www.acumedic.com THE ACUMEDIC PATIENT’S GUIDE Your Questions Answered: Clinical Excellence since 1972 AcuMedic is a pioneer in Chinese Medicine. Since 1972 our clinics have helped thousands of people to take back control of their health and alleviate suffering naturally. Your health is your responsibility but you need not be alone. VISIT FOR MORE INFORMATION & SERVICES About AcuMedic AcuMedic doctors About Safety How does Chinese medicine work? Diagnosis and Treatment Diet and Nutrition guide How to take your Medicine About AcuMedic AcuMedic doctors About Safety How does Chinese medicine work? Diagnosis and Treatment Diet and Nutrition guide How to take your Medicine AcuMedic is a pioneer in Chinese Medicine. Since 1972 our clinics have helped thousands of people to take back control of their health and alleviate suffering naturally. Your health is your responsibility but you need not be alone. Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine PG_A5 20/8/02 5.14 pm Page 1
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www.acumedic.com
THE ACUMEDIC PATIENT’S GUIDE
Your Questions Answered:
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Clinical Excellence since 1972
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AcuMedic is a pioneer in Chinese Medicine. Since 1972 our clinics have
helped thousands of people to take back control of theirhealth and alleviate suffering naturally. Your health is
your responsibility but you need not be alone.
VISIT
FOR MORE INFORMATION & SERVICES
About AcuMedic
AcuMedic doctors
About Safety
How does Chinese medicine work?
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diet and Nutrition guide
How to take your Medicine
About AcuMedic
AcuMedic doctors
About Safety
How does Chinese medicine work?
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diet and Nutrition guide
How to take your Medicine
AcuMedic is a pioneer in Chinese Medicine. Since 1972 our clinics have
helped thousands of people to take back control of theirhealth and alleviate suffering naturally. Your health is
your responsibility but you need not be alone.
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
PG_A5 20/8/02 5.14 pm Page 1
AcuMedic is the largest and oldest Chinese medicalorganisation outside Asia with branches in London, Manchester,Bath and Shrewsbury. We are highly experienced and respectedin our field, teaching Western doctors acupuncture, supplyingequipment to doctors and hospitals worldwide, and even advisingthe government on future legislation. Our success may beattributed to the fact that, in the current absence of legislationgoverning the practice of acupuncture or the sale of ChineseHerbs in Britain, our clinics have set their own high standards.We insist that our team of doctors are top specialists fromprestigious hospitals in China with training in Western medicalmethods. It is important that our experienced doctors knowwhen to decide if a patient is better off receiving Chinesetreatment or Western treatement, or indeed a combination of thetwo.
Chinese Medicine may be new to you, and if so, you may feel abit nervous and anxious about something that you do notunderstand. At AcuMedic we aim to give you completeconfidence through:
We believe that no otherChinese clinic can match our
high standards.
A B O U T A C U M E D I C
OUR HIGHLY EXPERIENCED DOCTORS, WITH THEIR DEDICATION,PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY.
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EXPLANATION OF CHINESE MEDICINE AND WHAT WE ARE DOING
AT EVERY POINT.
OUR 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD.
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SAFETY
You can trust AcuMedic with your health, as our many patientswill testify. We do hope that after looking through thisinformation you will be confident of our standards, should youwant to find out more speak to a health advisor - which is freeof charge and without obligation. Our doctors are here to helpyou take back control of your health and give you the sensethat, in the words of one of our patients, “someone is fightingwith me”.
The team of doctors at the AcuMedic Centre and its branches are a unique group of qualifiedexperts dedicated to East/West clinical approach. Amongst the team are gynaecologists,dermatologists, paediatricians, pharmacologists, pain specialists, electro-acupuncture, energeticmedicine and other internal medicine specialists. All are members of the Chinese MedicalInstitute and Register (CMIR) abiding by the code of ethics and practices of the organisation.
Safety is of prime importance at the AcuMedic Centres, with the most reliable brand ofdisposable acupuncture needles used throughout treatment. Herbal medicines and TCMcapsules used are of the highest quality, thoroughly examined by in-house pharmacologists.Chinese medicine is safe in the right hands.
Low cost teaching clinic is available to pensioners, children and those who cannot afford theregular fees. Free health advice is available from our clinics and further information is on thewebsite - www.acumedic.com.
Clinical meetings are conducted regularly by the AcuMedic team of doctors to ensure thebest attention to individual patients with case considerations discussed as well as anyupdates in the latest clinical advances. AcuMedic organises professional symposia for otherpractitioners in the field of complementary integrative medicine. The International Journal ofAcupuncture, the Syndrome newsletter, AcuMedic Review and Wellbeing newsletter are allpublished by the AcuMedic Foundation. Chinese medicine is always progressing andAcuMedic is at the forefront of any new developments.
The main centre in London (Camden) contains a comprehensive bookshop, healthshop,dispensary and lecture facilities to enhance the developement of modern Chinese healthcare inthe West. The centre should be of interest to professional practitioners and the interestedpublic alike, with a whole range of books and products relating to natural health. Tai Chi classesand many other workshops are conducted at the centre.
A Chinese doctor will talk to you, ask you to stick out your tongue whilst probably taking yourpulse and from this will be able to make a diagnosis. The condition of your tongue, its overallcolour and the coating will tell the doctor a great deal about the condition of your illness. Eachof us have 125 different pulse rates to which the doctor has been trained to monitor, and fromthese diagnostic methods the doctor will determine your treatment. After diagnosis, the doctorcan prescribe Chinese Herbal Medicine or treat with Acupuncture, however we strongly advisethat both forms of treatment be used to obtain optimal benefit.
Chinese Medicine is based on the theory that disorder and illnesses arise from an imbalance.The imbalance can be caused by problems arising from the organs or the stagnation of energycirculation in the body. The name for the routes of energy flow is “meridians”. When themeridians or energy channels become blocked, the resulting imbalance of the body causesillness. A trained Chinese doctor will be able to clear the energy block through acupuncture,thus restoring the body’s balance. The Chinese physician will also seek to strengthen theorgans that were giving problems and causing an imbalance particularly through Chinese HerbalTherapy. This is a simple explanation, obviously Chinese medicine is a much more complexsystem that is researched and validated globally.
Acupuncture is used to regulate your flow of Qi in order to treat your complaints. Most peoplefind acupuncture a pleasant and deeply relaxing experience. There should be no pain in theinsertion of needles if the doctor is fully trained and experienced. However, for people whoare afraid of needles there are various alternative techniques available, based on theprinciples of acupuncture, such as Electro-Acupuncture and TENS therapy.
H O W D O E S T R E AT M E N T W O R K ?
I S A C U P U N C T U R E PA I N F U L ?
Chinese Herbal Medicine has evolved over 4000 years as a powerful and accurate toolregulating the body’s physiological function in order to treat illness. All the ingredients used byproper Chinese herbalists are natural and unlike most Western drugs have little side-effects.Over 1000 herbs are used in Chinese medicine, the ingredients all come from the natural floraand fauna of China. A properly trained Chinese doctor is able to prescribe a mixture of differentherbs to treat an individual’s illness. At AcuMedic our pharmacologists and pharmacognisistsmake sure that the correct herbs are gathered according to your doctor’s prescription. Everyeffort is made to ensure safety and efficacy. The doctor can also prescribe herbal capsules.AcuMedic invented the concept of the herbal capsule to make Chinese Herbal Therapy moreaccessible and convenient for busy modern lifestyles.
AcuMedic respects allliving things. There
are no animalproducts used in our
treatments.
W H AT I S C H I N E S E H E R B A L M E D I C I N E ?
The theory of Yin and Yang is fundamental to the understanding of traditional Chinese medicine.It is based on the ancient thought that everything in the universe consists of opposite butcomplementary aspects. These aspects exist relative to each other, and are constantlychanging, for example - night and day. Within the body, Yin and Yang correspond to water andfire. Most people are a combination of these elements, but it is possible to be mainly one orthe other. Those who are of Yang type will ideally need a diet of cooling foods, to restore thebalance of Yin. They are typically characterised by a red complexion, tendency to perspire,quick temper and aggressive nature. Those of Yin type will be best suited to a warming diet, inorder to restore the balance of Yang. The Yin person will be characterised by a palecomplexion, aversion to cold liquids, weak voice and quiet personality. Chinese food is used tobalance the Yin & Yang within the body to allow your Qi energy to circulate properly. Thesecrets of good health are to lead a balanced lifestyle and to strengthen the functions of theinternal organs (kidney, liver, heart, lungs...)
Chinese nutrition essentially classifies food by its energetic and therapeutic properties ratherthan chemical content. Food and drinks can be divided into Yin and Yang, cold or hot, and fivetastes - sour, bitter, sweet, salty, and spicy. According to Chinese medicine all of theseproperties are important to the balance of the body and its energy levels. Tea drinking andsome supplementary tonics should be added to any diet to help maintain health and recoverfrom illness.
T H E P H I L O S O P H Y O F C H I N E S E D I E T T H E R A P Y
D I E T A N D N U T R I T I O N
DRINK PLENTY OF SOUP BEFORE MEALS - AVOID THICK SOUP, CHOOSE
CONSOMME, VEGETABLE SOUP AND SOUP WITH CHINESE HERBS.
AVOID FATTY MEAT - THIS INCLUDES CERTAIN FISH AND SEA-FOOD. SALMON,LOBSTER AND OTHER SHELLFISH ARE TO BE AVOIDED, TOGETHER WITH RED MEAT.
AVOID FRIED GREASY FOOD - STEAMED AND STEWED FOODS AS WELL AS
COOKING WITH A LITTLE OIL AND SEASONING ARE PREFERABLE TO HEAVY FRIED, SPICY
FOODS.
AVOID COLD/RAW FOODS - OBESITY IN CHINESE TERMS IS OFTEN A RETENTION
OF DAMPNESS (EITHER HOT DAMPNESS OR COLD DAMPNESS). COLD FOOD DAMAGES
Emotional problems tend to induce eating disorders. According to Chinese Medicine thisrelates to your energetically stagnated liver, that leads to imbalances in the spleen andexcessive fire in the stomach. Regulate the quantity of food intake so that you stop when youare 70% full and eat regularly making sure that you do not miss meals. Be sure to relax whenyou eat, eating on the run puts a lot of stress on your body and prevents the proper assimilationof Qi. Retaining your enjoyment of food and protecting the normal functions of your spleen andstomach are both important factors when beginning a healthy eating programme. Focus onchoice, quality, quantity and the time of eating food.
To aid recovery from illness and to maintain wellbeing, the Chinese have a long tradition of teadrinking and tonics. Some of our wellbeing range are as follows:
LINGH CHI IN ROYAL JELLY - An immune boosting longevitytonic to regulate and nourish the body. Ling Chi is a rareherb, considered to be one of the most precious by Chinesephysicians. Royal Jelly is the most complete natural foodsource known to man, containing a full range of proteins,enzymes and amino acids. This combination is an immediateenergy booster, and taken long term will extensively improvehealth.
THE QI TONIC - Energy tonic containing Astragalus, WhiteGinseng & Royal Jelly (Suitable for diabetics andhypertension patients). Increases energy and vitality.
WELLBEING TEA RANGE - Grown and picked in China, FiveLeaves tea, Yunnan Tuo tea, and Ginko Biloba Leaf tea arewell known for their healing qualities.
As well as these teas and tonics, AcuMedic also has an exclusive range of pure essential oilsfor aromatherapy and massage. We also use our expertise in Chinese herbs to create a range ofbodycare products infused with herbs such as the magical ML face cream and Shou Wushampoo. Visit our website to browse through all of our wellbeing products or come into ourmain centre in London and explore.
As a patient at AcuMedic, you are automatically entitled to become a Friend of AcuMedic.This gives you a 10% discount on all books, tonics, teas and bodycare products sold in our shopas well as special offers throughout the year. Make sure that you ask for your FAM card whenyou arrive for your appointment and start saving immediately.
R E F E R R A L S
After you have experienced the benefits of Chinese medicine and Acupuncture, you may wishto recommend AcuMedic to a friend or family member. To do this, simply fill out a referral form(available at reception) and AcuMedic will send you a £10 voucher to thank you for yoursupport. This voucher can be redeemed for any AcuMedic clinical, cosmetic, and bodycareservices, and all health & beautycare books and products.
C O S M E T I C & B O D Y C L I N I C
AcuMedic strives to offer its patients an all encompassing range of services for a healthier andmore positive life. The AcuMedic body clinic uses our expertise in Chinese healthcare to giveyou a range of non-medical treatments to aid relaxation, stimulate the mind and improveappearance. Services include Tuina massage, reflexology, and more recently, cosmeticacupuncture and Chinese herbal beauty therapies. All of these treatments are hugely popular inChina and highly effective. To find out more, please ask at reception.
A C U M E D I C C O U R S E S
AcuMedic is a pioneering organisation for research and development in modern Chinesemedicine. Linked with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and the State Administrationof Chinese Medicine in China, AcuMedic organises PGEA approved postgraduate courses fordoctors, GPs, and healthcare professionals at the Royal Free Hospital. Should you, a friend oryour doctor be interested in learning acupuncture and Chinese medicine, please contact ourcourse administrator on: Tel: 020 7388 5783/6704 Fax: 020 7387 5766
Depression - I have had two serious bouts of depression in my life, both of themcame close to killing me. That’s not an exaggeration, it might sound melodramatic butit’s true. I spent fifteen months where I did not sleep more than three hours a night. Iwas a walking zombie. I wasn't functioning. Treatment here has turned my life around,it has been great. I normally have a fear of needles, I am almost phobic about them.The truth is they don't hurt. Over time as I have had the treatment, things have beenopened up for me, it is a remarkable experience. I feel like I have more energy than Ihave had for years, I feel so much better, I can think straighter and can concentrate. Ihave got more benefit here than I ever received from Western medicine. Westernmedicine could not even diagnose what was wrong with me and the doctors here justsaid yes we can treat that, and they were right.
Arthritis - My knee was very painful which was diagnosed by the NHS as arthritis. Iknew that arthritis in Western medicine is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs whichare destructive to the lining of the stomach. So I came to AcuMedic for naturaltreatment. All I can say is that it is just short of a miracle, I can bend now and theswelling has gone. I really can't tell you how wonderful it has been.
Gout - I was getting an attack of gout once a month, every month that would last aweek... it was immensely painful, I couldn't walk, I would take the painkillersprescribed by the hospital but they had no effect. Once I started coming here thedoctor immediately took the pain away and over the course of eight weeks took awaythe attacks of gout. What I have found out about Chinese medicine is that themethods are very tried and tested, very scientific. It is a system that has beendeveloped over thousands of years and the doctors are very specific about how theycan treat people.
Thrombosis - I was suffering discomfort in my leg... it was a constant nag and worry.So I came along to AcuMedic and it was like magic, after one treatment the pain hadgone! I have suffered very little since then, I would go as far as to say that 98% of thepain in my leg has gone and has not returned. As a side effect of the treatment myskin greatly improved which is brilliant.
Below are just a few extracts from AcuMedic video case records, featuring interviews withpatients who volunteered to say a few words about their treatment at AcuMedic. These are allgenuine and will hopefully give you some confidence in our expertise and success.
Psoriasis - I could not stop scratching my head and it was bleeding, I was sodepressed. The doctor started me off with herbs and acupuncture. I asked how soonI would feel the difference and the doctor said it would be almost immediate and itwas! The itching stopped within a couple of days and it has more or less cleared up...I am stunned. There have been other positive benefits, I have far more energy now.
Neck pain - I felt as if there was fluid at the back of my head all the time, I felthorrendous. After three weeks of treatment coming once a week, I felt like a differentperson. I did not have the heaviness anymore and the pain was so much better. It wassuch a relief to come to someone who understood and sat still and listened to what Ineeded and could help me.
General - It is about treating the whole body when I come to AcuMedic. I can comeand say that I have a headache, and I have this rash on my arm and by the way I am abit tight in the neck because of my job. I can discuss many things and be treated forall of them at the same time which I think is absolutely incredible that that is possible.Treating everything from the root rather than the surface. My advice would be to notbe afraid, find out more, educate yourself and don't suffer, because suffering is acrazy thing to do.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Each herbal prescription is specifically made up for each patient, therefore we cannot accept returned herbs.
AcuMedic recommends that all ailments must also be brought to the attention of your GP to evaluate thecondition.
Taking Chinese herbs is not a replacement for any conventional medication that you have been prescribed.Continue to take your medicine and inform our doctors.
There are no guarantees in any medicine, therefore we too cannot guarantee that treatment at AcuMedic willbe successful.
A C U M E D I C T E A M
AcuMedic is headed by Prof. Man Fong Mei with a team of professors from the BeijingUniversity of Chinese Medicine. The team includes: Dr. Lily Hua Yu
Dr. Dan ChenDr. Ting WangDr. Hong MenDr. Yunyan ZhouDr. Ruiqi ChenCurrent visiting professors:
