Services

First visits are typically an hour and a half. During this time, I will take a comprehensive history and do a physical evaluation including taking your pulse and looking at your tongue.  Both of these are traditional examination techniques that provide valuable information about your health.  Physical evaluations can include western physiology methods to test joints and muscles, as well as surveying the channels of the body by palpation.

Most treatments are done fully clothed, except shoes and socks removed. Based on the location of the pain or injury, you may be asked to disrobe. All patients will be treated in a private room and in the case of disrobing, adequate draping will be provided. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive an acupuncture treatment and then we can discuss herbal and dietary recommendations. Please bring any records you have pertaining to your condition. Any questions you have are always welcome.

Acupuncture – In Chinese Medicine we discuss the Channels or Meridians, which are interconnected paths that flow in a pattern, in a direction, all over the body. Hair-fine needles are inserted into the skin at specific points on the Channels. The practitioner stimulates these needles to promote the flow of qi through the channels, moving blockages, stopping pain, improving circulation and calming the mind. Needles are retained on the average of 20-30 minutes and much less for children, depending on their age.

Chinese Herbs – Herbs are combined into formulas based on their individual qualities and how they can best address a patient’s individual condition as a whole. They can be mineral, vegetable or animal. Many Chinese Herbs are simple foods and many formulas are recipes that are eaten. For example – mutton, the herb Dang Gui and ginger root can be cooked together to give to a woman who experiences pain and coldness after giving birth. This builds the blood, warms the body and provides nourishment. The whole person is addressed with three simple ingredients. Herbs come in raw form, which are cooked and made into a tea. Granules- ground or concentrated- are mixed into hot water. Tinctures- either glycerine or alcohol based- are taken in small dropper doses. Pills or Patents are taken several times a day. There are liniments and plasters which are applied externally.

Cupping – Glass cups are applied to the skin by creating a vacuum. This is another way to address injury in a particular area, move stagnation of any kind and to increase circulation at the surface of the skin. Sliding cupping is done with a liniment or other medium and sliding the cup over a particular area.

Gua Sha – By using a tool – a ceramic soup spoon, a bone or jade tool – and a liniment or massage medium, the skin is brushed vigorously to increase blood flow to a particular area. This is used in injuries, or to create more circulation at the surface.

Tui Na – Chinese Medicine massage is similar to western styles, but addresses the channels as a basic part of the work. Body work is one of the oldest ways of addressing physical problems. Translated it means ‘push & pull’. It is often performed fully clothed, however liniments are applied sometimes and direct contact with the skin is done as well.

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years. With accumulated empirical evidence of its effectiveness behind it, recent research shows the same. The National Institutes of Health and World Health Organization have determined that acupuncture is an effective form of treatment for many of the conditions on the following list.

Does acupuncture hurt? Acupuncture is generally not painful. You will probably feel a prick when the needle is inserted, but after insertion is quickly over, you should feel a warmth or tingling, a heavy or possibly achy sensation, but no pain.

Is acupuncture safe? When performed by a trained professional, acupuncture is safe. I swab the skin with alcohol and only use FDA regulated, single-use, sterilized needles.

How can I use acupuncture? Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is not a last resort treatment in any condition; it can be a complementary course of treatment along with western medicine. Patients can use it preventatively. For example, allergies or joint pain that is worse in a particular season prompt treatment during the months before that season starts. Acupuncture helps to prevent illness by addressing and improving the overall function of the body. You don’t need to have a particular complaint to get acupuncture treatment, and acupuncture can be performed on people of all ages: infants to seniors.

How often do I need to get treated? Frequency of treatment depends on the patient. Conditions that are recent generally show improvement quicker than chronic conditions. Some patients need treatment one or more times a week at first, some patients need treatment once a month or once a season. The effects of treatment are cumulative, and the point is to improve health and eliminate the problem and improve quality of life. Many people come to appreciate how they feel after getting acupuncture and consider it part of maintaining their health.

How does acupuncture and Chinese Medicine work? The time-tested, basic principles of Chinese Medicine are utilized. By improving the free flow of qi and blood in the body, good health and healing can take place. This is done by using the tools of Chinese Medicine – gathering information from the patient, surveying the body through different observation and palpation techniques, diagnosing and coming up with a treatment plan, and using acupuncture, herbs and other appropriate modalities to help improve or rectify this free flow. Acupuncture needles inserted into specific points on the channels work with the flow of blood and qi, Chinese herbs add or subtract substance to/from the body.

What is Qi? Pronounced “chee” and often spelled “Chi”. What is it? I can tell you what it does – it warms the body, it moves the body, it transforms – food into energy or waste for example). It provides defense against invasion from the outside – illnesses and weather. It contains –  blood in the vessels, our organs in their rightful place. We get our parents Qi when we are conceived, we start making our own Qi at birth when we begin to breathe and eat. It is an animating force, it is energy.