Acupuncture
Why use acupuncture?
Endogenous opioids:
Prescription pain medicine is also known as synthetic opioid drugs. Morphine, codeine, and fentanyl are common examples of synthetic opioids. They relieve pain, but they also have dangerous side effects when used in long term. Drug addiction is the most common side effect and increasing opioid addiction has been our national health concern for many years. The good news is that our body has ability to produce pain relief naturally. This mechanism of natural pain relief is called endogenous opioids. Endogenous meaning "grown within the body", our nervous system produces endogenous opioids or "feel good hormones" when we experience pain or stress. Acupuncture activates the nervous system to increase endogenous opioids at painful sites helping the body to relieve pain naturally.
Parasympathetic nervous system:
Our body is governed by two sets of nervous system - sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous system, often called “fight-or-flight” response, activates when we are under stress or in danger. It is our brain telling the body “I see a bear. Run!” While it is activated, our body will direct the blood flow to organs that will help us survive the danger like heart and lungs. Heart rate and blood pressure will increase, lungs will try to take more oxygen, and non-vital functions like digestion will slow down. It is what keeps us up and going. Parasympathetic nervous system is just the opposite, and it is often called “rest-and-digest” or “feed-and-breed” response. It is our brain telling the body “The bear is gone. Relax!” It focuses on life-sustaining functions that we often don’t think about. While parasympathetic nervous system is activated, heart rate and blood pressure will decrease, and our body will direct the blood flow to organs that help us relax and digest like stomach and pancreas. In healthy body, both systems will complement each other in harmony. However, in modern days many people have hard time “turning off” sympathetic nervous system because we work too much, we are under constant stress, and our senses are constantly stimulated by bright city lights, noise and smartphones. As a result, many people suffer from anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, indigestion, constipation and low libido. Acupuncture helps your body to turn off sympathetic nervous system and turn on parasympathetic nervous system, returning it to more restful and healthier state.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Acupuncture
Is acupuncture safe?
At Tru, acupuncture is only administered by board-certified professional who understands not only acupuncture and herbal medicine, but western medicine as well. We use new sterile needles and needles are properly disposed as medical waste after each treatment.
How long is the treatment?
Initial visit lasts about an hour to hour-and-half. It involves in-depth consultation about illness and patient background, followed by treatment. Follow-up visits are usually shorter, and they last about 45 minutes to an hour.
How many treatments do I need?
Number of treatment varies by patient. If the illness is acute and simple, it may only require few treatments. If the illness is more chronic and complex, it will require one to two treatments a week for several months. At Tru, we perform thorough evaluation to tailor specific treatment plan for your condition.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Does it have any side effects?
Acupuncture is known for its minimally invasive method and minimal side effects. Needles are generally comfortable after they are inserted, and many patients feel relaxed after treatments. Needle insertion sites can be sore for short period of time and sometimes needles can cause small bruises. Bruises generally heal in few days.
Is acupuncture covered by insurance?
Yes, we believe acupuncture should be available to as many people as possible. Please send your insurance information, so we can check your benefits.
Herbal Medicine
Why use herbal medicine?
No medication is without its side effects when used in long term. When battling chronic illness, patients often need to address the negative side effects of pharmaceuticals in addition to the illness itself. Herbal medicine have been safely used and developed over thousands of years in East Asia. Traditional herbs consist of flowers, roots, leaves, seeds, minerals, and animal products. There are hundreds of different combinations of herbs that are indicated for various ailments of human body. At Tru, board-certified herbalist will thoroughly evaluate your condition and prescribe herbal formula specifically tailored to your need.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Herbal Medicine
Is herbal medicine safe? How can you assure its quality?
All herbs are cultivated and prepared professionally by reputable vendors in Korea and China. After imported to US, all herbs are tested at US-based laboratories for heavy metals (such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium), microbial contaminants, and pesticide residues. We only use herbs that pass the rigorous testing.
How do you take herbal medicine? Is it difficult to prepare?
Traditionally, herbal medicine has been prepared by heating the individual herbs in water over long period of time and drinking the liquid called decoction. Nowadays, all herbs are pre-cooked and prepared in granulated power. You can simply mix it with hot water and drink it as directed by the herbalist. It is very easy and quick.
I’m allergic to certain foods. Is herbal medicine right for me?
Typically, amount of each herb given in herbal medicine is insignificant to trigger allergic reaction. However, the herbalist at Tru will examine your allergy conditions and tailor a formula that is safe for you.
Is it safe to take herbal medicine while I’m taking other prescription drugs?
There are no known major drug interactions. However, we recommend taking herbal medicine and prescription drugs at least two hours apart as precaution.
Is herbal medicine covered by insurance?
Unfortunately, herbal medicine is not covered by insurance. The good news is modern preparation technology has made it very affordable.