Some people may assume that acupuncture is very painful.  That's a misconception.  The needles used for acupuncture are solid and extremely fine - much thinner than those used for injections and blood drawing.  When the needles reach the acupuncture points, there is a sensation that could be described as tingling or numbing, rather than "painful."  Sometimes the sensation may transfer to other parts of the body.

One of the striking advantages of acupuncture is that there are rarely any side effects.  Only sterile needles are used for treatments.  The needles are used only once and then are disposed of.  Therefore, there is no risk infection, such as AIDS, strains of hepatitis, etc.

We can provide chinese herbs instead of needles.  However, a longer treatment period is usually expected.

WHO has stated: "Generally speaking, acupuncture treatment is safe if it is performed properly by well-trained practitioner.  Unlike many drugs, it is non-toxic, and adverse reaction is minimal."

WHO also states that numerous  laboratory studies have provided further evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture.  Many acupuncture patients utilize this method of treatment because "its theraeutic actions are achieved by mobilization of [an] organism's own potential; acupuncture does not produce adverse effects, as do many drug therapies."

• Tongue diagnosis is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).  Please refrain from brushing your tongue before an appointment.
• Bring a list of any medications/supplements/herbs, etc. that you are currently taking.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes that is convenience for accessing to areas (such as arms, legs, abdomen, and back) of the body for treatments.

Currently, there are a number of theories as to how exactly acupuncture works. It was once thought that inserting needles into specific parts of the body affected nerves and could inhibit their signal transmission. This was thought to explain why acupuncture could treat pain so well. But when doctors mapped the acupuncture points over the known nerve network they found that there was some correlation, but not nearly enough to explain most of its effects. Another theory stated that acupuncture stimulates the release of opioids and endorphins in the central nervous system. Although this could explain certain analgesic effects, it could not explain many others. The most current theory speculates that acupuncture points are actually strategic conductors of electromagnetic signals throughout the body. Stimulating points along these pathways influences neurotransmitter rates and resets the polarity of different parts of the body. This latest theory is by far the most comprehensive and most promising explanation for why acupuncture works in Western medical terminology.