Treatments Offered
The Wound is the Place the Light Enters You.
- Rumi
Chinese Acupuncture: Insertion of fine needles (stainless steel and disposable) into specific acupuncture points located on energetic pathways called meridians.
These points act to influence Qi.
Qi, in turn influences all other body systems including blood, fluids, muscle fibers, bones, articulations and organs.
Japanese Acupuncture: Based on Chinese acupuncture, Japanese acupuncture is gentler. Finer needles are used and they are inserted minimally, if at all.
Moxibustion: Moxa (Chinese mugwort) is burned near the skin to warm areas of “cold” or low energy. In the Japanese tradition, Moxa can also be applied directly on the skin.
Cupping: Suction cups made of glass/plastic/silicone are placed on the body in order to increase blood flow and massage muscle tissue.
Herbal Medicine: Traditional Chinese formulas prescribed and at times modified according to the need of each patient in the form of tea pills, whole raw herbs, or easy-to-prepare granules.
Tuina: Traditional therapeutic Chinese massage, performed on a clothed patient.
Typical Session
In our first meeting I will go over your health history, including past and present complaints and lifestyle factors.
Next I check your pulse, tongue and palpate areas of the body, specifically the feet, limbs, abdomen and back, if necessary.
I openly explain what I am doing, answer questions and share my findings with you.
What to Expect
Treatments are usually performed on clothed patients. You may need to remove an article of clothing so that an area can be needled, for instance the back.
You should eat something light before coming to a treatment so that you don’t become light-headed.
Is it painful? Many fear acupuncture, because it involves needles, and for many, needles mean pain. As a practitioner, I do my utmost to make the experience “pain free”. I use thin needles and gentle technique. While I am always attentive to the patient’s sensitivity level, some people are just naturally more sensitive, or their condition has made them so.
Is one treatment enough? I always say, “I’m open to miracles.” And I have seen patients make tremendous improvements in one session, but for the most part progress takes time. And I found that for lasting effect incremental but notable improvements are the best alongside the patient’s participation in the process.