Simply put, Chinese medicine is the medical system developed in China before the introduction of modern pharmaceuticals and surgical methods. It emphasizes restoring health by helping the body find its natural balance. Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine are the therapeutic methods of Chinese medicine used at Circle Community Acupuncture to help you achieve health.

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into specific points of the body that help stimulate natural healing. The physicians of ancient China observed that when certain points on the body are stimulated, distant parts of the body, including the internal organs, are affected. These points occur on predictable energetic pathways called meridians. By selecting and needling points on the meridians, an acupuncturist can address a range of issues including pain, digestive disorders, and relief from the stresses of modern-day life.

Most of us associate needles with hypodermics used in injections at the doctor's office; however, acupuncture needles share little in common with them. Hypodermic needles are thick and hollow, and tear flesh when they enter the body. Acupuncture needles are hair-thin and solid. When the needle is inserted, there is often a slight prick, like the feeling of a hair being pulled, followed by varying sensations of warmth, tingling, or a radiating dull ache. Needles are inserted from a few seconds up to an hour or more, depending on the patient's constitution and the nature of their complaint. During acupuncture, patients commonly experience heaviness in the limbs, a pleasant feeling of relaxation and may even fall asleep.

What is Herbal Medicine?
Acupuncture is what comes to mind for most Americans when they hear of Chinese Medicine. However, Chinese Medicine has a long history of using herbal remedies. Herbs are combined into prescriptions tailor-made to the needs of the patient. Herbal formulas are prescribed in the form of raw herbs that are cooked into strong tasting teas, powdered herbal concentrates, or pills and capsules depending on the patient's needs. At Circle Community Acupuncture, you may receive herbal prescriptions to enhance the effects of acupuncture treatments, or for those who are nervous about needles, you may wish to be treated by herbs alone.