FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT CAN IÂ EXPECT AT AN ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC?
Exact treatment will vary somewhat from person to person, but most people begin with two acupuncture treatments a week for a few weeks, decreasing the frequency of treatment as the condition improves. The practitioner may also use electrical stimulation, heat lamp, and herbal patches to speed up the healing.
WHERE CAN I FIND YOU?
Dr. Lydia Hou practices acupuncture at locations in downtown Toronto and North York. To get started with an appointment, call 416-368-2525.
WHAT IS CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE?
Herbal medicine is a major part of traditional Oriental medicine, a comprehensive health care system used for over 3,000 years in China and throughout the world today.
Oriental medicine views the body as a dynamic, interrelated whole (mind, body, spirit) possessing a life force or vital energy called qi or chi (pronounced "chee"). Health depends on the free flow of qi. When disease occurs, therapy is applied to restore the balance and flow of the qi in the body and help the body heal itself.
Chinese herbal medicine is actually composed of over 5,000 plant, mineral and animal substances. Usually herbs are combined into formulas that address the main health problem and support the mind-body system.
ARE CHINESE HERBS SAFE?
Chinese herbs are effective and safe when prescribed by a well-trained herbal practitioner. Careful attention to dosage, combinations of herbs and any known drug-herb interactions, are covered in comprehensive Chinese herbal medicine education programs. In addition, the Chinese herbal profession is working with the FDA to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese herbs imported into this country.
Herbs are usually more gentle than pharmaceutical drugs because of their balancing or regulating effect on the body. However, side effects from herbs are possible. The most common problem is gastrointestinal upset, gas and bloating due to slight difficulty digesting the herbs. This or any other problem should be reported to the practitioner so he/she may change the formula.
To allow health care providers to provide effective and safe treatment, patients should inform Western medical physicians of the herbs they are taking as well as inform the herbal practitioner of any prescription medicines being used.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT A HERBAL CONSULTATION?
The Chinese herbal practitioner will take a comprehensive history of the patient's general health and specific complaint, look at the tongue and take the pulse in order to form an Oriental medicine diagnosis. After completing an evaluation, the practitioner may recommend an herbal formula consisting of several herbs. It is also possible that a Western medicine consultation and treatment may be recommended as well.