|
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles under the skin in order to affect the flow of Qi throughout the body and improve patterns of disharmony. It is part of a group of therapies collectively referred to as Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. Acupuncture is based on an energetic model that encourages your body’s own innate healing abilities and it is an incredibly safe and effective way of treating a wide variety of health concerns. Studies have shown that Acupuncture treatment not only strengthens and improves the body’s overall physiologic function but also enhances immunity and encourages better sleep and increased energy.
|
Acupuncture is also extremely effective for improving pain conditions by releasing damaged and tight tissues through the needling of trigger and motor points that connect to the nervous system. This treatment has the effect of decreasing dysfunctional tone as well as increasing blood flow to injured or chronically tight areas.
How does TCM differ from Western Medicine? |
While Western Medicine tends to look at the human body as a collection of various systems or parts, TCM holds a view of the body that is more complete and holistic in nature. One of the greatest strengths of TCM is it’s ability to take into account and view all of the signs and symptoms of the body in order to form a complete picture of the pattern of disharmony going on for each particular patient. Where you may visit an allopathic or Western MD for digestive pain or upset, they would be unlikely to have an interest in the fact that you may have been studying a great deal lately or worrying about an upcoming project at work. They would also be unlikely to link your disturbed sleep to the digestive symptoms but in Chinese Medicine, these symptoms along with a few others can point to a pattern of imbalance within the Spleen and Heart energetic organ systems. Along with treating the body, mind and spirit as a whole, TCM also treats the patient rather than the disease. While 3 different patients may come in for treatment of the same condition, there may very easily be 3 different TCM diagnoses and therefore 3 different treatment plans. This individually tailored way of treating not only makes Traditional Chinese Medicine stand apart from other healing systems but also makes it highly effective.
|
What to expect on your first visit.
|
Upon your first visit, an in-depth health history will be taken and all aspects of your health will be discussed with your practitioner. From there, a diagnosis will be made and a recommended treatment plan will be discussed. Most often, this will include a series of Acupuncture sessions combined with hands on soft tissue release, at home exercises and stretches, and/or diet and lifestyle recommendations or herbs.
|
