Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used forms of medicine in the world. Originating in China more than 2,500 years ago, acupuncture is currently one of the most thoroughly researched, practiced, and respected forms of complementary medicine available anywhere.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, your overall health is determined by the quality of the Qi (energy) flow through the natural pathways of your body (meridians). Acupuncture uses a variety of techniques, including placing very thin sterile needles into specific points on the body, to stimulate and improve your Qi flow. The many benefits of acupuncture include:
Follow-up appointments often take place a week apart, but frequency varies depending on a few factors, primarily the severity and duration of the condition being treated.
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage therapy. The word Shiatsu comes from two Japanese words — "shi" (finger) and "atsu" (pressure). In addition to the direct stimulation of pressure points along the energy pathways of your body, gentle stretching techniques are applied over a wider area of the body to integrate the point work and encourage the flow of Chi (energy) throughout the body. Shiatsu is a meditative healing art that honors the body, mind and spirit. I incorporate shiatsu treatment above the shoulders as an add-on to acupuncture follow-up treatments.
Chinese herbal medicine is a 2,000 year old tradition using naturally occurring substances — including herbs — to enhance one's health and vitality. As opposed to Western medicine, the foundation of this approach is to support the body's natural self-healing mechanisms and abilities.
Since each patient has different needs, I carefully select an herbal formula that will blend with your acupuncture treatments to achieve optimal results for your unique situation. I prescribe high-quality, professional-grade herbal medicines that are available only to qualified licensed professionals.
The ear is one of many micro-systems that can be used in Chinese medicine. The entire body is represented on the ear, and various points and point combinations can be needled, beaded, or seeded to address a variety of issues. Most commonly, I use ear points to enhance relaxation during body acupuncture or to treat pain, anxiety, or sleep issues. There is no extra charge for including auriculotherapy in this way. However, for established patients, ear points can be needled independently of body points to form a complete treatment on their own. Seeds or beads remain on the ears between treatments.