Acupuncture is the insertion of very thin sterilized needles through the skin into the underlying tissue at specific points on the surface of the body.  It is generally quite painless but the needles can produce a sensation when the acupuncture channel is accessed and the “arrival of Qi” is felt.  An acupuncture treatment should be relaxing and promote a feeling of wellbeing and balance.  Qi is pronounced “chee”.

Chinese medicine emphasizes improving the function of the body through harmonizing Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang and Spirit. Diet, lifestyle, emotions and the season of the year are important considerations when formulating a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) treatment plan.  This philosophy is very different from the Western medicine model of the treatment of disease where the emphasis is on cutting, destroying or altering the structure of the physical body.   

Chinese Herbal Medicine focuses on harmonizing the body through specific herb combinations that take into account the taste, temperature and function of each herb.  The herb temperatures are hot, cold, warm, cool and neutral.  Tastes are sweet, sour, bitter, acrid, salty and bland.  It is important to have herbs prescribed by a practitioner who has completed a training program in Chinese herbal medicine.

I provide an herbal pharmacy of granules, patents (pills) and tinctures.  Topical products include plasters, liniments, salves and ointments. I only use herbs from GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certified companies.

Cupping - also called fire or running cupping is a technique where glass or bamboo cups are used to relieve symptoms by being placed directly on the skin using a vacuum created by heat or other devices.

Gua Sha is the rubbing or scraping of an area of the body with a blunt, round or flat instrument.  This breaks up stagnation and helps to relieve pain.

Moxibustion (Moxa) is a technique using dried herbs that are rolled into a ball, string, stick or small pellet and then burned directly on or indirectly over the skin to warm the area and relieve symptoms.

Plum Blossom or Seven Star Hammer is the light tapping of an area of the body with a small sterile hammer made up of seven points.  This helps to break up Qi and Blood stagnation and improve circulation.

Chinese Medicine Diet Therapy is the use or avoidance of certain foods to help harmonize and strengthen functions of the body.

Some of the diseases and disorders that acupuncture can be used for have been outlined by the World Health Organization in a 1996 report. 

Adverse reaction to radiation or chemotherapy Alcohol dependence Allergic rhinitis Asthma Biliary Colic Gallstones Depression Earache Diarrhea Sinus problems Menstrual Cramps Facial spasm Abdominal pain Fibromyalgia Facial Pain Female infertility Headache Insomnia Hypertension

Obesity Induction of labor Premenstrual syndrome Malposition of a fetus/turning a breach Prostatitis-chronic Nausea and vomiting TMJ Neck and back pain Tobacco dependence Arthritis of the shoulder Menopause Postoperative pain Kidney stones Arthritis Sciatica Sprain Stroke Tennis Elbow