SERVICES

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) is a system that is thousands of years old.  Often categorized as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), techniques include:  Chinese, Japanese, and Korean-style acupuncture, including Herbal Medicine, Tui Na (Chinese massage), acupressure, Qi Gong, Tai chi, and therapeutic nutrition.  Research has shown that AOM works in conjunction with western medical treatments by enhancing the effects of conventional treatment regimens, and by helping to alleviate the side effects of medications. AOM can provide relief for many chronic diseases or symptoms, and is also preventative healthcare

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a component of AOM that emphasizes preventative health care by approaching life in a harmonious way to bring bodily systems into balance. TCM focuses on “Qi”, or life energy, to strengthen the immune system and promote an increased sense of well-being. In their holistic approach, TCM practitioners tend to ask broad-reaching questions such as asking about emotional and physical symptoms during client visits. They may also feel multiple pulse points, representing each internal organ, and check the color or texture of your tongue, inquire about lifestyle or dietary habits, and assess overall human functioning.  Based on these investigations, the practitioner will create a customized treatment.

Treatments usually include acupuncture to stimulate certain points along the body’s meridians to bring Qi back into balance. Dietary or nutritional requirements and lifestyle recommendations may be also be prescribed.  Other treatment regimens may include  "moxibustion", applying small mounds of heated herbs (Mugwort plant), or  "cupping" which is the  applying of heated suction cups to the patients' body.   Also used is deep tissue massage called "Tui Na" or pressure point treatment called "acupressure." Practitioners may also recommend an exercise regimen, including Qi Gong or Tai Chi, which are slow, gentle martial arts that combine rhythmic breathing, extended movement, and  meditation to balance or  improve Qi.