ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is a therapy involving insertion of a needle in specific areas all over the body. Physiologically, the needles are inserted and trigger a response from the nervous system to communicate with the endocrine system. These two work together and stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself and improve its function in preventing future illness within the body. It has been successful in treating various types of illness and dysfunction in the body since before 3000 B.C.
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As an Eastern science, acupuncture has been used to treat; musculoskeletal injuries, neurological disorders, circulatory disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory disorders, immune illnesses, psychological disorders, addictions, and dermatological conditions.
Acupuncture can be complementary to many western treatments. It is especially good at managing pain and therefore is ideal if you've just had surgery, an injury, or a clinical procedure. In the area of women’s health, acupuncture can be used to help with labor preparation, labor and delivery pain management, and is complementary following most fertility procedures. Many oncology patients use acupuncture to help with some of the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation, such as nausea and fatigue.
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Incorporating acupuncture into your life on a regular basis allows for the body to be more aware of imbalance and maintain a state of overall good health.
In Chinese Medicine we believe that illness is a reflection of deficiencies and excesses within the body. The goal of herbal therapy is to eliminate pathogens and restore the physiological balance of the internal organs.The earliest records of people using chinese herbs to treat disease dates back to almost 4000 B.C. Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of alternative therapy in our history and is an unbroken tradition in Chinese culture.
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Eastern herbs are different to both western herbs and pharmaceuticals in that they are prescribed based on symptoms, an individual’s body constitution, and the root cause of ailment. Fundamentally Chinese herbs are categorized and prescribed according to the theory of what Traditional Chinese Medicine calls Zang Fu. Essentially this means that each herb in put into categories according to the internal organs like the heart and what makes up their physiology; circulation of blood. A prescription of Chinese herbs consists of multiple herbs that treat multiple systems within the body. Most western herbs are singularly used and most pharmaceuticals are prescribed on a symptomatic basis. Herbal therapy can also help with the side effects many people experience from western pharmaceuticals and therapies.
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The use of acupuncture and herbal therapy together can be remarkably effective in treatment and often times the herbs are able to help prolong the effects of the acupuncture. People often rely on the use of Chinese herbs to treat things like; menopause, fertility, mood disorders, digestive disorders, gynaecological dysfunction, insomnia, hair loss, allergies, fluid retention, skin disorders, colds, and flus. Just like acupuncture, herbal therapy is especially good at treating pain from disorders like arthritis or fibromyalgia. Herbs can provide relief for people suffering from chronic illness and will give you the tools needed to take your health into your own hands.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
CUPPING
Cupping has been a treatment modality in China for thousands of years. Originally the ancients used bamboo ‘cups’ and boiled them to expel air creating negative pressure. The cups were used as a support therapy for surgeries or used to draw out toxins for treatment of skin conditions. Now that we’ve reached the 21st century the clinical applications of cupping have become extensive. Cupping can be used to treat injuries, chronic pain, asthma, common cold, coughing, indigestion, skin conditions, and much more. The suction and movement of cupping therapy creates space internally to assist in proper flow of blood, oxygen, and lymph fluids. It is good at improving autonomic nervous system function and has a detoxifying effect on both the skin and circulatory systems.
GUA SHA
Gua Sha is an ancient treatment modality from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that has been used to treat pain and body surface conditions. Currently we are finding an increasing amount of conditions that respond to this type of therapy. Some pain conditions include: headache, migraine, and neck, shoulder, back, or knee pain. It is also effective at treating issues like earache, asthma, flu, and bronchitis. Practitioners use Gua Sha as a fever reducer and as a reliever of inflammation for chronic conditions. In the recent years it has been deemed a ‘hepatoprotector’ due to its effectiveness in reducing inflammatory injury when hepatitis B attacks the immune system. Gua Sha is ideal for someone with tight muscles and can prove to be quite handy during cold and flu season.
TUI NA
Tui Na refers to a type of massage done in TCM that consists of 10 different techniques or body manipulations. It is not traditionally used as a relaxation type of massage and each technique has a very specific function. It has been successful in treating sciatica, arthritis, muscle spasm, and musculoskeletal or joint injuries. It is also an effective calmer of the nervous system and focuses on stimulating circulation throughout the body. According to TCM, an imbalance in health reflects an underlying state of imbalance between oxygen, blood, and body fluids. Pain that a person feels is usually associated with some sort of issue with the flow of these substances. Tui Na can be an effective modality in the treatment of various types of pain.
MOXIBUSTION
Moxibustion is the process of burning dried mugwort to benefit from it's therapeutic effects. Moxibustion plays an important role in the Traditional Chinese Medicine system. It was developed during the Ming Dynasty in China, dating back to the 1300s AD. Studies have shown that application of moxa produces infrared waves that are absorbed by the body. This helps with pain relief, improves circulation, and purifies the skin. Research has proven that moxa smoke has a positive regulating affect on human autonomic function. It strongly treats blood, immune, and fertility disorders. Moxa's healing power is rooted in it's warmth and versatility.
FACIAL ACUPUNCTURE
We offer a 2 hour Acupuncture Facial Session that is a blend of some of the best TCM modalities; acupuncture, gua sha, and cupping. Cosmetic TCM in theory is about understanding Qi regulation and organ balancing within an individual's body. In ancient China it was believed that the face is a recording of life's experiences and the effects of these on a person's mind and body. The face can be considered a kind of road map from a person's past the aids in diagnosis and treatment. This type of session focuses on 3 main areas; physiognomy (facial diagnosis), lymphatic drainage, and reducing fine lines. This treatment will detox your head and neck from excesses of cortisol, toxins, and inflammation. This is a great option for someone suffering from headaches and jaw tension.
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
QI GONG
The practice of Qi Gong goes back as far as 600 AD and literally means "life energy cultivation". This is a system of postures, moves, sounds, and breathing meant to improve health and calm the mind. Qi Gong grew from ancient shamanism and was developed into a system meant to regulate internal energy through observing the patterns within nature. With Qi Gong we intentionally support the balance between two opposites like Yin and Yang. In TCM Yin is considered Earth or dense material and Yang relates to Heaven and immaterial essences. Humans wake and live on a place that exists between these two opposites. Qi Gong is the balancing act we must due to maintain health and prevent disease.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there is a treatment approach that centres around the use of ‘microsystems’. This means we use only one area like the hand or foot to treat the entire body. In the same way that reflexology utilizes only the foot, Auricular Therapy involves just the ear. The external ear contains a microsystem that is comparable to what neuroscientists have discovered with brain mapping. This is a therapy technique solely dedicated to the treatment of the brain and mind using the ear as a map.
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Auricular therapy has demonstrated scientifically that it can be successful in treating a broad scope of conditions such as migraines, high blood pressure, chronic pain, or allergies. Where it really stands out in comparison to other modalities, is how beneficial it can be as an intervention in the treatment of addictions and mental health conditions. People struggling with addictions and cravings use auricular therapy to assist with the symptoms that arise when the body is detoxifying or going through withdrawal. It is not only effective in treating the physical symptoms of withdrawal but has a sedating affect on the mind. It has been used in therapy to treat PTSD symptoms, nightmares, and other manifestations of emotional trauma.
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The ears are responsible for the sense of hearing which allows us to perceive and respond to our environment. Our ears absorb sounds by way of sensory hair cells inside the ear that use neurons to transmit neurological information to the central nervous system (CNS). When your nervous system processes environmental stimulus the neurons make connection to the inner ear to make you more aware of what’s happening outside the body. Another component of neurophysiology is the sympathetic nervous system which is the source of what we call ‘fight or flight’ mode. Fight or flight is the reaction your body has when something traumatic happens and your body responds in trying to protect you. Your body stimulates the use of norepinephrine which is its way of getting ready to ‘fight’. This process can happen to you multiple times a day and sometimes without you even noticing.
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The unfortunate thing about the body doing this is that an untreated nervous system over time can start to cause storage of cortisol and imbalances of norepinephrine. Think back to when you were a child walking up the stairs, scared that something was going to chase you. You would run up the stairs as fast as you possibly could and once at the top your heart would be beating extremely fast and your body was on alert for something that was never there in the first place. Your body increased its norepinephrine and prepared to fight for no reason. Now imagine all the energy you just created… where does all that go with nothing to fight?
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Nowhere. It circulates, causing your sympathetic nervous system to never get out of fight or flight mode. One of the biggest struggles in our society is that we are so preoccupied with our demanding lives, that when an emotional trauma happens we don't have the time or resources to take a moment to get ourselves out of fight or flight mode. So we walk around trying to protect ourselves from everyone and everything because our body has not calmed down enough to be able to differentiate between what is or isn’t safe for us. Bottled up emotions and stressed out nervous systems make up the foundation of most addictions, autoimmune disorders, and lingering chronic types of pain.
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When your body absorbs the shock of physical trauma from something like a car accident it defaults to fight or flight mode. This is why in pain management, you are less likely to be effective in treating pain if your nervous system is on the fritz. Your body can’t perceive that treatment is actually helpful because it’s too busy trying to protect you. With addiction cravings, your body remembers that last time you needed help coping with trauma you used a substance to help calm your nervous system. It associates this substance with safety because it has remedied the threat and therefore your body is no longer on guard. Your body perceives this as something that helps you, allowing for the creation of a chemical dependency.
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In understanding a little about physiology you can see how auricular therapy can be so effective in treating a variety of conditions dealing with the brain and mind. It is the necessary and complimentary therapy that will provide the calm the nervous system needs to allow other forms of treatment to be effective. In time, your nervous system will associate auricular therapy with ‘safety’ and the effects of treatment could become much more effective in bringing you back to yourself.