Acupuncture Takes Time, and Multiple Treatments, to Produce Results

Good Medicine

By Dr. Hyun K. Lee

Since Oriental medicine and acupuncture have now essentially become part of mainstream medicine, it is helpful for new or potential patients to understand, in advance, what will give them a really successful visit and outcome. Despite all the success stories you read about in the press, many people are still unaware of how Oriental medicine treatments actually work, and what to do to maximize their treatment success.

To be successful over the long term, and to effect a permanent cure, patients need to be aware that, unlike Western medicine, Oriental medicine and acupuncture are not one-off treatments, and even though after your first treatment, you might leave the doctor’s office feeling relaxed, happy, and totally cured, or the complete opposite, this is only a temporary state. In most cases, this feeling does not last more than a day or two.

Patients will all respond differently to their initial treatment. This is normal, and it will take several days for your system to feel the full effects of a treatment. But, in order to see your final result, you must continue with your treatment for at least two or three more sessions. After that, you will see the real and much more exact result.

Together with your physical treatment, in most cases, your doctor will also recommend that you take prescription Oriental herbs to help speed up and maintain your healing. These herbs are a very important part of your treatment and cure. They are not just an adjunct to your treatment, they are an integral, and vital, part of it, and will support your body’s ongoing healing response. Think about them as being like a Western doctor’s prescription — when you go to your Western doctor, you do not expect to see a good result if you don’t take what has been prescribed for you.

With Oriental medicine, the reward for being a compliant patient is that you will begin to see good results after your second or third treatment. For most acute patients, three sessions are all the treatment they will need to see and maintain their cure. But chronic patients will take a little longer. Yet another reward for many patients, both acute and chronic, is that, after completing their Oriental medicine treatment, it is often possible for them to start to reduce the dosages of their Western medicine prescriptions, and, in some cases, to be able to discontinue them completely, with their Western doctor's approval.

Given the hectic pace of life today, in order to maintain healing over the long term and keep your immune system in top condition, it is always recommended that you eat a healthy diet, preferably organic, and check in with your Oriental practitioner every six months or so, to see that your system is staying in balance, and toxin and stress free.

The need to make one or two visits to your Oriental medicine practitioner, and take herbs, in addition to your treatment, is usually omitted in popular articles about acupuncture, cupping, tuina, and moxibustion. But, all these treatments, in order to be optimally effective, need to be performed two or three times, and often supported by oriental herbs, to maintain a permanent cure. But, unfortunately, this omission in the literature is frequently the cause of a new patient not understanding how acupuncture works, and mistakenly thinking that a single visit should bring about a good result. Not finding their condition responding, or completely cured with a single visit, some patients conclude that acupuncture and Oriental medicine just does not work for them. Had they continued for a couple more visits, their results would have been quite the reverse.

So, the takeaway is that acupuncture, and Oriental medicine do not work effectively with a single treatment. Two or three are usually the minimum requirement. In most cases, where recommended, the body should also be supported with Oriental herbs, and a follow-up visit every six months is also suggested, in order to continue to reap the full benefits of your health investment. Most patients, once they are healed, consider this is a small price to pay, to avoid the side effects of a quick fix for their symptoms, and to stay healthy, and pain free for the balance of their lifetime.

Dr. Lee’s office is located at 175 McMurray Road, Suite G, Buellton. The clinic is held every Wednesday only. Dr. Lee also has offices in Los Angeles, and Atascadero. To make an appointment in the Buellton office, call (805) 693-5162.

Winter Storm

Continued from page 1 of REALTORS announced that flooding disaster victims eligible for up to $3,000 rent or mortgage payment assistance

Anyone in Santa Barbara County whose housing was impacted by the January 2023 storms may be eligible for financial assistance up to $3,000. Specifically, Santa Barbara County residents who faced displacement or whose homes were damaged or destroyed may qualify for relief provided by the Santa Ynez Valley Association of REALTORS®, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® and the REALTORS® Relief Foundation. Assistance is available for qualified applicants to assist with the following:

• Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged by the flooding disaster, or;

• Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the flooding disaster, or;

• Hotel reimbursement due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the flooding disaster.

Residents who qualify may apply for reimbursement of one month’s mortgage, rent payment, or hotel reimbursement, or $3,000 — whichever is less.

The REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) was originally created by the National Association of REALTORS® in response to the 9/11 attacks, and has gone on to help several communities rebuild after disasters ranging from wildfires to hurricanes. Through its efforts, the RRF has helped more than 19,000 families stay in their homes.

To apply for disaster relief assistance, please visit www.sbaor.org/forms/adra/

News Briefs

Continued from page 2 looking for artists to share their talents with festival attendees. An area in front of the convention center will be transformed into a gallery of strawberry themed masterpiec es. We know the little ones will be inspired and want to get in on the fun too, a children’s chalk area will be available near the artists and is included with Festival admission. Applications are open and available on the Santa Maria Fairpark website (santam-

Government Meetings

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 9 A.M.

At County Administration Building, Fourth Floor, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara

For more info: countyofsb.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

BUELLTON CITY COUNCIL, 6 P.M.

At Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton

For more info: cityofbuellton.com

MONDAY, MARCH 13

SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL, 6:30

P.M.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 14

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 9 A.M.

At Betteravia Government Center, 511 Lakeside Pkwy, Santa Maria

For more info: countyofsb.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

SANTA YNEZ COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT, 5:30 P.M.

At Community Services District Building, 1070 Faraday St.

For more info: sycsd.com

Los Olivos Community Services District, 6 p.m.

At St Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, Stacy Hall, 2092 Nojoqui Ave, Los Olivos

For more info: www.losolivoscsd.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

BUELLTON PLANNING COMMISSION, 6 P.M.

Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246, Buellton

For more info: cityofbuellton.com

Solvang Design Review Committee, 5 p.m.

At Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang

For more info: cityofsolvang.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 9 A.M.