Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at Avance Care Durham

Chinese Medicine originated in ancient China and has evolved over thousands of years. It is known for its use of acupuncture but utilizes many different practices as primary or adjunctive therapies including herbal medicine, dietary therapy (from an eastern energetic philosophy), moxibustion, cupping, Tui na or other types of Chinese Asian Bodywork or massage, and Tai chi and Qi gong (practices that combine specific movements or postures, coordinated breathing, and mental focus). Practitioners use these various mind and body practices to treat or prevent health problems.

Each person is different constitutionally from every other. Two people with the same Western categorized illness may present differently so there are no standard protocols for everyone. Each patient has treatments designed specifically for them based on their unique presentation.

Chinese Medicine diagnostics are detailed and based on thousands of years of clinical trial and observation, which led to development of correlations between the different organ systems and bodily processes. Many clinical research trials that have been undertaken support the effectiveness of acupuncture in helping treat various conditions.

Your First Visit

• Plan to arrive 15-20 minutes before your appointment to fill out new patient forms.
• Bring a list of any medications you are currently taking, dosages, and any recent lab work.
• Wear loose fitting clothing. Sometimes, depending on the complaint, you may be asked to expose areas such as the upper leg, hip, upper arm, shoulder, abdomen or chest, if treatment calls for it.
• Be sure and eat before your visit. Some people can experience dizziness or other unwanted effects if receiving acupuncture or bodywork on an empty stomach.

In addition to acupuncture, the treatment may include cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, Asian bodywork, consultation on herbal recommendations, diet and lifestyle, or a combination of some of these modalities.

At the end of the session, we will work on a treatment plan and rough determination of how many visits may be necessary to see improvement in your complaint. We will also discuss aftercare instructions which are vital to the success of any treatment plan.

New Patients

Initial consultations are required for new acupuncture clients: includes Chinese Medicine diagnostic evaluation with a medical history intake, physical testing or examination if necessary, and the first treatment. Sessions last 90 minutes.

Returning Patients

Follow up appointments include all modalities that are appropriate for the patient’s complaint, including: acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, estim, herbal consultation, and massage. There are several options that can be chosen based on your particular preference.