Acupuncture 
Electroacupuncture
Moxibustion
Cupping
Acupressure Massage
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Diet Therapy & Food Cures

On the first consultation, I discuss with the patient what types of treatments will be best for their particular situation. I may just offer acupuncture or herbal medicine, or I may combine both. For almost all patients I advise them thoroughly on their diet and give them nutritional recommendations.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the painless insertion of fine needles into various points on the skin to stimulate the flow of energy (Qi) and blood. According to the theory of Chinese Medicine, the human being has 14 meridians (pathways). Each meridian travels through a specific organ in the body. For example, there is the lung meridian, spleen meridian, liver meridian and so on. Qi and blood flow through these meridians and nourish the organs. On these meridians there are specific points (pressure points) that have very important and precise functions. Each point may be considered a switch that controls Qi flow. If the Qi does not flow properly, the meridians become blocked and thus illness results. Acupuncture regulates Qi and blood, nourishes organs and tissues, and calms the mind. It is commonly known to be very effective for pain disorders and is also used for a wide range of internal problems.

Although acupuncture is virtually painless, as a rule, it is better to produce a little sensation to achieve improvement, but some people feel nothing at all. Many people find that acupuncture is quite relaxing and afterwards they may feel so relaxed to the point of sleepiness. Patients are advised to take it easy for at least a few hours after an acupuncture treatment and to not undertake any strenuous tasks, like a work out at the gym for example.
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Electroacupuncture

Needles are inserted on certain acupuncture points along the body and then attached to a device that generates continuous electric impulses using small clips. These devices are used to adjust the frequency and intensity of the impulse being delivered, depending on the condition being treated. Electroacupuncture uses two needles at a time so that the impulses can pass from one needle to the other. Several pairs of needles can be stimulated simultaneously, usually for no more than 30 minutes.

According to the principle of Chinese Medicine, illness is caused when Qi (energy) does not flow properly throughout the body. TCM Doctors determine whether the Qi is weak, stagnant, or otherwise out of balance. This indicates which points should be used. Electroacupuncture is especially useful for conditions in which the Qi is stagnant and accumulated, such as chronic pain syndromes, or in cases where the Qi is difficult to stimulate. Electroacupuncture is used for a variety of conditions. It has been effectively used as a form of anesthesia, a pain reliever for muscle spasms, and a treatment for neurological disorders.

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The TCM doctor lights one end of a moxa stick (roughly the size and shape of a cigar) and holds it close to the treated area for several minutes, usually until the area turns red. Another way of doing moxa is to wrap the moxa on the tip of the needle after it is inserted into the skin. This generates heat to the point and to the surrounding area.

Moxa is used on patients who have a cold or stagnant condition. The moxa expels cold and warms the meridians, which leads to a smoother flow of Qi (energy) and blood. It has been used successfully to turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech positions before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxa at a specific acupuncture point on the little toe. Other studies have shown that moxa increases the movement of the fetus in pregnant women, and may reduce the symptoms of menstrual cramps when used in conjunction with acupuncture.

Although moxa has been used safely in Chinese medicine for centuries, it is not for everyone. Because it is used specifically for patients suffering from cold or stagnant constitutions, it should not be used on anyone diagnosed with too much heat and dry symptoms. Moxa produces a great deal of smoke and a pungent odor, therefore the TCM doctor will use an alternative to moxa for patients with respiratory problems.

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Cupping

Cupping is a method commonly used after an Acupuncture session or sometimes used instead of the Acupuncture. It treats disease by causing local congestion. A partial vacuum is created in certain small plastic or glass jars, usually by means of heat (when glass cups are used), which are then applied to the skin, drawing up the underlying tissue/ muscle and forming blood stagnation. This method is very effective for injuries, arthritis, and many other common complaints. Single cups may be applied to smaller areas and several cups to a wider region. The cups may be moved over large flat areas as well, (known as “moving cupping”). This process feels like a massage, though generally more effective.

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Acupressure / Massage

Acupressure is given instead of, or in addition to, acupuncture. Acupressure is essentially acupuncture without needles. Different massage methods are used with strong stimulation to specific acupuncture points on the body. If a patient comes to the clinic with acute or chronic pain as their main complaint, I will always end the acupuncture treatment with massage. Acupressure works like acupuncture to stimulate the flow of Qi (energy) and blood along the meridians to heal the body. It is very comfortable and relaxing, and is usually the patient’s favorite part of the treatment.

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Chinese Medicine uses a very unique system of prescribing herbs. The herbs are put together in "herbal formulas"; meaning that many different herbs (sometimes even more than 20) are combined in specific quantities allowing them to work synergistically. The herbs are used in very small quantities to eliminate any chance of side effects or interactions with pharmaceutical medications or supplements. Also, depending on the particular diagnosis of the patient, the herbs will be modified in order to fit the individual exactly. One of the most important aspects of Chinese Medicine is its attention to the overall condition of the patient and the changes, subtle or otherwise, in his/her condition. The goal of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the development of a clinical strategy that is most appropriate to a particular patient at a particular moment. The herbs in a 'formula' are modified to fit the evolving clinical needs of the patient. These modifications usually occur weekly at the beginning of the treatment regime.

Chinese Herbal Medicine comes in many different forms. The most traditional is to make herbal decoctions where raw herbs are boiled and simmered into a liquid. Other forms commonly used are tablets, capsules, powders, pellets, and crèmes & ointments. The herbs used most frequently in my clinic are in a concentrated powder form. This powder is simply added to hot water to make a tea. It is very easy and effective. Typically, I recommend the herbs to be taken 2 to 3 times per day.

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Diet Therapy & Food Cures

Nutrition is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Almost every individual's diet holds room for improvement. During the first consultation the TCM Doctor will ask about the patient's diet in detail. Then according to the TCM diagnosis, the Doctor will provide the patient specific dietary recommendations. These recommendations reach beyond the essential norms of sufficient protein, complex carbohydrate, fresh fruit and vegetable intake. TCM Doctors advise on exactly which foods to eliminate and/or include in the diet.

Chinese Medicine classifies foods and diseases according to patterns. One eats cooling foods in response to over-heated conditions, and warming foods are best for people displaying cold patterns. Tonic foods are beneficial for deficient conditions, and detoxifying foods for anyone who carries excess toxins, and so on. The recommendations often surprise the patients. For example, they never think that eating too much pineapple is harmful since it is so healthy. Well, actually, if an individual already has too much heat in the body (too much yang and too little yin), pineapple should be avoided since it has quite a warm property.

Effects of diet therapy are usually slower than those of herbal medicine and other medicinals; however, if it is used correctly for prevention and treatment, other medicinals are seldom required, if at all. Food acts according to its various therapeutic properties, although these properties are often less specific and their actions less drastic than those of herbs and other medicinals. Diet therapy is best in combination with herbal medicine, but if a patient chooses not to take the herbs, the TCM Doctor will rely on the food cures to restore balance to the body.

From the late twentieth century, food's importance finally achieved recognition in the West. In 1988, for the first time in the United States, the Surgeon General stated the importance of a good diet and said that two-thirds of all deaths are directly affected by improper diet. He said that this plays a large part in the nation's most common killers: coronary heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and some cancers.

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