The Indigo Center for the Creative and Healing Arts
Frequently Asked Questions
••• What is Acupuncture? ••••
Acupuncture has rapidly become an accepted treatment in alternative care in America, with over 35 states, including Virginia, regulating acupuncturists as health care professionals. Acupuncture originated over 2,500 years ago in China and is now used all over the world. Acupuncture concentrates on the electrical energy in the nervous system and organs. With Acupuncture, the placement of fine hair-like needles into specific points of the body can act like antennas and reprogram the body to a healthier state.
•••• How does it work? ••••
Within Chinese medicine, energy or life force called “Qi” flows through the body along 14 channels. When “Qi” is blocked, the flow of energy is impaired, and can result in pain and illness. Placing needles at various points along the channel removes the blockage, allowing “Qi” to flow and restore harmony between the body’s natural protective and pain-fighting systems. The immune system is boosted and pain-fighting endorphins and peptides are released during acupuncture. Chinese medicine promotes the body’s ability to heal itself.
•••• What kind of treatment is available? ••••
Acupuncture, sometimes referred to as Traditional Chinese Medicine, comprises a full range of services. The acupuncturist conducts a complete physical examination with subsequent examinations as needed. Acupuncture and herbal therapy are key components of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture’s primary treatment with needles is the most common technique. Other modalities that may be used are Moxibustion (a form of heat therapy), vitamins, dietary modification, herbal prescriptions, Qi gong, Reiki, Tui-na and Shiatsu.
•••• What conditions can be treated? ••••
You can look forward to results for conditions such as
* Chronic pain
* Fibromyalgia
* Back pain
* Depression
* PMS Stress
* Headaches
* Digestive problems
* Withdrawal problems associated with smoking, drugs and alcohol
Acupuncture has rapidly become an accepted treatment in alternative care in America, with over 35 states, including Virginia, regulating acupuncturists as health care professionals. Acupuncture originated over 2,500 years ago in China and is now used all over the world. Acupuncture concentrates on the electrical energy in the nervous system and organs. With Acupuncture, the placement of fine hair-like needles into specific points of the body can act like antennas and reprogram the body to a healthier state.
•••• How does it work? ••••
Within Chinese medicine, energy or life force called “Qi” flows through the body along 14 channels. When “Qi” is blocked, the flow of energy is impaired, and can result in pain and illness. Placing needles at various points along the channel removes the blockage, allowing “Qi” to flow and restore harmony between the body’s natural protective and pain-fighting systems. The immune system is boosted and pain-fighting endorphins and peptides are released during acupuncture. Chinese medicine promotes the body’s ability to heal itself.
•••• What kind of treatment is available? ••••
Acupuncture, sometimes referred to as Traditional Chinese Medicine, comprises a full range of services. The acupuncturist conducts a complete physical examination with subsequent examinations as needed. Acupuncture and herbal therapy are key components of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture’s primary treatment with needles is the most common technique. Other modalities that may be used are Moxibustion (a form of heat therapy), vitamins, dietary modification, herbal prescriptions, Qi gong, Reiki, Tui-na and Shiatsu.
•••• What conditions can be treated? ••••
You can look forward to results for conditions such as
* Chronic pain
* Fibromyalgia
* Back pain
* Depression
* PMS Stress
* Headaches
* Digestive problems
* Withdrawal problems associated with smoking, drugs and alcohol
••What is Hypnosis? ••••
Hypnosis or what we call ”trance”, is actually a very natural state of consciousness that knowingly or not, you have already experienced many times; for example, just before or after sleep, while deeply immersed in a book, knitting or driving a car, day dreaming, meditating or practicing yoga. All of these tend to put you in a trance state.
••••What is Conscious and Unconscious Mind?••••
Hypnosis is a way of deeply relaxing and setting aside the critical and analytical Conscious Mind normally consumed with the busy-ness of life. This “beta brain wave” state has a very short attention span with only 25% concentration efficiency. Hypnotic relaxation techniques takes you into a state of focused awareness, the “alpha brain wave” state, accessing what is called the Unconscious Mind with a nearly perfect concentration of 95%.
Ultimately the only difference between the Unconscious and Conscious Mind is our awareness. Once we are aware of something, it is no longer unconscious behavior. Once we turn on the light we are no longer in the dark.
••••How Can Hypnosis Help You?••••
The Unconscious Mind, much like a computer, stores all of our experiences, as well as regulating autonomic functions such as heart beat and breathing. This makes Hypno-Therapy ideal for exploring physical healing and emotion-based compulsions, like over eating, smoking and other behaviors you cannot seem to stop from doing. The theory behind Hypno-Therapy is that we do have the power to change behavior once we are able to locate the “encoded command”. Because the Unconscious Mind never does anything that it does not consider to be a good thing for you, it could be said that consciously or not a decision was made that this behavior was desirable—it was seen as a solution. Hypno-Therapy helps with that part of you that made the decision and re-imprint it. Following the computer analogy, we would say you are reprogramming—or shall we say re-visioning—the inner command programs.
••••What are Common Uses for Hypno-Therapy? ••••
* Weight Loss
* Addictive Behaviors
* Tension and Stress Relief
* Self-Confidence
* Concentration and Memory
* Immune System and Healing
* Personal Relationships
* Bereavement
* Anxiety and Depression
* Physical Performance
••••What Hypnosis is Not? ••••
It is not a sleep state, nor does the hypnotist exert “mind control” over the subject. Just as when driving a car or daydreaming, in the hypnotic state you remain fully in control and can interrupt it at any time. Likewise, you can choose to answer or not to answer any question posed to you. You cannot get “stuck” in trance; you would simply awaken on your own, or enter into a natural sleep. And, finally, a hypnotized person will not do anything that violates their own code of ethics.
Hypnosis or what we call ”trance”, is actually a very natural state of consciousness that knowingly or not, you have already experienced many times; for example, just before or after sleep, while deeply immersed in a book, knitting or driving a car, day dreaming, meditating or practicing yoga. All of these tend to put you in a trance state.
••••What is Conscious and Unconscious Mind?••••
Hypnosis is a way of deeply relaxing and setting aside the critical and analytical Conscious Mind normally consumed with the busy-ness of life. This “beta brain wave” state has a very short attention span with only 25% concentration efficiency. Hypnotic relaxation techniques takes you into a state of focused awareness, the “alpha brain wave” state, accessing what is called the Unconscious Mind with a nearly perfect concentration of 95%.
Ultimately the only difference between the Unconscious and Conscious Mind is our awareness. Once we are aware of something, it is no longer unconscious behavior. Once we turn on the light we are no longer in the dark.
••••How Can Hypnosis Help You?••••
The Unconscious Mind, much like a computer, stores all of our experiences, as well as regulating autonomic functions such as heart beat and breathing. This makes Hypno-Therapy ideal for exploring physical healing and emotion-based compulsions, like over eating, smoking and other behaviors you cannot seem to stop from doing. The theory behind Hypno-Therapy is that we do have the power to change behavior once we are able to locate the “encoded command”. Because the Unconscious Mind never does anything that it does not consider to be a good thing for you, it could be said that consciously or not a decision was made that this behavior was desirable—it was seen as a solution. Hypno-Therapy helps with that part of you that made the decision and re-imprint it. Following the computer analogy, we would say you are reprogramming—or shall we say re-visioning—the inner command programs.
••••What are Common Uses for Hypno-Therapy? ••••
* Weight Loss
* Addictive Behaviors
* Tension and Stress Relief
* Self-Confidence
* Concentration and Memory
* Immune System and Healing
* Personal Relationships
* Bereavement
* Anxiety and Depression
* Physical Performance
••••What Hypnosis is Not? ••••
It is not a sleep state, nor does the hypnotist exert “mind control” over the subject. Just as when driving a car or daydreaming, in the hypnotic state you remain fully in control and can interrupt it at any time. Likewise, you can choose to answer or not to answer any question posed to you. You cannot get “stuck” in trance; you would simply awaken on your own, or enter into a natural sleep. And, finally, a hypnotized person will not do anything that violates their own code of ethics.