Top 10 Reasons People Seek Acupuncture Help

Since we opened in 2014, we have seen close to 700 patients. Out of curiosity, I tallied up their reasons for seeking acupuncture help as indicated on their initial patient intake information. Here are the top 10 reasons why people try acupuncture:

1. Back Pain (201)

Back Pain is the number one reason by a large margin. With conditions ranging from herniated discs to muscular tension.

2. Neck / Shoulder Pain (103)

Neck and shoulder issues are often intertwined. Sometimes overlapped with back pain or even jaw pain or headache.

3. Anxiety / Stress / Depression (101)

Inability to relax seems to be a sweeping issue. In many cased related to headache, weight issue, or even mood swing when attempt to quit smoking.

4. Migraine / Headache (65)

Many people suffer from condition ranging from chronic migraine to tension headache.

5. Hip / Sciatic Pain (51)

6. Knee / Leg Pain (51)

7. Weight Issue (46)

8. Digestive / Gastro-Intestinal Issue (38)

Ranging from Irritable Bowel Syndrome to acid reflux. Some seek to improve their digestive function of wheat or lactose.

9. Foot Pain (37)

Common source of foot pain is Plantar Fasciitis.

10. Allergy / Congestion / Sinus (36)

People seek relief from conditions ranging from seasonal allergy to chronic sinus condition.

The list goes on and some of the reasons might surprise you. The rest of the tally are as followed:

11. General Aches and Pain (33)
12. Fatigue (29)
13. Gynecological / Reproductive Issue (24)
14. General Wellness (23)
14. Arm Pain (23)
15. Cold / Numb / Tingling in Extremities (22)
16. Jaw / Mouth Pain (17)
16. Sleep Issue (17)
17. Wrist Pain (15)
18. Hand Pain (13)
18. General Joint Pain (13)
18. Blood Pressure (13)
19. Quit Smoking (12)
19. Ankle Pain (12)
19. Dermatological Issue (12)
19. Gland / Hormonal Issue (12)
20. Dizziness / Balance Issue (10)
20. Elbow Pain (10)
21. Cognitive Issue (9)
22. Respiratory Issue (8)
22. Post-Cancer Healing (8)
23. Feeling of Heat (7)
24. Curiosity (6)
25. Post-Surgery Healing (5)
25. Ringing in the Ear (5)
26. Urinary Issue (4)
26. Eye Discomfort (4)
26. Edema (4)
27. Bells Palsy (3)
28. Diabetes (2)
28. Light and Sound Sensitivity (2)
29. Hiccup (1)
29. Facial Rejuvenation (1)
29. Auto-Immune Issue (1)
29. Hearing Issue (1)

Honeysuckle / Jin Yin Hua / 金銀花 / Gold and Silver Flower

Kevin and I planted 4 different varieties of honeysuckle on the back of the building several years before we started the business.

In hindsight, 2 honeysuckles would have been enough to cover the space. They are incredibly vigorous and would tear down the gutter and swallow the building if left alone.

I have long since lost the variety tags from the nursery. I believe one is an North American non-vining variety and the other three are Lonicera japonica. So when it came to picking out the medicinal variety to paint, I just picked one that fits the Chinese name better - "Gold and Silver Flower".

The composition shows the three stages of the flower, from immature yellow-green (that's when you would picked it for Chinese medicinal use), to showy yellow and white full bloom, ends in dropping all its petals and forming a jewel red fruit.

Painting Chrysanthemum: From Reference Photo to Finish

Since last time I shared the process of wet mounting, I decide to share a bit about how I painted the botanical watercolor.

When I picked the chrysanthemum flowers in the fall, I took some reference pictures. The photo looked fine when I first took it, but later as I tried to draw and paint for it, I found it lacking contrasts and slight blurry, making the process challenging.

Sometimes in the beginning of the year, on a sketchbook I roughed out the basic layout of the painting, including the positions of the Latin botanical name, the Chinese name, and the seals.

On an new sketchbook page with a mechanical pencil, I drew the chrysanthemum with as much as precision as I can, making sure the shapes were well-defined. This step doesn't look like much but I would say it's the most important step.

Once I was happy with it, I put a transparency with grid on top of my pencil drawing, drew a grid on my watercolor paper, and transfer the drawing. I used hot-press paper for its smooth surface, and lighter pencil pressure so I don't etch too much into the paper.

As I transferred, I erased the grid lines as I go. I still looked at the reference photo and making decisions as I transferred, so the final drawing on the watercolor paper was a little different than the pencil drawing.

Looking at the reference photo, I applied the watercolor in layers, mostly with a size 0 brush. I had to make up some details as I go, because the reference photo was a bit flat, especially in the center of the flowers. It was just a big blob of yellow. After adjusting and re-adjusting the shades and tone, at some point I had to decided when to stop fussing over painting.

At this point, I wrote the Latin and Chinese botanical names with the respectively appropriate calligraphic tools.

Stamped on my name seal, the Peaceful Water seal, and call it done! The painting will be hanging in the hallway next to other botanicals. Next time when you come in, feel free to check it out!