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About Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, encompasses Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, touch-based bodywork, nutrition, and movement arts like tai chi and qi gong. TCM is a holistic system that engages with the lifestyle of the patient to build a daily foundation for heaing and maintained wellnesss. Health is a habit and we intend to get you practicing the daily awareness you need to make constructive and balanced choices for your wellness.

 

In an official report, Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the following symptoms, diseases and conditions that have been shown through controlled trials to be treated effectively by acupuncture:

 

  • low back pain

  • neck pain

  • sciatica

  • tennis elbow

  • knee pain

  • periarthritis of the shoulder

  • sprains

  • facial pain (including craniomandibular disorders)

  • headache

  • dental pain

  • tempromandibular (TMJ) dysfunction

  • rheumatoid arthritis

  • induction of labor

  • correction of malposition of fetus (breech presentation)

  • morning sickness

  • nausea and vomiting

  • postoperative pain

  • stroke

  • essential hypertension

  • primary hypotension

  • renal colic

  • leucopenia

  • adverse reactions to radiation or chemotherapy

  • allergic rhinitis, including hay fever

  • biliary colic

  • depression (including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke)

  • acute bacillary dysentery

  • primary dysmenorrhea

  • acute epigastralgia

  • peptic ulcer

  • acute and chronic gastritis

 

 

To determine the course of your treatment, we ask you to fill out a thorough intake. Through questioning, examination of your pulse and tongue, and a basic exam, we decide how best to approach you and your needs. Some conditions respond quickly to acupuncture: in that case, expect to need from 4 to 6 treatments to see improvement or change. Chronic or acute conditions usually require more care: expect to need 6 to 10 treatments to see improvement or change, You may also require monthly or yearly maintenance after the course of your treatment.

 

We may use traditional bodywork during your treatment: We use cupping, gua sha, and tui na to relieve pain, loosen the myofascia, and increase range of motion. Cupping requires the use of glass cups to create gentle suction over large muscles, delivering a deep but broad massage especially useful for postural pain, respiratory infections, or injuries. Gua sha is a traditional form of massage known as "skin scraping," in which a procelain spoon is passed swiftly over large muscles to deliver a shallow but incredibly effective massage, often used to lower fever or treat neck or back pain. We use our hands to perform Tui Na, vigorously massaging the limbs and joints to move blood and energy and decrease pain.

 

We'll also offer you an herbal prescription if it suits your case. These are specialized herbal formulas, tailored to your needs, designed to continue your treatment throughout your day- to -day life. Most are not for long-term use: you'll take them anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and some on and off for a few years. If we don't have the formula we need, we create a custom order to be fulfilled via the web.

 

When appropriate, we'll also offer gentle nutritional advice; namely foods to embrace and a few to avoid. Food is our best medicine, especially when paired with the use of the appropriate herbal formula. We'll work with you to create a diet that serves your healing process.

 

Feeling better is a process and optimal health is a lifestyle. Allow this 6,000 year- old -medicine to be your guide.

 

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