Cupping
“Where there is stagnation, there will be pain. Remove the stagnation, and you remove the pain”
This common Chinese medicine adage speaks well to the use of cupping therapy. Cupping can be used for a variety of ailments, but primarily people in the West enjoy the benefits of cupping for aches and pains that have reached deep layers of the body. The great success of cupping comes from the suction that is created on the skin to provide space for the lymph system to flow more freely and for blood to circulate more abundantly. Think of typical massage pressure as positive force pushing through knots - kneading them out. Cupping provides negative force by pulling the knots apart - invigorating and restructuring the fascia (connective tissue) by bringing fresh blood to the dehydrated tissue.
Not just for aches and pains, cupping is also effective during cold and flu season and for treatment of airborne allergens. The treatment stimulates and invigorates the immune response at the surface to take on foreign invaders with more vigor by flushing out the toxins that build up on the outer layer of our greatest defense, the skin.
Beyond chronic knots and immune building, cupping can sedate the nervous system, assist with the removal of headaches, migraines, anxiety, and some people will even use it to transform cellulite. (Knowledge drop - cellulite is a symptom of dehydrated and distorted fascia, not fat. If cellulite is a point of shame for you, please give your self a break next time you look in the mirror - you just need some restructuring.) For all the things it can do, it is important to always have a Chinese medicine practitioner take a full assessment of your health history before choosing this therapy for treatment. Not all conditions stem from a source of stagnation alone and must be properly addressed for each individual.
In acupuncture treatment, there may be the use of stationary cupping and “gliding cupping” or “cupping massage”. Herbal salves or oils are used when gliding cupping is applied. This allows the cups to move up and down the affected and surrounding area more smoothly and for greater surface area to be covered. For many, this is one of the most delicious feelings in the world.
Cupping will often leave bruise-like marks that should be relieved within 10-14 days depending on your immune function. It is best to care for yourself after cupping for the first 48 hours. It helps to have the mindset of how you would behave when you are sick - not heavily working out or eating heavy meals. Also if you can't refrain, please be conscious when drinking alcohol or consuming intoxicants. Your tolerance could be quite low and thus create stronger effects while your system is trying to detox. Please do not shower or expose your skin to intense temperatures either hot or cold for at least two hours following treatment - ideally 24 hours.
If you are interested in a cupping-only session, please send in the request via the contact form.
Auricular Acupuncture
NADA & BFA
Auricular acupuncture is another wonderful addition to any standard acupuncture treatment or as a stand-alone therapy. This system of acupuncture has been around for centuries, but came into more prominent use from a French acupuncturist in the 1950s. Like reflexology of the hands and feet, it uses a map on the ear as a microsystem for treating illness.
Auricular acupuncture is particularly effective due to the ears innervation of the vagus nerve, the longest nerve of the autonomic nervous system. This nerve plays a key role in the regulation of respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive function, which ultimately affects all other systems by maintaining healthy nutrition and oxygenation to the blood. It is the system engaged when it is time to rest and digest, so activating it is like hitting the reset button.
Beyond using this therapy in conjunction with full body acupuncture, it can also be used as a single style treatment - making it a wonderful choice for group healing. The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association developed the NADA protocol, a five point system of auricular acupuncture used to help aid in detoxification and addiction recovery. In recent years, this protocol has also been used by non-profit organizations treating people affected by mass trauma such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and war-torn areas. The VA and DoD are incorporating it into their standards of care as well. If there is a community you would like to support with this therapy or a group of friends or co-workers you'd like to bring together in a new calming experience, please reach out to discuss options.
Battlefield Acupuncture or commonly referred to as BFA, is a series of points developed in the early 2000s by Dr. Richard Niemtzow, a retired Air Force colonel, to provide rapid, drug-free pain relief in military settings. It was through brain mapping and imaging that he was able to see the pain disruption in the brain following this sequence. Now a common training for both acupuncturists and non-acupuncturist medical professionals, BFA can be provided to many people both on and off the battlefield to help reduce the cycle of pain and allow for time to heal. BFA is primarily used as an adjunct therapy for swift relief, while comprehensive acupuncture is recommended for resolving issues long-term.
Moxibustion
“Where there is cold, there is death”
Another great Chinese maxim, the acknowledgement of temperature having a significant effect on the body brings in the usage of moxibustion, known simply as “moxa.” Although not as commonly used in the West, traditionally acupuncture and moxibustion are used in conjunction to invigorate the blood, dispel disease, and promote general health.
Moxa is the burning of the dried herb mugwort (Artemisia argyi) in order to warm the channels in the body. Working according to the same principles as acupuncture, the heat from moxa is particularly penetrating providing gentle stimulation. Moxa is used in a variety of ways, either directly on the skin or on top of a medium like ginger or salt, on top of acupuncture needles, or formed into cigar-like sticks allowing the practitioner to move around the body and apply moxa as close or as far away as needed during a treatment.
As many people are at a deficit in their energy reserves, or suffer from what we consider chronic cold conditions, moxa is a wonderful addition to nurturing your system and is often employed in my treatments. If you smell something unfamiliar and perhaps "suspicious" upon entry to the treatment space, don’t worry, it’s just moxa!
Medical Qigong
Healing Hands
Medical qigong is yet another ancient therapy used either on its own or with other therapies. If you are familiar with Japanese healing system, Reiki, these therapies are sister systems.
The word qigong means "qi" - life force or energy and "gong" - practice, play, work, or movement. Qigong is an exchange of energy between ourselves and the world, the ever dynamic flow, expansion and contraction. In a Medical Qigong treatment, the practitioner becomes a conduit to increase the exchange, help guide, and release unhealthy qi thereby allowing your system to take in healthy dynamic qi. During a treatment, many people will feel fluttering or movement, often the body becomes warm, a feeling of weightlessness, and potentially thoughts or memories become potent images in the mind similar to a vivid dream.
Medical Qigong is based in the same theoretical model as acupuncture. All the same issues are addressed with Medical Qigong as in acupuncture sessions and I will often imploy this technique alongside the needling therapy. If you are sensitive to the prospect of an acupuncture treatment using needles, a Medical Qigong session may be the right therapy choice for you.
Tui na & Ku-nye Massage
Chinese & TIbetan Bodywork
Tui na, pronounced “Twee-nah”, is a Chinese external manipulative therapy using hands-on techniques to bring the body back into balance. This therapy is often employed in musculoskeletal conditions, but is also very effective for internal disorders especial related to digestion and menstruation. This treatment can be either vigorous or gentle in its approach making it useful for a wide-range of patients.
Ku-Nye, pronounced “Coon-yea”, is a Tibetan external manipulative therapy used as a standalone treatment. The word Ku means “to apply oil” and Nye means “to apply pressure”. The practice employed in this clinic is a full body treatment, but will also give focus to your particular health concern areas. Ku-Nye is good for general relaxation and health promotion, but it is specifically beneficial for mental stress and imbalance.
Although not currently offering stand-alone sessions of either at this time, these various techniques are employed within an acupuncture treatment as needed.
