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Frequently Asked Questions Acupuncture Questions How does Oriental medicine work? Homeopathy Questions What is homotoxicology? What are homeopathic remedies or homeopathy? What are toxins and how do they impact health? What are the phases of disease development? What conditions are treated with homotoxicology? What is involved in homotoxicology treatment? How can the benefits of homotoxicology be maximized? How has the Institute for Traditional Acupuncture and Herbology developed expertise in homotoxicology? Sound Therapy Questions What is Acutonics®? How does Acutonics® work? What happens during an Acutonics® session? How can Acutonics® help me? How does Oriental medicine work? What isTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a medical technique of inserting and manipulating filiform needles into acupuncture points on the body with the aim of restoring health and well-being. Acupuncture is thought to have originated in China and is most commonly associated with Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Traditional Chinese medicine is a range of traditional medical practices that developed over several thousand years. The English phrase "TCM" was created in the 1950s by the PRC in order to export Chinese medicine. TCM practices include theories, diagnosis and treatments such as herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage. TCM is a form of so-called Oriental medicine, which includes other traditional East Asian medical systems such as traditional Japanese and Korean medicine. TCM theory asserts that processes of the human body are interrelated and in constant interaction with the environment. Signs of disharmony help the TCM practitioner to understand, treat and prevent illness and disease. What is Japanese Acupuncture? Acupuncture came to Japan 1,300 years ago, from China through Korea, and it has been refined to become a whole independent system of practice. Compared to Chinese acupuncture, Japanese acupuncturists use thin, fine needles with insertion tubes that are very gentle and painless. While Chinese acupuncturists would ask their patients whether or not they felt the strong "de qi" needling sensation, which is often unbearable to American patients, Japanese acupuncturists cause minor pain to the patient, and the doctor would "feel" the qi themselves. Japanese acupuncture is also different from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture in point selection. (TCM is a simplified communist version of classical acupuncture) While TCM acupuncture chooses treatment points by herbal diagnosis (also called "herbalized acupuncture" by Bob Flaws), Japanese acupuncture chooses acupuncture points purely by classical energetic principles of yin, yang and five elements. What is Five-Element Acupuncture? Five-Element Acupuncture, developed by Dr. J.R. Worsley, believes that all things in the universe manifest as the five elements known as water, wood, fire, earth and metal. In humans these forces manifest in five different ways, five distinct emotions, five pairs of organs, and five specific areas where we can detect our strengths and weaknesses. Each element creates the different organs of our body and in nature the seasons of the year. They also create the deeper levels within us, those of our soul. They are phases through which all things pass from their beginning to their end. Is Acupuncture safe? What does Acupuncture treat? What does the Institute for Traditional Acupuncture and Herbology treat with Acupuncture? Allergies, Alternative Cancer Support, Arthritis, Digestive Disorders Back Pain, Bronchitis, Chronic Fatigue, Asthma, Immune Disorders, Infertility, Lupus, Colitis, Pain Management, PMS, Sciatica,Thyroid Disorders Can acupuncture prevent future health problems or enhance health? Are there any conditions for which acupuncture is not recommended? Can prescription medications be taken while receiving acupuncture? Can acupuncture be effective when other treatments have failed? What if I have more than one symptom and don't know what is wrong? Can acupuncture be used with infants or children? What is homotoxicology? The goal of treatment in homotoxicology is to detoxify the body and restore the body’s natural biorhythms. For those with health challenges, homotoxicology maintains that health cannot be achieved without ridding the body of toxins. Homotoxicology involves using homeopathic remedies to facilitate the removal of toxins and to stimulate the body’s capacity to heal itself. The practice of homotoxicology incorporates the philosophy that each human being possesses an innate self-healing mechanism that can prevent and treat illness. What are homeopathic remedies or homeopathy? Homotoxicology uses homeopathic remedies to detoxify the body. Homeopathic remedies, which are FDA approved, come in tablets, liquid vials, oral drops and injection solutions. Remedies are taken orally, topically, through inhalation or injection. They work synergistically to stimulate the body’s inherent capacity to heal itself. Most homeopathic remedies are derived from natural substances that come from plants, minerals or animals. The term homeopathy comes from the Greek words homeo, meaning similar, and pathos, meaning suffering or disease. Homeopathy is an alternative medical system that was founded in Germany during the 18th century. The system of homeopathy uses small doses of highly diluted remedies that stimulate the body’s defenses in order to restore health. A homeopathic remedy is prepared by diluting the substance in a series of steps. Homeopathy asserts that this process can maintain a substance's healing properties regardless of how many times it has been diluted. Homeopathy is based on the concept of “like cures like” in that substances may create symptoms they can also relieve. Therefore, homeopathic remedies, which usually contain a dilution of the ailment being treated, stimulate the condition and a subsequent self-healing response. Another way to view "like cures like" is that symptoms are part of the body's attempt to heal itself. For example, a fever can develop as a result of an immune response to an infection and a cough may help to eliminate mucus. What are toxins and how do they impact health? Today’s environment contains thousands of chemicals, many of which are toxic to the human body. Exogenous toxins that are introduced or produced from outside the human body include air pollution, synthetic chemicals in food and water, bacteria, viruses and allopathic drug residue. Chemicals and other toxins are absorbed into the body through organs such as the skin, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. The liver, kidneys, skin, mucous membranes and other organs then attempt to process and expel these substances. Endogenous toxins are produced inside the body and come from lactic acid, adrenaline, histamine, antigen-antibody complexes, nutrient deficiencies, psychological stressors, and emotional traumas. Toxins constantly challenge cells, tissues, organs, hormones, the immune system, and other protective bodily mechanisms. Homotoxicology views the cause of disease in the body as an accumulation of toxins. Disease results from a series of reactions initiated by the self-healing mechanism in the body to either eliminate the toxin or control its biological effects. Therefore, disease is either the physical body’s way of waging a defense in order to purge toxins, or an attempt of the organism to compensate if elimination is not possible. What are the phases of disease development? The progression of a disease state is viewed in six phases. As toxins penetrate and build in the body over time, the related physical ailments worsen in their severity and complexity. When accumulation of toxins occurs, the individual phases of disease progress into one another.
What conditions are treated with homotoxicology? All of the conditions listed under phases of disease development can be treated with homotoxicology. Please note that homotoxicology should be viewed as an adjunct to and not a substitute for standard medical treatment. Especially in the more advanced stages of degeneration and dedifferentiation, it is important to combine homotoxicology with conventional medical care. What is involved in homotoxicology treatment? Homotoxicology practitioners assess the level at which toxins have penetrated the individual patient. Treatment plans vary according to the complexity of the patient’s condition. Acute symptoms are often treated first, followed by the underlying chronic condition. Healing usually occurs in reverse chronological order from organs of major importance to those of lesser importance in relation to the disorder. Many conditions treated with homotoxicology require a detoxification and connective tissue activation phase lasting six weeks followed by a 12 week drainage phase. The combination of remedies chosen is based on the phase of illness and the dominant organ systems involved. As the body clears and begins to regulate, remedies often require adjustment. Since everyone is a unique individual, the course of treatment will vary. In general, most conditions will require 12 to 18 weeks of consistent remedy use. For more severe problems, the time of active remedy use can take up to a year. As toxins are expelled from the body, patients should be aware that symptoms may initially worsen or past symptoms may be exhibited. This is a normal and valuable progression of healing and detoxification. If symptoms are severe, remedies are altered to make the healing process more comfortable. It is important to report any changes to the homotoxicology practitioner. New symptoms or patterns aid in determining the optimum individual treatment plan. Homotoxicology is generally a more gradual process compared to the rapid effects of traditional allopathic medicine. All homotoxicology treatments are compatible with standard medical approaches. There are no known drug interactions. How can the benefits of homotoxicology be maximized? Homotoxicology is often combined with conventional medical treatment. In many cases, a complementary approach with homotoxicology can offer superior health results by treating the underlying imbalances, optimizing the body’s natural defense systems, and promoting more optimum functioning of the body’s tissues. The Institute for Traditional Acupuncture and Herbology effectively combines homotoxicology with western medicine, acupuncture and herbs. Acupuncture works much better when the body channels and connective tissues are without blockages from large amounts of toxicity. Acupuncture and herbs also support the process of detoxification. For most patients, the combined effectiveness of homotoxicology, acupuncture, herbs, and western medicine is superior to the benefits of any of these treatments given alone. How has The Institute for Traditional Acupuncture and Herbology developed an expertise in homotoxicology? Dr. McLamb has a strong foundation in Western medicine. She trained in the UCSF Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency Program based at San Francisco General Hospital, and she worked within the Division of General Internal Medicine at UCSF, the Stinson Beach Medical Center and the San Francisco Department of Public Health. In addition, Dr. McLamb has trained with the top national and international experts in homotoxicology and continues to attend seminars presenting the latest research. | ||||||||
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What is Acutonics®? How does Acutonics® work? Throughout time and across all cultures, music and sound have been an integral part of ceremony, ritual and healing. The Acutonics® system and methodology utilizes both energetic point combinations that draw on the ancient and contemporary roots of Oriental medicine and a system of musical intervals that are created when Acutonics® tuning forks are used in combination with each other. When specific intervals are applied on or over points and chakras, we are able to open, move, stimulate or release energy. What happens during an Acutonics® session? Before the Acutonics® session begins, you will be asked to determine what areas you would like to focus upon. Based on the information you provide, the practitioner will work with you to design an individualized treatment plan to meet your needs. Based on your treatment goals, specialized tuning forks are struck on an activator then placed on various acupuncture points on your body or held near your ears. The sound waves of the forks vibrate and travel deeply into the body along energy pathways, affecting human physiology and reaching places not easily accessed by traditional medicine. Applying the forks stimulates and balances the body's physical and subtle energy field to promote healing and inner harmony.
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Miki Shima, O.M.D. Institute for Traditional Acupuncture and Herbology, Inc. 21 Tamal Vista Blvd Suite 110 Corte Madera, CA 94925 USA Tel: 415 924 2910 fax: 415 924 5072 e-mail : info@mikishima.com WWW: www.mikishima.com |
