About Chinese Medicine…
Chinese medicine is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical practices in the world. Practitioners of this medicine view pain, illness and disease as the manifestation of imbalance or disruption of the bodies’ natural processes. Chinese medical practitioners evaluate not only a patient’s physical, mental, and emotional symptoms, they also consider how a patient’s home and work environments contribute to their overall health. This allows a practitioner to provide symptomatic relief while also addressing the underlying causes of the patient’s health complaints.
This comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis is completed using a holistic model that takes into account all aspects of the patient’s wellbeing. The power of Chinese medicine lies in its ability to activate and direct the body’s own healing system. By bringing the patient back to balance all facets of their overall health can be addressed a seemingly unrelated health concerns may be resolved at once.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are the primary methods of treatment in my clinic but other modalities like massage, cupping and moxibustion may be used as well.
Acupuncture for Children
Can acupuncture help my child? Yes! Absolutely! As a holistic medicine, acupuncture and Chinese medicine are ideally suited for both general health maintenance and the management of acute and chronic health issues in children. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are especially effective at treating conditions for which western medicine does not have highly effective treatments. Frequent colds and flu, chronic ear infections, colic, digestive upset, teething pain and dermatological conditions are just a few of the most common conditions I see most frequently in my clinic.
When working with infants and children in my practice I always go to great lengths to make sure both parents and children know what’s going on and what’s coming next throughout the course of the intake and treatment. When working with infants and children I primarily use a technique called “shonishin”. The word “shonishin” literally translated means “child’s needle”. It is a Japanese rendering of an older Chinese term with the same meaning. Shonishin is a method of acupuncture treatment ideally suited to babies and small children because most of the methods used in shonishin do not involve the use of needles. Instead a wide array of tools are used that can be tapped, rubbed, or pressed onto the surface of the body to provide a very gentle, non-invasive and effective treatment.
My clinic is very child-friendly. Coming to the clinic should be an enjoyable process and I find that most children are quite happy to come for their check-ups and treatments. If you have questions about how acupuncture and chinese medicine could be helpful for your child please contact me to set up a phone consultation.
Are acupuncture and herbal medicine right for me?
Chinese medicine is effective for both prevention of disease and the treatment of acute and chronic conditions. It is frequently used in conjunction with other treatment modalities including western allopathic medicine, psychotherapy, chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage.
The care offered at this clinic is intended to be used in addition to standard medical care and not as a replacement for it. Integrated healthcare is part of the mission and vision of this practice. If you are wondering if acupuncture or herbal medicine may be helpful for you and you don’t see your specific concern above, please don’t hesitate to call for a short phone consultation.
Listed below are some of the conditions typically seen in the clinic that are usually treated quite effectively with acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicine. Because Chinese medicine represents a holistic system of healthcare, there are many other conditions not listed below that may improve with the use of acupuncture, massage, and herbs.
Musculoskeletal and Neurological Concerns
Arthritis, sciatica, headaches, neuralgia, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, pain of all types, sports injury, repetitive stress injuries, sprains and strains, limited range of motion, vertigo and dizziness, trigeminal neuralgia, TMJ disorders, stroke rehabilitation, muscle spasms, shingles
Digestive Disorders
Constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), nausea, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), gastritis, ulcers, abdominal bloating
Respiratory Ailments
Colds and flu, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, frequent colds, ear infections
Pediatric Care
Colds and flu, frequent colds, hyperactivity disorders, attention deficit disorders, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, colic, frequent ear infections, failure to thrive, low immune function, dermatological issues.
Women’s Health
Fertility, morning sickness, prenatal and postpartum care, malposition of fetus, labor induction, mastitis, menopause and perimenopause, menstrual discomfort, menstrual irregularity, candidiasis
Men’s Health
Fertility, impotence, prostate disorders, inguinal hernia
General Health
Chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, stress related issues, post-surgical wellness, smoking cessation, weight loss, kidney stones, gall stones, high blood pressure (hypertension), low blood pressure (hypotension), palpitations