ACUPUNCTURE
In short, acupuncture therapy involves the gentle insertion of sterilized, extremely thin, solid stainless steel needles into the skin at specific points on the body to promote health and activate the body’s own innate healing abilities. It is a safe, natural, drug-free and effective way to get well and stay healthy. Acupuncture therapy has been around a long time, with its use going back at least 2500 years. Now practiced all over the world, acupuncture has been validated in western medical studies for the treatment of numerous health conditions. It is one of the pillars of Chinese Medicine - an ancient medical system with an energetic understanding of the human being and its relationship to the natural world. The ultimate goal of acupuncture therapy is to unblock any areas of stagnation or pain, strengthen the underlying constitution and restore the harmony and balance of the Yin and Yang energies within the human being.
Acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain in the Western world, but in fact can also be used to ease stress, digestive upset, women’s health, chronic diseases and other difficult complaints. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory holds that life energy, or Qi, flows through channels in the body, called the “jing luo.” This circulation of energy in the channels connects all parts of the body together into one energetic circuit. Acupuncture is performed onto specific points along the channels - places where the qi gathers and is more accessible. Acupuncture needles are used to manipulate the flow of Qi through the body, as TCM believes that pain and illness occur when this smooth flow of energy becomes disrupted, or blocked.
What should I expect after the treatment?
After acupuncture treatment, most patients feel pleasantly relaxed and their symptoms lessened. Pain can be greatly reduced from acupuncture and a sense of well-being is often fostered.
How many treatments will I need?
Each patient is different. Acupuncture therapy is a process and works best with frequent treatments, each one building on the one before. Generally the more acute the condition, the faster it can respond to treatment. Sometimes 1 to 3 treatments is all that is needed. The more chronic the condition, the more treatments it will take to get the desired results. As your practitioner, I will work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your specific health goals.
HERBAL MEDICINE
As both a Chinese and Western herbalist, I draw upon the full range of herbal medicine to help my patients reach their health goals. You may be given a custom herbal formula to treat your individual needs. Chinese herbal medicine draws from thousands of herbs to treat specific conditions, many of which have been used for millennia. It carries fewer, or no side effects as compared to pharmaceuticals, and treats the actual cause of illness rather than suppressing the symptoms. My Western herbal expertise, meanwhile, draws upon localized plant medicine, many of which are indigenous to the Colorado and Western states areas.
MOXIBUSTION
Moxibustion is a special warming technique that has been used alongside acupuncture for millennia, whereby dried mugwort leaves are refined and rolled into sticks for burning. These moxa sticks are used over the skin’s surface to gently warm the body’s channels. Loose moxa is also rolled into tiny pieces and placed on the end of acupuncture needles, or directly onto points and burned for a warming therapy.
Gua Sha is a gentle scraping of the skin surface, using a special hand tool to increase circulation and open up the channels.
GUA SHA
Cupping is a bodywork technique using glass cups to create suction on the skin, in order to increase the movement of qi and circulation.
CUPPING
Once referred to as “acupuncture without needles,” shiatsu massage is a relaxing and mobilizing bodywork therapy originating from Japan. Translated as “finger pressure,” shiatsu incorporates gentle physical pressure applied from the fingers, palms, and elbows, while lightly stretching the body’s tissues. Shiatsu uses the same “ki” energy system used in Chinese Medicine to diagnosis and treat the organ channels. The shiatsu techniques of pressure and stretching have a direct effect on the connective tissue, said to be the body’s largest organ. Shiatsu therapy can increase connective tissue flexibility and hydration, thus opening and softening the connective tissue and allowing for better cell-to-cell communication, and coherence throughout the whole body. Clients remain clothed during treatment, though wearing soft, comfortable clothing is recommended.
ZEN SHIATSU
Tui-na is an ancient type of Chinese therapeutic massage . It involves vigorous and stimulating massage techniques applied onto specific areas of the body to reduce pain due to blockages in the channels.
TUI-NA
Qigong uses specific movements and breathing exercises to reduce stress, improve health and build vitality. One may think of qigong as a meditation in motion.
QIGONG EXERCISES
Nutrition is also considered an important pillar of Chinese medicine, and I couldn't agree more. As the saying goes, ‘you are what you eat.’ I enjoy working with patients to develop customized “food as medicine” plans for their everyday lives, in order to help support their health goals. Healthy, nutrient-dense foods can be made fun, flavorful, and exciting when done right!