Dr. Gangyi Dong

First Visit

What should I expect on my first visit?

 Acupuncture treatment is safe, effective, painless and free from side effects. In our office, we only use very thin and small needles that are pre-sterilized and disposable. At each patient’s initial visit, we carefully collect all clinical data, including historical and current health inquiry, look at the patient’s tongue (traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic step), feel the patient’s pulse and do necessary palpation. Then we analyze the data, evaluate the patient’s situation and make a treatment strategy. After completing the consultation, we discuss the first treatment and explain the procedure.

     

Most new patients receive a very gentle treatment at the first visit. Depending on the different physical conditions of the patients, we will carefully choosing the acupuncture points and use 1 – 8 needles.  The insertion is very shallow and barely touches the skin. Patients usually feel nothing. Depending on the patient’s condition.the needles remain in the points for 3 – 20 minutes, Afterwards, the needles are painlessly removed and discarded. The patients will relax in the original position for a few minutes before getting up to go home. No specific care is needed after the treatment; however, we generally recommend that patients “take it easy” for the rest of the day, i.e. no vigorous exercise or heavy physical labor work. We have observed that in this way, patients receive the optimal effect.


The number of needles used, length of the time they remain in the points, location of the points and how needles are manipulated during the treatment will decide the dosage of the treatment. Depending on the patient’s response from the initial treatment, at the second visit, we usually give patient more needles and leave them in the points for 1-3 minutes longer. At the third visit, we may increase the dosage a little again, and so on until we reach the optimal dosage. Then, we stay at that dosage for a while. Every person’s body requires a different dosage, so there is no “standard” dosage. Whichever dosage is best for that patient, that dosage will be adopted.


The number of treatments for a patient can vary greatly depending on the individual and his/her condition, ranging from one treatment to many many treatments. Some patients may also be recommended Chinese herbal formulas. Most Chinese herbal formulas are composed of multiple herbs and other natural ingredients, and are made for specific conditions. Most herbal formulas that we keep in our office were created hundreds years ago, and several were recorded in the textbook written more than 2,000 years ago. (See web page about “Oriental Medicine”)


After such a long history of clinical use of these formulas, a lot of experience has been accumulated; gradually, the most effective formula is discovered and used continuously while the less effective ones were abandoned. In our office, we only keep the most popular and effective formulas. Usually they are very safe, almost like just taking some food. Even still, we handle these herbal formulas with great care. We always look into the patient’s specific condition by checking their tongue, feeling their pulse and doing “differential diagnoses”, before choosing the correct, corresponding formula for them. Note that while herbal formulas are indeed all natural, most do have a slower effect and only a few work quickly to show “fast results.”

What is Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine?

Oriental medicine involves several branches, but the basic foundation is Chinese Medicine. Chinese Medicine has many disciplines, but is rooted in acupuncture and herbology. Acupuncture originated in China about 4,000 years ago, starting from the New Stone Age. The stone needles that archaeologists unearthed from that period were already very sharp. The earliest herbal formula book was written 2,300 years ago and still serves as the foundation of today’s basic herbal formula textbook used in medical schools across China.


Together, acupuncture and herbology have had over 2,300 years of documented history – a far longer testing period than any contemporary treatment method or government-approved clinical trial today. It is no surprise that people have globally recognized the longstanding clinical value of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Many countries adapted the main theory of Chinese medicine and added their own features to form their own style of Oriental medicine, such as Japanese, Korean, etc.


However, no matter how unique the characteristics of their respective appearances, the main back bone never steers too far from the basic Chinese method. In this clinic, we use basic Chinese techniques mixed with various styles of treatment. Whatever is suitable for a specific condition, whatever is best for that individual patient, that style and that technique will be applied. In most cases, the full treatment is a mixture of techniques.


In China today, Oriental medicine is practiced alongside Western medicine in all hospitals. In the United States and many European countries, Oriental medicine is practiced in more and more domestic hospitals. Doctors and scientists observe that both Western and Eastern medical systems are complementary, and should be integrated to offer optimal healthcare. Many research programs have been established in the United States and Europe to explore the combination of these methods. Research findings have verified that insertion of needles into different points on the body does indeed affect the brain.


Depending on the points or the body’s condition, the same point or different points can alternate the concentration of neurotransmitters in certain synapses of the nerves, or change sensitivity in the receptors of neurotransmitters in the brain. From there, the points will either inhibit or excite general effects released from the brain into all other parts of the body, to manipulate the body’s function and to heal the problem. This prescribed method is the way to quash inflammation, relax muscle tension, increase or decrease the heart rate, promote energy or sedative effects, etc. The general direction is to push the body’s function to the optimized neutral and balanced condition, known as bidirectional adjustment.

The well-known common saying in traditional Chinese medicine is:


Yang too strong, we weaken it


Yin deficiency, we replenish it


Too hot, we cool it down


Too cold, we warm it up.


Too high, we suppress it


Too low, we promote it


Too dry, we provide moisture


Too wet, we make dryer.


Too excited, we calm it down


Too depressed, we raise it high


Too fast, we slow it down


Too slow, we speed it up.


In this way, we balance the body and align back to harmony.



Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Acupuncture?

    Acupuncture is a medical therapy developed over 2000 years ago in Asia. Acupuncture stimulates specific points beneath the skin by the insertion of acupuncture needles. This process restores the balance of the body’s energy, also knows as “Qi” (pronounced chi). Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Moxibustion are some of the essential elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

  • Will it hurt?

    Acupuncture needles are extremely thin made from silver alloy typically stainless steel. You may feel little or no discomfort as the needles are inserted as the process is typically painless. You may feel different sensations including slight soreness, numbness, warmth, or pressure. These energetic sensations differs from pain. People often comment that the feeling is unfamiliar but pleasant and comforting.

  • Is it safe?

    Acupuncture therapy has been used for thousands of years in China. Acupuncture is the treatment of choice for one-fourth of the world’s population! The needles are FDA approved, individually packaged, pre-sterilized and disposed after a single use.

  • What should I expect for my first treatment?

    After the first treatment has been administered, depending on the aliment being treated, many experiences may occur. Immediate, total or partial relief from pain or other symptoms may be experienced. Some patients experience a sudden burst of energy while others may feel relaxed. Many people experience a calming satisfaction. Small, localized bruises from minor bleeding under the skin are infrequent, but do occur. These are no cause for alarm, and despite the cosmetic inconvenience, they actually provide a kind of bonus treatment. The reabsorption of the blood continues the stimulation of the acupuncture point even without the needle in place.

  • How long do the treatments take?

    In most situations treatments take between 20 and 30 minutes but can last longer in certain scenarios. The length of the treatment depends on the individual conditions of the patient and the skill of the acupuncturist. Be aware that on some days, visits may take longer due to the number of clients being treated.

  • What conditions can acupuncture treat?

    Many conditions may be treated. General pain relief and control for arthritis, cervical spondylopathy, knee pain, hand and foot pain, sciatica, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, lower back and neck pain, tendonitis, ect. Other conditions such as circulatory problems with high or low blood pressure, cold hands and feet. Some nervous system imbalances can also be treated such as anxiety, nervousness, sleeplessness, depression, asthma, allergies and sinus problems; digestive disorders like Crohn’s Disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, and constipation. Other common alements treated include headaches and migraines; treatments to help stop smoking, and many more conditions.

  • How does acupuncture work?

    In traditional Chinese Medicine, there exists a meridian system through the human body. In this system, invisible passageways for energy are called meridians. There are certain points on the body (more than 360) that connect with certain organs and bodily functions. Point Groups on the body that apply to a specific organ or function are found along the same meridian. In a healthy, normal functioning body, the energy in these meridians flow freely resulting in a balanced system. When the flow of energy is interrupted from causes such as stress or injury, this energy is reduced throwing your “Qi” off balance. By performing acupuncture using the points associated with the particular meridian involved, this Qi or balance is restored

  • Are the needles clean?

    Acupuncture needles are FDA approved. These needles are pre-sterilized and individually wrapped. After the needles are used, they are disposed.

  • How many treatments will I need?

    Since every person is unique in their own condition, the numbers of treatments will vary. The nature, severity and history of each patient’s problem, as well as the individual himself or herself, are all factors that are involved in how many treatments will be necessary.

  • Are needles the only equipment involved?

    Acupuncturist may use several techniques such as moxibustion, cupping, electric stimulation, and point stimulation to help with the patient’s treatment.

  • Will it conflict with my other medications?

    Acupuncture will not conflict with any of your medications. Acupuncture is used to complement and supplement your physician’s treatments NOT TO REPLACE THEM. You should discuss this issue with your physician and acupuncturist.

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