How’s your energy?? Are you full of energy?? Do you need more?? Do you have too much?? Our ability to exist in this world and be productive members of society depends on how we manage the energy we have.? Some people are always tired and need more energy. ?Other people are bounding with energy to such an extent that they have trouble sleeping.? Despite all this talk of energy and its importance in our lives, very few people understand the intricacies of how to manage their own energy to live a healthy & balanced life.? In this 3 part blog, I’ll introduce the 3 C’s of energy management and offer some tips to effectively incorporate the main principles of how to make your energy work more efficiently in your life.?

Understanding how to manage your energy starts with appreciating that there are only 3 possible things you can do to energy to make it work for you: Create, Circulate, & Conserve.

In this third part I’ll be discussing energy Conservation

In the 1^st article we explored how we create energy and a few tips to maximize how our bodies develop that energy through food & air.  In the 2^nd article we explored how circulation ensures that your energy is utilized most efficiently.  Now we need to explore the most underappreciated and overlooked aspect of energy management.  Conservation allows us to store energy and maintain a reserve that can be used whenever we most need it.  Without conserving energy, we run the risk of having a deficit that can have dramatic implications for our health, especially later on in life.  It’s not unlike having a savings account or retirement fund.  If you only earn money(create), then spend money(circulate), it’s too easy to eventually run out and be left with nothing in the bank.  The same applies for managing your energy. 

The only ways to conserve energy are sleeping & meditation.

We’ll explore both but first it’s important to realize that when we speak about energy conservation, we are more specifically speaking about how the body prepares for and responds to stress.  Stress is a buzzword and is mainly thought of in a pejorative sense because we see the negative effect it has on our health.  But keep in mind that stress is absolutely necessary to function properly in this world.  Without stress, we would not be able to stand upright, we would not be able to exercise and grow, we would not be able to learn and achieve, and we would not be able to overcome obstacles.  Stress becomes dangerous when we are constantly exposed to it, without any mechanism to offset the deleterious effect it has on our body/energy.  When we don’t conserve energy properly, then we create an environment in which stress is more likely to have a negative effect on our health.  In the previous 2 articles I introduced equations, and here I would like to introduce another, albeit a tad glib.   

Repeated exposure to stress + inability to conserve energy = poor health

Notice in my very scientific formula that stress, by itself, does not cause disease.  It needs an opportunistic environment to take advantage of areas of weakness.  When we are exposed to a life-threatening situation, our bodies respond by bombarding us with stress hormones and chemicals that simplify all of existence down to 2 options: fight or flight.  The only things that matter in this scenario are Heart rate, breathing rate, muscle contraction.  Every other body process is considered not important in the moment and will effectively “take a back seat”.  This includes metabolism, digestion, rationale thought, emotional stability, bowel function, etc. 

Luckily, most of us are not exposed to life-threatening situations on a regular basis.  But we all are exposed to less dangerous situations daily that produce the same stress response.  Sometimes we are not even finished processing one stressor, when the next one already starts.  There are traffic jams, money concerns, pandemics, children, bosses, politics, etc. that all cause the same response in the body.  Guess what happens?  All of the things that are considered “non-essential” will fail to function efficiently and we will be left vulnerable to disease.  Studies have shown that continuous stress causes chronic pain & inflammation, weight gain, poor circulation due to increased blood clotting, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and susceptibility to stroke, heart disease, and cancer. 

This “fight or flight” mechanism in the body is related to an overactive sympathetic nervous system response due to stress.  The key to reversing this and not allowing it to have negative health effects is to make sure the body can easily slip into the para-sympathetic system, which is also called “rest & digest”.

This segues into how and why the 2 forms of energy conservation are so crucial.  We have to provide our body with an environment that can adequately respond to the demands of a hectic society and lifestyle.  The only way to do that is to balance the incessant stress and activity with what you may simply call “quiet time for the brain”.  Sleep is the most obvious way to achieve that.  We spend upwards of 8-9 hours a day shutting everything down so our body can recharge and regroup for the demands we put on it.  More important that the number of hours is the quality.  Not everyone needs the same amount of time, but when we sleep, we should fall asleep easily, stay asleep, and awake feeling refreshed.   

For people who have difficulty sleeping I always recommend getting acupuncture.  Acupuncture can counter the negative effects of stress by immediately allowing the body to enter “rest & digest” mode.  Most people are surprised when they fall asleep on the table with needles in them, but it makes perfect sense.  When the body wants to recharge and heal, it naturally needs to tone down the overactive sympathetic nervous system and enter the more calming state of parasympathetic “rest & digest”.  Acupuncture facilitates that as quickly as any medication, with fewer side effects. 

So how does meditation fit into this equation?  When most people think of meditation they envision sitting cross-legged in a monastery or temple chanting and giving up all worldly possessions.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  In fact, the only goal of meditation is to be in the moment and conscious of the present state.  When we are in the moment and conscious of the present state, we can manage our thoughts and emotions and better decide how to distribute energy.  We waste less energy thinking about the past and create less anxiety about things that may happen in the future.  In the 1600’s French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal wrote “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone,”. 

This may be one of the most difficult things to do in the world today. Everything is competing for our attention and trying to force us to respond immediately.  There are constant advertisements, social media videos, uploading, streaming, and instantaneous info that comes from our phones and watches.  But that is why we need it so much.  All of that constant stream of info and images forces us to use brain energy.  You may think it’s stimulating, but in reality it has an insidious draining effect on our mental energy.  Naturally there is no escaping this completely.  We have to live in society and adapt to the demands and trends that are omnipresent.  But…if we do not develop a way counter the incessant bombardment of stimuli, then we are always going to be running an energy deficit. 

Meditating is truly one of the simplest exercises you can do to benefit your health.  But it is almost impossibly difficult for many people who are not used to sitting quietly.  Luckily, you only need about 10 minutes per day to reap the benefits.  There are way too many strategies to list here but I will offer you 2 very simple mindfulness exercises that can have a profound effect on your overall mental energy.

1.  Find a quiet space.  It can be pretty much anywhere, but it is crucial to make sure you will not be disturbed.  I like going outside but your house or apartment can be just as effective.  The key is to make sure you are not disturbed.  No phone, no computer, no smart watch, no kids, no work emails.  I promise you can do this!  You only need 10 minutes.  Just sit quietly and pay attention to your breath.  Inhale through the nose gently.  Notice any tension in your body.  Then exhale through the nose gently and add 2 or 3 seconds to the exhale to make it longer than the inhale.  Start at your head and work your way down to your feet if you are anxious.  Start at your feet and work your way up if you are depressed or fatigued.    Right before bedtime is another great time to try this.  You will lose your focus many times.  That is fine.  Just keep coming back to your focal point which is your breath/body.  That is the exercise.  No winning or losing or failure, just be

2.  The other visualization I like using is what I call the vacation meditation.  Sit in your quiet space like above.  But as vividly as you can imagine, conjure up your favorite vacation destination.  It can be somewhere you have been, or somewhere you want to go.  But be there as clearly as you can imagine.  Notice the temperature, notice the smells, the sounds, and the feel of the place.  Science has proven that Your brain cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined.  The more vivid you can make it, the better the effect will be.

Combining acupuncture to improve your sleep and practicing a little meditation will have profound benefits for your energy and your overall mental health.  It is so important in today’s world to protect our energy and make sure we can thrive, both physically and mentally.  The only promise I make is that you will feel better if you try it, and nothing will change if you don’t

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Fall is a time of year for harvesting, preparation, and turning inward to prepare the body for the colder weather of winter.   It’s also a time of year when you are more prone to catch a virus.  Taking a few simple steps to ensure that we are prepared for the change of season, can go a long way to ensuring a healthy, happier Fall & Winter. 

Most of my patients ask me what they can do to protect themselves against viruses such as COVID, the common cold, or other strains of the flu.  Whether you have received a vaccine or not, it is important to continue to boost or regulate your body’s own immunity, so that you have a strong constitution if you do happen to get exposed to nasty germs and viruses (which of course you will). 

It’s important to note that just because there are strains of viruses more prevalent in the environment, does not mean that you will get sick.  Most people have heard of the concept of viral load.  The simple explanation of viral load is that you have to be exposed to a certain amount of virus for a certain amount of time to have it take hold and cause illness.  This is true, but we often have very little control over how much exposure we are susceptible to.  Masking can make a difference, but it is not failsafe.  What we do have control over, is how well prepared our internal environment is set up to handle viral load. 

In TCM, there is a concept of Xie versus Zheng.  Loosely translated, it means evil versus righteous.  Often, the translations of Chinese to English include overly poetic or dramatic terminology, so the principle is what matters most.  The Xie includes anything from the environment that can cause disease, including bacteria, viruses, pathogens, pollutants, etc.  The Zheng includes everything inside of us that prevents the Xie from causing severe issues. There is always a give and take and a relative balance to ensure health.  Simply put, if you have a strong constitution, it takes a higher viral load to cause illness, and even if you do get sick, you will recover much faster and with fewer complications.  On the flip side, if your constitution is weaker, then it may not take a big viral load to start causing serious problems.  We need to have some simple habits that can ensure the righteous environment inside our bodies is well prepared.  One note here to mention that is actually very important.  I also used the term regulate and not just boost to describe what our immunity needs.  Some people tend to overreact to any environmental pollutants or toxins and are susceptible to auto-immune responses.  In this case they certainly do not want their immune systems boosted.  Rather, they need to have it managed and regulated so that the appropriate response is generated.  Fortunately, the following tips are excellent for anyone looking to promote health and wellness regardless of condition.

1.? Eat With The Season – this is a principle that is as old as humanity, but not followed anymore because we have such easy access to food any time we want.? But our internal environments require some form of synergy with the outside world.? We should be transitioning away from cold, raw foods and adding more root vegetables, broths, and warming spices. Suggestions include; apples, pears, parsnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, soups, stews, and spices like cinnamon, ginger, and chilis.

2.? Practice Breathing Exercises – The Fall is the Lung time of year according to TCM.? It is a time to take care of the Lungs and make sure they are well oxygenated and cleansed.? The Lungs are also the most important organ for a healthy immune system.? Try this simple breathing exercise to maximize your Lung vitality; in a seated position inhale quietly but deeply through the nose without straining.? Imagine all of the surface area of the Lungs expanding.? Then exhale through the mouth as if you are exhaling through a straw.? Imagine every inch of surface area being cleaned out and all the toxins being removed.? Repeat 10-15 times.? It is crucial that you have a space that is free from any type of exhaust or chemicals when you do this exercise.? Best outdoors, but indoors is fine if you open a window or sit near plants.

3.  Get Acupuncture & Herbs – Acupuncture and herbs have been used for centuries to strengthen the Zheng(righteous Qi) and create a string internal environment to regulate immunity.  Chinese medicine has a long rich history of studying infectious diseases and providing effective treatments even before the availability of modern medicines like vaccines and antibiotics.  Many of the herbal formulas are given as preventative treatments before the season starts or given to people who are susceptible to getting sick easily.  It is important to develop consistency with treatments and not wait until you are already sick to start taking care of the internal environment of your body.

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Dr. Matthew Fellner DACM, L.Ac.

In this blog I want to address students of Acupuncture and emphasize the importance of herbal medicine for professional development.

When I began my training in TCM 20 years ago, I went in, like most students, bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to change the world one needle at a time.  It became apparent rather quickly that as much as acupuncture is a crucial part of TCM and constitutes the majority of our time and effort in clinical practice, it is secondary in importance to herbology with regard to understanding the entire scope of this wonderful medicine. 

Without hyperbole I can say that TCM practitioners who are trained in herbal medicine are better TCM practitioners than their counterparts who are only acupuncturists.  Notice I did not say they are better acupuncturists, but rather, better TCM practitioners.  It is important to remember that Chinese medicine has its roots in Shamanism and herbology, with acupuncture becoming more refined later in history as the needles themselves became more refined and precise.  The entire thought process of TCM is based in the understanding gained by studying herbs and formulas.  Many of the most seminal Chinese classics, such as the Shang Han Lun & Wen Bing were written only with formulas in mind.  When you only study acupuncture, you are missing half of the story.

I am reminded of a story I read from music that relates quite well here.  A very well-known and successful guitarist was recounting how his music teacher gave him a very difficult musical piece by Bach to practice on the piano. This guitarist was well versed on the piano but did not play it regularly.  He was confused why the teacher wanted him to practice something so difficult and intricate on his non-primary instrument.  The reasoning was that if he can work his way through that Bach piano piece, even if he struggled, he would be a far superior musician.  The skills he would develop through that practice would automatically translate to him being a better guitarist.  This is the same thought I have regarding herbal study in TCM.  It is difficult to digest, and nearly impossible to master, but engaging in the process automatically makes you a better practitioner because you will think the medicine more clearly and thoroughly. 

TCM sets the foundation for your studies throughout school because it has systematic and repeatable principles that can be taught in any academic setting.  That is why schools tend to rely upon teaching TCM and employing TCM trained instructors.  Once you are well versed in the principles of TCM, then you can branch out to any other type of acupuncture and succeed without having to readjust your entire understanding of the medicine.  That includes being well versed in the principles of herbal medicine.  In order to be successful as an herbalist, it is imperative that you have mastery of disease cause, patho-mechanism, pattern differentiation, and treatment principle.  Each formula requires a complete understanding of each herb, each channel, temperature, taste, and how each herb works with the other herbs in the formula to create a harmonious balance.  As you develop this ability, you are automatically training your mind appropriately to be a better acupuncturist as well.  

I strongly encourage all acupuncture students to explore the 中国P站 herbal program to become a more well-rounded and insightful practitioner of TCM.

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Recently a colleague asked me if I do dry needling and proceeded to insist that dry needling is different somehow from Acupuncture.  I tried my best to educate her that dry needling is actually a type of acupuncture that is performed by people who have very little training in the proper techniques of needle manipulation.  I’m not sure if I came across as informative or snooty, but it made me want to write a little more about how to accurately assess what dry needling is, and how it is similar and different from traditional acupuncture.  This is important because more physical therapists and chiropractors are being trained to do dry needling, and the public is receiving very little viable information that could help them make the most informed healthcare decisions.

Physio-pedia.com defines dry needling as such…Trigger-point dry needling is an invasive procedure where a fine needle or  needle is inserted into the skin and . It is aimed at myofascial  (MTrP) which are hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band. Trigger point dry needling can be carried out at superficial or deep tissue level. 

The NJ department of Consumer affairs defines acupuncture as… the practice of Oriental medicine based on traditional Oriental medical theories, including stimulation of a certain point or points on or near the surface of the body by the insertion of special needles to prevent or modify the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions including pain control and for the treatment of diseases or dysfunctions of the body.

As you can see the definitions are essentially the same, except that dry needling is much more specific, and acupuncture is broader and includes the principles of “Oriental” medicine.  So even though they may appear different, dry needling is a more specified type of acupuncture.  The method of achieving the therapeutic result is exactly the same.  Acupuncturists learn various methods of treatment including dry needling, trigger point needling, myofascial release, etc.  Additionally, dry needling is performed using the exact same needles that acupuncturists use.  The difference of using traditional Oriental medicine theory is a very crucial piece of why dry needling alone can be very dangerous if a practitioner is not well versed in the deeply rooted principles of the traditional medicine.  PT’s and chiropractors always point out that they have a significant amount of training in anatomy and physiology, which is 100% true.  However, they often receive certification to perform dry needling after a weekend course.  Acupuncturists are required to have 2500 hours of training in NJ.  Without going into an entire lecture on the nuances of traditional Chinese medicine, it is worth noting that a significant part of an acupuncturists training revolves around understanding the myriad ways that a patient presents clinically.  This includes considering things like overall constitution, strength, and physical viability.  Not all illnesses and diseases present the same way, not all patients respond the same way, and certainly, not every treatment should be the same.  Unfortunately, when dry needling is performed, it is done with the mindset of 1 size fits all.  Every patient receives the same type of needling regardless of age, overall health, and constitution.  This can make for outcomes that don’t achieve results, or worse, may exacerbate the condition.  Dry needling tends to be very aggressive in nature and well suited for younger, healthier, athletic body types.  But what about if a 75 year old woman has the same injury?  What if she has a history of anemia and low blood pressure?  These are considerations that would drastically change the needling strategy for an acupuncturist.  That is part of the reason why we ask so many questions, and feel the pulse, and look at the tongue.  All of those diagnostic methods that are part of the principles of traditional Chinese Medicine, which the PT’s & chiros consider unnecessary and different from dry needling, actually are crucial to establishing the proper type of treatment. 

Even as a well-trained acupuncturist, I have made mistakes in the past.  In my first year in practice I was treating a woman in her mid 40’s who had a history of migraine headaches.  She also had chronically low blood pressure.  She had a lot of stress and anxiety and tended to carry it in her neck and shoulders.  I decided to do “dry needling” which was basically trigger points along the upper trapezius(both acupuncture[GB21] and dry needling[Spinal Accessory H3] use the exact same point in this area).  The treatment must have been too aggressive because she didn’t come back for another treatment.  When I called her, she said that the needling I did caused a severe migraine and she didn’t want to do it again.  Well, I certainly learned my lesson.  For her constitution and history, an aggressive form of needling was absolutely contraindicated.  And now 16 years later, I am much more sharply attuned to what each patient needs.

Now every time I question a practitioner who uses dry needling, I always ask what situations would be inappropriate to use the more aggressive method.  And not surprisingly, very few can answer in a way that shows any depth of knowledge or grasp of subtle differences in patient presentation.  So, consider that the next time you are deciding where to get your acupuncture.  A properly trained acupuncturist is significantly more skilled in both needling technique and the understanding of the situations that warrant the use of dry needling versus traditional acupuncture. 

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One of the most misunderstood aspects of receiving acupuncture treatments from a patient perspective that I have encountered in my 16 years in practice, is how long it should take to fix a problem.  Obviously, for any patient, getting better is the primary concern, and doing it as quickly as possible is ideal both for one’s health and pocketbook.  But there are a few nuances that make it difficult to accurately predict how long it will take before a patient starts seeing lasting results.

Firstly, it is always crucial to remember how long it took you to get to where you are.  There is a huge difference between trying to relieve pain that is caused by an acute injury or strain, and a pain that is chronic and has been present for many years.  The longer any condition has been present, the more it becomes engrained in every aspect of your life.  This is what we call a pattern in our medicine.  A pattern is not just a disease or illness, but a determining motivation for how a person expresses any aspect of their overall being, including emotions, recovery from injury, posture, and lifestyle choices. 

Secondly, you the patient should be an active participant in your overall health, which includes active steps to be compliant.  Resetting an engrained pattern and restoring optimal balance in your health is not easy and requires time and effort.  Whether you see an acupuncturist, herbalist, nutritionist, physical therapist, chiropractor, etc. there are additional steps or exercises that you may need to follow to ensure that the work that is being done during your visit is not lost in the time away from the office.  The more willing a patient is to commit to their care and actively participate away from the clinic, the quicker the pattern can be reset and the greater the chances of the healthy balance being maintained.

Thirdly, and often this the most difficult to manage, is eliminating as much of the interference that prevents you from committing to treatment.  When your acupuncturist creates a plan, it is meant to be followed so that you can get back to feeling well as soon as possible.  It is never arbitrary.  There may be slight differences in how often a practitioner wants to see you, but for the most part following a schedule will be an important part of changing the unhealthy pattern.  Often, patients complain that they are too busy to commit to treatment, or they don’t have the means to come on a regular basis.  But the one guarantee I make to patients is, I cannot help you if you don’t show up.  Unfortunately, acupuncture does not work remotely, so there needs to be some level of commitment to make it work.  Here is a general layout of the course of a typical schedule of acupuncture treatments.  You can see that more frequent sessions early on leads to better results where fewer treatments are needed to maintain the proper healthy pattern.  

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 If you’ve entered into the world of TCM, you’re bound to hear about the potent effectiveness of the 36^th point along the stomach channel, ST-36. The Chinese name for this point is zusanli (zú sān l?), which translates into English as “Leg Three Miles” or “Three Miles of the Foot.” Classical texts of the Han dynasty have referred to zusanli as simply sanli, which traditionally references the method of locating this point along the leg: three cun below the knee, or three cun below ST-35 AKA dubi. Zu refers to foot, which correlates with the stomach channel’s classical translation as Foot Yang Ming 阳明.

Zusanli has earned popularity points through its use in tonifying qi and blood, promoting general wellness, and addressing most conditions related to the abdomen. Traditional actions also include dispelling cold, strengthening the body, brightening the eyes, regulating nutritive (Ying) and defensive (Wei) Qi and the intestines, raising Yang, expelling wind and dampness, and resolving edema. The power of this point is best understood through its classifications as the He (Sea) point, Command point of the Abdomen, and Sea of Water and Grain point.  

Within the Shu point categories, zusanli is the He (Sea) point of the Foot Yang Ming channel. He (Sea) points have absorptive, internalizing properties that treat disorders of the Fu organs (in this case, the stomach) and represent the plunging of energy into the interior of the body. Since zusanli is on a yang meridian (Foot Yang Ming), the He (Sea) point elementally corresponds to earth. When considering Wu Xing, or Five-Element Theory, zusanli is literally the Earth yang point within the Earth meridian; hence, ST-36 is effective in treating counterflow qi and diarrhea, disorders of the stomach, and regulation of dampness.

Some texts reference four Command points while others reference six; regardless, zusanli is one of the original Command points. Command points are individual points that have strong effects on their related body part. As the Command point of the Abdomen, ST-36 can treat any imbalance within the abdomen area with any etiology (hot, cold, excess, deficiency) whether it be chronic or acute.

According to Ling Shu, there are areas of the body that are understood as a collection, or “sea” of vital substances: qi, blood, marrow, and water/grain. It’s only fitting that zusanli would be the Sea of Water and Grain point; after all, the stomach is the first organ to interact with food which directly correlates with digestion and appetite. Whether it be abdominal fullness, spleen/stomach vacuity (e.g., hunger without desire to eat), dampness, or stagnation within the digestive tract, ST-36 is one of the most desirable points to incorporate for treatment.

Whether it be acupuncture, acupressure, moxa, or another TCM modality, keep zusanli as a point of consideration for treatment.

References:

AC100 Meridian Theory, Class 3 Lecture with Dr. Matthew Fellner, DACM, LAc

AC100 Meridian Theory, Class 5 Lecture with Dr. Matthew Fellner, DACM, LAc

Dorr, S. D. / C. (n.d.). ZUSANLI (STOMACH-36). Zusanli (stomach-36). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from http://www.itmonline.org/arts/zusanli.htm

Dupuis, C. J. (2022). TCM Acupuncture theory – command points acupuncture points theory. Yin Yang House. Retrieved April 23, 2022, from https://yinyanghouse.com/theory/acupuncturepoints/theory_commandpoints/

Stomach 36 (ST 36). Stomach 36 (ST 36) – Acupuncture Points – Acufinder.com. (2022). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Points/Stomach+36+(ST+36)/69

TM111 Qi Gong Class 5 Lecture with Dr. Matthew Fellner, DACM, LAc

TM112 Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine Week 9 Lecture with Dr. Caroline Kiley, DAc, Dipl. Ac., LAc

TM120 Huang Di Nei Jin – 12 Channels Lecture with Dr. Yanming Zu, PhD, RPh, Lac

TM120针灸大成 Zhen Jiu Da Cheng and Point Categories Lecture with Dr. Yanming Zu, PhD, RPh, LAc

Zú Sān l?. English meaning of 足三裏 ( zu san li / zú sān l? ) – Stomach 36. (2022, March 8). Retrieved April 23, 2022, from https://www.hantrainerpro.com/tcm/chinese-english/translation-zusanli_st36.htm

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Chinese Medicine has a long history of using herbs to treat any type of medical condition.  This history predates acupuncture and is closely related to the ancient shamanistic traditions of using the bounty of the Earth to both nourish and heal the body.  Many of the herbs that are so commonplace today have been used by various cultures and healing traditions for thousands of years, including ginger, ginseng, cinnamon, acai, and turmeric, just to name a few. 

Modern science has identified the healing benefits of literally thousands of herbs and there is robust research to validate their use for a wide range of conditions.   There are too many to list but here are a few:

In fact, the properties of some herbs have been so well documented that they have been synthesized into common pharmaceuticals.  Digitalis, which is used to strengthen the heart and improve circulation is made from the foxglove plant.  Aspirin contains salicylic acid which was originally extracted from the bark of the willow tree.

What makes this use of herbs different from their use in Chinese medicine, is how they are administered.  Chinese medicine is famous for creating individualized treatments that are tailored to the patients’ specific needs.  Adhering to the old mantra…”one man’s medicine is another man’s poison” is more than just cautionary advice.  It truly forms the basis of how a practitioner establishes the best way to treat the whole person, and not just cover up symptoms. 

A Chinese herbalist will customize a formula that may contain 3, 4, 5 or even up to 20 herbs to specifically target both the symptoms of disease, and the underlying constitution.  He or she not only knows every individual herb and how it affects the body, but also how each herb interacts with each other and can either negate or enhance specific properties.  So, 8 people who all have migraine headaches may each receive 8 completely different types of formulas.  Or they might receive a slightly different formula that is tweaked just enough to match their unique presentation.  It takes many years of training and research to command the entire canon of Chinese herbal medicine.  But when the formula is created that matches what the patient needs, then the results can be dramatic with almost no side effects. 

Finding a qualified herbalist is actually much more difficult than finding a qualified acupuncturist, because there is very little regulation overseeing who can practice and dispense herbs.  Therefore, it is imperative that you look for someone who has an herbal certificate and authorization to practice in NJ.  All acupuncturists who dispense herbs in NJ are required to be NCCAOM certified in Herbal medicine.  The intern clinic at 中国P站 is  a great place to start, because you’ll be treated by herbal interns who are working under the supervision of licensed practitioners with substantial experience dispensing herbs safely and effectively.

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