Traditional Chinese Medicine includes several other modalities in addition to Acupuncture. As a Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist I will use a variety of these modalities to achieve the best result for each patient. Here is a description of each modality and how it will be used:
CHINESE HERBOLOGY
CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE IS A 2,000 YEAR OLD TRADITION USING NATURALLY OCCURRING SUBSTANCES — INCLUDING HERBS — TO ENHANCE ONE’S HEALTH AND VITALITY. AS OPPOSED TO WESTERN MEDICINE, THE FOUNDATION OF THIS APPROACH IS TO SUPPORT THE BODY’S NATURAL SELF-HEALING MECHANISMS AND ABILITIES.
SINCE EACH PATIENT HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS, I CAREFULLY SELECT AND COMBINE A VARIETY OF HERBS THAT WILL SYNERGISTICALLY BLEND TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL RESULTS FOR YOUR UNIQUE SITUATION. I PRESCRIBE HIGH-QUALITY, PROFESSIONAL-GRADE HERBAL MEDICINES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ONLY TO QUALIFIED LICENSED PROFESSIONALS.
CUPPING
CUPPING HAS BEEN A PART OF CHINESE MEDICINE FOR OVER 2,500 YEARS. IT RELIEVES ACHES AND PAINS, IMPROVES CIRCULATION, AND ALSO HELPS WITH RESPIRATORY AND DIGESTIVE ISSUES. I SIMPLY PLACE A SPECIALIZED “CUP” ONTO SPECIFIC POINTS ON YOUR BODY, AND THEN USE SUCTION TO DRAW YOUR SKIN UP INTO THE CUPS. IT DOESN’T HURT — IT SIMPLY DRAWS FRESH BLOOD TO THAT AREA OF YOUR BODY, WHICH FACILITATES THE CLEANSING AND STRENGTHENING OF YOUR QI (ENERGY). THE END RESULT IS A GREATER OVERALL SENSE OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
GUA SHA
ALTHOUGH GUA SHA IS AN ANCIENT HEALING TECHNIQUE USED BY CHINESE MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, IT IS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN IN THE WEST. IT IS RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT ASIA AS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC PAIN CONDITIONS, STRESS, FATIGUE, AND A HOST OF OTHER AILMENTS.
FIRST, GUA SHA OIL IS APPLIED TO A SPECIFIC MERIDIAN (ENERGY PATHWAY) ON YOUR BODY. I THEN USE A SMOOTH ROUND-EDGED OBJECT (SUCH AS A SPOON) TO APPLY SHORT BRISK STROKES TO THAT AREA. THIS CREATES RED PATCHES OF SKIN (CALLED “SHA”), DETOXIFYING YOUR BLOOD AND RESTORING THE HEALTHY FLOW IF QI (ENERGY) TO THE AREA. THERE IS NO PAIN INVOLVED, AND THE SHA WILL FADE IN 2 TO 3 DAYS. BUT THE SENSE OF HEALTH AND VITALITY YOU EXPERIENCE FROM IT WILL LAST MUCH LONGER.
MEDICAL QI GONG
MEDICAL QI GONG IS AN ANCIENT CHINESE MEDICAL PRACTICE THAT COMBINES SLOW MOVEMENTS, CONSCIOUS BREATHING, AND FOCUSED MENTAL ATTENTION TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE FLOW OF QI (ENERGY) THROUGHOUT YOUR BODY. RATHER THAN ADDRESSING YOUR SYMPTOMS (AS WESTERN MEDICINE TENDS TO DO), MEDICAL QI GONG ADDRESSES YOUR AILMENT AT ITS VERY SOURCE BY HEALING YOUR ENTIRE BEING — MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
MOXIBUSTION
MOXIBUSTION IS A TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE TECHNIQUE THAT INVOLVES THE BURNING OF MUGWORT, A SMALL, SPONGY HERB, TO FACILITATE HEALING AND HEALTH. MOXIBUSTION HAS BEEN USED FOR HEALING PURPOSES THROUGHOUT ASIA FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. THE PURPOSE OF MOXIBUSTION, AS WITH MOST FORMS OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE, IS TO STRENGTHEN THE BLOOD, STIMULATE THE FLOW OF QI (ENERGY), AND ENHANCE YOUR OVERALL VITALITY AND HEALTH.
AMONG OTHER BENEFITS, A LANDMARK STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN 1998 FOUND THAT 75.4% OF WOMEN SUFFERING FROM BREECH PRESENTATIONS BEFORE CHILDBIRTH HAD FETUSES THAT ROTATED TO THE NORMAL POSITION AFTER RECEIVING MOXIBUSTION AT AN ACUPUNCTURE POINT ON THE BLADDER MERIDIAN.
TUI NA
TUI NA IS AN ANCIENT FORM OF BODYWORK THAT IS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE. I USE A VARIETY OF PRESSURES AND STROKES ALONG THE MERIDIANS (ENERGY PATHWAYS) OF YOUR BODY TO BOTH RELAX YOUR MUSCLES AND ALSO STIMULATE THE FLOW OF ENERGY THROUGHOUT YOUR BODY. BY TREATING BOTH THE PHYSICAL (MUSCULATURE) AND ENERGETIC (QI) LEVELS OF YOUR BODY AT THE SAME TIME, I CAN ACHIEVE RESULTS FAR BEYOND WHAT YOU’D RECEIVE FROM A CONVENTIONAL MASSAGE THERAPY SESSION.
PULSE DIAGNOSIS
ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS THAT PATIENTS ASK ABOUT CHINESE MEDICINE IS: “WHY DOES MY PRACTITIONER CHECK MY PULSE?” PULSE DIAGNOSIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX AND IMPORTANT DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES WE USE IN CHINESE MEDICINE. THROUGH FEELING AND EVALUATING YOUR PULSE, I OBTAIN AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS OF YOUR OVERALL CONSTITUTION, QI (ENERGY) FLOW, AND INTERNAL ORGAN HEALTH, AMONG OTHER THINGS. I THEN SYNTHESIZE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION INTO A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLAN FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
ACUPRESSURE
ACUPRESSURE IS BASED ON ONE THE MOST ANCIENT PRINCIPLES OF HEALING — THAT SIMPLY TOUCHING A SPECIFIC POINT ON THE BODY WILL RELEASE STRESS AND IMPROVE HEALTH IN THE BODY. IN AN ACUPRESSURE SESSION, I APPLY FIRM PRESSURE DIRECTLY TO THESE “POINTS” ON YOUR BODY, WHICH RELIEVES YOUR MUSCLE TENSION AND IMPROVES YOUR CIRCULATION. THIS SIMPLE AND POWERFUL TECHNIQUE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO VERY EFFECTIVE IN TREATING HEADACHES, BACKACHES, AND EVEN INSOMNIA.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE COUNSELING
AS PART OF TREATING THE WHOLE PERSON, IT IS VITAL TO ADDRESS EACH PATIENT’S DIET AND LIFESTYLE CHOICES. OFTEN THIS AREA OF A PATIENT’S LIFE IS OVERLOOKED AND MANY THINGS WE DO ON A REGULAR BASIS CAN EITHER CONTRIBUTE TO OUR HEALING, OR HINDER OUR HEALTH ON A PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SPIRITUAL LEVEL. I WILL WORK WITH EACH CLIENT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL TO ADDRESS THESE AREAS OF CONCERN.
