Acupuncture
Fear not! The Acupuncture needles that we use are as slender as a hair. They are pre-sterilized and disposable. Most people feel little or no discomfort. Even kids love acupuncture. And once the needles are in, most people relax and enjoy a peaceful acu-nap.
That depends on the nature of your complaint. Most patients see results (but may not yet be cured) within 4-8 treatments. Many acute problems are resolved within 1-2 treatments. Some chronic issues can’t be cured, but their health can be managed with ongoing treatment. We’ll discuss this during your first visit. After your symptoms improve, we encourage you to come for regular wellness visits to manage stress and maintain their good health.
Ideally, you should have a relaxed and easy day, avoiding strenuous exercise for at least 6 hours after your treatment.
Absolutly not! Acupuncture needles can’t spread disease. We use only sterile, disposable needles. They are used once and then discarded into a biohazard waste container, which is then processed safely, according to the law.
The short answer is yes. Chinese Medicine doesn’t treat “diseases.” It treats “patterns.” These “patterns” can include any number of western medical conditions. Chinese diagnosis and treatment are paradigmatically different than Western Medicine. We have a saying: “Different diseases, same treatment; same disease, different treatment.” For example, we might treat three patients for headaches; each will receive a unique acupuncture treatment and a custom herb formula. That’s because the first person had a sinus headache, the second a tension headache, the third had neck pain. Each problem presents uniquely: it reflects a different pattern, a different diagnosis, and a different treatment.
On the other hand, one patient might have a headache, and the next patient has reflux. Because they both might present with the same pattern, they’d be treated with similar points and herbal formulas.
Chinese Medicine views the body, mind, and spirit as part of these patterns, making it a truly holistic system.
Most people feel extremely relaxed. Many nap during their acupuncture treatment.
Absolutely not! Six Fishes welcomes collaborative relationships with your health care providers.
Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine are distinct systems, and each one has important strengths. Neither medical tradition offers all the answers. Our clinical decisions are based on our values of safety, efficacy. We want what is right and best for you.
Of course, we champion the use of Chinese Medicine as a pragmatic and effective health care modality. But we also believe that both systems can be integrated harmoniously.
An Acupuncturist is a person who has graduated from a nationally accredited Acupuncture School. At Six Fishes, our practitioners have different credentials based on their training, as well as the state where they received their education. Acupuncturists must pass written and practical state and national board exams to become licensed. Licensed acupuncturists are also certified in Clean Needle Technique.
Currently, most states require a 4-year Master’s degree in Acupuncture (MSAC) or Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM) from an accredited acupuncture school for licensure. Training includes all aspects of biomedicine as well as Traditional Oriental Medicine.
At Six Fishes, most of our practitioners all have additional national certification in Chinese Herbology.
Acupuncture originated in China over 2,500 years ago and is a primary and complementary health care modality throughout the world. Chinese Medicine views disease as the result of an imbalance or blockage in the body’s natural energy flow. It is a method of balancing and building the body’s energy, known as “qi” (pronounced “chee”). Acupuncturists insert sterile needles into unique points that lay on particular pathways called channels that circulate energy throughout the body.
The list of conditions that acupuncture may help is virtually limitless. The most common conditions we treat in the clinic are allergies/asthma, headaches, anxiety/depression, fertility, neurological diseases, and pain anywhere in the body.
Chinese Medicine treats the whole person by viewing the body, mind, and spirit as being on a continuum. Such imbalances can manifest as physical, emotional, and stress-related disorders. Patients feel relief from their symptoms, along with a feeling of vitality and peace.
Acupuncture is only one a part of a more extensive health care system. Chinese Medicine also includes herbs, exercise, and diet and lifestyle changes.
Fertility & Women's Health
For a variety of reasons, some women pursue conception with donor sperm. We are highly experienced in supporting this fertility approach. We use acupuncture and herbs to boost hormones and improve the condition of the endometrium to support conception and implantation.For a variety of reasons, some women pursue conception with donor sperm. We are very experienced in supporting you — a critical part in regulating the cycle to nail down ovulation. There are no accidents here! We use acupuncture and herbs to boost hormones and improve the condition of the endometrium to support conception and implantation.For a variety of reasons, some women pursue conception with donor sperm. We are highly experienced in supporting this fertility approach. We use acupuncture and herbs to boost hormones and improve the condition of the endometrium to support conception and implantation.
Oh Yes! Acupuncture is proven to improve outcomes. Many couples will choose to use acupuncture and herbs in addition to Western techniques. Studies have shown that women undergoing In-Vitro Fertilization, in addition to acupuncture, had increased chances of becoming pregnant. “Clinical pregnancies were documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group, whereas the pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group. Conclusion: Acupuncture seems to be a useful tool for improving pregnancy rate after assisted reproduction therapy.”
We wish there were a firm answer, but we see women and men with a wide range of ages and health histories. Many couples are successful within months. Sometimes, even more quickly! In men, it takes a minimum of 70 days to generate new sperm. In women, the effects of acupuncture treatment often occur after three complete cycles. If recurrent miscarriage is the case, results can be immediate. Ovulation has been known to be stimulated in women with PCOS with the very first treatment. However, there are always a variety of factors that contribute to a couple’s infertility; therefore, treatments and their duration are individualized and varied.
Tracking a woman’s Basal Body Temperature, or BBT is a valuable tool for managing and treating infertility. The BBT is a person’s temperature upon awakening and is recorded starting from the first day of the cycle. The temperatures are charted on graph paper or by using a mobile app. The pattern of the BBT is an essential part of our practice because it helps us pinpoint the imbalances and create a more accurate treatment strategy. We have a BBT chart here to help you keep track of your temperatures. Many women record their BBT’s on one of the many available apps. We have detailed instructions as well as a downloadable BBT chart on the Instructions/Forms page. In case your still using pen and paper, we’ve included a downloadable chart to record your temperatures.
Acupuncture treatments can begin as soon as a couple decides to get pregnant. Chinese Medicine is effective before, during, and after pregnancy, supporting overall wellness. Whenever possible, we prefer to treat people for 2-3 months before pursuing assisted reproductive technologies because we feel that we can achieve better outcomes.
We’re often called at the last minute for treatment with IVF and are always happy to jump in to help optimize the chances of implantation.
Absolutely. Our focus is to enhance fertility by improving health. We love the idea of turning back the clock with herbs, acupuncture, and excellent nutrition.
We like to treat both partners. Studies show that even if sperm counts are normal, other factors can affect sperm quality.’ Using acupuncture, herbs, and nutrition, we’ll work to improve sperm quality, quantity, and motility.
Anyone who wishes to become pregnant can benefit from Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Chinese Medicine promotes the concept of wellness and prevention. Therefore, a couple does not need to be dealing with infertility to pursue treatment. However, when couples have difficulty conceiving, or there are recurrent miscarriages, we feel strongly about the value of treatment with Chinese Medicine in correcting these problems. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas can treat hormonal imbalances, menstrual problems, endometriosis, PCOS, low sperm count, and other impediments to conception.
Herbal Consultations
No one is more concerned about herb safety than Six Fishes. We feel it is our responsibility to uphold high standards, and thus we take the issues regarding herb safety very seriously.
We only use herbs tested for bacteria, heavy metals, molds, fungus, and pesticides. Furthermore, We uphold the standards of CITES which means that we use no material that comes from endangered species. We use herbs and formulas that are manufactured in cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) certified facilities. To ensure everyone’s safety, we have a sophisticated batch tracking system. All custom formulas come labeled with the date, the invoice number as well as the ingredients to ensure safety accuracy and transparency.
TThe most common side effect of herbs is gas, bloating, or other minor digestive disorders. This kind of reaction is easily corrected by modifying the herb formula. Be sure to inform your practitioner immediately if you notice any adverse reactions.
One of the most significant differences is that in traditional Western Herbology, single herbs are often used. Chinese Herbology primarily uses formulas. Formulas are combinations of herbs that can address a variety of complex complaints. Formulas are written to maximize the effects of the primary herbs while minimizing any possible side effects. At Six Fishes, we specialize in writing custom herbal formulas. Classical formulas are modified to address your complaints.
No problem! We offer a lot of choices. While raw herb formulas might be the gold standard, they aren’t always practical for everyone. We regularly use concentrated liquids and granular concentrates because they work and are so convenient. We also keep dozens of formulas manufactured into tablets and capsules.
If we’ve given raw herbs to decoct, they’ll come in a large bag of exotic looking twigs, leaves, and roots. This herbal formula will have been written specifically for you. We’ll give you cooking directions. You’ll also find them right on the website, under instructions and forms. We’ve created 3 easy ways and with our method, you only have to cook them weekly. Do it whole you’re preparing dinner!
In general, they don’t taste familiar. Some herbs are bitter, and some are sweeter. The flavor is an indication of the herbs’ action. Regardless of the taste, the most crucial part is that you’ll begin to feel better.
Pediatrics
The practitioners at Six Fishes welcome babies and children, including newborn infants. In Chinese Medical theory, as soon as an infant is born, with the very first breath, postnatal energy (Qi) is created. It combines with the Prenatal Qi that is received from the parents to nourish the infant’s health for the rest of their lives. Newborn infants can get massaged as soon as they’re born!
Infants and young children have very delicate energy that circulates just below the skin. Because of this, needle insertion is not necessary to achieve the desired effect. In fact, in some cases, it may be too strong an approach. Tui-na and other massage techniques, along with Japanese Shoni-shin treatment, are ways to treat children without needles.
Shoni-shin is a Japanese, mostly non-invasive needleless treatment for children. Sho means little; Ni means children, and shin means needle. Small tools are brushed along acupuncture pathways to stimulate the flow of energy in the body. Shonishin is so gentle that most children find it comfortable and even pleasurable. Results are frequently obtained even with very light treatment.
In a word: no. Children are not “little adults.” Each child is unique. we honor their health by balancing their constitutions
In general, we base the treatment of infants and children on an appreciation that their Qi is more delicate. We use light stimulation for babies, sometimes just taping a needle on the surface of the skin with no insertion at all! Kids tend to produce more phlegm, they spike fevers more quickly, and they become upset more easily. The heart of all TCM treatment for children lies in strengthening their digestion. When children’s metabolism is robust, good health follows.
They absolutely can. We treat children of all ages with herbs. We have even treat infants. Just as treating children with acupuncture has its own set of guidelines, so does herbal treatment. First, we reduce the dose to match the child’s weight, and then the formula is carefully constructed to protect the child’s digestion. Once the child can swallow pills, we can give them that way too!
There are two keys to giving herb successfully: the first key is to hide the herbs in a new juice. Don’t use a familiar juice. We generally discourage children from drink juice; however, it does make a convenient herbal delivery system.
The second key to success lies in the attitude of the parent/caregiver: Be upbeat about it! Herbs are wonderful for kids. Founder Cara Frank’s children have both taken herbs since they were babies. How? By having an easy-breezy attitude about the bad taste. This method works for adults too! Just say, yes, they taste yucky, but you’ll feel better soon. No big deal! The more aligned the parent/caregiver is about taking herbs, the more the child will comply with little or no fuss. Take your herbs with your child in a show of solidarity!
Stop guessing. Start living.
Whether it’s your first step to a healthier life or your last resort, Chinese medicine gives you the power to make positive change.
