TCM SERVICES

• Acupuncture
• Biopuncture
• Moxibustion
• Cupping
• Facial Cupping
• Bonsai Facial Rejuvenation
• Herbal Formulas
• Chinese Food Cures

How does my TCM practitioner choose which is the best therapy for me?

This would depend on both your condition and your preference. More than one therapy can be used simultaneously, alternately, or consecutively. In some cases, it might be best for you to receive acupuncture treatments several times per week. If this does not fit into your schedule, your TCM practitioner can incorporate herbs, food cures, tai chi or Qi gong, ear acupuncture, and/or self-acupressure, which you can do between sessions. (...see glossary)

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is actually believed to have begun when warriors who had been hit by spears in one part of their bodies noticed relief of pain in other parts of their bodies! Acupuncture needles began as sharpened stones, but we are much luckier today as the needles are very thin, strong, flexible, sterile, and disposable.

Acupuncture works specifically on regulating the flow of Qi (energy) within meridians, or channels, that travel over and interconnect the whole body. A person with Qi deficiency needs to be tonified, while a person with Qi stagnation needs to have the energy dispersed. This is done be inserting filiform needles into specific points of the body. The choice of points is done based on an intensive diagnosis of the patient based on TCM principles. Local points can be used, as can distal points. For example, low back pain can be treated with points around the pain location as well as a points on the back of the knee and near the ankle.

Biopuncture

Biopuncture is the injection of sterile biologic products into specific locations of the body. It is also known as Acupuncture Injection Therapy (AIT). Acupuncture points can be chosen based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and diagnosis to stimulate an immune response, balance hormones, regulate function, speed healing, and restore energy and vitality. Trigger points may also be chosen to relieve pain and "knots" in the muscles that many have experienced for years. For more information about Biopuncture, click here

Moxibustion is often employed in coordination with acupuncture. Moxibustion is the burning of an herb called ai ye (artemisiae argyi) over points or areas of the body. The function is to remove blood stasis, promote blood circulation, disperse cold, and relieve pain.

Cupping is another common technique. Glass cups are most commonly used in North America, but bamboo or plastic cups are also available. Suction is obtained with either a flame which is quickly inserted and removed from the cup (generating negative pressure suction), or by use of a small pump on a plastic cup. The cup can then either be left stationary or moved with the assistance of oil. Sometimes cups are placed over needles to increase stimulation. The purpose is to relax muscles, warm and promote the free flow of Qi and blood, dispel Cold and Dampness (TCM terms), and reduce swelling and pain.

Other acupuncture methods include the use of skin needles, electroacupuncture, ear acupuncture, acupressure, etc.

Bonsai Facial Rejuvenation

For more information, please click here.        

Herbal Formulas

TCM rarely uses only a single herb as it is important that the herbal prescription be balanced in nature, neither too hot, nor too cold, nor too moving, nor too nourishing. There are over 3000 different herbs to choose from. The formula is determined based on the patient's TCM diagnosis and it may change frequently as the patient's constitution changes. They can be taken with or without concurrent acupuncture treatment.

Each herb has its own properties. It has a temperature - hot, cold, cool, warm, or neutral. It has a taste - bitter, sweet, salty, sour, pungent/spicy, or bland. It has a tendency to travel to a certain organ or part of the body. And it has its own indications and functions. These properties can all be altered based on its interactions with other herbs or with the processing methods (e.g. some herbs are processed with honey first).

It is important for you to inform your TCM practitioner of any medication that you are taking so this can be taken into consideration when prescribing your formula. Sometimes the Chinese herbs can be used to assist the medications. Sometimes they can take care of the drug side effects. Sometimes they can help to rebalance the body so that less and less of the pharmaceutical is needed. When taken properly, Chinese herbs can be safely combined with western drugs, vitamins, or herbs.

Traditionally, Chinese herbal formulas were decocted. This means that the herbs were boiled in a pot, drained, and usually re-boiled before drinking. This method is still used today, but because of time constraints in making the decoctions, the smell and taste of the decoctions, and convenience, there are now many other alternatives. Formulas may be given in pill form, tincture, or dry powder which can be made into teas. Your TCM practitioner will tell you how, how much, and when to take your formula.

Chinese Food Cures

This is similar in idea to the herbal formulas. Foods have properties similar to those listed above for herbs. Thus, they can be taken to help re-balance a person back to health. The Chinese consider the stomach to be like a cooking pot. An over-abundance of foods that are hot in property (not temperature; e.g. beef) or too pungent (e.g. chilli peppers) will create too much fire and cause heartburn, excessive hunger, etc. Conversely, too much cold, raw food puts out the stomach fire and impairs digestion. Greasy and overly sweet foods also impair the digestion. Take, for example, a fast-food diet of a beef taco with fries and an icy cold pop. All of the ingredients are there for digestion disaster. As with every other part of TCM, food cures vary from person to person as each individual's constitution is different.