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| What is Acupuncture? | What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment that can relieve symptoms of some physical and psychological conditions and may encourage the patient's body to heal and repair itself, if it is able to do so. It is a part of ancient Chinese medical system that has been used for more than 4000 years. Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle, and can produce a variety of effects. We know that it increases the body's release of natural painkillers - endorphin and serotonin - in the pain pathways of both the spinal cord and the brain. This modifies the way pain signals are received. But acupuncture does much more than reduce pain, and has a beneficial effect on health. Patients often notice an improved sense of well being after treatment. Modern research shows that acupuncture can affect most of the body's systems - the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation, antibody production and allergic responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. The practitioner will assess each patient's case and treatment will be tailored to the individual; so it is impossible to give more than a general idea of what treatment might involve. Typically, fine needles are inserted through the skin and left in position for half an hour, sometimes with manual or electrical stimulation. The number of needles varies but usually is five or six. Remember that before starting acupuncture, the practitioner must be sure of the diagnosis and that all the necessary tests have been carried out which might point to any serious or potentially serious condition, perhaps requiring other forms of treatment. Symptoms and diseases that can be treated effectively by acupuncture:Pain relief for a wide range of painful conditions. Acupuncture is commonly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, for example - back, shoulder, neck and leg pain It has been used successfully to treat headaches, migraines, trapped nerves, chronic muscle strains and various kinds of arthritic and rheumatic pain. Acupuncture has also been used effectively to treat sport injuries such as Achilles tendinitis, ankle sprains and other types of tendinitis. It has the most success if applied within a few weeks of the injuries. Functional bowel or bladder problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or even mild forms of incontinence. Menstrual and menopausal symptoms, e.g., period pains and hot flushes. Allergies such as hay fever, perennial allergic rhinitis, and some types of allergic rashes such as urticaria and prickly heat. Some other skin problems such as rashes and ulcers and itching. Sinus problems and chronic catarrh. Dry mouth and eyes. Help with quit smoking by stopping the craving for cigarettes, changing the taste, getting rid of the nicotine acid from the lungs and making smoking uncomfortable. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it does give a rough idea of the wide range of conditions that respond to acupuncture treatment.
William
T. Deffebach March 25, 2003 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I am writing this letter in regard to Mary Chen, founder of Mary's Acupuncture Clinic 13150 FM 529, Suite 113, Houston, Texas 77041. There is not a day that passes that I do not thank God for Mary Chen and the wonders she has performed for my wife, who has the misfortune of enduring a number of painful illnesses, including the ravaging effects of fibromyalgia coupled with osteoarthritis of the joints, migraine headaches, asthma and related chronic lung disease. For one who does not know what fibromyalgia is, it is a disease of the connective and muscle tissue in the body that manifests itself by acute pain. This pain can occur with regular joint arthritic pain or independently on its own. This pain seldom abates and can last for 7-24. We had the good fortune to meet Mary Chen just prior to the time she opened her own clinic. Acupuncture was an "unknown" to us at the time, but we needed additional help to ease my wife's constant pain and other symptoms. I reviewed extensive and complete documentation of her medical education and training in China, at one of its largest and most distinguished medical facilities. Mary Chen is a doctor in China, both with respect to the practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine. While the current laws in Texas do not provide for the recognition of Mrs. Chen's doctor's status in China, Texas does recognized her as a licensed practitioner of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Knowing that acupuncture has been used in lieu of anesthetics in Chinese surgical procedures, it really does not take a rocket scientist to understand that it has to have a positive relationship to the relief of pain. Being satisfied with her extremely well documented credentials, we decided to try acupuncture to aid in my wife's care. I might well add this was with the full support and consent of our western doctor, who we feel is the best in the world, and happens to be a department head at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. The results have been outstanding! Initially, we went for two treatments per week, and later one treatment per week. The first couple of treatments did not result in substantial relief; probably because there is some adjustment period required for an average patient to get used to the idea of needle insertion. The reality sets in shortly thereafter that the needle gage is very small and really does not normally hurt at all. But what really counts is the realization that the pain cycle has been interrupted and relief is realized. This break from pain makes it all worthwhile. In addition, it is our opinion that this assists and enhances western medication and treatment. We are very impressed with the fact that Mary Chen is very candid at all times as to the probability of whether she can help a particular condition; and if she cannot for some reason, she will tell you so and that you should resort to western medicine. She is very professional and open in every aspect of her advice and treatment. Her professional fees are extremely reasonable. We can and will recommend Mary Chen to friends and acquaintances without reservation. One piece of common sense advice: Approach the acupuncture experience with a positive mindset and do not quit if the first several treatments fall short of your expectations. Everyone is different and an adjustment period of some type seems reasonable and necessary in some cases. We shudder to think what would have been our fate if we had not stayed with acupuncture and Mary Chen.
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