Services
NUTRITIONAL AND WELLNESS COUNSELING
Traditional Chinese Medicine principles rely heavily on nutrition as a primary treatment for disharmony in the body. Recognizing and working with nutritional and lifestyle choices is a key to promoting well being. I will meet you where you are in order to develop strategies and tools to help you feel better and find more balance in your life.
ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture stimulates your body’s ability to heal itself. Insertion of small needles into the skin and underlying tissue at specific points results in a state of balance or homeostasis in the body. The needles stimulate blood flow and neurological activity, resulting in promotion of physical and emotional well being.
FACIAL REJUVENATION ACUPUNCTURE
Facial rejuvenation acupuncture techniques are an effective and gentle way to slow the signs of aging without surgery risks or recovery time. It works by promoting a youthful and revitalized appearance from the inside out, thus supporting preventative health care and relaxation in the process of reducing premature aging signs.
TUI NA MASSAGE
Tui na is an ancient form of Chinese bodywork and physical manipulation that is used to treat many conditions, including both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions and internal disharmonies. “Tui na” translates as “push pull.” It employs a variety of techniques that aim to restore balance and flow in the body by stimulating acupuncture points and meridians. These techniques include kneading, rubbing, rolling and shaking, and can be both energizing and deeply relaxing.
CUPPING
Cupping is a technique in which a vacuum is created within glass or plastic cups that have been placed over certain parts of the body – often the back, neck and shoulders. The cups are then left in place for five to ten minutes, or moved over problem areas. This technique is in some ways the opposite of massage – rather than applying pressure to muscles, it gently lifts them upward through pressure in the cups. While cupping is painless and usually quite relaxing, it can leave circular marks for a few days. Cupping can loosen tight muscles, sedate the nervous system, and help with blood flow. It is a beneficial treatment for asthma, cough, flu and the common cold as it can help to clear and eliminate congestion in the lungs.
MOXIBUSTION
Moxibustion describes the burning of the herb mugwort over acupuncture points. The patient will feel a sensation of heat from this process, although not enough to cause pain. The heat from moxibustion is very penetrating, making it effective for impaired circulation, cold and damp conditions like arthritis, and can even be used to turn a breech baby.
GUA SHA
Gua sha is the process of scraping the skin with a small, dull instrument in order to stimulate blood flow and loosen connective tissue. Modern research shows gua sha produces an anti-inflammatory and immune protective effect. Gua sha is effective for pain and stiffness, often in the neck and back. It is also used to treat symptoms of the common cold or flu, such as body aches, coughing, chills and fever.
HERBAL MEDICINE
Herbal medicine is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment, which works at solving the underlying cause of a condition, not just the symptoms. While herbs may take longer to work than pharmaceutical medications, they can be very powerful with fewer, if any, side effects. Herbal formulas can be fine tuned for an individual’s current condition and their general constitution. They can be taken in the form of teas, powders, pills, tinctures or syrups. Chinese herbal medicine involves more than 400 different formulas of 3200 herbs and 300 minerals and animal extracts. Some commonly used herbs are cinnamon, astragalus, ginseng, green tea, goji berries and ginger. To choose the best formulation of herbs for a patient, I will complete a thorough historical intake and examination. This will include questions regarding medications, past or current, as well as pulse and tongue examination.