CLASSICAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Classical Chinese Medicine is a complete and complex system that uses a holistic approach to bring balance to the body, mind and spirit. This is a medicine that dates back thousands of years and treats a wide variety of ailments and illnesses. It is comprised of many modalities including acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, essential oils and dietary therapy.

WHAT TO EXPECT

At your acupuncture appointment, we will go through your entire health history and then hone in on your current primary concern (s). Feeling the pulse at both wrists, looking at the tongue and/or palpation of some acupuncture points, are all ways for your practitioner to gain insight about the imbalances of the body and develop a diagnosis. Tiny acupuncture needles are inserted at specific acupuncture points for your tailored treatment. Within about five minutes your parasympathetic nervous system (rest and recovery) should take over, if you’re not already there. You will drop into alpha for sure, and maybe even theta or delta brainwave states. If you are able to drop into these deeper states of consciousness during your treatment, the acupuncture seems to be even more beneficial allowing the body, mind and spirit to quickly find its proper balance. This is why I believe massage and the use of essential oils can greatly benefit your treatment. Many people fall asleep or “drift off to another place” during their treatment. You will rest in this relaxed state with the needles in for about 20-30 minutes.

Acupuncture creates a smooth flow of qi and blood along the meridians allowing the body to function properly. It triggers nerve responses and the release of neurotransmitters to create change at the cellular level and systemically. It stimulates cells to produce an anti-inflammatory and natural painkilling chemical as well as affects serotonin levels to increase your mood. Last but not least, it releases endorphins to help you feel relaxed.

We view the body as a microcosm of the Universe. The climatic energies found in nature are found within us as well. Wind, heat, cold, dry and damp are all factors that, when in excess, may cause disharmony or disease in the body. Other factors that play a role are the qi and blood being deficient or stagnant and whether the pattern of disharmony is interior or exterior. Using yin/yang and five element theories and Chinese Medicine diagnostics, we determine where and how the imbalance is affecting the body. Acupuncture and herbs are used to restore balance, and remind your body of its true state of health.

Cupping is an adjunct technique that is often used either before or after the needling portion of your treatment. The traditional fire cupping method involves placing a flame inside a glass cup and when quickly removed and placed on the body a suction is created. You will not feel any heat from the flame. Massage oil is rubbed into the skin first so that the suction cups can be glided across the back, neck and shoulders. This will invigorate the circulation of qi and blood as well as reduce swelling, pain and tension. There is a saying in Chinese Medicine, “where there is pain, there is stagnation”. Old emotions are stored in our blood stasis as well so needless to say, you may feel a big sense of relief from both your physical and emotional pain being released.

Gua Sha is a scraping technique that (similar to cupping) may leave temporary markings on the skin. This petechiae or redness (sometimes purple) is helping to increase circulation and resolve blood stasis and pain. The cupping and gua sha marks may last for a few hours up to a week. This technique is great for stubborn neck and shoulder pain and tension headaches. Another great time to use gua sha is to help the beginning states of a cold. When you feel a runny nose and stiff/achy neck and shoulders come on, gua sha helps to release the exterior and expel a wind-cold invasion (aka common cold). There are many different tools you can use to perform gua sha, but a ceramic soup spoon has a smooth edge that is perfect for the task.

Electroacupuncture or E-stim (electrical stimulation) is a tool that may be use to constantly stimulate the needles during your treatment. It is great for pain relief, muscle spasms and improving tissue recovery so it is mostly used for chronic pain, overuse of a muscle or on athletes, but can be used for many other issues as well.

If needed, moxibustion (aka moxa) may be incorporated during your treatment to warm and tonify qi and blood. Moxibustion is a technique where we burn the herb mugwort close to, on the needle or directly on acupuncture points. There are a few different ways this could be done, but all you will feel is warmth at some of the points. You may purchase a moxa stick to use on acupuncture points at home to continue reminding the body what we are doing in between treatments.

Pictured above are the different forms of moxa used at MAHA WELLNESS. Loose moxa is placed on top of the acupuncture needle, regular and smokeless moxa sticks are waved just above the points and along the meridians, small smokeless moxa rolls may be placed directly on the points or the moxa tincture may be applied to the points with a heat pack.

Chinese herbal medicine stands the test of time as it’s been used for over 3000 years. Each herb has a specific taste, temperature and relationship with the meridians and organ systems that provokes healing and balance in the body.

Herbs can be cooked from raw form to make a tea, but here we have granules which are highly concentrated powered extracts. To prepare, patients mix the granules with hot water and drink as a tea. Granules are popular because of their ease of preparation and their portability when traveling. We also have patent herbs: tablet, capsule, and pill form.

Similar to Chinese herbs, each essential oil has a specific relationship with the meridians and organ systems as well as warming or cooling properties. Where herbs have a specific taste that influences how the body responds, essential oils use the sense of smell to influence change in the body.

Used safely and affectively.

Food recommendations may be given based on your specific Chinese Medicine diagnosis to help with the healing process. Finding the right diet for YOU is essential to your health. Other healthy lifestyle changes such as getting enough sleep and exercise are also important.

“Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.” — Hippocrates