Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. This is done by inserting needles and applying heat, or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points. Acupuncture needles are extremely thin, flexible, sterile, and are disposed after every session of care. Upon insertion, one may feel a slight sensation of heaviness or tingling at the point when the chi is reached. The needle is generally left in place for 15 to 30 minutes. Patients sometimes report feeling relaxed or even euphoric after acupuncture treatment.

Needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system.

Acupressure achieves the same goal as acupuncture. However, during a session of acupressure your therapist will place pressure on the specified points on the meridians instead of using needles.

In fact, the World Health Organization explains acupuncture and acupressure as “the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long and dynamic history which began to take form nearly 5000 years ago. TCM incorporates a variety of interrelated and highly effective modalities into a medical system, which takes each individual into account as a whole entity, rather than simply treating “diseases”.

Herbology:

The usage of herbs is known to substantially aid in the restoration and maintenance of balance in the body. Herbs are highly specific in their actions and herbal formulas contain a range of herbs that not only possess different qualities and properties, but also target different aspects of the patient’s disharmony. Made from organic substances such as plants, flowers, minerals, and animal products, herbal remedies are the precursors to Western pharmaceuticals. However, the herbs rarely elicit side effects and have been proven safe and effective during thousands of years of use. Herbal formulas can be specifically designed for the individual needs of the patients.

Additional specialties: Moxabustion, Cupping, Tui-na Therapy, Electro-Acupuncture, and Chinese Exercises.