Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the best known therapy of Chinese Medicine. This treatment is the placement of small, sterile, disposable needles into the body at specific points called meridians for treatment of health problems.
Chinese medical theory describes Qi or energy, that flows through pathways in the body. These are like river pathways in the body that have a natural flow to them. When the flow is obstructed or blocked it results in pain, illness, and other ailments. Acupuncture seeks to balance and maintain or restore harmony in the body’s systems.
What to expect at your first consultation:
Your treatments begin with a short intake during which we will:
- Listen to your issues
- Go over your intake forms
- Make an assessment about what needs to be balanced based on the information you give.
Things to keep in mind
- Every effort will be made to make you comfortable while the needles are working their magic.
- Everyone is unique and treatments may vary from person to person depending on the day and the ailment.
- We will do what it takes to bring balance and energy back into your body.
- You may feel some needles more strongly than others, and that’s okay. This simply means that the body is “moving along” energy that may be stagnant.
- Remember, stagnation is the root cause of disease in traditional Chinese medicine, and effort is taken to eliminate it so the free flow of energy along your energy pathways is harmonized.
- Sometimes additional treatments may be necessary, for example cupping or gua sha in order to relieve stagnation to help the energy flow to be restored. If this is an option for you, it will be discussed with you prior to administration.
- Frequency of treatments is usually more during times of acute discomfort to manage the issue and restore harmony to the body’s systemic flow. However, during times of relative health, acupuncture is best used to maintain good flow of energy on a regular basis.
Let’s talk and you can decide what suits your needs best.
Cupping
Cupping is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which small glass cups are suctioned onto the skin for a few minutes at a time. This therapy is used to break up adhesions in connective tissue, to eliminate toxins, increase blood circulation and relax the muscles.
It is commonly used for muscular pain e.g. pain of the neck, shoulders, back, hip, knee, as well as the common cold and for anything else from allergies to digestive disorders. If necessary, we may use this therapy during an acupuncture session or a separate treatment can be scheduled
Massage Therapy
Gua Sha is an ancient remedy that originated in China and it’s one of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese medicine ever recorded. There are historical records on this remedy dating back to the Stone Age, according to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
“Gua” means scrape and “sha” means sand and refers to the sand-like appearance of petechiae which are tiny round spots that present on the skin while gua sha is administered.
Gua sha was often used to “scrape away illness,” and was eventually written into major medical texts during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), per the ministry.
Today, Gua Sha is still widely used in Eastern European and Asian cultures and in more recent years, gua sha is routinely performed by a variety of professionals that include acupuncturists, massage therapists, chiropractors, and physical therapists.
How it works:
Gua sha is performed by using a smooth-edged tool (like a small wooden spoon, buffalo horn, or a gemstone gua sha tool) to gently scrape areas of the body until it raises tiny round spots (petechiae) on the skin. When these spots present, it indicates that there is bleeding under the skin.
Gua sha helps promote blood flow to the area being scraped,
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believe that many diseases and health complaints are rooted in stagnant “Qi” (life force energy) and blood in the body. Gua sha is believed to encourage a healthy flow of energy and blood by stimulating petechiae at specific points to help reduce pain and stiffness.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is an ancient remedy that originated in China and it’s one of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese medicine ever recorded. There are historical records on this remedy dating back to the Stone Age, according to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
“Gua” means scrape and “sha” means sand and refers to the sand-like appearance of petechiae which are tiny round spots that present on the skin while gua sha is administered.
Gua sha was often used to “scrape away illness,” and was eventually written into major medical texts during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), per the ministry.
Today, Gua Sha is still widely used in Eastern European and Asian cultures and in more recent years, gua sha is routinely performed by a variety of professionals that include acupuncturists, massage therapists, chiropractors, and physical therapists.
How it works:
Gua sha is performed by using a smooth-edged tool (like a small wooden spoon, buffalo horn, or a gemstone gua sha tool) to gently scrape areas of the body until it raises tiny round spots (petechiae) on the skin. When these spots present, it indicates that there is bleeding under the skin. Gua sha helps promote blood flow to the area being scraped.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believe that many diseases and health complaints are rooted in stagnant “Qi” (life force energy) and blood in the body. Gua sha is believed to encourage a healthy flow of energy and blood by stimulating petechiae at specific points to help reduce pain and stiffness.
Benefits of Gua sha
Although there are still a lot we don’t know about this remedy, research suggests that there are many potential benefits of the practice. Including relief from muscle pain and reduction of perimenopausal symptoms.
Who should avoid Gua sha therapy
Gua sha is generally considered safe, provided that there is not too much pressure applied. Potential side effects from applying too much pressure include severe muscle soreness, skin bruising or discoloration.
Gua sha will not be performed on:
- Inflamed skin
- Open wounds
- Sunburned skin
- Rashes
- Irritated skin from psoriasis, eczema (atopic dermatitis) or rosacea.
- People who are using blood thinners or have blood clotting disorders as they are not good candidates for gua sha therapy.
Moxabustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort. Mugwort, or artemisia, is a flowering plant in the daisy family that is used in foods eaten around the world. This small, spongy herb is dried (called “moxa” ) into cones or sticks that are burned on or very near the surface of the skin.
Moxibustion is used on people who have a cold or stagnant condition in the body. The practice expels cold, warms the meridians and invigorates the flow of Qi, dispelling certain pathogenic influences.
How is moxibustion done?
There are two types of moxibustion therapy, direct and indirect. In direct moxibustion, a small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned. In indirect moxibustion, the burning moxa doesn’t directly touch the body.
What you may expect:
- Our preferred therapy is indirect moxibustion where the moxa stick is held about an inch away from the skin where the points are.
- This allows the heat to travel through the meridians
Does moxibustion hurt?
Moxibustion should not hurt. With indirect moxibustion, the moxa never touches your skin.
What is moxibustion used for?
Moxibustion is good for cases where the disease is brought on by cold pathogens or a certain qi deficiency.
This includes:
- Indigestion
- Joint pain.
- Menstrual cramps
- Gastrointestinal issues.
What to keep in mind
If pregnant, be sure to tell in advance of your treatment so moxibustion can be administered with caution, if at all.
Ask not to use moxibustion if you have:
- A mugwort allergy
- Smoke sensitivity
- A lung condition
You do not have to suffer in silence.
Let us help you.
We are passionate about helping people. Our goal is to improve health and vitality where injury, illness or the stresses of life have caused disharmony in the body.
