taking the mystery out of acupuncture · 2013-11-15 · old pueblo acupuncture pllc 2450 n. pantano...

Taking the Mystery Out of Acupuncture: A Practical Guide to the Basics of Chinese Medicine and

How It Can Help You Achieve Optimal Health

By Matthew Woolsey L.Ac.

National Board certified acupuncturist and herbalist.

Old Pueblo Acupuncture, PLLC 2450 N Pantano Rd Tucson, AZ 85715

(520) 722-9101 www.oldpuebloacupuncture.com

This book is a publication of Old Pueblo Acupuncture, PLLC for informational use

only. It may not be distributed, copied, or reproduced in any format. Copyright © 2013 Old Pueblo Acupuncture, PLLC

Old Pueblo Acupuncture PLLC

2450 N. Pantano Rd., Tucson, AZ 85715, Phone: (520) 722-9101 www.oldpuebloacupuncture.com 2

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Part I - Taking the Mystery Out of Chinese Medicine 4

Yin Yang 4

Clinical Lingo 6

5 Elements and 8 Principles 7

Part II - Acupuncture 101: Understanding of the Very Basics 9

Qi, What Is It? 9

How Does Acupuncture Work? 11

Acupuncture Points and Meridians (Channels) 11

Acupuncture Safety 12

What To Expect From Acupuncture Treatment 12

Acupuncture Styles 13

Part III – Chinese Herbal Medicine and You 14

What Makes Chinese Herbs So Good, Anyway? 14

How Are Chinese Herbs Prescribed? 15

Dos and Don’ts of Chinese Herbs 16

Where Do Chinese Herbs Come From, Are They Safe? 17

Sources of Disease 18

Some Final Thoughts 19

Can We Help You? 21

About Our Practitioners 21

Copyright 22

Suggested Reading 22



Introduction

Congratulations! - You have taken your first step towards a more balanced and healthy you. Whether you are new to acupuncture and Chinese Medicine or already know of its many uses and health supporting effects, we are sure that you will find this book useful and informative.

First of all, I want to say thank you for visiting our web site and requesting our FREE book. I wrote this short book in an effort to educate my patients and the public in general about acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

If your goals are to live in a more balanced state physically, emotionally, and psychologically, then Chinese Medicine* is the right choice for you! In this book, I lay out the basic philosophy that underlies much of Chinese Medicine and how it applies in the clinical setting and in everyday life. In short, after reading this you will be able to see how you can begin to apply its principles to your life to help you achieve your goals of living a healthy, pain free, and happy life.

There are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings out there about acupuncture and Chinese Medicine that hold many people back from trying it out for themselves. It is my aim with this book to inform you, the conscientious consumer, about the way practitioners approach diagnostics and treatment and the way they talk about it in the clinical setting. Trust me, I’ve heard a lot of strange things being said and propagated around in the name of Chinese Medicine. My goal is to clear up any preconceived notions in the minds of the public and you reading this right now.

It is also my goal to teach you about the basics of acupuncture treatment and herbal therapy so that you may know what to expect and how to go about finding a practitioner that is right for you.

Please, read on and learn the basics of Chinese Medicine so that you can make informed choices about who you choose to make part of your personal healthcare team. When it comes to your health, it is important to be educated about what it is being offered. Whether it is Chinese Medicine, Western Allopathic medicine, or any other type out there, be informed. This book is your launching pad to the many benefits and uses of Chinese Medicine.

*In this book I use the term “Chinese Medicine” as inclusive of the various modalities of the medicine in common use today, including: acupuncture (and it’s various forms), Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-Na (bodywork/massage), fire-cupping, moxabustion, qi-gong, tai chi, and some forms of kung fu.



Taking the mystery out Chinese Medicine

How many times have you said or heard, “Acupuncture? I don’t believe in that…?” I know I have heard it many times. Too many. That is why I wrote this book. What I have found when I hear that response is that it is a knee-jerk reaction. The person saying it has no knowledge or understanding of Chinese Medicine and it’s operating principles, let alone first hand experience with it. So let’s begin.

To understand Chinese Medicine and its philosophy, we must look back to its origins. Acupuncture has definitive roots that date back 2000 years and some suggest that it is much older than that. The book, Huang Di Nei Jing, which dates back to the second century BCE, is widely regarded as the first text to layout theory and expound on acupuncture and its practice. That is a long time ago! In those days, direct observation is all people had to understand their world and their place in it. What did they see?

In all realms of life and natural phenomena the ancient Chinese observed that all things occurred in a cyclical nature. Day was followed by night, the moon waxed and waned, and the seasons came and went. And after hundreds of years of observation, they saw that even mankind and society moved through time in a cyclical nature marked by war, city and nation building, peace, prosperity, and decline only for it to be repeated again and again. So it was the logical next step to see that these cycles are also found within each and every one of us at multiple levels and multiple timescales. These observations led to the idea of yin and yang.

Yin Yang - What is yin and yang? Simply, it is a way to describe opposition: day/night, light/dark, hot/cold, dry/wet, soft/hard, etc. They keep one another in check and between the two is balance. It is a dynamic balance that is always moving and shifting from one side to the other: sometimes a little, and sometimes a lot. What would happen if, here in Tucson, it was always daytime in June? We would all have to leave or be cooked to death. We need nighttime to allow everything to cool down. There

needs to be a shift between day and night and warmth and coolness for life to prosper and thrive.

So what is that yin yang image all about? Called the Tai Ji, it is a potent symbol to remind us that balance is achieved through having opposite qualities (or polarities) in equal amounts. The dark swoop and dot represent yin, which is commonly associated with water, darkness and night, cool and cold, calm and quiet, low places and sinking, inversion, introspection, inhibition, slowness, substance and material, conservation and storage, and contraction. Whereas, the light swoop and dot are yang and is associated with fire, light and day, warm

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and hot, activity and noise, high places and rising, excitement, exhibition, fast-pace, energy and immaterial, transformation and change, and expansion. These lists go on and on.

The dot also represents the seed of change from one polarity to another. For example, the light dot in the dark swoop is the light of the pre-dawn sun about to burst forth and bring the morning. This is the day and night cycle in terms of yin and yang. So how does this apply to us?

Yin Yang

Water Fire

Darkness/night Light/day

Cool/cold Warm/hot

Calm/quiet Activity/noise

Low places/sinking

High places/rising

Inversion/ inhibition

Extroversion/ exhibition

Slow pace Fast pace

Substance/ material

Energy/ immaterial

Conservation/ storage

Transformation/ change

Contraction expansion

Remember the example above about what would happen in Tucson with only daytime? Well, that kind of opposition is out of our control. I used it as a dramatic example of having too much of one thing. There are, however, many things we do have control over in our lives to help achieve balance and well-being. All work and no play… You know the rest of that saying.

The ancients saw then as we do now that there needs to be a moderation of influences in our lives. An extreme in any direction, realm of your life, or thinking has negative impacts and consequences. Read that last sentence again, it’s important! For example, eating too many hamburgers from your local fast food place will lead to health problems quickly. It sacrifices proper nutrition for convenience and taste pleasure. Yet, all veggies all the time can be boring. We need our “soul food” or other guilty pleasure sometimes for the sheer enjoyment of eating something that just tastes good.



Again, finding that balance that keeps you in optimum health and happiness is key. And, the formula that works for you may not work for anyone else, let alone everyone else. You are unique and Chinese Medicine is uniquely capable of seeing you as a whole being and therefore, able to help correct your own personal imbalances. This is where diagnostics comes into play.

Clinical Lingo - In the clinical setting you may hear various terms and descriptions being used by your acupuncturist to describe what they are seeing diagnostically, words like: heat, cold, deficiency, excess, internal, wood, metal, fire, etc. What are these? What do they mean? Why don’t they seem to be speaking English? There are three reasons for this.

First, licensed acupuncturists, unless they are MD’s too, are not allowed to diagnose Western biomedical disease patterns. * This isn’t to say that most acupuncturists don’t find a Western diagnosis, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or pneumonia, with accompanying lab test results, x-rays, MRI’s, medications, etc. extremely useful. They do! Because though we may not be able to diagnose, we can certainly treat those conditions based on our prior experience with those conditions. The more information we have the better. But, it still remains that we still need to speak within the context of our own medicine.

Second, diagnostics in Chinese Medicine is a very effective, self-contained method for treating disease patterns. This means that as long as we stick to the basic tenets of diagnosis, we can effectively treat many to most types of disease patterns.

And third, many terms and ideas in Chinese Medicine have no direct corollaries in allopathic medicine. Okay, so where does that leave us?

Going back to our discussion of the origins of this medicine and having only direct observation as our tools, what do we see when a patient comes to us for help? Let’s use an example we can all relate to: the common cold. What do you see (or feel when it is you that are sick)? Well, symptoms vary, but generally there is fever (heat), or intense thirst (heat again), or there is no thirst (cold), or intense chills (cold again). Or how about vomiting after a meal of questionable chicken? That is excess ‘poison’ (usually in the form of bacteria), from an external source, right? Get the idea?

This is how it goes with Chinese medicine. We look for imbalances in the body. And we use these diagnostic signs and principles (explained below) to help determine an appropriate treatment plan. The full explanation of the diagnostic significance of all the words and terms you might hear is outside the scope of this book, but I will say they do have clinical meaning.

*I use the term ‘disease pattern’ in this book as a generic term for any kind of health problem you may have. It could anything from a headache, asthma, indigestion to high blood pressure, back pain, etc. It could be anything that causes you dis – ease.



The problem I see is when an acupuncturist throws these terms around too loosely with no explanation. It can be confusing and sometimes quite frightening. Here is what you do. Ask questions. Don’t stop until you get a satisfactory answer. It they can’t provide one, find someone else who will and seek treatment from them. No joke, if they can’t give you a good answer, then they probably don’t know. What are some of these diagnostic tools?

5 Elements and 8 Principles - So far I have talked about yin/yang theory and clinical “lingo.” Let’s bring these concepts together now. Some of the above ideas of yin/yang dynamics grew and evolved over time. Eventually they developed into different types of diagnostic relationships. The three most commonly used in practice today are 5 Element, 8 Principle, and tongue and pulse.

The term ‘5 Element’ describes relationships between types of things, such as people, their

personalities, and even their internal organs and use them as a diagnostic tool. The five elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Each of the elements, much like yin and yang, has their own ‘flavor’, if you will. For example, Fire is associated with the color red, summer, south, growth, joy, laughing, charisma, the heart, and yang. A Fire personality type will be the social butterfly at the party who is laughing, charismatic, and generally fun to be around. Dressed in bright colors (can be reds), they like to be the center of attention.

Each element has its own unique correspondences. And each element supports or controls another element to create a dynamic balance. See the diagram above. This balance is not static and always changing. Each of us has all the elements in them, but usually one or two really shine through. And each of our internal organs has an element association. A disease pattern can arise from an imbalance of this internal dynamic.

An acupuncturist will make observations based on what they see and hear from questioning to determine not only what element you may be, but also to determine which of your elements is too weak (or too strong) and help shift them into balance through acupuncture treatment. There are whole schools of acupuncture dedicated to 5 Element theory and treatment. The depth of it is beyond the scope of this book. See the suggested reading at the end of this book for more information.

The term ‘8 Principle’ is used by Chinese Medicine practitioners, especially herbalists, to diagnose disease patterns. The principles can be boiled down to 4 sets of opposites: cold/hot, yin/yang, internal/external, deficiency/excess. We ask these questions: Is the disease pattern of a hot or cold nature? Is it yin or yang in nature? Does it have its origins internally or externally? And does it express itself as a deficient or excess pattern? We look for certain sets of



symptoms by observation, tongue and pulse diagnosis, and asking questions. Once we have gathered all the information we can, we make a treatment strategy utilizing any and all tools we need: acupuncture, herbs, tui-na, dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, etc.

8 Principles

Cold Yin Internal Deficiency

Hot Yang External Excess

One last, but very important diagnostic tool we have is usually referred to as ‘tongue and pulse.’ Why check the pulse and look at the tongue? This is a very common practice for most acupuncturists.

We check the pulse, on both wrists, to determine what is going on internally. There are three pulse positions on each wrist that have clinical

significance. Each position is associated with an organ system and its functioning. Disease patterns and disharmony are reflected in minor changes in the qualities of each pulse position.

The tongue is similar in that the tongue is a map of our internal organs that changes its color, texture, shape, and coating according to the disease pattern. Like our fingerprints or faces, our tongues are unique and they divulge a lot of information to the astute practitioner. The tongue and pulse are very important diagnostic tools that are used by nearly all practitioners of Chinese Medicine. Once a diagnosis is made, your acupuncturist will perform acupuncture.



Acupuncture 101: Understanding of the Very Basics

How does inserting little needles into the body help to promote healing or get rid of pain? Do the needles hurt? How do they move qi? What is qi? What are the acupuncture points? What are meridians? How do I know if the treatments are working? How many treatments do I need?

There are a lot of questions that come up around acupuncture treatment. And there are a lot of misconceptions around acupuncture that I would like to clear up. In this section, I will break down the basics of acupuncture, how it works, what to expect, and what to look for in an acupuncturist. First, let’s look at ‘qi.’

Qi, what is it? – The idea of ‘qi’ is arguably the most confusing and misunderstood concept of Chinese Medicine. Even among acupuncturists! Qi has a long history and a multitude of uses and meanings that permeate into every corner of Chinese thought and culture. It is a concept that deserves a much longer and more thorough explanation than I can provide here. I highly recommend

the book A Brief History of Qi. You can find it in the “Suggested Readings” section at the back of this book.

However, I do offer one interpretation of qi that the mind of the Western reader can relate to. But remember, the following is but one interpretation of qi. It is by no means the only one.

The eight volume The Great Dictionary of Chinese Characters (China’s equivalent to the Oxford English Dictionary) has twenty-three definitions for the character 气 (‘qi’): cloud, gas(es), weather, breathing, odor, to smell, anger, momentum, habit, will, spirit or feeling, strength, and fortune. These are but a handful that show the variety of meanings. This alone shows it is a complex and sometimes convoluted concept. Keep in mind, that the character for qi has changed over time to reflect different ideas, uses, and meanings. The character shown isn’t the only one that signifies ‘qi’; it is, however, the one used within the context of Chinese Medicine.

Most Westerners have been taught that the character for ‘qi’ (气) translates as ‘energy’. Understandably then, they believe qi is energy. Unfortunately, this definition isn’t in the above mentioned list of twenty-three (See A Brief History of Qi for a complete list.) A more appropriate translation for qi is ‘vital air or gas’ or ‘functioning’. How did ‘vital air’ become ‘energy?’

Chinese Medicine was introduced to the Western world, in no small part, by a Frenchman named George Soulie de Morant. Morant was a brilliant man and spoke Chinese fluently; he was a scholar in every sense of the word. He spent

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many years living in China working for the French Diplomatic Corps. It was during this time in China that he observed the effects of acupuncture and herbs that were used against a cholera epidemic which proved to him (and the French government) that he needed to learn the medicine and bring it to France.

In the process, he ended up translating a number of Chinese medical texts into French. It was here that ‘qi’ got ‘lost in translation.’ This one small error changed the perception of what qi was (and is) in the Western mind. From there Chinese Medicine spread around the Western world and eventually to the U.S. where it developed into what it is today. What does ‘qi’ mean with a more appropriate translation? If we think of qi as ‘vital air’ (or oxygen), then we can describe quite well what it is and what it does in our bodies.

What is the single most important thing our bodies need to survive? Oxygen! It plays a significant role in nearly all aspects of metabolism at the cellular level in our bodies. After it is breathed into the lungs it is distributed throughout the body by blood flow. There is a saying in Chinese medicine that almost every student learns in school: “Qi is the commander of blood, and blood is the mother of qi.” Without qi (oxygen) there is no life because the body is dead and hence there can be no blood flow. Without blood, there is no way for oxygen to be distributed around the body to nourish the cells. They need each other. In a sense, the continuous oxygen supply supports the life force of the body.

No wonder the Chinese placed such a strong emphasis on qi! They knew well the importance of oxygen in our bodies even if they had no understanding of the biochemical reactions that take place in every cell of the body.

In China, there is a widespread longevity practice that focuses only on breathing. Called Qi Gong, it involves deep, controlled breathing combined with intentional movement to cultivate qi. This distribution of oxygen rich blood around the body helps optimize health. If oxygen rich blood reaches every part of the body, then every part of the body will be

functioning (another translation of ‘qi’) at or near optimal levels, other factors not withstanding. Because of this, we have more energy and vitality. Meaning that, in a sense, we have more energy to do stuff and don’t feel tired all the time.

Chinese medical literature is abound with the functions of qi, states and forms of qi, proper flow or stagnation of qi, and on and on. It is a theoretical concept to help us understand diagnostic pictures and make functional relationships within our bodies. It is also tangible in form and function as we saw above. And to borrow from Taoist thought, qi is nowhere and nothing and yet permeates and animates everything.



How does acupuncture work? – Acupuncture is the insertion of thin needles into the subcutaneous structures of the body to effect a biological change. The needles once inserted into the skin, muscles, or other areas stimulate the body’s own healing mechanism. This response is mediated through the central nervous system. We are not ‘aiming’ for nerves with the needles (another misconception) because that hurts! However, we are stimulating the nerves in the area of the needles indirectly, mostly through the actions of mast cells. This stimulation travels up the nerve fibers through the spinal cord to the brain and initiates a response. The brain responds, in part, by increasing blood flow to the area being treated, whether it is a painful knee, congested lungs, irritated eyes, etc. (A lot of my patients report feeling sensations of warmth in the affected area; that is the return of blood flow!)

Remember, the blood not only supplies oxygen (qi), but it also carries with it vitamins, nutrients, hormones, chemical substances, and carbon dioxide, all of which contribute to the many types of metabolic reactions that are responsible for keeping us healthy. You see, our bodies have nearly everything we need to heal; we just have to remind it. For those things that the body doesn’t have, we use food and herbs to supply them. I will speak of these more later.

Acupuncture Points and Meridians (or Channels) – Acupuncture points are spots on the body that were observed, through years of trial and error, to produce a certain response when stimulated. After enough time, the ancient practitioners also observed that groups of points seemed to have similar actions and other groups of points seemed to correspond to certain organs and their functioning.

This did two things: 1) it created a documented catalog of acupuncture points and their functions and 2) it led to the idea of meridians and their relationships. The ancient Chinese were just as curious as we are about the inner workings of the body.

They performed human dissection in great detail. What they found is that the vasculature, nerve fibers, muscles, and even the mesentery and other connective tissues,

though all interconnected, traveled and worked together in certain and distinct pathways through the body. This further supported the idea of meridians. Because of these findings and observations, very sophisticated diagnostic and treatment theories were created. They have been in continuous use for at least 2000 years! If that isn’t proof alone of the efficacy of acupuncture, then I don’t know what is!



Modern science and medicine is still playing catch up to Chinese Medicine in many ways, especially when it comes to the interconnectedness of the human body. Acupuncturists know that by putting a needle in specific points in the hand, they can clear up headaches, back pain, or any other number of disease patterns. That is truly remarkable!

Acupuncture Safety - One common question I get is, “Does acupuncture hurt?” Or, “What are the risks of acupuncture?” Many people have fear of needles. I don’t blame them. The needles used by doctors to give shots or draw blood samples hurt. Acupuncture needles on the other hand don’t hurt, or hurt very little.

The needles (sterile, one-time use only) are very thin and small compared to hypodermic needles. There is sometimes a mild prick with insertion, but that sensation does not last. My patients report other types of sensations, such as

achiness, warmth, or distension at the site of the needle. All of these are acceptable and taken as a good sign.

Sometimes, even the best acupuncturist can ‘miss’ the acupuncture point and hit a nerve or blood vessel; it happens. We are all built differently and sometimes certain parts of our anatomy aren’t the same as other people. The worst side effect I have seen with acupuncture is bruising. That is pretty tolerable and mild compared to the side effects of some pharmaceuticals out there, right?

Of course, there are other more severe risks of acupuncture including pierced organs. Most cases (like 90%) of ‘acupuncture gone bad’ that requires hospitalization are due to people doing acupuncture that aren’t properly trained. Read that last sentence again. Yes, it is important. Unfortunately, other professions have ‘the practice of acupuncture’ within their scope of practice as per their professional licensure. Sometimes they call it something else. To earn the title of Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) is no mean feat. It requires extensive training and testing. Please see this publication put out by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to see the comparison of training required by various professionals: Know Your Acupuncturist. Remember to check their credentials when choosing your acupuncturist.

What To Expect From Acupuncture Treatment – A lot of people ask me how many treatments will it take to fix my…(fill in the blank.) Here is a good rule of thumb: the longer you have had the said condition, the longer it will take to turn it around, but not always. I know, that is a pretty vague answer. Acupuncture

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works exceptionally well for speeding up the healing process of acute injuries and pain. You can expect healing times to half. Chronic injuries and pain will take longer, there are more factors involved and it may not work at all if there have been corrective surgeries with ‘hardware’ installed. Internal disorders like IBS, migraines, menstrual disorders, fibroids, asthma, etc. can take some time. There are many factors that led to the disease pattern and it will take time to sort them out.

So how many treatments will it take, then? It depends on how willing you are to work with your acupuncturist and make the necessary changes in diet, lifestyle, or even your thinking and thought patterns that surround your disease pattern. There is no formula that works for everyone. Generally speaking, you should see improvement after the first few treatments. There are some people that just don’t respond to acupuncture. It doesn’t mean that Chinese Medicine can’t help them, though. Maybe they will respond better to herbal medicine.

Acupuncture Styles – Briefly, the last thing I would like to mention about acupuncture is that there are a number of different styles of acupuncture in practice in the United States. They include but are not limited to: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 5 Element, Japanese, Balance Method, Master Tung, Korean Hand, Auricular, and Scalp. They each use different theories to diagnose and treat. They all work great. And I recommend them all. I personally use Balance Method and Master Tung primarily, but also incorporate TCM and Auricular. The differences between them are beyond the scope of this book.

Usually, an acupuncturist chooses one style over another because something about it resonates with them and they are drawn to it. The most important thing about finding an acupuncturist you can work with is to check their credentials and be able to get satisfactory answers to your questions. Because the more confident and secure you feel with them, the better the outcome will be.



Chinese Herbal Medicine and You

Did you know that there are over 10,000 herbs in the Chinese Materia Medica? Everything from parts of plants, (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits) to common foods, minerals, animals, and even bugs! Of those 10,000+, most American herbalists only use around three hundred or less. Don’t worry; the use of bugs and animals is ‘not in fashion’ in this country. A vast majority of herbalists

only use plant based herbs and some minerals in the United States. In fact, even the Chinese are taking major steps to find substitutes for those types of ingredients that are rare, endangered, or otherwise inhumane.

In this section of the book, I would like to dispel some misconceptions around the use of Chinese herbs and talk about the risks and safety of herbal medicine. It is important for you to understand what you are taking, why, and how they are prescribed in the first place.

What Makes Chinese Herbs So Good, Anyway? – Chinese herbal medicine is a very sophisticated and complete form of medicine. Over the course of time, through trial and error, like acupuncture, herbalists figured out the functions of single herbs. They started to notice patterns and similarities between herbs. They found some herbs worked really well together; they enhanced each others effect. Or they discovered the opposite was true. They found dangerous combinations too. After the experience of years of trial and error, ‘formulas’ of herbs were eventually created. These formulas became standardized because they withstood the test of time and showed their efficacy to treat the specific disease pattern they were designed for.

Now the great thing about Chinese formulas is that they can be modified according to the disease pattern. Herbs can be added or subtracted. Quantities of herbs within the formula can be increased or decreased. It is all very flexible. Herbs used together in a formula create an amazing synergy.

Like I alluded to earlier, sometimes the body needs more than it has currently to correct imbalances and turn around a particular disease pattern. This is where herbs and formulas come into play. Even though ancient Chinese herbalists had no knowledge of biochemistry, they knew that a particular herb would help a particular condition. We know now, thanks to biochemistry, that the many plants and herbs we use contain not only known vitamins and minerals but also contain



many unknown phytochemicals. There are thousands of phytochemicals in the plants all around us. True, we don’t know the function of every single one, but we don’t need to. The Chinese were less concerned with the how and why they work. They just know they do. And they know what doesn’t work.

Knowing too much about a biochemical process can make you miss the forest for the trees. Many pharmaceutical drugs are created by isolating the ‘active ingredient’ (or chemical) in a given plant. The chemical may be known for its particular health promoting strength, immune regulating quality, or some other effect. After the chemical is isolated, its strength is amplified manifold. Our bodies have no evolutionary experience with chemicals in these pumped up and isolated contexts. Also, many chemicals are synthesized to mimic the beneficial chemical compounds found in plants that can also confuse our bodies.

How are herbs different? There are many ways, but I would like to point out two. First, herbs tend to be weaker in strength, hence milder. Because of this we can carefully monitor and regulate our intake of them. Also, any side effects there might be tend to be short lived and mild. Second, the ‘active ingredient’ is in context. This means that the hundreds of other phytochemicals in that plant all work together in a synergistic manner that our bodies know and can handle and process. There isn’t just one active ingredient, they all are! Everything in that plant plays some role that helps correct any given disease pattern. This is what makes them so powerful and beneficial.

Know this too; most of the time herbal formulas are only prescribed anywhere from a few days to upwards of a few months. These aren’t pills you’ll need to be on the rest of your life. The other beautiful aspect of herbal formulas is that they can be tailored to you and your presenting condition! You are unique, after all.

How Are Chinese Herbs Prescribed? - Earlier in this book, I explained the idea of the 8 Principles and talked a bit of tongue and pulse diagnosis. When there is a disease pattern in the body it shows up in the small symptoms (sometimes big too!) that the herbalist must discover. They do this by asking questions (lots of them!), and by examining the tongue and pulse. These all give the herbalist clues as to the nature of the disharmony. And they lead to a diagnosis and an appropriate herbal formula is prescribed.

I spoke of ‘heat’ patterns or patterns of ‘internal’ origin or location; these are the parts of an 8 principle diagnosis. We have herbal formulas that counter those kinds of symptom patterns. There are herbs that ‘clear heat’, or herbs that ‘moisten dryness’, or ‘expel pathogens’, and the list goes on and on. There are herbs for all kinds of things.

Please remember, this is a simplified explanation of how herbs are prescribed and a detailed description of Chinese herbal medicine is beyond the scope of this book. Chinese herbology is quite extensive and intricate. I don’t recommend

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that you go out and experiment on your own. Find an herbalist that has experience treating whatever problem you may be dealing with. The information I am providing to you is to help you understand the basics of the approach that Chinese Medicine practitioners use to help you achieve health and wellness.

There are a few different methods for taking herbal formulas. The most common ones in use in the U.S. are decoctions, granules, tablets, and teapills.

The original way herbs were prepared was by taking home a bag of loose herbs and cooking them on the stovetop. This is called a decoction. Boiling the herbs in water releases all the good stuff from the plant material into the water. The liquid and plant material are then separated; the liquid is kept and divided into portions to be used as doses. This method is the strongest way to take herbs because this is the method that processes the herbs the

least. It is the least popular, however, because it is time consuming, not terribly convenient, and some of those herbs taste really bad. (I kind of like them myself!)

Granules are the next best way to take herbs. They are basically herbs (or formulas) that have been through an extraction process and dehydrated. The powder (or granules) are very convenient, yet still retain their strength. All you do is heat up some water and mix in portions of the granules to make a small liquid dose.

Most people that have used Chinese herbs are probably familiar with tablets and teapills. These are very common and very convenient. They are herbs that have been made into little tablets (which look like multivitamins) or teapills (which look like little black pellets). They are less strong, but still very effective. One drawback with the use of tablets or teapills is that they can’t be modified. However, the formulas that are in these forms tend to be tried and true and very effective for a multitude of different disease patterns.

Dos and don’ts of Chinese Herbs - Here, I would like to lay out the ground rules for using Chinese herbs and formulas.

DO take your herbs as prescribed. Your herbalist has experience with herbs and knows what is acceptable as far as prescription and dosage. It is important to take as prescribed.

If you are to take a dose two or three times a day, make an effort to make it happen. Herbs work best when they are ‘in your system’ continuously. It isn’t the end of the world if you miss a dose here and there; it’s just that the expected outcome will slow down significantly.



DON’T take more herbs than is prescribed thinking that more is better. It is not and you may cause yourself problems.

DO report any unexpected side effects or problems, such as diarrhea, upset stomach, headache, or other symptoms that are out of the ordinary to your herbalist and stop taking your herbs until you get some consultation.

DON’T give the herbs or formulas that were prescribed to you to your friends and family that might have a similar condition. Because though your conditions might look similar on the outside, the disease process on the inside could be very different. Those herbs that worked for you might make them worse!

DO tell your herbalist of any known food or substance allergies (including gluten!) that you have so that they can avoid those things when prescribing a formula. Sometimes they forget to ask, it happens. It’s okay to be proactive.

DO notify your herbalist of ALL medications and nutritional supplements you are currently taking. The herbs may interact with these and cause a bad reaction. Most of the time, there aren’t any interaction issues, but it always good to play it safe.

Where Do Chinese Herbs Come From and Are They Safe? – As you can guess, most Chinese herbs come from China. There are a few farms elsewhere in the world that grow these herbs, but the bulk of them still come from China. As you know, China is burgeoning to become a world leader in many realms. This includes agriculture. Their laws surrounding the cultivation, harvesting, processing, and shipping of medicinal herbs are still a little lax. However, there have been enough concerned consumers all around the world that have encouraged herb companies to take steps to ensure quality products.

There are Chinese and U.S. based companies that take every measure to eliminate or minimize pesticide and chemical use and cross-contamination, not only in cultivation, but in processing. There are companies that now ensure organic and non-GMO origin. If you have concerns about where your herbs are coming from, ask your herbalist.

Personally, I use only top-rated, top-quality herbs in my clinic. You can be assured that there are herbs that have been grown with care and in a manner that not only protects your health, but also that of the environment. I have info pamphlets from the herb company that outlines their quality control. Find out which herbal products your herbalist uses and do some research. Usually, the website of the manufacturer is good place to start, along with consumer reports, etc.



Sources of Disease

What are the sources of disease, because there sure seems to be a lot of it going around these days? More and more heart disease, kids with Type II diabetes, and soaring cancer rates. What is going on? The answer to this is complicated and there are many ideas out there and new books, articles, and reports hit the stands and internet every day. Some of it is due to genetics, but there are other factors involved. Here are three of what I feel are some of the ‘heavy hitters’ as far as sources of disease:

Stress – The first and foremost cause of disease, in my opinion, is stress. I know, everyone knows this and is tired of hearing about it, but it is important. Physical, emotional, psychological and, environmental stress all contribute to degraded health. In this day and age stress comes at us from every angle: work, family, bills, money, food, toxins, etc. Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response; it is yang in nature). When you move through daily life in stress mode, the body focuses its energy on staying alive and being alert, and not on rest and repair. This in and of itself is not a bad thing; we just can’t spend all of our time in this state. If we take steps to reduce stress, whatever they may be, then our body can spend more time in parasympathetic mode (rest and digest, yin in nature). It is here that our bodies can heal. We can be resilient to many types of disease factors if we can keep the stress down. We need to find that balance. There are many stress relieving activities out there. What works for you? Acupuncture is a great way to de-stress. It is very relaxing, because it activates the parasympathetic nervous system. It is a great way to give yourself a break from your daily routine.

Food choices and nutrition – Food in this country is in crisis-mode, let’s face it. Much of what we eat on a daily basis is relatively devoid of nutritional value. For many reasons that could take up a whole series of books on their own to explain, our food culture went astray some time ago and we are now facing the consequences: increased rates of obesity in adults and children, increased rates of diabetes, increased rates of just about everything. Many of which are due in some part to the quality of food we eat, and the choices we make around food. One simple rule of thumb I might offer is this: eat whole foods in a wide variety. I say ‘whole’ meaning that there are minimal chemical additives and preservatives and little to no processing. The more processed the food is, the less nutritional value it will have. A variety of food choices will ensure that you get the wide array of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients your body needs on a regular basis.

Environmental toxins and chemicals – We have all seen and heard about the rampant production and use of chemicals in our world. We use chemicals for EVERYTHING these days. Many of them haven’t been tested to know if they are safe to people, plants, animals, or our environment. They are used in food production, packaging, plastics, paints, cleaning agents, weed killers, fertilizers,



ink, many types of manufacturing, you name it; they’re everywhere and pollute our air, water, and soil. And everyday we are learning something new of the consequences of using these chemicals. They all have to go somewhere and in that process of ‘going somewhere,’ a lot of them go through us. Our bodies have a difficult time handling and processing the increased chemical load. Eventually, the stress of it wins out and we get sick. Recognition of the problem alone will help mediate this as a source of health problems. Look for ways to identify and minimize your ‘chemical load.’

The three ‘heavy hitters’ outlined above are not isolated factors; they intertwine in many ways. I didn’t cite any studies for my assertions above. I did this for a reason. I DON’T WANT YOU TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. Do your own research and make your own opinions and decisions based on what you find. It will be more empowering that way.

Where does this leave us here and now? It comes down to lifestyle decisions. We can make the necessary changes to help ensure that we are minimizing our risk. The topic of ‘Sources of Disease’ is huge and complicated. There is no easy fix. I simply encourage you to be an informed consumer. Having this awareness will most certainly benefit your clinical outcome as well.

Some Final Thoughts

By now you should have a better idea of what Chinese Medicine is and what it isn’t. With this basic understanding, you can now make informed decisions and have the knowledge to find a practitioner that is right for you. One last question you might be asking is, “what can Chinese Medicine treat? What is it good for?” The answer is just about everything. Some things are more difficult than others, but in nearly all cases there is at least some relief if not full recovery. This is because it works with your whole body to bring back your internal balance.

Let’s review some of the highlights of Chinese Medicine from this book:

- Its theories are based in a different way of thinking about the nature of our world and bodies: yin/yang and 5 Elements. It sees man as part of the environment and natural world and susceptible to the same cyclical processes. Therefore, it takes a holistic approach and treats you for who you are and where you are at this moment.

- It is a thorough, complete, and fully self-contained medicine in its diagnosis and treatment. And it uses a different type of ‘lingo’ to speak of, diagnose, and treat your health concerns. (Really, it isn’t any more confusing than doctor speak!)



- It has a proven track record that has withstood the test of time of 2000 years, at least, and counting. That alone is proof of its efficacy. If it didn’t work it wouldn’t still be in use.

- It is safe and effective. But, remember, it is important to find a credentialed practitioner that has extensive training to minimize risk and ensure your safety. Here is that link again: Know Your Acupuncturist.

- Even though Chinese Medicine can carry you a long way towards your goal of health and longevity, you must also be willing to change your lifestyle and even your thought processes. Especially those that got you to where you are now: looking for help. And truth be told, not all reasons for disease are within our ability to control, but we can be informed about them and take actions to minimize our risk. Chinese medicine is excellent as a preventative tool in our strategy to stay healthy and vibrant.

- One other thing I would like to point out: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is excellent as a stand-alone therapy. It also works in conjunction with other therapy types. In fact, it will increase the effectiveness of most other therapies. More and more doctors are recommending acupuncture to their patients to help with pain management and weight loss. It is safe and highly effective to use together with chiropractics, physical therapy, and massage therapy.




Can We Help You? Thank you once again for downloading and reading my book. I encourage you pick up the phone and call us to schedule your free, no commitment consultation to see if Old Pueblo Acupuncture, PLLC is the right choice for you.

Call us at (520) 722-‐9101 to schedule your free, no risk consultation. We will discuss the nature of your health concern in a friendly one on one setting that is focused on your needs.

Old Pueblo Acupuncture, PLLC 2450 N Pantano Rd Tucson, AZ 85715 (520) 722-‐9101

www.oldpuebloacupuncture.com

About Our Practitioners

Matthew Woolsey L.Ac. – Matt holds a Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ASAOM). He is licensed by the state of Arizona to practice acupuncture. He is board certified in both acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. His Master’s work focused on men’s health, pain relief, and sports injuries. Matt is also a consultant to Compass Behavioral Healthcare in Tucson.

Sena Kimbrell L.Ac. – Sena holds a Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ASAOM). She is licensed by the state of Arizona to practice acupuncture. The degree required extensive training in acupuncture and Chinese herbs in a clinical and didactic setting. While in the student clinic, she held the distinction of being the most in-demand student intern at the school because of her skill and her patient care. Her kindness and understanding have followed her into her professional life.

To learn more about us visit: www.oldpuebloacupuncture.com



Copyright This book is a publication of Old Pueblo Acupuncture, PLLC for informational use

only. It may not be distributed, copied, or reproduced in any format. Copyright © 2013 Old Pueblo Acupuncture, PLLC

If you found this book to be resourceful and informative, we ask that you do not distribute this book. Instead, we encourage you to direct your friends and family to our website to download their own copy. Thank you for your referral. It is the highest honor and greatest compliment you can give us.

www.oldpuebloacupuncture.com

Suggested Reading The Web That Has No Weaver, by Ted Kaptchuk, this is an excellent book that used to be used as a text book in the early days in U.S. based acupuncture schools before dedicated texts were written in English. It is a great resource for the advanced lay reader wanting to learn more of the intricacies of Chinese Medicine.

Between Heaven and Earth, Harriet Beinfield et al, this is a great book for those wanting to go into more depth about 5 Element theory. It is well written with great descriptions.

The Dao Of Chinese Medicine, Donald Kendall, this is advanced reading, but it does clear up a lot of misconceptions we have about qi, meridians, and acupuncture in general.

Tao Te Ching, translation by Stephen Mitchell, this is a great pocket version of the classic Taoist text that sheds light on the philosophy that informs much of Chinese Medicine theory and practice.

A Brief History of Qi, by Ken Rose et al, this book explores the depth and complexity that surround the many meanings and concepts of qi.

In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan, this is a great book about the food culture in our country, or lack of it. It is a great introduction to some of the issues surrounding food in our society.

Know Your Acupuncturist – a publication of the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) that outlines the different levels of training that different professions receive to be able to practice acupuncture.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Web-That-Weaver-Understanding/dp/0809228408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382326901&sr=8-1&keywords=the+web+that+has+no+weaver

http://www.amazon.com/Between-Heaven-Earth-Chinese-Medicine/dp/0345379748/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382327033&sr=8-1&keywords=between+heaven+and+earth

http://www.amazon.com/Dao-Chinese-Medicine-Understanding-Ancient/dp/0195921046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382327088&sr=8-1&keywords=the+dao+of+chinese+medicine

http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Publisher-Perennial/dp/B004WI1TGA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1382327135&sr=8-3&keywords=tao+te+ching+stephen+mitchell

http://www.amazon.com/Brief-History-Qi-Huan-Zhang/dp/0912111631/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382327202&sr=1-1&keywords=a+brief+history+of+qi

http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Food-Eaters-Manifesto/dp/0143114964/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382327242&sr=1-1&keywords=in+defense+of+food


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