James F. Jones, AP

It does not. Often, pain medications and other drugs can retard the healing process because they impede certain communications from the brain that help to heal. However, there are many Chinese Medicine Herbal formulas that have been successful for thousands of years to improve many complaints. These formulas are based on whole plants, not patented chemical isolates. The process promotes healing and balance instead of blocking natural pathways. These formulas are studied by most trained acupuncturists and are based on the same diagnosis as the acupuncture process. Drugs are often initially taken to reduce discomfort, then Chinese medicine can help improve the complaint and help reduce the drug intake and side effects. 

James F. Jones

So many regulating processes are initiated by acupuncture that there is no doubt it will help. It takes time to show significant average improvements because it is so subtly and deeply changing the body systems. I have seen many patients shift significantly with one treatment. 

James F. Jones

Digestive disorders respond very quickly to acupuncture and Chinese medicine.The calming aspects teach the body not to react extremely to the many forms of stress (emotional, chemical/environmental, physical) and thus the gut is appeased. 

James F. Jones

Generally, both can be effective if the practitioner is good at his work, but applying finger pressure to a point is somewhat limited compared to acupuncture due to the disruption of surface tissue whole applying healing to the spot with pressure. A hair fine needle can communicate to the point more effectively at a proper depth without the trauma to the covering tissue. Also, with acupuncture several key points can be stimulated at once for a longer period providing a more comprehensive treatment in a given time. 

Hair loss is not only an indicator of aging, it tells that circulation is limited in the scalp and over the whole body. Also that "kidney energy" or adrenal insufficiency is accelerating due to stressful life and toxins coming from food and air.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine herbal formulas address all of these concerns, changing/improving the health profile of anyone. It is a process, it does not happen quickly nor will it fully recover deteriorating systems, but it always helps. 

James F. Jones

Lung clearing and strengthening is one of many balancing processes in Ch med.It is standard for many to feel opening of the passageways right after treatment, but the long term changes are forthcoming within a course of 12 or so treatments...  All patients are different but acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine will produce a positive change in most anyone as brain healing centers are reunited in their communication with the peripheral body. James F. Jones
Acupuncture Physician

Due to the paradigm of western medicine, we expect results for pain, so this is my initial objective. This period to gain relief varies as well as the degree of relief, as all situations are different. However, since the "mechanism" of acupuncture is to shift the body's healing inertia to become active again, there is a deep feeling of "something good happening," or "feeling right." This is why many patients return on occasion to get a tune up and just feel better. 

James F. Jones

Due to the balancing effects, it usually helps headaches quickly. After a few treatments, the changes in the body become more permanent, or at least longer lasting. It also helps with a variety of stressors, emotional, physical, environmental, so one feels much more "in tune" after a treatment.

James F. Jones