Acupuncturists and Chinese Medical Practitioners view the body as a complete, holistic system, operating with the knowledge that optimal health combines a person’s physical, emotional or spiritual well-being. If one of these areas is out of balance it can negatively affect the body, creating symptoms of ailment and disease. Acupuncture realigns energetic systems to address the root causes of disease by bringing the body back into balance.

Acupuncture in general is grounded in the belief that our natural state of being is one of total health. Any pain, discomfort, or disruptive symptom is considered a warning sign from the body that something is wrong and needs to be corrected. These abnormalities are a result of acupuncture channels being out of balance and we use hands-on diagnostic methods to identify the specific acupuncture channels that are out of balance and the best methods to correct them. Essentially we are using multiple tests to ask the body to tell us the cause of a symptom or condition and what it needs to feel better.

The most common tests are pulse diagnosis and abdomen palpation. Abdominal palpation consists of gentle pressing on the abdomen to identify areas of tenderness, tension and/or discomfort. These tender spots correspond with certain energy imbalances and your practitioner will use this information to give you the exact treatment your body needs. After a treatment you’ll find that the comfort level of these sensitive spots has greatly improved, confirming the effectiveness of the treatment.

The pulses on both the right and left side can give us information about the energy in your body. As shown in the photo, we divide the wrist pulse into three sections. Each of these sections corresponds to a different organ system and channel pathway. The qualities of the pulses let us know if there are any blockages or deficiencies that need to be addressed by your treatment. We will check back to detect immediate changes in the pulse throughout your session to confirm the effectiveness of the treatment.

Cupping

Cupping involves the use of glass cups and suction to encourages increased blood circulation and detoxification leading to reduced inflammation and muscle tension. Cupping is not painful. Most patients report feeling pressure, suction, and pain relief. It should be noted that cupping can leave painless, bruise-like marks for a few days to a week.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion (or Moxa) therapy consists of burning dried mugwort near or directly on the skin, as well as on needles. It is used to warm regions of the body and acupuncture points with the intention of encouraging circulation and promoting better flow of blood and qi. Moxa is often used to treat cold conditions, help improve energy levels, and encourage faster healing.

Gua Sha

Gua Sha (pronounced gwah-shah) is the practice of using a smooth tool made of stone, such as jade, to apply gentle pressure and lightly scrape the skin. Our qi can become blocked, causing pain or tension in the muscles and joints. Gua Sha moves blocked energy to relieve aches and stiffness. Like cupping, Gua Sha may cause redness that looks like bruising for up to a week.