What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique that has been used for the last 3000 years by billions of people world-wide for a wide variety of conditions. Although it has evolved considerably with time, the fact that it is still widely practiced today speaks to its efficacy and durability. It uses fine needles to balance and facilitate the flow of Qi, or “vital energy” in the body, thereby maximizing its innate healing abilities. Acupuncture is a branch of Oriental Medicine, which also utilizes herbal remedies, dietary therapy, massage, exercise, and/or meditation to achieve overall physical, mental and spiritual health.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

From a Western scientific point of view, acupuncture has been proven to stimulate parts of the central and peripheral nervous systems, which in turn, affect all other systems of the body. Acupuncture triggers the release of natural pain fighting chemicals (ex. Endorphins, enkephalins), neurotransmitters that affect the mood, as well as other neurohormones in the brain. From a Traditional Chinese perspective, acupuncture regulates and balances the flow of Qi (“vital energy”), in order to maximize the body’s own innate healing abilities. Qi is considered to be the driving force behind the maintenance of life, and therefore, any blockage, deficiency or misdirection of Qi can result in pain, dysfunction and disease.

What are Acupuncture Points & Meridians?

Acupuncture points are considered low resistance, high conductivity points along the skin that act as major conduits of energy flow. They are located along meridians or channels through which Qi is said to circulate. Some scientists compare the meridian system to the nervous system.

What Conditions Can Be Treated With Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs?

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be used for a very wide variety of conditions, including musculo-skeletal, neurological, gastro-intestinal, respiratory, gynecological, urogenital, dermatological and psycho-emotional disorders. The World Health Organization (WHO) and National Institute for Health (NIH) have formally recommended acupuncture for over 50 disorders. Please refer to the homepage for a listing of specific disorders helped at our clinic. Problems for which acupuncture is not particularly effective are addressed through herbal remedies, homeopathy, nutritional supplements and/or other techniques.

What Can I Expect During and After a Treatment?

The most important thing you can do during a treatment is to relax and breathe comfortably. Feel free to ask the practitioner any questions you may have. You can also minimize discomfort by avoiding sudden movements or changes in position. Treatment times can range anywhere from twenty to forty-five minutes, depending on the condition. In the rare event that you are uncomfortable or experience dizziness, nausea, cold-sweat or light-headedness, let the practitioner know immediately. Alcohol, drugs and strenuous physical activity should be avoided for at least six hours before and after the treatment.

Are Acupuncture Treatments Painful?

Acupuncture needles are as fine as hairs and generally cause very little discomfort. They are nowhere near as painful as hypodermic needles that are stiff, hollow and thick and are intended to inject or withdraw fluids. A slight pricking sensation may be felt when acupuncture needles pierce the skin, after which very little pain is felt.

How Many Treatments Should I Expect?

Because all patients are unique with respect to their condition and response to treatment, the number and frequency of treatments vary. In general, acute conditions require fewer treatments but greater frequency than chronic conditions. An example for an acute condition would be 2-3 treatments per week for 3-4 weeks. Some patients respond very favorably after 1-2 treatments, while others may take 9-10 treatments.

Do Insurance Companies Cover Acupuncture?

Although all insurance companies do not cover acupuncture, most major companies have started to provide coverage. Green Crescent Clinic is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, and Cigna. Our office can assist you in determining the details of your coverage.

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How are Chinese herbs different from pharmaceutical drugs?

Firstly, Chinese herbalism does not believe in isolating individual “active ingredients” as is standard in pharmaceutical drugs. There is Divine and innate wisdom contained within natural herbs, plants and foods, which contain a matrix of hundreds of ingredients working synergistically. That is why drugs inherently have more serious side effects than herbs.

Secondly, Chinese herbal formulas are designed to treat underlying causes and patterns of overall symptoms instead of only treating isolated symptoms. For example, if you have a headache, Western medicine has a number of standard drugs that are relied on, but Chinese medicine would utilize one of many different formulas depending on the underlying causes and the overall holistic pattern of presented symptoms.

Thirdly, Chinese herbal medicine advocates combining herbs in a formula and only rarely uses individual herbs. The herbs are combined in a special way to enhance each other’s therapeutic effect and to minimize the chance of side effects and toxicity.

How long does it take for the herbs to work?

Everyone varies with respect to the exact time needed to see results. For most chronic conditions you will typically notice results within one to two months. Relief for acute conditions can often be seen within days.

How do I take Chinese herbs?

There are many ways to take Chinese herbs. The majority of our patients take the herbs in tablet or pill form. These are simple and easy to take and we will inform you of the appropriate dosage.

Some patients prefer to take the herbs in raw form where you take them home and cook them as a decoction and drink the tea. Another method is to take the herbs as a liquid herbal extract or as a ground up powder.

Are Chinese herbs safe?

Yes. At Green Crescent Clinic we purchase our herbs from reputable distributors who submit their products to independent inspection in the United States.

In fact, pharmaceutical drugs have a much higher incidence of adverse effects than herbs, to the extent that the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) estimated that 106,000 people die annually in the U.S. alone due to “adverse drug reactions” and over 2 million people experience a “serious drug reaction” (JAMA, April 15 edition, 1998).

While it is true that herbs generally have far fewer side effects than prescription drugs, it is theoretically possible to have side effects or react allergically to almost any substance, including herbs. The herbs are generally safest when taken in the correct dosage and taken for the intended use and taken as part of a formula.

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What kind of conditions or diseases can be treated homeopathically?

Homeopathy is applicable to a broad range of maladies including acute inflammations, systemic imbalances, chronic degenerative diseases and mental/emotional disturbances. By its very nature, homeopathic treatment is not specific to a particular illness, but is directed at the underlying state of the person suffering from that illness. By addressing this state, the appropriately chosen remedy effectively addresses the illness.

How are homeopathic medicines made and how do they work?

Homeopathic remedies traditionally derive from an extraordinarily wide variety of plant, animal and mineral substances. They are made through a series of dilutions, which results in an extremely dilute but highly energetically potent remedy. By selecting a remedy that closely matches the individual characteristics of a person, a homeopath is able to stimulate a deep curative reaction.

Another important principle underlying homeopathic philosophy is the “law of similars”. This means that a substance that in large doses will produce symptoms of a specific disease will, in extremely small doses, cure it. For example, Samuel Hahnemman experimented with Cinchona bark and found that when he ingested it in large quantities he had symptoms similar to malaria. However, when he gave the cinchona bark in very dilute quantities to someone who already had malaria, it helped cure it. This is similar to vaccines, where weakened preparations of infections agents are injected into the body to stimulate an immune response which later helps to treat the same infectious disease.

Are homeopathic remedies safe?

Since the remedies are highly diluted, they do not contain significant amounts of the original substance from which they are made. Thus, they do not have the side effects or toxicities associated with pharmaceutical medications. They are, however, powerful energetic stimuli and must be used with discretion. Sometimes, as part of the curative process, a person will experience a temporary intensification of symptoms, followed by later relief.

How long does it take for homeopathy to work?

Results vary considerably depending on the particular patient and the particular disorder being treated. Acute conditions can respond within days or weeks, while chronic conditions may take several months. Homeopathics generally take longer than pharmaceutical drugs but are considerably safer than them.

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What Are Allergies?

From a Western medical view, an allergy is basically an exaggerated response of the immune system to a substance that is otherwise harmless. From a traditional Eastern perspective, allergies also involve blockages in the flow of vital energy throughout the body. It is a common misconception that allergies only include symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion. While allergies can certainly result in such problems, they can also cause or worsen other disorders like asthma, skin problems, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, muscle pain, migraines, insomnia and ADD/ADHD. Modern medicine is increasingly realizing that allergies can be at the root of or exacerbate a wide variety of medical conditions. At Green Crescent Clinic we utilize a special technique known as N.A.E.T. to treat allergies and allergy-related disorders.

How is it Determined What I am Allergic to?

You may already be aware of some of your allergies, but there are probably several allergies you are unaware of. Conventional Western medicine typically uses either the “patch”, “scratch“ or “intradermal” invasive tests and/or blood tests like “RAST” or “ELISA” to diagnose allergies. NAET uses non-invasive, painless, simple techniques based on applied kinesiology that have been used for decades to determine allergic responses. Besides common allergic symptoms, it turns out that allergies and intolerances result in the immediate weakness of several muscles due to an immediate disruption in the communication between the central and peripheral nervous systems. Thus, NAET can utilize muscle resistance testing to determine what you are sensitive to. Some clinics also have computerized, electrical devices that can measure electrical changes in energy meridians to determine allergic responses.

How am I Treated for Allergies?

After determining what you are allergic to, your body is made to sense either the actual allergen or a vial(s) containing the electromagnetic frequency of the allergen(s) and a systematic procedure is begun to re-program your nervous system to “accept” the allergen and avoid abnormal immune responses. This procedure involves stimulating certain nerves to facilitate communication between the central and peripheral nervous systems, or in Traditional Oriental Medicine, stimulating the free flow of energy throughout your body to remove the blockages within energy pathways caused by the allergen. Thus, a drug-free, virtually painless physical method is used to re-program your system.

How Many Treatments Are Needed & How Long Do They Last?

One allergen or allergen type is usually treated at a time. The total number of treatments depends mainly on how many allergies you have and their severity. Patients generally experience a relief of symptoms either permanently or on the order of years, depending on the vitality of their immune systems. In general, results last longer when the patient also detoxifies, strengthens the immune system, and follows a nutritious diet per the practitioner’s instructions. Several hundred thousand patients across the world have been helped using NAET.

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What Are The Benefits of Hijama?

• Detoxification of the blood / Stimulation of New Blood. As we age, we suffer from increased accumulation of toxins, stemming from poor diet and lifestyle, pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, insecticides and other chemicals in our fruits, vegetables and meat, environmental pollutants and chemicals. Hijama helps to remove these impurities and stimulate the bone marrow to produce new, healthier blood.
• Increased blood circulation/ Pain Reduction. Areas of chronic pain often have localized areas of blood stagnation. Both the action of drawing a vacuum on the skin as well as the drawing of blood help to improve circulation.
• Treatment of Numerous Diseases. Hijama has been historically used to help with numerous diseases including blood disorders, hemophilia, migraines, post-stroke dsiorders, paralysis, cardio-vascular, hepatic, renal, rheumatic, and menstrual disorders, and more.

How Is Cupping Performed?

Cupping is performed in several steps. The most common site for cupping is on the upper back between the shoulder blades and at the base of the neck, though it can also be performed in other areas. The procedure basically involves sanitizing the area, making small incisions in the skin, and placing glass jars over the skin in which a flame is used to draw a vacuum, which helps to extract old, toxic blood. The procedure can be repeated if necessary, and the affected area of the skin is sanitized and bandaged. Slight pain is felt only while making the tiny incisions but not during the procedure itself.

Is Hijama Safe?

When practiced in a clean & hygienic environment under the guidance of a qualified Doctor or Health Professional, hijama is very safe & relatively risk free. At Green Crescent Clinic, we provide a clean medical environment and collect a detailed medical history and inform patients of any potential risks or contraindications. You should, for example, inform the clinic of any medications you are taking and if you have any history of diabetes, low or high blood pressure, blood disorders, dizziness or fainting.

Is Hijama an Islamic Procedure?

While prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) highly encouraged hijama, this procedure has also been used historically by many cultures and civilizations, including in Ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, China and India, which uses leeches. Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Hijama is the best of healing remedies.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

“If there is any good in your medical treatments, it is in the blade of the cupper, drinking honey…..” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

“During the night of Isra (from Makkah to Jerusalem), every company of angels that I passed by would say, O Mohammad! Order your nation to use hijama (cupping)” (Ibn Majah)

“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to have hijama (cupping) done near the jugular veins and the upper back on the seventeenth, nineteenth or twenty-first day (of the lunar month)” (Tirmidhi)

Are The Benefits of Hijama The Same As Donating Blood?

NO. Hijama involves the extraction of blood from surface capillaries, while donating blood uses blood from veins. Research has been conducted by Syrian doctors show the differences between venous and cupped blood. For example, cupped blood has a higher percentage of abnormal and old red blood cells and toxins, approximately one-tenth the white blood cell content (which is good because of their importance in the immune system) and a lower percentage of iron than venous blood.

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• Pulse Diagnosis
• Tongue Diagnosis
• Applied Kinesiology (Muscle Testing)
• Blood Tests* (Discounted through Labcorp)
• Saliva tests* (through Genova Diagnostics)
• X-Rays* (on-site at office)
• MRI* (through Preferred Imaging)

• Orthopedic Problems
• Digestive Disorders
• Respiratory
• Hormonal
• Neurological Problems
• General