Treatment

Acupuncture

What is acupuncture?

Dating over 5,000 years old, acupuncture is an ancient health science which is used to successfully treat both pain and dysfunction in the body. Historians have stated “More people have benefited from acupuncture over the course of fifty centuries than the combined total of all other healing sciences, both ancient and modern”.

Early physicians discovered an energy network traversing on and below the skin surface in the form of electro-magnetic meridians. This energy network communicates from the exterior to the internal organs and structures at over 1,000 “acupoints” on the body. This energy works in harmony with the body’s nervous, circulatory, muscular, digestive, genitourinary systems and all other systems of the body.

In normal health, vital energy (known as chi/qi) flows unimpeded in the meridian channels in a balanced state. When qi becomes blocked or weakened, an effect in a body system or anatomic location becomes evident. This disruption of energy flow can produce conditions affecting certain organs or in many cases the entire body. Stimulation of key acupoints on the body can restore harmony to the affected area.

Is acupuncture painful? How is it applied?

Acupuncture is a principle, not a technique. Just as there are different styles of martial arts, there are many ways to stimulate an acupoint. Besides the painless traditional insertion of a sterile needle, Dr. Huynh also utilizes electric stimulation, Tei-Shin needle percussion, laser beam, and the state of the art Pointer Pulse instrument which simultaneously uses laser and electric stimulation.

More importantly, Dr. Huynh takes the guess work out of acupuncture by utilizing Electronic Meridian Imaging (EMI)EMI is a computerized evaluation tool used effectively for both diagnosis and treatment.  By measuring source acupoints around the wrists and ankles, Dr. Huynh is able to accurately determine how and which of the 12 primary meridian systems are affected and thus plan a course of treatment.  More importantly, by performing an EMI every 3-4 treatments, Dr. Huynh is able to monitor the effectiveness and response to treatment and successfully balance your body back to harmony.

In addition to balancing your EMI, Dr. Huynh will also use key acupoints on the ear (auriculotherapy), hand (hand acupuncture), and head (cerebral acupuncture) specific for your condition.

How many treatments are usual?

Internationally, the usual number of treatments is between 8 and 16 with 12 being the most common. The usual frequency is 2-4 times per week. Patients are urged not to enter an acupuncture or chiropractic treatment program with the thought of “trying a few” to see what will happen. Even though the doctor may recommend 10 visits of initial trial therapy, the patient may be discharged should the patient respond completely within just a few treatments. On the other hand, treatment could be continued to assist in stabilizing the condition.

Results are usually permanent where there has been little or no tissue or organ system damage. Symptoms from chronic conditions may recur from time to time and may need booster treatments periodically.

  • At 77 years of age, having lived a very active life as an architect and property developer, I was told by my neurologists and orthopedic surgeon that my chronic lower back and leg pains (bulging disc) complicated by my imbalance and incontinence at this point could only be treated with surgery and/or heavy pain medications. Neither were acceptable options to me. My daughter had heard through the media that spinal decompression was accomplishing outstanding success in treating these problems.

    A new hope was born when I met with Dr. Peter Huynh and he reviewed my MRI. He assured me this non-invasive treatment could be of significant help to me. I now stand taller, my balance has improved, I have more energy and he was able to correct my posture and gait. Now, as I leave 8 weeks of inspirational treatment by a most talented and considerate doctor and friend, I’m going home to finish the leaf raking, and home maintenance that have been neglected for years.

    Thank you Dr. Peter for giving my life back to me.

    - Phil Brown
  • I am a 44 year old self employed housekeeper. I was previously diagnosed with several herniated discs. After several alternative treatments which included different medications, therapies, steroids and spinal injections, I became very frustrated with the life altering condition that I was dealing with.

    Dr. Huynh changed my physical and mental outlook with his decompression treatment. I highly recommend it in lieu of surgery or other treatments. Thanks so much!

    - Tamara Jones
  • I sought treatment from Dr. Pete in summer after having a relapse of severe low back pain and sciatica. I first started having trouble w/ back 6 years ago after a basketball injury that resulted in two herniated discs. I’ve been to numerous doctors both before and after the surgery and none had ever really taken the time to listen. I felt they needed to know about my pain and history to correctly treat my condition but never took the time. I went to Dr. Pete after a severe episode of sciatica that left me laid up in bed for a couple days. I could barely even walk into his office. After so many years of treatments and reading up the condition it sounded like I could really benefit from spinal decompression. We started with gentle decompression and advanced from there. Dr. Pete put me on a complete regimen of stretches and core strengthening exercises. A lot of exercises and techniques I’d never seen before but have really helped eliminate my pain, improve posture, and I even lost a few pounds. Dr. Pete is the only doctor out of more than a dozen I’ve visited who has helped me find relief and he has my complete trust and confidence. On the first visit Dr. Pete promised he’d help me get my life back and he did exactly that!! I can now be as active as I want pain free.

    - Stuart Howard
  • I have had three spinal surgeries, yet I was still suffering from severe back pain with sciatica pain down my leg. It was impossible to get up in the morning and difficult to sit for short periods of time. I have tried everything from physical therapy to acupuncture. Only half way through the spinal decompression treatment, my sciatica was gone and back pain greatly diminished. Now I can fully enjoy my retirement.

    - Paul Vu
  • Running is my life. I have run three marathons, but have been unable to run due to pain down my right leg. Even my golf game has suffered considerably. With Dr. Peter’s unique approach to disc injuries, I am back to running again. I definitely recommend disc decompression as the effective, safer and conservative approach to surgery.

    - Laura Watson
  • After many years of hard labor my degenerated disc herniated, causing not only sharp back pain but pain down both my legs. It became impossible to take care of my family let alone myself. With Dr. Peter Huynh’s tailored rehab program and spinal decompression therapy, I am back on my feet and feeling great!

    - Lan Nguyen
  • My MRIs show that I have multiple disc herniations in both my neck and low back regions. I have tried herbal medicine, massage therapy, traction tables and many other devices. For years I have lived with painful muscle spasms, numbness in my arm, and pain in my legs. Thanks to Spinal Health Group, I no longer suffer from any nerve pain in my arms or legs.

    - Ba Tran