Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, nutrition and energy-based exercises are all important components of Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine enhances the body’s innate capacity to self-modulate and heal. Originating thousands of years ago, it is one of the oldest forms of healing in the world. In recent decades, acupuncture has grown in popularity in the United States. According to the National Health Interview Survey millions of Americans have tried acupuncture.

Research has shown that acupuncture is effective in providing the following benefits:

• Relieves pain
• Regulates hormones in the brain to improve mood
• Modulates blood pressure and heart rate
• Reduces inflammation
• Boosts immune system
• Promotes whole body healing
• Other commonly treated conditions

In other words, acupuncture facilitates healing and recovery by systemically regulating the body to help expedite recovery from illness.

What is Cosmetic Acupuncture? This ancient beauty secret is a virtually painless, natural approach to reducing the signs of aging and helping skin regain its youthful glow. Cosmetic acupuncture is a whole-body approach to wellness. It addresses the surface signs of aging as well as the internal stressors that cause them.

How does it work? Needles as thin as a strand of hair are inserted carefully into key areas and creases in the face, causing tiny microtrauma to the skin that triggers an increase in blood flow and activates collagen production. Collagen, the body’s natural “filler,” increases muscle tone and elasticity. The increase in blood flow helps revitalize and nourish the skin, resulting in healthier skin, a dewy glow, and a more youthful appearance.

The benefits of Cosmetic Acupuncture

Cosmetic acupuncture promotes subtle, natural changes to the skin over time. Benefits of cosmetic acupuncture include:

What is moxibustion?
Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which dried plant materials called “moxa” are burned on or very near the surface of the skin. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences. Moxa is made from the dried leafy material of Chinese mugwort (Artemesia Argyi or A. Vlugaris).

What exactly does the practitioner do?
Practitioners generally hold a burning moxa stick close to, but not touching, the surface of the skin. In this method, the moxa material is compressed into a stick or pole, looking not unlike an oversized cigar that can be lit and allowed to smolder, producing a unique form of very penetrating heat. The smoldering moxa stick is held over specific areas, often, though not always, corresponding to certain acupuncture points. The glowing end of the moxa stick is held about an inch or two above the surface of the skin until the area reddens and becomes suffused with warmth.

When is moxibustion used?

Moxibustion is used for:

• Pain due to injury or arthritis, especially in “cold” patterns where the pain naturally feels better with the application of heat
• Digestive problems and irregular elimination
• Gynecological and obstetrical conditions, including breech presentation in late-term pregnancy
• Protection against cold and flu strains

Practitioners often do both acupuncture and moxibustion in the same session when appropriate for the diagnosis and treatment strategy. It is believed that the therapies increase each other’s effectiveness when used together. Unlike acupuncture, which is almost always done by a trained practitioner in a clinic setting, moxibustion can be easily used at home. It is not uncommon for Chinese medical practitioners to train their patients to use moxa on themselves to strengthen the effect of the clinical sessions between appointments.

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. People get it for many purposes, including to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.

The origins of Chinese herbal medicine can be traced back at least 5,000 years. Chinese herbal medicine takes a natural and holistic approach to healthcare and is trusted by people from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds.l