Acupuncture and face lifts, it is really not about lifting the face, it is about ironing out the wrinkles.  Acupuncture can quickly relax the tight muscles on your face and flatten out your skin.

Acupuncture relaxes tight muscles.  That is how it treats pain, that is how it treats wrinkles.

You do not need Botox!

There can be devastating side effects to some procedures. I was doing some research and found this:  http://www.realself.com/review/think-long-and-hard-before-getting-botox-it-ruined-face

Botox paralyzes the muscles, acupuncture RELAXES the muscles.  It is a much longer effect.  In fact, you can often get a few acupuncture sessions and that will last you a year.  Over time, continued facial expressions will tighten up the muscles again.  All you have to do is get acupuncture again.


Acupuncture, by increasing circulation, can help improve collagen formation.  Improving circulation is how acupuncture works.

When you have pain, acupuncture relaxes the muscles and improves blood flow so the body can heal itself.

It is very easy to relax your facial muscles and quickly improve your appearance.  You will also get a regular acupuncture treatment at the same time, so it is a bonus.  I often do a few needles on my patients faces to relax their muscles.

  This picture is taken from a Botox site.  You can get the same results with acupuncture.  You do not need injections, just muscle relaxation.

When we look at your tongue, it tells us a lot about your health.  We are looking for:

• General color
• Color in certain areas such as on the tip or sides
• Coating – how thick is it and is any missing?
• Shape of tongue – Is it swollen?  Do you have teeth marks?
• Are there any cracks?  If so, where?

As an acupuncture student, you have to look at hundreds of tongues to learn to differentiate the different qualities.  To the average person, a tongue is a tongue.  After you have looked at about 100 to 200 tongues, you can easily tell the difference.

For example, if a person has a very red tongue, that usually indicates heat.  Heat can be caused by many things, but stress is a common factor.  Drinking alcohol and taking drugs also cause a lot of heat.  Alcoholics sometimes have very red tongues when they are older.


If you have a thicker tongue coating, it often indicates you are not digesting your food very well.  We can treat that.

If you have a red tongue tip, that indicates you have heat in your heart.  That can cause insomnia and anxiety very easily.

Your tongue is one of the signals we use to determine what your diagnosis is.  It tells us a lot, but we always consider your symptoms.

Dr. Giovanni Maciocia is the author of a tongue diagnosis book.  He has written most of the books that are used in acupuncture schools in the West.

In China, there are many books on tongue diagnosis.  They have page after page of tongue pictures and have case studies that explain what the diagnosis is and how it is shown on the tongue.

Here is a link to a tongue diagnosis page for Giovanni Maciocia, he writes most of the books used in Western Acupuncture schools:  http://www.giovanni-maciocia.com/tonguegallery/default.html

Do not scroll down if you are squeamish or sensitive. Tongues can look very unattractive sometimes:

  This tongue is very red and has cracks.  It is also peeled.  You can see the fact that there is no coating on the outer edges.  He has a lot of what we call heat, in his system.  The cracks can be caused by a yin deficiency.

  This tongue is dark red or purple.  You can see all the spots on the tip of the tongue.  You can also notice at the root of the tongue there is a thick coating.  He probably has digestive issues also.  This is a serious case and will take quite some time to treat him.

  This is a geographic tongue.  This is usually caused by a yin deficiency in Chinese medicine.  The coating is just peeling away over time.  You can address this problem with herbs.

 
For more information on tongue diagnosis, there is no better resource that the book by Giovanni Maciocia:

Here is the link on Amazon for this book:  Tongue Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine

It is important to accurately find your points.  Your acupuncturist can help you locate the points.  I sometimes just write on my patients to show where the points are if they are going to use them at home a few days.

Some common points for acupressure are:

Large Intestine 11

This point is great for constipation.  It is a very strong point, which means that acupressure can work easily there.

This point is also used to boost the immune system.  It “moistens the intestines”.  If you are constipated, you will like this point a lot.  You need to press on both elbows for about 5 minutes.  You can alternate elbows.

You can see Large Intestine 11 is by the elbow.  It is located at the end of the crease by the elbow.


Spleen 6 is also a popular point for acupressure.  It helps to calm you and get rid of excess fluids.  It is located by the ankle, about one hand width above the round ball (your medial malleolus).  It is located just behind the bone.

Spleen 6 is done on most patients.  It helps to relieve stress, regulate the liver energy, strengthen the kidneys and balance the hormones.  It is one of the most important points in acupuncture.

Pericardium 6 is one of the best points to learn.  It is used for nausea, morning sickness and insomnia.  Women buy wrist bands that put a gentle pressure on this point.  This point also opens the energy circulation in the chest and regulates the stomach.  The trick is to measure it correctly.

Points are located by using body measurements.  For example, you use your finger to measure for Pericardium 6.  First find the wrist crease, place your two first fingers at the first knuckle joint.  You use that to find Pericardium 6.  Even if you are a little off, you can still get a benefit.  The acupuncture points have an area of influence that might be as big as a quarter or nickel.

Most people are not aware of how effective acupuncture can be to improve energy levels and metabolism.  I have had patients who were eating well and exercising and still not losing weight.  After one month of acupuncture treatments, they lost 10 pounds.

Acupuncture improves digestion and metabolism.  Your metabolism is determined by your overall energy level and how the organs that produce energy in your body are functioning.  For example, your kidney energy and spleen energy are key to have good energy levels.

Your spleen energy is not the same as in Western medicine.  In Chinese medicine, your spleen/stomach digest food and produce energy.  If you are not digesting your food very well, you will not have good energy levels.  That is one of the most important principles in Chinese medicine.  We always treat digestion and energy levels in every patient.


Just about every patient I have ever treated feels so much better after getting acupuncture just one month.  Most people come in for two treatments per week for at least a month.  They have more energy and feel better than they have in years.  Over time, your energy levels gradually decline and you might not even notice it.  After getting acupuncture and taking Chinese herbs, your body functions better and you are able to produce energy from your food.

Acupuncture:

• Improves energy levels
• Improves digestion
• Improves metabolism
• Gets rid of excess fluid in your body (edema)

Some acupuncturists use auricular, or ear acupuncture, to aid in weight loss.  There are points on the ear that can address hunger levels.  However, most Americans do not eat because they are hungry.  The ear points definitely help reduce hunger, but acupuncture points will stop working after 24-48 hours.  Your body will not allow you to continually stimulate a point.  It just shuts down.

That is why acupuncture points on the body that boost metabolism and overall body function are so important.  It is also important to take Chinese herbs such as ginseng or cordyceps to boost energy.  When you take Chinese herbs, you can take them 2-3 times per day.  They work on a very deep level to rejuvenate your body and improve energy levels.

Acupuncture can strengthen metabolism and improve energy levels, but if you have thyroid issues, they need to be treated.  From my experience, thyroid problems are an epidemic in this country and are under-treated.  There are a variety of blood tests that are available and the most common ones are not very sensitive.

Once the thyroid goes down so far, you might need to take some thyroid glandulars to help your body out.  There is also Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is a common cause of thyroid problems.  It is often caused by leaky gut, which can be caused by anti-biotics and NSAIDS.

Acupuncture will help you have more energy than you have at a long time, but most acupuncturists address the whole person and everything that might be causing a problem in your body.

There is also adrenal fatigue.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbs done for about a month will make a huge difference in how you feel.  It is also important to address the adrenal glands.  Unrelenting stress can wear down your adrenal glands.  Taking a good multi vitamin and vitamin C daily will go a long way to protect you from getting adrenal fatigue.

This diagram explains leaky gut, which is a common cause of thyroid problems.  In my experience, reducing common food allergens such as grains and dairy can really help thyroid issues.  I have treated both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid by stopping grain consumption.

Some acupuncturists use ear acupuncture to treat appetite.  Some people use ear stapling.  This is not really a Chinese medicine thing and I do not personally know acupuncturists who do this.  I do not agree with putting staples in people’s ears.  I use ear pellets.  The pellets are little balls that are on a small piece of tape.  They can be left on the ear and pressed as needed.

Ear stapling is not taught in acupuncture schools, to my knowledge.  I do not recommend it and do not do it.  Regular acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbs can help you lose weight with no gimmicks.

You usually start to feel better after a few weeks.  Your muscles are looser and the frequency and severity of migraines is reduced.  In order to treat the underlying imbalance in the liver energy, it usually takes 2 months at least.  I did have one patient who was very healthy in general and her migraines were gone in a month.  Few people are that healthy.  In her case, she had a meridian that was blocked.  There was nothing else wrong with her.


Pain is caused by a blockage in circulation.  When you have a lack of blood flow, your muscles and nerves do not get the nutrients they need to function normally.

• Muscle tightness presses on nerves
• Muscle tightness presses on blood vessels and stops normal blood flow
• Acupuncture relaxes muscles
• Acupuncture restores normal circulation and blood flow

If you put an acupuncture needle into a muscle that is tight and leave it in for 20 to 30 minutes, the muscle will relax.  It is a physiological fact.  Trigger points are used by some physical therapists for example.  It is the same principle.  There are areas of tight muscles that block blood flow.

Restore the blood flow.  Relax the muscles.  Treat liver energy imbalances.  Your migraines will be gone.

There are very few exceptions to these rules.  One exception is if someone takes drugs and alcohol.  Acupuncture cannot help migraines if a person damages the liver energy with these things.

Please try acupuncture for migraines and tell your friends.  Migraines are debilitating and completely unnecessary.


Here is a picture of the area at the base of the skull that usually has tight muscles in migraine patients:

  I do points on the neck, shoulders and upper back, as well as the base of the skull, where the circles are on this picture.

Acupuncture babies are very calm.  You can always spot them in a room full of babies.  Even if you have not had acupuncture until the final two months of your pregnancy, you can still receive an effect.  The theory is that your baby receives the same calming acupuncture that you do.

I usually have my pregnant patients sit up on a chair and prop up their feet on a chair in front of them.  They are usually not comfortable lying on a massage table on their backs.

Something as simple as treating stress with Liver 3 can have profound effects on mother and baby.

  That is Liver 3.  It is between the first and second toes.

You can use acupuncture to get pregnant and also to stay pregnant.  You can then use acupuncture in your final trimester to have a calm baby.

Moxibustion can also be used to turn a baby in a breech position.  This is used a lot in China, but it is not well known in America.  If you are at a hospital, they would not allow you to do this on the premises.

Moxa is used on Bladder 67, which is a point on the little toe.  Here is a little info from a search http://www.pregnancy.com.au/birth-choices/breech-birth/moxibustion-for-breech-presentation.shtml

Make sure to only see an acupuncturist who has a degree in Chinese medicine!  Other practitioners, like chiropractors, often are legally allowed to do acupuncture.

The problem is, they have only a little training.  A licensed acupuncturist is someone who has a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine.  This is now a 4 year degree.

Other practitioners can do acupuncture with just 100 hours or so of training.  Every state has different laws on this.  The reason I bring this up is that someone who has a degree in Chinese medicine will give you the best care possible and will know which acupuncture points are CONTRAINDICATED in pregnancy.  Do not take a chance and see someone who does not have a Master’s Degree.

Acupuncture can be very effective to improve fertility.  Acupuncture restores the normal function of the whole body.  Your body knows what health is, you just have to help it out.

Infertility can be caused by many things.  The most common causes of infertility in Chinese medicine are kidney weakness, liver energy stagnation and stagnation in the pelvis area.  Especially after the age of 30, your circulation can be impaired.  The blood flow to your ovaries and uterus can not be optimal.


We do general body points that improve energy levels and hormone balance.  We also have acupuncture points that can improve circulation to the uterus and ovaries.  There are many case studies in Chinese medicine books about treating imbalances in the fallopian tubes and uterus.  A point that is often used for infertility is “Zi gong”.  That is the “uterus” point.  It affects the functioning of the ovaries and uterus.

The Uterus point is used on both sides.

There are many Chinese herbs that improve fertility also.  In addition to taking herbs for whatever you are diagnosed with, you can also take he shou wu.  Another name for he shou wu is “Fo ti“.  This is a master herb for infertility in both men and women.  It is helpful for men to improve sperm count and sperm quality.

Fo ti also helps to grow healthier and more hair.  I even use this for my patients over 40 who want to replace hair they have lost with aging.  Within about a month you can see new hairs sprouting at your hairline on your forehead.  It is often used long term to nourish the kidneys.  It is a longevity tonic in Chinese medicine.

The most common ailment an acupuncturist sees is someone who has chronic pain and has tried everything else. An an acupuncturist, I am always at the end of the road. I even had one patient tell me that she had gotten her affairs in order before she came to me because her migraines were so bad that she was going to kill herself. It made me very sad to hear this. You will be glad to know that in a very short period of time she had relief from her migraines. She had suffered from them since she was 5 years old.

In Chinese Medicine, pain is caused by a Blockage. If you do not have a blockage, you do not have pain. Your acupuncturist will decide what has caused the blockage. We use specific acupuncture points that open up the circulation in the affected area and we also can use acupuncture on the actual area that hurts, to relieve muscle spasms.

Acute injury is not typically treated by doing acupuncture on the affected area. Your body sends a lot of inflammatory chemicals into an area that is injured and to put needles in that can pull too much energy into that area. We can, however, do the opposite site of the injury.

For example, if your left knee was just injured and there is a lot of fluid accumulation in that area, we could do the opposite knee and achieve a good effect. You would also want to take Chinese herbal medicine to treat the internal pooling of blood and fluids that often slows down healing.

Your body has to resolve all that stagnant fluid and damaged tissue. Bromelain, which is an enzyme derived from pineapples, can be used to relieve inflammation. I often combine bromelain with acupuncture and Chinese herbs for a faster recovery.

When nerves are damaged or cut, they have to restore normal function.  When your nerves are not working properly, you get nerve pain.  This is usually felt as a stabbing or stinging sensation.  It can feel like someone is stabbing you with needles or a bee is stinging you.  This is the nerve trying to restore normal circulation and blood flow.

Acupuncture is very effective to treat scars post surgery.  I would wait at least a month and make sure you ask your doctor if that is right for you.  I have treated many surgery scars and found good results.

Sometimes you have raised scars and keloids after surgery.  A scar is there because there is no circulation.  Your body cannot heal it because it cannot get blood flow in that area.  The nutrients to heal you are in the blood.

There are “scar treatments” that entail putting the needles around the scar.  They are not put in the incision spot, but around it.

Often you can find relief within an hour.  The acupuncture relaxes all the tissue that gets knotted up in surgery.  Surgery is very hard on your body.  All the nerves need to be able to function normally again and the skin needs to be able to flatten out and heal properly.

  Notice the needles are in a ring around the scar.  This pulls the energy and blood flow into the scar so your body can break it down.

This image is from a website I found that explains in even more detail how scars are treated with acupuncture: www.patriciapilot.com/santa-barbara-microcurrent-scar-removal

I have treated many scars from large to small and had great results.  I have also treated diabetic neuropathy with great results.