What is Chinese Medicine?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a system of primary health care that includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, remedial massage (anmo tuina), exercise and breathing therapy (such as qigong), and diet and lifestyle advice.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has an uninterrupted history of development in China and other parts of East Asia dating back thousands of years. The primary feature of modern TCM is the premise that good health relies on the restoration and maintenance of harmony, balance and order to the individual.
TCM takes a wholistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as it does on the treatment.
What is Acupuncture?
The focus is on the individual, not their illness, and all the symptoms are seen in relation to each other. Each patient is unique; two people with the same western diagnosis may well receive different acupuncture treatments.
Acupuncturists believe that the underlying principle of treatment is that illness and pain occur when the body’s Qi, or vital energy, cannot flow freely. There can be many reasons for this; emotional and physical stress, poor nutrition, infection or injury are among the most common.
By inserting ultra-fine sterile needles into specific acupuncture points, a traditional acupuncturist seeks to re-establish the free flow of qi to restore balance and trigger the body’s natural healing response. Each treatment may include other related therapies, such as cupping, Gua Sha or moxabustion.
A Natural Way to Heal
Acupuncture enhances recuperative power and immunity to promote natural healing. It also improves physical and emotional health and overall wellbeing. Acupuncture is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as effective in treating these conditions:
Allergies, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue, Common Cold, Constipation, Dental Pain, Depression, Dizziness, Emotional Problems, Fatigue, Fertility, Fibromyalgia, Gingivitis, Headache, Incontinence, Indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Low Back Pain, Menopause, Menstrual Irregularities, Migrane, Morning Sickness, Nausea, Pain, PMS, Sciatica, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Shoulder Pain, Sleep Disturbances, Sore Throat, Stress, Tennis Elbow.
What to Expect
During the initial exam a full health history will be taken. Questions will be asked regarding symptoms, health and lifestyle. You may also have your pulses and your tongue checked. This information is then organized to create a complete, accurate and comprehensive diagnosis of where Qi has become blocked or imbalanced.
Your Role in the Healing Process
Your actions are a key component of your treatment plan. Focusing on your health and committing to a healthy lifestyle are the best steps you can take for your well-being. Together, you and your acupuncturist can heal your imbalances and help you achieve harmony and balance.
For the best treatment results, please keep a few things in mind:
-Don’t eat a large meal before your visit
-Wear loose, comfortable clothes
-Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns
you may have
-Refrain from overexertion or alcohol for at least six hours after treatment
-Try to keep all of your appointments, as each visit builds upon the previous one