About Acupuncture and Related Therapies offered in my Practice

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Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the gentle insertion of very fine needles at specific points shown to be effective in the treatment of many health conditions. It is usually my primary method of treatment in most circumstances. The Chinese have recorded these points and their positive effects for thousands of years. Acupuncture is based on natural laws which govern the movement of energy through the body. When there is disharmony in this movement, imbalance begins to surface in the form of specific symptoms. The use of hair thin needles at specific points helps to restore harmony and patients often experience the resolution of their symptoms and renewed vitality. In modern times, many scientific studies have shown the validity of acupuncture. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) recognize that acupuncture treatment can effectively treat a wide range of acute and chronic concerns.

Moxabustion (Moxa)

Moxabustion is the technique of burning the herb, Chinese mugwort, over particular acupuncture points. It is a gentle, penetrating and nourishing heat therapy that can increase circulation in areas of treatment. This form of treatment is profoundly restorative for patients in a depleted state.

Cupping & Gua Sha

Cupping is a suction technique using glass cups over certain areas of the body on the front or back of the torso. In some sessions, a liniment may be used which allows the sliding of the cups over the areas of tension and pain. The sensation is much like massage. Cups are particularly effective at relaxing muscles and restoring good circulation and patients commonly find it very soothing.

Gua Sha is folk medicine. An age old friction technique, it employs a rounded object, like a Chinese soup spoon, to create a slight redness in an area of the neck or back. If you were to have a Chinese grandmother, she would likely tend to you using Gua Sha when you were first coming down with a cold. It is also very helpful for, among other things, concerns like chronic muscle tension and nausea during pregnancy.

Herbal Medicine

Many conditions significantly benefit from the use of Chinese herbs either alone or in conjunction with acupuncture. Oftentimes, I combine herbs with acupuncture treatment to support the goals of our treatment. The Chinese herbal pharmacopia includes plants, flowers and minerals which have highly specific actions with a wide range of qualities and properties that can target different levels of imbalance. These formulas are specifically chosen for the individual needs of each patient and provide a gentle, gradual approach to healing. The herbs that I prescribe and recommend are only from companies that test extensively for safety and purity.

Nutrition and Lifestyle

There is much that can be done through changes in lifestyle and diet that can support the treatments we do together. Sometimes these changes can be a bit challenging and part of my role is to give you encouragement. We will talk about your daily routines, diet and which foods or supplements could be added or eliminated based on your diagnosis. Our aim, as ever, is to support you in achieving your best balance.