not work efficiently after heavy short term or long term steroid use.
Do not try Acupuncture as a LAST CHANCE; get Acupuncture at the earliest for better results.

23. Can acupuncture be combined with medications ?

Yes. In good many conditions only acupuncture is effective and additional medicines are needed. But in certain advanced and refractory cases either alone acupuncture or medicines do not offer satisfactory response; in such cases acupuncture results are more beneficial if small dose of medicine is added.

24. What about a special diet after acupuncture ?

At this point in time we do not know what effect any particular food has on acupuncture or vice versa. We would therefore recommend that you keep your regular diet, especially if it is a special one, such as for diabetes.

25. What are indications? In which conditions acupuncture is useful ?
Which Diseases can be helped by Acupuncture?

Theoretically it is possible to help or cure by acupuncture any disease that can be affected by a physiological process. In China, 800 diseases are being treated, and in 140 countries in the world. It may be that Western medicine offers an excellent form of therapy for a particular condition, and in that instance it would be wrong to advise the patient to have acupuncture. So, a Doctor who is trained both in modern medicine & acupuncture is in a better position to choose indications wherein:

I. Acupuncture is considered superior to conventional treatments, e.g. chronic pains

II. Conventional treatment failed e.g. back pain, failed back surgery syndrome, Radiculopathies, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis.

III. Conventional treatment alone is not sufficient, acupuncture as used as “add on” e.g. cerebral palsy, after effects of Strokes – hemiplegia (Paralysis of Limbs) – acupuncture hastens speed of recovery, Parkinson’s disease

IV. Conditions where Conventional treatment has no effective role, e.g. Motor Neuron disease, cerebral ataxia, Muscular Dystrophies – acupuncture cannot cure but quality of life improves

A) Diseases of the Muscles, Bones & Joints ( and painful conditions)

B) Headaches

C) Diseases of the Nervous System

D) Muscular Dystrophies

E) Diseases of the Digestive System

F) Diseases of the Respiratory System

G) Allergy

H) Incurable eye conditions like Retinitis pigmentosa (acuity improves)

J) Addiction and Obesity, Smoking

K) Sexual Disorders

L) To treat side effects of anticancer therapy and antiretroviral therapy

One should remember that acupuncture is neither panacea for the diseases nor it is alternative to modern medicine. There is nothing like alternative medicine. However a cure depends upon how well the cause of the disease is understood and in consequences to what extent it can be eliminated. Acupuncture should be used were it can give better & long lasting results compare to modern medicine. One should know the limitations of Acupuncture first. Acupuncture will never replace conventional medical treatment.

Indications for acupuncture is like a big ocean, every doctor will choose & develop expertise in particular field to get best results. Acupuncture may also be used in combination with Modern Medicines in variety of conditions, as Acupuncture increases the speed of natural recovery and improves quality of life, i.e. adds life to years. Acupuncture is not routinely indicated in dying patients.

Best of hands achieves 85-90% success rate with acupuncture treatment

26. What are reasons for Acupuncture failure ?

Please DO NOT BLAME Acupuncture directly, first find out the reasons.
Reasons are:

27. How to find a reliable Acupuncture Doctor ?

Find a doctor who is qualified both in Modern Medicine & Acupuncture as he is the BEST JUDGE to decide best for you. Do not try Acupuncture as a LAST CHANCE, get Acupuncture at the earliest.Acupuncture results are more operator dependant, so select the best doctor.

If you have other questions concerning acupuncture please do not hesitate to discuss them with us. We will do our best to answer.