1. WNY AcuHealth Stacey Austin, L.Ac. NYS Licensed Acupuncturist
205 Green Street
Lockport, NY 14094

2. What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ? How can TCM help patients with neck and back pain?

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine
TCM is a holistic form of health care used to balance the mind, body and spirit by looking at your entire health picture, it can address…
Structural imbalances
Acupuncture
Bodywork: massage, cupping, gua sha (“gwa sha”)
Movement: Qi Gong, Tai Ji
Biochemistry & Toxic Burden
Eastern nutrition principles
Herbal support
Emotional mind-body stress
Deep breathing
Meditation & Stress management techniques

4. TCM Channels in the body

5. TCM Organs

6. TCM 5 Phase Chart
Organ
Emotion
Body Structure
Color
Flavor
Season
Weather

7. Acupuncture
Is the practice of inserting small needles at specific points on the surface of the body
Stimulates your body’s natural healing process, to help your body to heal better
Restores normal functions by motivating or inducing the inherent regulatory system in the body
Works on the level of the neuro-endocrine system, and musculo-skeletal system
Gentle, safe, painless and effective way to treat a wide variety of health concerns

8. Acupuncture Effect and Central Autonomic Regulation
An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can control autonomic nerve system (ANS) functions including blood pressure, pupil size, skin conductance, skin temperature, muscle sympathetic nerve activities, heart rate and/or pulse rate, and heart rate variability.
Emerging evidence indicates that acupuncture treatment not only activates distinct brain regions in different kinds of diseases caused by imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic activities, but also modulates adaptive neurotransmitter in related brain regions to alleviate autonomic response. This review focused on the central mechanism of acupuncture in modulating various autonomic responses, which might provide neurobiological foundations for acupuncture effects.

9. Acupuncture has been shown to…
promotes blood flow
stimulates the body’s built-in healing mechanisms: creates “micro traumas” that stimulate the body’s ability to spontaneously heal injuries to the tissue through nervous, immune and endocrine system activation
release natural painkillers: such as endorphins, norepinephrine and enkephalin
reduces the intensity and perception of chronic pain: through a process called “descending control normalization”, which involves the serotonergic nervous system
relaxes shortened muscles
reduces stress

12. Acupuncture con’t
Qi (chee) is the natural life force, “energy”, that flows throughout 14 specific pathways, each connected to specific organ systems and glands
Lung, Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Pericardium, San Jiao, Heart, Small Intestine, Kidney, Urinary Bladder, Gallbladder, Liver, Du, Ren

13. Acupuncture con’t
When Qi is abundant and free flowing health prevails.
When Qi is excessive, deficient, or blocked disease may prevail.
Physical, mental, and emotional stress, lack of exercise, overexertion, seasonal changes, poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle choices or accidents can lead to disease and symptoms

14. Acupuncture con’t Diagnostic Tools
Health Intake of present and past health
Feel the quality & force of the wrist pulses
Look at the color, shape & fur on the tongue
Body scan: facial diagnosis, eye, diagnosis, abdominal palpation, channel palpation

15. Different areas of the face correspond to different organs
The quality, force and strength of the wrist pulses
The color, shape, fur and other changes on the tongue

16. Complementary Treatments to Acupuncture
Electroacupuncture/ Electrical Stimulation
Infrared Heat Lamp
Cold Laser
Cupping
Gua Sha “gwa sha”
Moxibustion “Moxa”
Tui Na Bodywork

17. Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture “E-stim” is a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles
Used to create muscle contraction, to stimulate the muscle and nervous system, stimulate sensory nerves to reduce pain, stimulate or alter the healing process of injured tissue

18. Infrared Heat Lamps & Cold Laser Therapy
A infrared heat lamp has been proven to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, promote blood circulation,
A low level cold laser has been shown to promote healing and decrease pain and inflammation

19. Cupping
small glass cups used to create a suction, or negative pressure, to free the flow of Qi energy
Used to promote circulation of blood flow to an area which increases healing, reduces inflammation, and loosens tight muscles
Reduce pain
Promote relaxation
Boosts skin health
treat respiratory conditions
improves digestion
Improve fertility

22. Gua Sha “Gwa Sha” Gua – scraping, Sha – petechia
a rounded tool, used for soft tissue body work on acupuncture channels, muscles and tendons
Used to release fascial adhesions, and stimulate blood flow to an area to reduce tension, inflammation, and promote healing

24. Moxibustion “Moxa”
“mugwort” an herb that is burned to warm an area or treat pain & inflammation, such as arthritis

25. Tui Na Bodywork
Manual stimulation of the soft tissues, channels, and acupuncture points

26. Frequently Asked Questions
What is a treatment like?
After your health intake, you will have acupuncture needles inserted and then you relax
How long does a treatment take?
20-30 minutes of relaxing, minutes total
Are the needles disposable?
Yes, they are disposed of in a sharps container
How many needles are inserted?
Typically 8-30 needles total
Where do you put the needles?
The acupuncture channels run all throughout the body, but typically we put them in the head, ears, arms, belly, back, and legs.

27. FAQ’s continued… How many treatments until I see an affect?
Typically acute conditions resolve quicker than chronic, and younger healthier patients respond quicker than older or unhealthier patients.
Usually 6-12 treatments, and then re-evaluate
How much are treatments?
$45-80 for follow-up treatment in WNY
Does my insurance cover it?
Call your plan to check benefits
Health Savings Accounts and Flex Spending cover acupuncture

28. Other Aspects of TCM Eastern Dietary Therapy Herbal Medicine
Deep Breathing / Meditation
Movement

29. Eastern Dietary Therapy
Food is a form of therapeutic treatment
What you eat has a tremendous effect on their health
You should eat seasonally & moderately
Eat warm nourishing foods, not raw or cold that will upset the “digestive fire”
Eat foods with a variety of colors & flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, salty
They correlate to different internal organs

30. Whole Food
Foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible
Anything that existed 100+ years ago
Should not contain any added ingredients
Vegetables
Lean Protein
Healthy Fats “B.A.C.O.N.”
Seasonal Fruits
Full-fat, not-processed Dairy*
Whole Sprouted Grains*
*You should do an elimination diet to make sure that you do not have a food sensitivity to these

31. Water
Drink at least ½ of your body weight in ounces of filtered water per day
You cannot survive without it, it is involved in all body processes
Water should be room temp or hot

32. Herbal Medicine
Medicinal or therapeutic use of plant, animal or mineral parts

33. Breath Belly breathing (Don’t suck in your gut) 4-7-8 Technique
Breath in through your nose for a count of 4
Hold your breath for a count of 7
Blow out strongly through your mouth for a count of 8
Repeat 5-10 times, at least 1-2 times a day

34. Movement
Get up and move for an extra 30 minutes a day (your normal duties don’t count)
Qi Gong, Tai Ji, Yoga, walking, stretching, etc.

35. Rest Make sleep a priority
Sleep is how your body repairs and rejuvenates itself
Create a bed time ritual, take a bath, meditate, turn off the television, read a book, make your to do list for the next day
Go to bed before 11 pm (Gall Bladder time)
Vivid dreams may be an imbalance in you Liver organ system
Low energy and stress even with quality sleep may indicate Kidney vacuity

36. Relaxation You are allowed to take a break
Take 5-10 minutes a few times a day to just get up and walk around, clear your head, focus on your breathing, stretch
Take 10 minutes every morning and/or night to meditate and focus on your breath, really be present with yourself and how you are feeling, give yourself permission to feel that way and then let it go

37. Acupuncture Comic

39. Contact Information
Stacey Austin, L.Ac. WNY AcuHealth 205 Green Street Lockport NY