Treatments
Acupuncture
This 5,000 healing art uses gentle insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body. Different point combinations stimulate and promote the body's natural ability to self-heal, releasing muscular tension, eliminating toxins and fatigue, increasing blood circulation, easing stress, and strengthening resistance to disease.
* Alternatively acupressure (finger pressure) may be used to achieve similar results.
Tui Na
Meaning "push and grasp" in Mandarin Chinese, Tui Na is a clothing on massage combining deep tissue, acupressure, cupping, sports physical therapy, chiropractic, yoga, and energetic healing. Affected areas are worked on layer by layer with various hand massage movements as well as body manipulations such as pulling, twisting, bouncing, bending, shaking, and stretching. Other areas are also focused on to harmonize and improve the flow of blood and qi energy throughout the entire inter-relational body-mind.
Cupping
Stress and physical trauma can cause blood and qi energy to become stuck in particular areas, resulting in fluid build-up, poor circulation, lack of physical movement, pain, and eventually disease. Cupping therapy is another modality within Tui Na using the suctioning of cups to draw up the skin and open the pores in order to stimulate and mobilize blood, lymph, and qi energy. This healing method balances and realigns flow by breaking up obstructions and creating avenues for toxins to be drawn out of the body.
*Cupping can cause non-permanent red marks, swelling, and bruising at local areas for a few days to a week.
Gua Sha
A soft-edged rubbing tool (usually made of jade or other type of rock) is used to achieve similar results as cupping.
*Gua Sha can cause non-permanent red marks, swelling, and bruising at local areas for a few days to a week.
Moxibustion
Also known as moxa, this technique involves burning the herb Ai Ye (Artemesia Vulgaris) over specific points or general areas of the body. This can warm and move pain that is congealed and stuck and can build up the body's natural immune defenses against illness.