Our Services
Acupuncture
According to Chinese Medical Theory, qi (or life-force) travels along pathways called meridians, bringing energy and nourishment to all the tissues of the body.
Acupuncture can remove obstructions from these pathways, or strengthen the qi of certain areas thereby correcting imbalances that produce pain or dysfunction.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is used for a wide variety of complaints including internal medicine, gynecology, pain and neurological issues among others. When we prescribe an herbal formula, we are creating a combination of herbs designed to treat a particular patient at a particular time. As your symptoms change, so does the herbal formula. Using herbal medicine along with acupuncture and other modalities can greatly enhance the efficacy of treatment.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion-or “moxa” for short- refers to the process of warming acupuncture points by burning the herb artemesia (mugwort) over the point.
Moxa increases blood flow to the area and warms the tissue, thereby increasing the energetic function of the acupuncture point. Moxa also intiates an immune response which can prevent illness, and is used for neurological disorders such as paralysis or nerve pain.
Cupping
Cupping refers to the use of suction cups typically applied to the back or abdomen to alleviate pain. It is excellent for relieving surface tension and tightness in muscles in a way that hands-on work may not. Cupping typically is not painful. However, because it involves the use of suction, it will more than likely leave a significant discoloration on the skin that may take 5-7 days to fade.
Gua Sha
A traditional healing technique used in many cultures, gua sha refers to the gentle scraping of the skin until a rough redness is produced in the skin. Similar to cupping, the goal is to create a micro-trauma at the surface level of the body in order to bring fresh blood and nutrients into the tissues and to stimulate the immune response. It is most often used for tight, painful muscles or for the upper back achiness associated with colds or flus.
Lifestyle and Nutrition Consultations
As part of our comprehensive care, we often make diet and lifestyle suggestions to help facilitate your acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments. These recommendations are individualized to your particular case and are often derived from traditional Chinese knowledge about balanced self-care.
