Five Element Acupuncture: FAQs

Five Element Acupuncture | How it Works | Fertility and Pregnancy | Diagnosis and Treatment | FAQs

For many, acupuncture is mysterious. These are the most commonly asked questions to me in my practice:

What is the main difference between Five Element acupuncture and other types of acupuncture?

There are many differences, but one of the most important distinctions is that Five Element Acupuncturists treat a patient’s constitutional weakness in order to achieve balance in the body. Treatment is focused on the root of the disease rather than on the symptoms. When one treats the root of disease the symptoms subside. If you only treat the symptoms, the cause of the disease persists and the disease can then go deeper into the body.

What is the difference between leaving the needles in and taking them out quickly?

Different styles of acupuncture use different needle techniques. When you insert the needle, stimulate the point and then remove it, you are tonifying energy. When you leave the needle in, you are sedating energy. Most people today need to build their energy as opposed to having it suppressed, therefore tonifying is a more common technique used in Five Element acupuncture.

Do you prescribe herbs?

No. “The goal of the acupuncturist was to assist patients in treating illness and to educate them in the ways in which they were not following the Tao. Herbs and medicines were frowned upon because they hindered the understanding of the true reason a person got ill.” My teacher J.R. Worlsey also said that one should either practice acupuncture or practice herbology and be a master at whichever they choose. Each is a life study unto itself.

Should I expect to feel different after treatment?

The first 3 to 5 treatments lay the foundation for the process of restoring one’s health. During this time it is common to experience subtle to marked improvements in symptoms and overall vitality. As the body heals, one may sustain an exacerbation of symptoms from present day and past illnesses, both. This is in fact a positive indication of energetic movement. The Law of Cure states that “disease goes from above to below, from within to without, and in reverse chronological order of wenst it came. As disease passes out of your body, you may experience symptoms. These symptoms should only last for up to 48 hours after treatment.

Can I exercise the day of a treatment?

Absolutely. It is good to keep the body moving, as this will support the treatment. Sweating also encourages further removal of toxins from the body. It is best to engage in a moderate, but not intensive, activity and drink plenty of water to aid in the elimination of toxins.

What types of ailments does acupuncture treat?

Five element acupuncture focuses on treating people (body, mind, and spirit), and not symptoms. When a patient’s energy is balanced, symptoms of all kinds subside. J.R. Worsley said, “A disease doesn’t cause a person to be sick, being sick causes a person to get a disease.” In other words, acupuncture creates an environment in the body where there is resistance to disease and sickness.