Tripp Hanson - Healing Perspective

Acupuncture is a safe and effective holistic medicine backed by more than two thousand years of practice and research. It is practiced all over the world both as a primary and adjunctive (alternative) treatment for a wide range of conditions.

The clinical success of acupuncture is related - at least in part - to the wide range of diagnostic signs and symptoms which are taken into effect when looking at an imbalance. For instance, if you come in telling me that your doctor has diagnosed you with a condition such as arthritis of the knees, I may look at your tongue, check your pulse, ask about your diet and lifestyle, palpate your spine, your abdomen... these are all part of gathering diagnostic information which allows me to develop a treatment strategy that is unique to you and your experience of a particular condition.

The beauty of this medicine is that there's no 'one single answer', no 'one treatment' for a particular condition, because Chinese medicine doesn't just treat symptoms. We include YOU- your particular expression of this particular condition- as part of our approach. We look at your body's particular way of expressing your particular symptoms as clues to what the root imbalance is within, and treat this underlying issue as well.

What styles of Acupuncture are practiced?

Little did I know when I began my acupuncture education, there are many schools of thought and theory. Some of them even seem to operate within entirely different paradigms, with entirely different principles: while it was complex to learn, it's precisely this scope of possible approaches to your condition that makes the actual practice of acupuncture an art form.

In the simplest of terms, here are some basic overviews of the schools of theory/thought that I learned while attending TriState College of Acupuncture in NYC that I will be employing while treating you:

This style of acupuncture was developed by Dr. Mark Seem, founder of TriState College of Acupuncture. A fundamental premise of this particular style is that muscular and organ dysfunction is a 2-way street. Whether the issue is somato-visceral (meaning that the somatic- muscular/tendon/ligment- dysfunction that goes untreated will ultimately affect the organ that is related to the area of the body experiencing the dysfunction) or viscero-somatic (meaning that the organ dysfunction occurring at the deeper level will 'communicate' with the surface musculature and tissue, creating pain and discomfort on the surface of the body) if you can touch one, you will by association affect the other. This style is highly effective for both muscular pain/dysfunction (the 'somatic' aspect of the somato-visceral spectrum) as well as deeper deficiencies/excesses (the 'visceral' aspect of somato-visceral spectrum). In effect, by 'reading' the surface of the body through palpation and treating what is found through related meridians and tight musculature, one can 'shake out the blanket' and smooth out the communications along this continuum and both release the tension and pain on the surface of the body, while nourishing and relieving the deeper issues occurring below the surface.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):

TCM is the general term for the style of acupuncture which most acupuncturists are trained in, at least initially, and the style which most people practice. As this is the most foundational grouping there is a broad range of techniques used and treatment protocols. Most recent clinical studies regarding acupuncture usually use treatment techniques and/or protocols based on TCM Theory.

Simply put, the approach with TCM is there's a specific combination of acupuncture points that will address the combination of signs and symptoms being exhibited. Tongue and pulse diagnosis are a significant part of determining the origins and treatment of your condition.

Other protocols, such as cupping, gua sha, or moxibustion (the burning of herbs near specific points) are often a part of the treatment.

Japanese Acupuncture:

Japanese Acupuncture is a style of acupuncture which requires additional training above and beyond general TCM Theory and Practice. The techniques within Japanese acupuncture are generally aimed at using the least amount of stimulation to create the greatest effect. To contrast with TCM, Japanese acupuncture typically uses thinner needles and less stimulation by using more shallow needle insertions. Additionally, while not entirely unique to Japanese acupuncture, practitioners tend to use the abdomen as a diagnostic tool more often than other styles of acupuncture.

Auricular Acupuncture:

Auricular Acupuncture may be considered both an adjunctive technique and a speciality area. Auricular acupuncture uses the ears as a microcosm, or representation, of the entire body. By diagnosing with and treating the ears, one can treat any conditions anywhere in the body, including psychological issues. One area where Auricular acupuncture is used extensively is in drug and alcohol detox centers where the NADA Protocol is used to help people deal with addictions.

What will my first Acupuncture treatment be like?

In general people find acupuncture to be an incredibly relaxing experience, even for those who have some initial hesitation about needles. Our First Acupuncture Treatment page contains indepth information about your initial treatment. In general your first treatment involves quite a bit of discussion, as the practitioner gathers as much information as possible to clearly understand and diagnose your issues from an oriental medicine viewpoint. The needling during the first treatment may be limited so you can become accustomed to the experience and the practitioner can see how you respond.

Your First Visit

Generally, your first visit is longer than your followup visits or at the very least it entails quite a bit of questioning. Some practitioners will not treat at all on the first visit, while others have very succinct questions and begin treating once they have made a diagnosis.
The intial questioning is a very important part of the care your acupuncturist can provide to you. While many of the questions may seem entirely irrelevant to your condition, for example asking the quality of your bowel movements when you came in for back pain or your psychological state when you came in for menstrual problems, there are very good reasons behind the questions. The answers you provide to the questions, along with other basic diagnostic tools such as looking at your tongue and feeling your pulse allow the acupuncturist to tailor the treatment specifically to you.

This individualization of the treatments is one of the strong points of oriental medicine. It is why people may experience broad changes within themselves after receiving acupuncture for a specific complaint. It also means that the treatments can be modified over time if they are not proving effective.

Your Diagnosis and Treatment

After the initial questioning, and the checking of your pulse and tongue, your practitioner will form a diagnosis, treatment plan and begin the acupuncture treatment. In most cases, the initial treatment is fairly conservative to ensure that you are comfortable and to allow your acupuncturist to see how you respond to acupuncture

Prognosis and Treatment Plans

A definitive prognosis is always difficult to formulate, especially following an initial consultation. After the first 2-3 treatments, however, your acupuncturist should have a good understanding of your condition and be able to offer you a reasonable idea of how many treatments you will need.

While many people will feel some change in their condition immediately or within the first 2-3 treatments, others with more serious or recalcitrant conditions will need many months of treatment before a significant change occurs. If you are not noticing any changes it does not mean that acupuncture is not helping you. Many times the changes are slow and somewhat subtle as the entire body begins to rebalance from the condition. During these intial stages an acupuncturist can usually guage the relative effectiveness of the treatments through precise questioning and by monitoring subtle changes in your tongue a/or pulse.

In the most general terms possible, 1 month of treatment may be necessary for each year that a condition has been active. For example, if you have had dysmenorrhea for the past 5 years you may need approximately 5 months of treatment before you will see a resolution. If you are experiencing acute backpain, you may receive immediate relief of the acute pain but may need further treatments to account for the underlying factors which led to the acute flareup.

As part of your overall treatment plan, your practitioner may also prescribe lifestyle and dietary changes to help you rebalance your body and mind. Our eastern nutrition page contains information about diet from an oriental viewpoint. Exercises such as Tai Chi or various styles of Qi Gong are often recommended, although simple activities such as walking or bicycle riding are also beneficial.