OUR FAQS

WHAT IS TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest healing systems of treating disease by using foods, herbs, tai chi, qi gong, acupressure, acupuncture, gua sha, tui na, cupping, plum blossom techniques, and moxibustion.

TCM’s perceptive insight and ability to understand and address individual health needs empowers an individual to unite body, mind, and soul - the foundation for lasting, optimal health and pain free life.

TCM can be effectively applied to help healing occur because it is rooted in natural law, which has occurred since time immemorial.  This medical paradigm grew out of intense observation of how everything in our world works from the deepest, invisible levels and its interaction with the visible physical levels. Every TCM principle, theory, and healing practice reflects and harmonizes existing relationships that are governed by natural law.

Below you will find the 4 Key TCM Principles

1. Your body is an integrated whole. A person is made up of mind, emotions, spirit, and physical body that are integrated into a whole and empowered by a life force (Qi). Every sign and symptom reveals something about the state of health of that particular body. TCM teaches the interpretation of those signs and symptoms

2. An individual is completely connected to nature. Changes in nature will always affect and are always reflected in your body. Your body is a microcosm that reflects the macrocosm. Bodies "are" a part of nature and as such are affected "by" nature.

3. You were born with an innate self-healing ability. Since your body is part of nature and since nature has a regenerative capacity then your body has a capacity to regenerate. Though at times this may seem to be lost or difficult to access, it is never completely lost.

4. Prevention is the best cure. By interpreting signs and symptoms we can treat presenting imbalances thereby preventing further illness progression.

WHAT DOES ACUPUNCTURE TREAT?

In 2003 the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report called “Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials” identifying the conditions below as being effectively treated by acupuncture.  

Psychological Conditions

• Depression

• Anxiety

• OCD

• PTSD

• Somatization Disorder

• Hypersomnia

• Insomnia

​

Neurological Conditions

• Headache and Migraine

• Trigeminal Neuralgia

• Facial Palsy (early stage, within three to six months

• Paresis following stroke

• Peripheral Neuropathies

• Meniere’s Disease

• Nocturnal Enuresis

• Cervicobrachial Syndrome

• Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction

• Intercostal Neuralgia

• Disc Problems

​

Musculo-skeletal Conditions

• Muscle pain, swelling, stiffness and weakness

• Localized traumatic injuries, sprains, strains, tendinitis, contractures

• Arthritis

• Fibromyalgia

• Work and sports related injuries

• Low back and/or neck strain

• Osteoarthritis

• “Frozen Shoulder”, “Tennis Elbow”

• Sciatica

​

Respiratory System Conditions

• Acute Sinusitis

• Acute Rhinitis

• Common cold and allergies*

• Acute Tonsillitis

• Acute Bronchitis

• Bronchial Asthma

​

Conditions of the Eye, Ear, Nose & Mouth

• Acute Conjunctivitis

• Central Retinitis

• Myopia (in children)

• Cataract (without complications) 

• Toothaches, post extraction pain

• Gingivitis

• Acute and chronic pharyngitis

​

Gastrointestinal Conditions

• Spasms of esophagus and cardiac sphincter

• Irritable Bowel

• Gastroptosis

• Acute and chronic gastritis

• Gastric Hyperacidity (i.e. acid reflux)

• Chronic Duodenal Ulcer (pain relief)

• Acute Duodenal Ulcer (without complication)

• Acute and chronic Colitis

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Acute Bacillary Dysentery

• Paralytic Ileus

​

Gynecological Conditions

• Infertility *

• PMS

• Dysmenorrhea

• Menopause syndrome

• Benign irregular menstruation

• Benign amenorrhea

​

Cardiovascular Conditions

•  Essential Hypertension

​

Other Conditions

• Withdrawal from street and pharmacological drugs

• Appetite suppression

Please note that there are plenty of additional conditions which centuries of empirical data have shown acupuncture treats effectively but for which there is little or no modern western research.

DOES ACUPUNCTURE HURT?

Most patients have stated that there is little or no pain on the insertion of very fine, sterile, disposable needles. Can there be some pain? Yes, but not routinely. There are treatments that can be provided without the use of needles.

HOW IS GLORIA'S ACUPUNCTURE AND WELLNESS CLINIC DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CLINICS?

Simple! I am relentless in my pursuit of knowledge that will help my patients. After learning, mastering, and applying one modality I am off learning another modality. I do whatever I can to help those in need.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW FOR MY INITIAL VISIT?

Before your appointment, please eat something substantial within 2 hours before your treatment. Please do not brush your tongue or discolor it with hard candy, tea or coffee within three hours of your appointment, the tongue is routinely examined as part of Chinese diagnosis. For more information for before and after visits take a look at the document “General Guidelines” link below.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING THE APPOINTMENTS?

Expect to have a conversation about everything from energy level to sleep to bowel movements to predominant emotions.

Our assessment will consist of an extensive conversation, abdominal and channel assessments, and a routine examination of tongue and pulses.

HOW LONG WILL EACH APPOINTMENT TAKE?

Your initial appointment will typically take approximately 90 minutes and will consist of a complete health history and physical exam. A comprehensive treatment will follow the intake and may consist of any combination of nutritional counseling, acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, cupping, ear acupuncture, gua sha, Tui Na massage, or ion pumping cords. Follow up visits will be approximately 60 minutes. Please come in at least 15 minutes prior to your initial appointment to fill out paperwork OR simply print out the paperwork found on the "Book Online web page, fill it out , and bring to your initial visit.

HOW OFTEN/HOW MANY TIMES WILL I NEED TO COME?

This depends on the severity and/or chronicity of the condition. Usually patients can start seeing changes in as little as one to three treatments; however, the results vary from case to case. In general, the more chronic the condition, the more long-term consistent treatments are needed for the best results. Acute conditions can be resolved quickly if treatment is started soon after onset. Once significant improvement occurs, the situation will be continually assessed and maintenance treatments will be planned monthly, quarterly, or bi-annually to prevent relapse and support general health and well-being.

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT PROVIDED BY A NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED LICENSED ACUPUNCTURIST AND THAT PROVIDED BY ANOTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL?

Is there a difference between an acupuncture treatment provided by a nationally board certified LAc and that provided by another health care professional?

Yes, there is. In the State of Arizona Chiropractors may practice acupuncture as long as they complete 100 hours of study and pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam. Physical Therapists are required by the State of Arizona to complete a mere 24 contact hours prior to the insertion of needles. Medical doctors, osteopaths and naturopaths may practice acupuncture in Arizona without any specific training. 

In sharp contrast, acupuncturists are required to complete 1,850 hours of training, which includes 800 hours of clinical training, complete and pass a clean needle technique course, graduate from a Board approved program in Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, and receive certification by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), and pass the NCCAOM exams to obtain a license. The contrast in requirements is vast. Our training includes advanced understanding of Chinese medicine theory, meridian theory, Chinese diagnostic methods, nutrition, emotions, etc… It is more than simply inserting needles. It is understanding of what is being seen, how the meridians work and interact, the functions of each point, what the root cause is, etc... to know how to proceed. That is not something that can be learned in 100 hours much less 24 hours. 

In no way am I attempting to belittle the expertise of the professionals above. I know, work with, and respect many wonderful talented physicians, chiropractors, and physical therapists. However, the focus of their training can be limited to the physical and or emotional aspect of an individual. On the other hand, the extensive previous, current, and future training of an acupuncturist takes into to consideration the individual as a whole; physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, energetic, and as such how to treat that particular part of what is diseased.

SHOULD I CONSULT WITH MY PHYSICIAN REGARDING GETTING ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE TREATMENT?

It is always advisable to inform your physician about any treatment that you are seeking/receiving. Some physicians refer acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners to patients. Just remember to make sure that these acupuncture practitioners are certified by the NCCAOM and licensed in your state to practice acupuncture.