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Services Services used include the following: Traditional Chinese Acupuncture Many other modalities are included in Traditional Chinese Medicine such as, Tui Na (Chinese Therapeutic Massage), Gua Sha, Moxabustion, Electro-Acupuncture, Heat Therapy, and Chinese nutritional advice. Treatment modalities vary from session to session and are customized to each individual client.
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture Acupuncture originated in China over 2,000 years ago making it one of the oldest and most commonly used medical procedures in the world. It is based on the belief that health is determined by a balanced flow of Qi, the vital life energy present in all living organisms. According to acupuncture theory, Qi is circulated in the body along fourteen energy pathways, called meridians, each linked to specific internal organs and organ systems. There are over one thousand acupoints within the meridian system that can be stimulated to enhance the flow of Qi. When special needles are inserted into these acupoints (just under the skin), they help correct and rebalance the flow of energy and consequently restore health. Perhaps no other alternative therapy has received more attention in this country or gained more acceptance more quickly than acupuncture. Most Americans had never heard of it until 1971, when New York Times foreign correspondent James Teston wrote a startling first article about acupuncture following his emergency appendectomy in China. Today, acupuncture in America is in full swing. Last year alone, Americans made some 9-12 million visits to acupuncturists for ailments as diverse as arthritis, bladder infections, back pain, and morning sickness. The World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) has cited 104 different conditions that acupuncture can treat; including, migraines, sinusitis, the common cold, tonsillitis, asthma, eye inflammation, addictions, myopia, duodenal ulcer (and other gastrointestinal disorders), trigeminal neuralgia, Meniere's disease, tennis elbow, paralysis from stroke, speech aphasia, sciatica, and osteoarthritis. Acupuncture has also been found to be effective in the treatment of a variety of rheumatoid conditions, and brings relief in 80% of those who suffer from arthritis. There is also evidence to suggest that acupuncture is valuable in treating enviromentally-induced illness due to radiation, pesticide poisoning, enviromentally toxic compounds, and air pollution. In addition, acupuncture has been popularly used for weight control, to quit smoking, substance abuse, stress, depression, anxiety relief, cosmetic care, women's health, and even immune support.
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to
press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the
body's natural self-curative abilities. When these points are
pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the
circulation of blood and the body's life force energy to aid
healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but
acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses gentle but
firm pressure.
In an Acupressure treatment, pressure is applied along the
meridians to improve the circulation of energy and harmonize the
functions of the internal organs. Pressure is applied with the
hands, arms and elbows of the practitioner. In addition to the
application of pressure to the meridians, acupressure will
involve the application of pressure to other muscles and
ligaments throughout the body. This component of acupressure is
similar to the technique of Swedish massage. Acupressure also
involves placing the hand on a part of the body, passively,
without any significant pressure exerted, to facilitate energy
flow. Herbs, as in herbal medicine (also known as botanical medicine), is defined as a plant or plant part that is used to make medicine, aromatic oils for soaps or fragrances, or flavor foods (spices). An herb can be a leaf, bark, or any other part of the plant used for its medicinal, food flavoring, or aromatic properties. Herbs have provided humankind with medicine from the earliest beginnings of civilization. Throughout history, various cultures have handed down their accumulated knowledge of the medicinal use of herbs to successive generations. This vast body of knowledge serves as the basis for much of traditional medicine today. The practice of Chinese herbal medicine stretches back more than 5,000 years, embracing all the domains of nature - earth and sea, seasons and weather, plants and animals, and all the elements that constitute the universe. Contemporary Chinese medicine represents the cumulative clinical experience and time-tested theories of five millennia of continuous practice by traditional Chinese physicians. It remains the world's oldest, safest, and most comprehensive system of medical care, developing as dynamically today as it has throughout its long history. The World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) notes that of 119 plant-derived pharmaceutical medicines, about 74% are used in modern medicine in ways that correlate directly with their traditional uses as plant medicine by native cultures. Herbal medicine is the most ancient form of health care known to mankind. Herbs have been used in all cultures throughout history. Extensive scientific documentation now exists concerning their use for health conditions, including premenstrual syndrome, indigestion, insomnia, heart disease, liver disease, cancer, and HIV. Cupping is one of the oldest methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine, dating back to the fourth century B.C. The cups were originally made from hollowed out animal horns or from bamboo. Today the cups are made of thick glass. The cups stay on by vacuum suction which is created by briefly holding a flame inside the cups to burn up all the oxygen, creating a vacuum. The flame is held inside the cup so briefly that it doesn't warm the glass at all, so there is no risk of burns. (But it is important that cupping is done only by a licensed Acupuncturist.) The cups usually stay on anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending on the patient's condition. Cupping is usually done for conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, congestion, arthritis, and certain types of pain, usually chronic pain. It is also done to treat depression and often times to reduce certain types of swelling. Cupping is generally safe and painless. It is safe as long as it is done by a licensed Acupuncturist. It may, however leave bruises which are created from the suction. The bruises can often be tender, but are not usually painful, and they disappear within a few days. Cupping should not be performed on people with inflammed, irritated, or infected skin. It is also usually avoided on elderly people with very thin, delicate skin. Craniosacral therapy is a very gentle, hands-on, energy work. It works with the "craniosacral system", which is comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. For more information, please check out the Upledger Institute at http://www.upledger.com/home.htm. In general, I only do craniosacral while people are having acupuncture, I find it a great way to supplement the energy work of acupuncture
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EMAIL: lori@abundantlifeacupuncture.com. Table of Contents
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