Acupuncture
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the primary treatment method used in TCM. It directs energy or Qi to bodily areas of discomfort or illness, acupuncture uses your own body’s energy to create clear meridians, restore balance, and provide healing.
Recent western medical research substantiates acupuncture's healing powers. According to this research, serotonin and endorphin hormones are released from acupuncture. When these hormones are naturally released by acupuncture, our bodies feel better.
Auricular Acupuncture
Auricular acupuncture treatments focus on one or both ears, yet benefit the whole body.
Auricular therapy is most commonly used for stress relief, treatment of addictions, weight loss, and smoking cessation.
Ear points can be used along with your acupuncture treatment.
Cupping Therapy
Glass cups are placed on the surface of the body by creating a vacuum like effect after air is removed from the glass cup and skin is gently raised or sucked up into the cup. This technique helps to create warmth and circulation to the area while also removing toxins.
Treatments are comfortable and relaxing. Often used in areas of pain or stiffness but can also be used with colds, flu and allergy symptoms. Cupping can be used with your regular acupuncture treatment or on its own. The skin may temporarily discolor, especially if there is stagnation in the area, but will quickly return to its normal color within a few days to 2 weeks.
Gua Sha
Is performed with a smooth ceramic type spoon or jade stone. It is gently brushed along the skin to release heat or toxicity from the body. Often used for inflammation, cold and flu symptoms or allergies with red, itchy eyes, nose or throat.
Similar to cupping you may have a temporary discoloration in the area treated for a few days before it returns to its normal color.
Electrical Stimulation
For electronic, or e-stimulation, acupuncture needles are attached to an acupuncture e-stim machine using small clips. The e-stim machine provide gentle electrical pulses to the acupuncture point.
E-stim can feel like a mild throb or a tingling sensation.
Usually, e-stim is used to treat Qi or blood stagnation, like musculoskeletal pain or spasms in the body.
E-stimulation treatment typically includes 2-4 acupuncture points.
During e-stim treatment is monitored throughout as the electrical stimulation sensation decreases.
Tui Na or Massage
Tui Na and/or massage therapy techniques can be used before or after acupuncture needles are used in treatment for localized pain and tension. It increases localized blood circulation to the area to provide relief.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
To provide faster results, Chinese herbal medicine can be used alone or in conjunction with acupuncture. These herbal formulas are based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and are made from plants, flowers, berries, roots and minerals that are customized and made for your condition.
We carry Chinese herbal formulas in tea, pill or tablet form to provide convenience for our patients.
Herbal Medicine can be used alone but it's advised to use in conjunction with your acupuncture treatments to provide faster results.
Please inform your acupuncturist about any known allergies, medications or Western medical issues you may be experiencing.
Essential Oils
Essential oils will be blended to complement the body's points or meridians. Certain point-oil combinations seem to enhance physiological or psychological actions of the points.
What are Acupuncture Needles
These are sterilized needles that are used only once on a patient and disposed of in a medical container for proper disposal. They are thin filiform needles, about the width of a strand of hair. Acupuncture needles are not like hypodermic needles used in your medical doctors office. Approximately 8-10 acupuncture needles can fit into 1 hypodermic needle.