Painless Acupuncture™

Gongfangtang Traditional Chinese Medicine

Gong Fang Tang Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic has innovatively developed painless acupuncture technology, utilizing internationally certified ultra-fine silver needles combined with precise needle insertion techniques to ensure swift entry into acupoints with minimal discomfort. By adjusting needle depth and frequency, this technique effectively stimulates acupoint functions while significantly enhancing patient comfort during treatment, making it particularly suitable for first-time acupuncture recipients or those with sensitive constitutions.

As one of the most widely practiced traditional therapies in Singapore, acupuncture demonstrates remarkable efficacy in pain management, subhealth 调理 (wellness regulation), gynecology, facial care, and other areas. Gong Fang Tang TCM emphasizes integrating meridian theory with modern medical assessments to address both localized symptoms and systemic functional imbalances.

The clinic's acupuncture team holds Singapore TCM practitioner licenses, with core members boasting over 20 years of clinical experience and serving tens of thousands of patients. Through continuous refinement of techniques and participation in international academic exchanges, they uphold "steadiness (standardized procedures), precision (accurate syndrome differentiation), and gentleness (soft manipulation)" as core standards, establishing themselves as a trusted benchmark for TCM acupuncture in the local community.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture typically refers to the combined techniques of needling and moxibustion, falling under Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies. By stimulating 361 meridian points (originating from the "Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon") with fine needles, these acupoints—located at intersections of neurovascular bundles—form an energy conduction network with the twelve meridians. This regulates the rhythm and intensity of "Qi" (bioelectromagnetic field) flow, thereby restoring dynamic balance to organ functions.

By stimulating specific acupoints on the human body, it achieves the effects of unblocking meridians, balancing yin and yang, and reinforcing healthy qi while eliminating pathogens. This therapy is widely used to alleviate various conditions, including chronic pain, migraines, stress, and nausea.

Furthermore, acupuncture's holistic approach not only targets symptoms but also addresses the root causes of health issues, providing a comprehensive solution for managing personal wellness and individual needs.

How does acupuncture work?

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the human meridian system serves as pathways for the flow of qi and blood. Acupuncture employs fine needles to stimulate specific acupoints, clearing meridian blockages and regulating the balance of qi and blood, thereby restoring harmony between yin and yang in the body. Modern research reveals that acupuncture interventions activate local nerve endings, triggering neural signals that travel to the central and peripheral nervous systems. This prompts the brain to release natural pain-relieving substances and neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin, producing immediate analgesic and mood-regulating effects. Additionally, acupuncture stimulates vascular endothelial cells to generate nitric oxide, dilating blood vessels and improving local microcirculation. This enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues while accelerating the removal of metabolic waste.

At the level of the neuro-endocrine-immune network, the beneficial stimulation of acupuncture regulates the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, influencing hormone secretion (such as insulin and sex hormone levels) and activating immune cell activity to enhance the body's self-repair capabilities. This multisystem synergy not only rapidly alleviates localized symptoms like pain and inflammation but also, through sustained improvement of systemic qi-blood circulation and internal homeostasis, provides holistic regulation for chronic diseases and endocrine imbalances. Ultimately, it achieves the therapeutic goals of "free flow for no pain" and "harmony between yin and yang."

Types of Acupuncture

1. Filiform Needle

The filiform needle is the most commonly used type of acupuncture needle, typically made of stainless steel. It comes in various lengths such as 0.5 inch, 1 inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches, 2.5 inches, and 3 inches. The tip of the filiform needle is relatively sharp, allowing it to stimulate acupoints and achieve therapeutic effects for treating diseases.

2. Three-Edged Needle

The needle tip is triangular in shape, generally used for bloodletting therapy. It can puncture small blood vessels around acupoints to release an appropriate amount of blood, achieving the purpose of treating diseases.

3. Dermal Needle

Also known as the plum blossom needle, the dermal needle consists of five or seven stainless steel needles with a lotus-seed-pod-shaped handle. It is typically used to stimulate acupoints on the skin's surface, regulating qi and blood flow and unblocking meridians.

4. Fire Needling

Fire needling involves inserting a red-hot needle tip into acupoints, which can warm and unblock meridians, disperse cold, and relieve pain. It is generally used to treat deficiency-cold syndromes.

5. Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture connects filiform needles to electrotherapy devices, stimulating acupoints with electric current to enhance treatment efficacy. It is commonly used for conditions like pain and muscle atrophy.

6. Magnetic needle

The tip of the magnetic needle is magnetized, which can stimulate acupoints, adjust the body's magnetic field, and achieve the purpose of treating diseases.

7. Ear needle

Ear needle therapy's targeted treatment is particularly effective in addressing stress, anxiety, addiction, and pain management. The operability of the ear and the mapping of multiple connection points allow this therapy to be performed quickly and intensively within a short time.

Why Choose Acupuncture?

May reduce stress: Research on acupuncture therapy suggests its potential role in stress management. By stimulating specific body points, acupuncture influences the nervous system to release chemicals that aid relaxation. This stimulation naturally alleviates stress responses, promoting a balanced and tranquil mental state.

Pain relief: Acupuncture stimulates specific points to activate the body's natural pain-relief mechanisms, enhancing its self-healing capacity. This method offers a natural alternative to traditional pain management, potentially effective in alleviating chronic pain and discomfort from injuries.

May reduce headaches and migraines: Acupuncture helps relieve tension and improve blood circulation by stimulating specific pressure points, thereby alleviating headaches and migraines. This approach aims to provide a non-invasive solution for persistent headaches.

Improving sleep quality: Research shows that acupuncture stimulates key areas of the body, affecting the nervous system and hormones, thereby enhancing sleep. This helps relax the body and mind, regulate sleep patterns, and makes it easier to fall and stay asleep.

Potentially boosting immunity: Acupuncture is believed to enhance immunity by regulating the body's physiological functions. This may include optimizing blood circulation and reducing inflammation, thereby strengthening the body's ability to resist infections and maintain overall health.

Who Should Consider Acupuncture in Singapore

Recommended groups for acupuncture intervention:

Chronic pain patients

Musculoskeletal system: Cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, knee osteoarthritis

Neuropathic pain: Trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia

Inflammatory pain: Analgesia for acute rheumatoid arthritis

Dysfunctional diseases

Digestive system: Irritable bowel syndrome (regulates brain-gut axis function), functional dyspepsia

Gynecological issues: Primary dysmenorrhea (stimulating Guanyuan acupoint to reduce PGF2α levels), menopausal hot flashes

Nervous system: Anxiety somatization symptoms, mild cognitive impairment (increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF)

Sub-health state regulation

Chronic fatigue syndrome (regulating HPA axis cortisol rhythm)

Stress-induced insomnia (auricular stimulation to increase GABA concentration)

Low immunity (enhancing NK cell activity by 30%-40%)

Specialized department needs

Dermatology: Acne (inhibiting sebaceous gland 5α-reductase activity), Alopecia areata (promoting hair follicle regeneration through plum-blossom needle tapping)

Metabolism Department: Insulin-resistant obesity (regulating leptin/adiponectin balance)

Special populations

Children: Laser acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis (non-invasive and safe)

Athletes: Sports injury rehabilitation (accelerates microcirculation repair of the Achilles tendon)

Postoperative patients: Gastrointestinal function recovery (stimulates Zusanli acupoint to enhance motilin secretion)

Acupuncture contraindications

Coagulation disorders: hemophilia, long-term use of anticoagulants (INR > 3.0)

Severe organic lesions: uncontrolled hypertension (>180/110mmHg), acute myocardial infarction

Local contraindications: skin infection/damaged areas, local malignant tumors

Special physiological conditions: acupuncture prohibited at lumbosacral region/Hegu point in pregnant women (may induce uterine contractions)

Special constitution: History of severe needle fainting, implanted cardiac pacemaker (electroacupuncture prohibited)

Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is acupuncture treatment safe?

    Acupuncture is generally safe when performed professionally and according to standards. However, improper techniques, inadequate sterilization, or lack of practitioner experience may lead to risks such as infection, bleeding, or fainting. Key risk factors include technique, individual differences, and hygiene conditions, which should be mitigated by seeking treatment from licensed institutions and practitioners.

  • How many acupuncture sessions are needed to be effective?

    Acupuncture typically requires multiple sessions to take effect, but the exact number depends on factors like individual constitution and severity of the condition. Mild cases may show improvement in 1-2 sessions, while severe cases or those with weaker constitutions may need 2-5 sessions. Chronic conditions might require multiple treatment courses.

  • Why does acupuncture require pulse-taking and tongue examination?

    Acupuncture treatment emphasizes "pattern differentiation and treatment," which involves comprehensively understanding the patient's constitution, condition, and etiology to develop a personalized treatment plan. Pulse-taking (pulse diagnosis) and tongue examination (tongue diagnosis) are core components of TCM pattern differentiation, aiming to provide precise guidance for acupuncture point selection, techniques, and treatment duration.

  • Can children receive acupuncture treatment?

    Children can receive acupuncture treatment, but it requires careful evaluation based on age, condition, and constitution, and should be performed by a professional practitioner experienced in pediatric acupuncture.

  • Is acupuncture effective?

    Acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system, prompting the release of chemicals into muscles, the spinal cord, and the brain, thereby triggering a series of metabolic responses. These reactions help enhance the body's natural healing abilities, improving both physical and mental health, with particularly notable effects in pain relief, reducing inflammation, and promoting recovery.

  • Can acupuncture needles transmit diseases?

    Whether acupuncture needles can transmit diseases depends on the hygiene protocols and sterilization measures during the procedure. When strict aseptic techniques are followed, acupuncture is very safe.

  • Is there pain during acupuncture treatment?

    The sensation of pain during acupuncture treatment varies from person to person and is closely related to the practitioner's skill, needle selection, acupoint location, and the patient's tolerance. In most cases, properly administered acupuncture causes minimal or even no noticeable pain.

  • How long do the effects of acupuncture last?

    The duration of acupuncture effects depends on multiple factors, including the type and severity of the condition, treatment plan, individual constitution, and follow-up care, making it impossible to generalize.

  • What are the side effects of acupuncture?

    As a relatively safe treatment method, acupuncture has a low incidence of side effects. Common side effects include mild pain, local bleeding, or bruising.

  • Who should avoid acupuncture?

    People who are not suitable for acupuncture mainly include: pregnant women (specific areas), patients with bleeding disorders, those with skin infections or ulcers, individuals with severe chronic diseases, those prone to fainting during acupuncture or experiencing extreme nervousness, etc. Acupuncture requires assessment based on individual health conditions and is not suitable for everyone—professional judgment by a licensed practitioner is necessary.

  • How much does one acupuncture session cost?

    Our acupuncture sessions start at $36+, with the exact price depending on the complexity of treatment and individual needs.

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