One of the most common concerns patients have before receiving acupuncture is about the safety of acupuncture needles. Before we get too far into the details, let’s just get the main point across: all acupuncture needles are sterile, single-use medical devices. After each use, the acupuncture needles are disposed in a medical waste container.

There, we said it. Needles are NEVER re-used, re-sterilized, re-packaged, or re-anything else. So if you are still interested in learning more, read on…

What Are Acupuncture Needles Made Of?

Way back in the time of ancient China, needles were made of stone and bone; however, in modern times acupuncture needles are made of surgical-grade stainless steel. Every needle is sterilized with Ethylene-Oxide Gas (ETO) in strict compliance with government regulations. Needles do vary in their manufacturing process resulting in varying quality, length, and thickness (gauge). The needles used in our clinic are produced in Japan and Korea.

How Big Are Acupuncture Needles?

Most acupuncture needles are from 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches in length… but you weren’t really asking how long they are, were you?

Acupuncture needles are solid, not hollow like hypodermic needles… and there is nothing special on them or inside them. The average thickness (gauge) of the acupuncture needles used in our clinic is 0.25 mm. In comparison, the average hypodermic needle for drawing blood is 0.82mm and for blood donation is 1.65mm. Some of the needles we use are even thinner at 0.16mm.

To give you a better idea of how thin they really are, we could put about 30 acupuncture needles into the hole of a hypodermic needle.

Is Acupuncture Dangerous?

In the hands of a well-trained practitioner, acupuncture is a safe and pleasant experience. The most common adverse side-effects are small bruises and light-headedness after treatment. In our clinic, we primarily practice a “distal-style” of acupuncture where we place needles in your arms and legs (far away from any vital organs) to treat conditions anywhere in your body. All of our acupuncturists have over 3,000 hours of formal training in Chinese medicine and years of experience. With the development of single-use sterilized needles, the majority of acupuncture complications went away.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

The short answer is no… well, maybe a little. It really depends on where we put the needle and how scared you are. Most patients say that they barely felt the needle go in; however, everybody has a varying degree of sensitivity and fear of needles. We have treated a lot of very sensitive patients and are able to adjust the treatment to each individual’s needles.

One important thing to understand about acupuncture is that many Asian cultures adapted their techniques to best suit their local populations. Chinese style acupuncture tends to be more aggressive, and Japanese acupuncture is often very gentle and painless. We’ve trained extensively with both of them and provide the right treatment for each patient.

Still Not Convinced?

Search around the internet for relevant studies and you’ll find that the incidence of a significant acupuncture-related injury is less than one percent.  If you have more questions about the safety of acupuncture, send us a message on our contact page or come by for a visit to our clinic.

Let’s be realistic, losing weight isn’t easy. Maintaining a healthy weight is not just about looking good, it is vital for the proper functioning of your entire body. Any help you can get pushing away the food and shedding a few pounds is worth the effort.

How Can Acupuncture Help You Lose Weight?

The short answer is that acupuncture can balance the body on so many levels that your overall body functioning improves. Through the use of specific acupuncture points we are able to regulate your digestion, suppress your appetite, and decrease your overall stress level. Over time, the pounds will begin to drop.

Why Do You Have Such a Hard Time Losing Weight

It’s a sad truth, but most of our food today is poison to our bodies. Maybe it contains chemical toxins and hormones, it has been genetically modified, or it is just not “real” food. When our bodies become so toxic from daily consumption of these “substances”, it disturbs our digestion and the wonderful intestinal bacteria that help us to properly breakdown and absorb our food.

Or maybe your diet is decent, but your hormones and stress levels are all out of whack? Acupuncture is a functional medicine treatment that helps to regulate the body, including your endocrine and nervous systems. Everyone knows that stress increases cravings leading to overeating, but did you know internally your stress level can be causing an overproduction of cortisol? Cortisol is a stress-response hormone that in excess suppresses your metabolism.

Overeating + suppressed metabolism = more to love?

The Acupuncture Weight Loss Solution

What you need is an acupuncture vacation. An hour break in one of our comfy recliners, soothing music, and an acupuncture treatment that pushes your body into a deep relaxed state.  Acupuncture does more than you can imagine for your stress level.

But it’s not just about relaxing. Our treatments are individualized to identify where your body is imbalanced. We pick points to address your weak digestion, slow metabolism, or hormonal imbalance to give your weight loss program a needed boost.

Scared of needles? Want an even bigger weight loss enhancement? Consider taking one of our custom formulated herbal prescriptions as well.

Let us help you start your weight loss program today.

During acupuncture treatments, we often get asked “how do you know where to put the needle?” With so many acupuncture points on the body, this is not an easy decision.

At Haas Acupuncture, we primarily practice “Balance Method Acupuncture”. This system of treatment was developed by Dr. Richard Teh-Fu Tan, with strong influences from Master Tung and Dr. Chao Chen’s I Ching Acupuncture. The common thread among these three great modern acupuncturists is their Taiwanese origin. During the cultural revolution in China, many of the best Chinese medical practitioners escaped communism by relocating to Taiwan. This allowed a pure form of Chinese medicine to persist without the injection of the communist government’s views.

Advanced Style of Acupuncture Treatment

It is a common misconception that acupuncture should be given to the affected area of a patient’s disease. This concept of “local” treatment is actually less effective and misses the magic of acupuncture theory. The body possesses a complex system of connections, primarily made of nerves and blood vessels. Acupuncture uses its meridian system to describe the functional organization of these connections to help relieve pain and improve bodily functions. As Dr. Tan famously tells his students, “the switch is not on the light”, meaning that the local area is not the ideal location for treatment.

The Balance Method uses powerful “distal” acupuncture points on the arms and legs to treat all aspects of the body. So if you come to our clinic complaining about knee pain, the one place we won’t put a needle is in your injured knee. By choosing “remote control” acupuncture points, we can have the patient move the affected area during treatment to observe the clinical effects. Balance Method Acupuncture is unique in its ability to obtain instantaneous results for pain. After insertion of the needles, most patients can immediately feel a decrease in pain level and improved range of motion.

Accessible Acupuncture Points

Another advantage of these distal point locations is their accessibility without the need to remove the patient’s clothing. After removing your shoes and socks, you can rest comfortably in one of our recliners with only your lower arms and legs exposed.

The points used during Balance Method Acupuncture treatments are considered to be the most powerful points on each meridian, according to classical Chinese theory. These locations were originally detailed in the oldest known Chinese medical text: The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic. Their use also highlights Dr. Tan’s “light switch” example: put the switch in an accessible place, like on the wall beside the door (in acupuncture terms: the arms and legs).

A Logical Approach to Acupuncture

A final interesting aspect of the work of both Dr. Richard Tan and Dr. Chao Chen, is related to their prior educational background: both Dr. Tan and Dr. Chen were engineers, much like our own Acupuncture Physician Evan Haas. The application of the I Ching (Yi Jing) to acupuncture was formulated in a systematic approach. The logical methodology of the Balance Method explains not only its own treatment strategy, but also serves to demystify the indications of classical acupuncture points and those of Master Tung’s acupuncture system.

The I Ching acupuncture system works by superimposing the trigrams of the ba gua (the solid and broken lines seen surrounding the Yin Yang symbol above) over each of the 12 regular meridians, and their primary points on the arms and legs. Needling these points alters the polarity of the point from a solid line to a broken line, or visa versa, much like a switch. Selection of the correct points balances the meridians, regulating pain and organ function.

Come Experience Acupuncture For Yourself

Reading about acupuncture is great, but getting a treatment is much better. If you are in the Miami area, come visit Haas Acupuncture for an affordable acupuncture treatment. Come ask our Intel Computer Engineer turned Acupuncturist why he put that needle there!

Are you an acupuncturist who wants to learn more about Dr. Tan’s Balance Method?
Come join our professional forum: BalanceMethodAcupuncture.com

In my country, food is often used as medicine. This recipe is called “Larb” or “Thai Salad”. This meal is commonly eaten as a diet food and a summertime dish. It is a low-sodium, low-calorie, gluten free meal.

Larb is made with aromatic herbs, like mint, dill, and shallot, to induce mild sweating to cool the body during the summer. The ground dry-fried rice is used to help improve digestion. The sour taste from the lime helps to cleanse the Liver and raise your energy level.

Larb is often made with different meats depending on your health condition. For example, you can use ground organic chicken, grilled fish, mushroom combination, or even tofu.

Chicken is used for people who feel fatigued, or suffer from physical injury.
Fish is good if you want a lighter, lower calorie meal.
A combination of mushrooms is used for their anti-viral properties and to cleanse the Liver. I recommend wood-ear, oyster, portabella, and button mushrooms.

Cooking with herbs is a great way to maintain your health, balance your body, and satisfy your taste buds!

Baptist Hospital Top Chef 2010 Winner

To celebrate our new online scheduling system, from August 9th to August 20th 2010, we will be offering free acupuncture treatments when you book your first appointment online.

August 9th to August 20th 2010
Monday – Wednesday – Friday
3pm – 7pm

We’re sorry, but the free acupuncture period has ended.

This Thursday, August 5th, we will be speaking at the Wellness Community center from 7-9 pm.

Please join us for this informative lecture:

Chinese Medicine and Cancer Care

Acupuncture Physician and Chinese Herbalist, Dr. Evan Haas, will introduce the basic concepts of Chinese Medicine and how they relate to modern integrative cancer treatment. Dr. Haas will also discuss the use of Chinese Medicine for pain reduction, fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, stress and immune system enhancement. The program will include a demonstration of acupuncture and herbal medicine.
Thursday, August 5, 7 – 9 pm

Cancer Support Community — Greater Miami
8609 South Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33143
305/668-5900
Fax: 305/668-0048
info@cancersupportcommunitymiami.org

Have you considered trying acupuncture to address some of your health concerns?

Were you turned off by the price and lack of insurance coverage?

We were too, and so we are offering a solution to these issues and providing a great service to our Miami community.

Community Acupuncture started in Portland around 2002 with the founding of Working Class Acupuncture. Since then, it has grown all over the country providing affordable acupuncture to thousands of patients. A majority of the population cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket for private acupuncture sessions. Community acupuncture clinics offer a sliding scale or low-fixed price that allows patients to access this beneficial treatment.

If you are in the Miami area, spread the word about our clinic to your friends and family. Come visit us and try some affordable acupuncture.

We’re sorry, but we are not offering community acupuncture at this time.
Check back for future availability.

While it is not possible to completely stop the aging process, cosmetic acupuncture can help you to look and feel younger. The primary cause of aging is the decline of circulation through the body and most noticeably your face. As fewer nutrients are brought to the face, the elasticity and moisture of the skin as well as the tone of facial muscles diminishes. This results in wrinkles, droopy skin, and a lack of facial glow.

A Natural, Surgery-free Treatment for Aging

While there are many alternatives to a surgical face-lift, few offer the natural health benefits of cosmetic acupuncture. The classical texts of Chinese medicine suggest that the health of the internal organs is reflected in the face; it is necessary to correct internal imbalances in our health to achieve your best complexion. Therefore, each Mei Zen cosmetic acupuncture session will begin with the use of balancing acupuncture points to strengthen your overall health. Over the recommended course of ten facial rejuvenation sessions you will not only look better, but you will feel healthier too.

How many other cosmetic procedures can claim they actually improve your health?

What Results Can You Expect From Cosmetic Acupuncture?

The tiny superficial needles that are inserted during the acupuncture facelift work primarily to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, fade age spots, and improve facial muscle tone. The results of a sequence of Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture are similar in effect to those of Botox and Restylane, with far fewer risks and complications. Many patients can begin to see and feel the effects of treatment after a single session; however it is necessary to complete the five week regiment to obtain lasting results.

Come for a Consultation to Learn More

If you are interested in a natural, surgery-free alternative to look your best, contact us to schedule a consultation to learn if the procedure is the right fit for you.

Haas Acupuncture was recently featured on the Miami New Times Music Blog: PrunkTV.

Watch this video of Dr. Haas giving an acupuncture treatment to the harmonious sounds of “Green Music” from Thailand.

With flu season approaching fast and the daily news reports of H1N1 vaccine shortages, our patients often ask if we can help treat colds and flu’s with Chinese medicine. While many people are aware of using acupuncture for pain and stress, most are surprised to find how helpful Chinese medicine can be for upper respiratory infections. A combination of acupuncture and herbs can be very effective at managing symptoms and shortening the duration of influenza and common colds, and even helping you avoid getting sick altogether.

In the paradigm of Chinese medicine, upper respiratory infections are due to an invasion of wind-cold or wind-heat into the body. It is understood that when the outer defensive layer (wei qi) of the body isn’t strong, wind can carry a warm or cold pathogen into the body. [This is essentially the traditional Chinese medicine version of your immune system.] Once the wind penetrates into your body, various symptoms results depending on the warm or cold nature of the pathogen and how deeply it invades your organ systems.

Note: If you have a high fever, fatigue, difficulty breathing, severe diarrhea or vomiting, or other serious symptoms, seek medical care from your primary care physician or a nearby hospital as soon as possible.

A Case of Wind-Cold Invasion

A recent case I would like to share involved a man who was over-working his body and being exposed to various viruses that his young son would bring home from daycare. He had a big presentation lined up for the following day and found himself extremely ill. He had already seen his doctor, who diagnosed him with a upper respiratory virus infection, which unfortunately has no western medical treatment. He complained of chills, fever, bodyache, a stiff neck, cough, and fatigue, indicating Wind-Cold Invasion. Cases such as this are well detailed in the almost 2,000 year old Chinese Medical Text the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Disease); noted for being the oldest medical book in recorded history on disease pathogenesis.

After a pulse and tongue examination to confirm the diagnosis, the patient was given moxibustion to the point Du 14, just below the spinous process of cervical vertebrae 7. The patient then received a TaiYang-TaiYin Global Balance acupuncture treatment to release the exterior and relieve cough. A single bag of the classical formula Ge Gen Tang in raw herbs was given for the patient to drink that evening.

The next day, we received notice from the patient as they were on their way to work that we “saved his life”. While it may not have been a life threatening case, we certainly were able to drastically reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of their illness.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Colds and Flus

There are a large number of single herbs and formulas that are used to treat colds, flu, and their associated symptoms. Many of these medicinal substances are even conveniently made into pill or powder forms for ease of use, and are effective against various bacterial and respiratory viruses. Research continues on the use of Chinese medicine for influenza and other dangerous respiratory infections. Recently at Beijing Ditan Hospital in China, doctors found that a traditional Chinese herbal formula worked better than Tamiflu for mild cases of H1N1 without side effects. During the SARS outbreaks in Asia, the Chinese herb Ban Lan Gen (Isatis root) became in short supply due to its effectiveness against viruses.

An Ounce of Prevention

Of course, preventing yourself from getting sick is the most ideal scenario. Regular hand washing, avoiding those who are currently ill, and taking care of your health can make a significant difference. Supplementing these activities by enhancing your immune system and decreasing stress with Chinese medicine helps tremendously. Coming in for an acupuncture treatment at the first signs of oncoming illness can help to thwart its effects on your body. Taking preventative herbal prescriptions, such as Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Wind Screen Decoction), can help to boost your body’s natural defenses and shield you from becoming sick.

Always seek the guidance of a licensed acupuncturist or herbalist before taking any Chinese herbal products. Each individual and disease condition is unique and requires the advise of a well-trained professional in the art of oriental medicine.