Classical Chinese Acupuncture ; Acupressure / Shiatsu Massage ; Chinese Herbal Medicine; Cupping
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Acupuncture
Acupuncture originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It is based on the belief that health is determined by a balanced flow of Qi, the vital life energy present in all living organisms. According to acupuncture theory, Qi is circulated in the body along fourteen energy pathways, called meridians, each linked to specific internal organs and organ systems. There are over one thousand acupoints within the meridian system that can be stimulated to enhance the flow of Qi. When special needles are inserted into these acupoints (just under the skin), they help correct and rebalance the flow of energy and consequently restore health.
Perhaps no other alternative therapy has received more attention in this country or gained more acceptance more quickly than acupuncture. Most Americans had never heard of it until 1971, when New York Times foreign correspondent James Teston wrote a startling first article about acupuncture following his emergency appendectomy in China. Today, acupuncture in America is in full swing. Last year alone, Americans made some 9-12 million visits to acupuncturists for ailments as diverse as arthritis, bladder infections, back pain, and morning sickness.
The World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO) has cited 104 different conditions that acupuncture can treat; including, migraines, sinusitis, the common cold, tonsillitis, asthma, eye inflammation, addictions, myopia, duodenal ulcer (and other gastrointestinal disorders), trigeminal neuralgia, Meniere's disease, tennis elbow, paralysis from stroke, speech aphasia, sciatica, and osteoarthritis. Acupuncture has also been found to be effective in the treatment of a variety of rheumatoid conditions, and brings relief in 80% of those who suffer from arthritis. There is also evidence to suggest that acupuncture is valuable in treating enviromentally-induced illness due to radiation, pesticide poisoning, enviromentally toxic compounds, and air pollution.
In addition, acupuncture has been popularly used for stress, depression, anxiety relief, cosmetic care, women's health, and even immune support.
Acupressure / Shiatsu Massage
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body's life force energy to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses gentle but firm pressure.
Have you ever had a Shiatsu massage? Acupressure and Shiatsu are almost identical. They are both meridian therapies, which means they both work with the body’s own energy pathways, the pathways which are the foundation of Chinese medicine. Acupressure works on the acu-points and meridians, similar but not exactly like, Acupuncture without needles!
In an Acupressure treatment, pressure is applied along the meridians to improve the circulation of energy and harmonize the functions of the internal organs. Pressure is applied with the hands, arms, elbows, and occasionally the feet of the practitioner. In addition to the application of pressure to the meridians, acupressure will involve the application of pressure to other muscles and ligaments throughout the body. This component of acupressure is similar to the technique of Swedish massage. Acupressure also involves placing the hand on a part of the body, passively, without any significant pressure exerted, to facilitate energy flow.
The combination of acupressure with muscle massage will act on the whole body to facilitate deep relaxation, relieve discomfort and pain, and increase the regenerative capacity of the body by unblocking the flow of energy
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Herbs, as in herbal medicine (also known as botanical medicine), is defined as a plant or plant part that is used to make medicine, aromatic oils for soaps or fragrances, or flavor foods (spices). And herb can be a leaf, bark, or any other part of the plant used for its medicinal, food flavoring, or aromatic properties. Herbs have provided humankind with medicine from the earliest beginnings of civilization. Throughout history, various cultures have handed down their accumulated knowledge of the medicinal use of herbs to successive generations. This vast body of knowledge serves as the basis for much of traditional medicine today.
The practice of Chinese herbal medicine stretches back more than 5,000 years, embracing all the domains of nature - earth and sea, seasons and weather, plants and animals, and all the elements that constitute the universe. Contemporary Chinese medicine represents the cumulative clinical experience and time-tested theories of five millennia of continuous practice by traditional Chinese physicians. It remains the world's oldes, safest, and most comprehensive system of medical care, developing as dynamically today as it has throughout it long history.
Cupping
Cupping is one of the oldest methods in Traditional Chinese Medicine, dating back to the fourth century B.C. The cups were originally made from hollowed out animal horns or from bamboo. Today the cups are made of thick glass. The cups stay on by vacuum suction which is created by briefly holding a flame inside the cups to burn up all the oxygen, creating a vacuum. The flame is held inside the cup so briefly that it doesn't warm the glass at all, so there is no risk of burns. (But it is important that cupping is done only by a licensed Acupuncturist.) The cups usually stay on anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending on the patient's condition.
Cupping is usually done for conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, congestion, arthritis, and certain types of pain, usually chronic pain. It is also done to treat depression and often times to reduce certain types of swelling.
Cupping is generally safe and painless. It is safe as long as it is done by a licensed Acupuncturist. It may, however leave bruises. These are created from the suction and usually look like hickys. The bruises can often be tender, but are not usually painful, and they disappear within a few days. Cupping should not be performed on people with inflammed, irritated, or infected skin. It is also usually avoided on elderly people with very thin, delicate skin.
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