Nutritional Consultations
Our fast-paced lifestyle often places nutrition and food habits as a low priority. Or an overlooked step in a whole-body approach to health. Nutrition is a very important element of the complete Traditional Chinese Medicine system.
Supporting your nutritional intake provides a healing environment for your body. Changing your diet to a more holistic approach can in itself treat many diseases and symptoms. However, because of the length of time it may take to see and experience results, guidance from a nutritionist or health coach can support your nutritional journey.
Unfortunately, today’s population has a poor concept of what constitutes a good diet. Therefore, some of the most common conditions we are seeing now based on modern eating habits are obesity, depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis.
Our approach at Acupuncture & Wellness is a personalized nutritional plan based on body type, season, and your geographical location in determining the appropriate diet. We use our knowledge in both Chinese Medicine and Western Nutrition methods to support you.
Ear Acupuncture
Ear Acupuncture, more formally known as Auricular acupuncture is most often used for addiction, smoking cessation, and weight loss.
The way it works is it stimulates the acupoints located on the ear with tiny seeds or pellets. The seeds are no larger than the tip of an unsharpened pencil, do not pierce the skin, and are painless when in place. If this is the therapy prescribed by your acupuncturist, you would leave these seeds in for up to one week and re-stimulate the points by massaging your ear several times each day.
When we stimulate these points we access the central nervous system through the nerves in your head. This sends a direct message to the brain that results in a rapid healing response.
A trained practitioner can not only treat a wide range of diseases using only the ear but can diagnose them as well! There are over 200 acupoints on each ear. These acupoints represent the anatomical parts and functions of your body. Your practitioner observes points of tenderness, coloration changes, bumps, and skin variations.
Cupping
Similar to needle acupuncture and herbal medicine, cupping is part of 2,500-year-old science of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Cupping is like a very deep tissue massage. The practitioner applies heat in a glass cup and then applies that cup to the body, most commonly on the back. The heat creates a painless vacuum effect and draws the skin up into the cup. The result is a movement of fresh blood to the area, the release of toxins, acupuncture point stimulation, increased circulation of blood and lymph, and relaxation of tight muscles.
Cupping does leave noticeable marks similar to a bruise or hickey that is sometimes referred to as “cup kisses”. These are painless marks that disappear on their own within 3-7 days.
Most commonly, people use cupping for aches and pains. This includes low back and leg pain, neck and shoulder tension, fibromyalgia, and any menstrual or digestive problems. Additionally, it also helps open up the chest and benefits the lungs to treat respiratory problems such as cough, bronchitis, asthma, and the like.
Acupressure
Acupressure involves the stimulation of acupuncture points with finger pressure using the power and sensitivity of human touch, rather than the insertion of needles.
This form of healing is very gentle and non-invasive. Generally, the effects of acupressure are less potent than those of acupuncture, and as a result, more treatments are needed to get the same results. For this reason, acupressure is ideal for children and the elderly.
Parents can also learn self-help techniques to use on their children at home. It is gentle, safe, and effective for many conditions, including relief and prevention of colds and flu.
Because acupressure stimulates the body’s natural self-healing abilities, it works as a preventative therapy.
Keep in mind that certain acupressure points must be avoided during pregnancy. Be sure to tell your practitioner if you are or may be pregnant.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion involves burning the herb moxa and applying the resulting heat to specific points in the body. It is also passed over the skin in wave-like motions.
Moxa is herbal wool made from the leaves of the Mugwort plant. The radiant heat produced by moxibustion penetrates deeply into the body to restore balance, promote circulation, and reduce pain. This form of treatment, usually combined with acupuncture, is indicated for improving general health and treating chronic conditions such as arthritis, digestive disorders, pain, infertility, and ulcers. Speak to your provider about Moxibustion and see if this is the right treatment for you.