Let's Talk Acupuncture
Q: Hi Dr. Liz, can you please tell me about acupuncture?
A. Acupuncture is a part of oriental medicine, one of the oldest medical practices in the world that uses very thin needles to balance the body into health.
Q. What does it do for me?
Acupuncture can help prevent disease and successfully treat many chronic illnesses.
Q. Does W.H.O. support oriental medicine?
A. Yes. The World Health Organization strongly supports oriental medicine and acupuncture for dozens of diseases. Oriental medicine does not have all the answers, nor does western medicine. The goal is to use them both.
Q. My problem is that I’m afraid of needles?
A. Many acupuncture physicians can and will treat you with herbs and not needles, depending on your diagnosis. Also, just to let you know, the needles are so very thin. Acupuncture needling is not at all the same as getting blood drawn. In many cases, you can not even feel the needle when receiving acupuncture.
Q. Are acupuncturists doctors?
A. Yes. Acupuncturists go through extensive medical training much like an M.D. in the united states. Florida is very strict on its regulations and has some of the highest standards in America on who can and can not practice acupuncture. Acupuncturist are Primary Care Physicians in the state of Florida and are trained to treat a wide variety of ailments and disease.
Q. Who should I go to for acupuncture treatments?
A. It’s best to go to an acupuncture physician to receive acupuncture. Acupuncture physicians are far more educated in treating you in acupuncture than a Physical therapist, a Medical Doctor or a Chiropractor.
Q. Have you ever gone to an Acupuncturist?
A. Indeed I have!
Q. What did you go to the acupuncture physician for?
I had what western doctors call Post Concussive Syndrome. I had an overall feeling of not being well. I experienced dizziness, fatigue and balance issues. This went on for months and it was debilitating.
Q. How many acupuncture treatments did you receive?
My treatment consisted of a combination of acupuncture and natural herbs that the acupuncture phsycian gave me. After the very first acupuncture treatment, I felt measurable better! I had a total of 12 treatments within a months period, and my problem was fully resolved.
Q. My mother has Parkinson’s disease and my Aunt has Alzheimer’s disease, can acupuncture and oriental medicine help with that?
A. Indeed it can, and very effectively, depending on the doctor you choose and the stage of the disease, it will depend on how much progress can be made. Regardless, oriental medicine can indeed help!
Q. Thanks Liz! All I can say is, I’m going to go get poked!
A. Let’s make it a healthier world together.
About Dr. Liz Perry
Dr. Liz is a primary care provider with a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and a Master’s degree in Business Management from Harvard University. For over 22 years, Dr. Liz has worked as an international healthcare consultant, has traveled the world, and has written hundreds of published articles as a health journalist.