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What is Traditional Chinese
Medicine? What is Traditional Chinese Medicine? Traditional Chinese
Medicine is a comprehensive system of health care with a continuous clinical
tradition of over 3,000 years of diagnosing and treating illness, preventing
disease and improving well-being. Chinese Medicine includes not only
acupuncture, but also herbal therapy, diet therapy, massage, meditation, qi
gong and exercise. These therapies work with the natural vital energies
inherent within all living things to promote the body’s ability to heal
itself. These therapies utilize minimally invasive treatments that work
with your natural healing capacity to effectively promote natural wellness
and health. What Treatment Therapies are Used? Your treatment program is a unique prescription based on your individual diagnosis utilizing those therapies that will benefit you most at the time of treatment. These include:
See the links on the Clinic page for more information about these treatment modalities and see the photos below.
What conditions are treated with Chinese Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture? The World Health Organization recognizes the effectiveness of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture in treating many disorders.
Click here for a comprehensive list of conditions treated by Acupuncture. What is Acupuncture?Acupuncture is a catalyst for healing the body. Embracing Daoist principles, this very ancient system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been in practice for more than 2000 years.
Acupuncture practitioners insert extremely
fine, disposable needles with rounded tips just below the surface of the
skin. This stimulates qi, the body’s cyclic energy flow (pronounced
“chee” or “chi”). By balancing and redirecting qi, an acupuncture
practitioner encourages the body’s natural capacity for self-healing. In
turn, this improves the way the body functions.
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How deep do the needles go?Needles may be
inserted from one quarter of an inch to one inch below the skin's surface,
depending on the location of the acupuncture point on the body and the
condition being treated. The patient's size, age and constitution are all
taken into account when determining how deeply the needles will penetrate
the skin. How long will the needles be in place?
This varies with each patient. Typically
needles are inserted for 20-30 minutes at a time. In some instances the
treatment may last 45-60 minutes. What happens during an initial visit?During the initial session, we will do a detailed health history interview focusing on your main complaint, also addressing general health history such as, sleep, digestion, energy level, family medical history, etc. It is important to assess your overall health in addition to focusing on your main complaint. Melissa will take your pulses on each wrist in three different places to determine how well certain organ systems are functioning. She also examines your tongue. The tongue’s color and coating can reveal a lot about a person’s overall health. She will also perform any other relevant physical assessment or observation. We will discuss together her thoughts on treatment plan and recommendations for treatment. After that time typically we will make a decision together as far as how you would like to proceed and what feels like a good fit for your healing plan in that moment. We may also do a treatment that day.
Melissa inserts tiny disposable needles into certain acupuncture points on
the body, depending on the patient’s condition. The acupuncture needles are
each placed in a specific location in order to optimize qi flow and bring
balance back to the body. After 20-30 minutes, the needles are removed. Most
patients find the process very relaxing, and many fall asleep during
treatment. Is there anything I should or should not do before my appointment?There are a few Dos and Don’ts I would suggest before your acupuncture treatment: Don’t eat a heavy meal right before your appointment. However, Do make sure you have eaten a meal earlier in the day. Don't brush or scrape your tongue coating when you brush your teeth before your appointment, as Melissa may want to examine your tongue. Don’t drink anything that may color your tongue coating before your appointment, such as coffee, soda, candy, gum or juice. Spicy foods will also change the tongue's color. However, Do stay hydrated by drinking water or tea, as neither of these affect the color of the tongue.
Do
try to come to the appointment in a relaxed state of mind so as to help your
body accept the treatment to its fullest. How many treatments does it take?
Depending on the condition being treated, acupuncture treatments can last
from one week to several months, or longer. Typically, acupuncture patients
begin by receiving treatments one to two times a week at the clinic. As a
patient’s condition improves, treatments become less frequent until the
patient is cured of their illness or balance is restored. While some
illnesses remain incurable, acupuncture can go a long way toward alleviating
discomfort. Some patients return to the clinic for a “tune up” a few times
every year in order to maintain an optimum level of health and keep
illnesses at bay.
You can expect to feel better following your consultation, evaluation and
treatment on the initial visit. Appropriate treatment begins with
identifying and addressing barriers to health, followed by a series of
sessions that focus on addressing your main complaints. You will be an
active participant in your healing process. You will be given the
time it takes to answer questions and become knowledgeable in how the
treatment will be most benefitial for you. When will I feel better?
Depending on a patient’s condition and how
their body responds to acupuncture, it can take up to six treatments before
the patient notices a marked change in the way they feel. Some patients feel
better after one treatment. Other patients need five or six treatments
before they feel better. I'm afraid of needles. Is it possible to undergo treatment without needles?
There are techniques used that do not involve needles. They are Herbal
Medicine, Cupping, Moxibustion, T.D.P. Lamp, Acupressure, Tui na (massage),
and Dermal Friction Technique (Gua Sha). However, often times the best
results are obtained by using needles. In the experience of most acupuncture
practitioners, regular acupuncture needles work best. Melissa also
specializes in herbal treatments that can be used without acupuncture.
Can acupuncture be used as preventative medicine?Yes. Research has now verified that acupuncture stimulates immune functioning, which can increase your resistance to bacterial and viral infection. Acupuncture increases overall energy and vitality, and it helps the body respond to injury and stress. Regular, monthly treatments can help you maintain good health and a sense of well-being.
Click here for a comprehensive list of
conditions treated by Acupuncture. Do you accept Health Insurance?I
do not bill insurance. I do provide a receipt that you may be submit to your
insurance company for possible reimbursement or save for end of the year tax
time. Please save your receipts after your visit. Payment is due when
services are rendered. I accept cash, check, Visa or Mastercard. Call or
email Melissa for rates. Patient confidentiality is honored and maintained in all aspects of Melissa's practice. |
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Western
Medicine attributes several mechanisms to why acupuncture is so effective.
These mechanisms include nervous, endocrine, biochemical and metabolic
pathways. Acupuncture is rooted in ancient eastern theories relating to the
flow of Qi energy through distinct meridians or pathways that course
the body similar to blood in blood vessels. Acupuncture regulates Qi
energy in order to restore balance. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on
an energetic model rather than a biomedical model of understanding the
body. Disease is usually viewed as a disorder or disharmony, and treatment
is directed toward balancing and harmonizing. Traditional Chinese Medicine
and Acupuncture promote innate healing capabilities and positively influence
the health of the entire person.