The Western lensAnatomy, physiology, biomechanics
What research looks at
Acupuncture is studied for its effects on the nervous system, on circulation and on how pain is processed. Not every effect is understood yet.
Acupuncture
zhēn jiǔ
Fine needles, placed with intent. Every point we choose comes from reading your pattern, so two people with the same complaint rarely get the same treatment.
Two lenses, one plan
Here the classical lens leads: differential pattern diagnosis decides the treatment, with the Western picture as context.
The classical lensChannels, patterns, the five phases
Channels and points
Fine needles at points chosen from your pattern, to restore the smooth flow of qi and blood along the channels.
- Styles to fit the person
- Several styles are integrated to fit the person and the problem, rather than one protocol for everyone.
How we work: one plan
Part of almost every visit, combined with whatever else your pattern calls for.
What acupuncture is
Acupuncture is one of the oldest continuously practiced forms of medicine. The classics describe a network of channels that carry qi and blood through the body, and points along those channels where the flow can be influenced. Where something is not moving, there is pain or dysfunction; where something is lacking, there is weakness.
At Makari we practice acupuncture through the classical diagnostic lens: 8-Principle, Five-Element and Six-Conformation pattern diagnosis. Your pulse, your tongue, how you sleep, what you crave and when your symptoms flare all point to a pattern, and the pattern decides the points.
For pain, injury and anything musculoskeletal, we lead with dry needling and orthopedic acupuncture, which needles the involved muscles directly and pairs the work with movement corrections.
What a visit looks like
- Conversation. We go through your history and what brought you in, including the things that seem unrelated.
- Assessment. Pulse and tongue diagnosis, palpation of the channels, and movement testing where pain is involved.
- Treatment. Needles are placed and left to rest for 20 to 40 minutes. Depending on your plan we may add herbs, cupping, moxibustion or hands-on work.
- A plan. You leave knowing what we found, what we are working on, and what you can do between visits.
Alongside conventional care
Acupuncture works well alongside the care you already receive. We are happy to coordinate with your physician, and we never ask you to stop a medication or treatment.
Questions people ask
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most people feel a brief pinch or nothing at all, then a dull, heavy or spreading sensation at the point. Many patients fall asleep on the table.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on how long the problem has been there and how your body responds. We talk through a plan at your first visit and review it as we go.
Are the needles single-use?
Yes. Every needle is sterile, single-use and disposed of after your treatment.
Often part of care for
75 conditions in our library list this as part of how we work with them. It is always one part of a plan chosen from your assessment.