Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a longstanding system of medicine that utilizes the meridian system to redirect Qi flow in the body. The practice of acupuncture dates back over 2,500 years.
Acupuncture helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system which fosters your body’s innate ability to heal itself. Studies have shown that acupuncture helps to decrease inflammation and improve blood circulation. More recently being investigated is acupuncture’s profound impact on the fascia system and the potentiality this has in reducing pain, increasing mobility, regulating the nervous system, and modulating the immune system.
Traditional Chinese Medicine relies on individualized treatments, addressing your health concerns and how you present on the day of your session.
For the first 10-15 minutes of your session, we will discuss your health goals and ask questions to form an idea of how your body is functioning. Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis are important parts of Chinese Medicine pattern diagnosis; they tell us a lot about internal health, digestion, fluid metabolism, etc. Your practitioner will ask to take a look at your tongue and to feel your pulse.
During your acupuncture treatments single use, solid, and sterile needles are inserted at acupuncture points to elicit De Qi sensation and promote Qi circulation in the body. Needles are retained from 25-40 minutes.
Some people report no pain or sensation with acupuncture needles, others report feeling the initial prick of insertion, some may feel a dull ache or warmth at insertion sites; all of these are normal reactions to acupuncture.
Other Modalities
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Cupping
Cupping utilizes glass cups and flame to create a vacuum that lifts the skin, muscles, and fascia.
Cupping reduces pain and tension, increases blood flow, decreases chronic inflammation, breaks up fascial adhesions, and promotes lymphatic circulation.
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Gua Sha
Gua sha is a manual therapy in which a massage tool is scraped or dragged across the skin.
Gua sha promotes healing in tissues by breaking up local adhesions, increasing blood flow, loosening tight muscles, and aiding lymphatic circulation.
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Electro-stimulation (Estim)
Electrical stimulation (estim) uses varying rhythms and frequencies of electrical current run through acupuncture needles to further stimulate acupuncture points.
Estim stimulates blood and Qi circulation and is used to excite or inhibit nerves.
It is a mild current and is not painful.
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Moxa & Infrared Heat Therapies
Mugwort (Moxa) is a Chinese herb with a long history of use for tonifying Qi and Yang energy.
Infrared lamps are used to penetrate warmth and infrared light deeply into the body to reduce inflammation and promote cellular health.
Moxibustion and heat therapies are used to warm the channels, supply energy, and promote immune function.
*This office is limited to the use of topical non burning moxa
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Bloodletting
Bloodletting is a technique in which a selective acupuncture point (or points) are bled; only a few drops of blood are expressed.
This therapy is useful in quickly clearing heat and stagnation from the system.
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Chinese Medicinal Dietary & Lifestyle therapy
Chinese Medicine views herbal medicine and foods in the same light; we can utilize the temperature and energetics of foods to help the body heal from maladaptive patterns.
Tori loves to involve patients in their healthcare by giving lifestyle and dietary advice using the energetic and thermal eight principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Hot/Cold, Deficiency/Excess, Internal/External, Yin/Yang.