WHOLE PERSON TREATMENT

 

Chinese medicine uses a combination of massage, needles, body-work, and herbs to disperse muscular tension and relieve pain in order to get you feeling better fast. I work directly on your body in a very physical way so that you leave the treatment feeling better that very same day.​

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WHAT TO EXPECT

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Every session begins by me asking a series of ten questions that allows me to know how your body is functioning. I ask about your general well being, your quality of sleep, your hunger and thirst, your bowels, your energy level, etc.  I then ask to see your tongue and feel the pulse on both wrists. This helps me put together the picture of your internal state. I will then ask the you to lie down on the table where I will physically feel the area that is bothering you, if its a physical issue. I will be looking for soreness, tightness, inflammation, changes of temperature, etc. Based on all this information, I will decide on the appropriate combination of acupuncture, massage, acupressure, herbs, or deep chi for that day's treatment. 

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WHY NEEDLES?

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Needles allow us to get inside the body quickly, gently and in a way that leaves minimal marks and from which the body can heal quickly. Needles can quickly target and release muscle knots or bring nourishment and warmth to areas that need it, or move warmth away from areas when they have too much, like swollen joints or inflammation. Using massage we can do all of these things too, but a needle can do it more precisely and efficiently, and provide faster more permanent relief for you, the patient.

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DO NEEDLES HURT?

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Normally, a patient will feel a slight prick upon insertion, similar to a mosquito bite. Once the needle is in the skin, often the patient feels very little. It is not uncomfortable or painful. Many people say that it is simply an unusual or odd sensation. While I am using a needle I will be asking you for verbal feedback as to what you are feeling as this helps me give a better treatment. I will do my best to ensure that each treatment is as comfortable as possible while also ensuring that you get better as fast as possible.

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WHY HERBS?

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Herbs are a way of me giving you additional treatments without me needing to be there. They help the treatment that we did together work faster as the herbs reinforce the direction we want to move between appointments. Also, there are plenty of things that needles cannot do that only herbs can. For example, needles are not as effective in cases of dry skin, eczema or incontinence as herbs are, because they can affect you from the interior in a much more profound way. 

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TREATING PHYSICAL INJURIES​

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Physical injuries are the easiest problem to treat in Chinese Medicine, and often the fastest to get better. Generally, after an injury, the body tightens up to protect the injured area and to hold joints in place, as well as bringing lots of blood to the area for both cushioning and for healing which we see as swelling. While this is an excellent adaptation to keep us alive, the body simply learns to cope with this new way of holding ourselves and we never fully heal. With a combination of acupuncture and external salves we can release the tension that has been holding the body in a compromised position and reduce and move the associated swelling. I always finish a treatment with gentle massage and aided stretching to help bring life and flexibility back into limbs and joints so that you can go back to being you as quickly as possible. 

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TREATING INTERNAL ISSUES

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In treating internal problems I use a combination of acupuncture, herbs and massage. Examples of internal issues could be anything from edema, insomnia, eczema, to irritable bowel syndrome. The length of time that it takes for a patient to feel better all depends on how long the illness has been there for and how complicated it is. Many times we can see great results after a single treatment, where as other times we will have to work together over a longer period of time to help nudge the body in the right direction. 

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WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A TREATMENT

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After an acupuncture treatment it takes roughly 72 hours for the muscles to realign and heal. During this period it is normal to feel a bit sore or tired. If additional work is needed, I will ask a patient to return after 2 or 3 days so that your body is fully recovered and we can then best assess how well the previous treatment worked and allow us to proceed forward from there. If you received a deep chi treatment you should expect to feel relaxed, calm, and grounded afterwards. If I gave you a bag of herbs to take home and brew up you should start to notice real changes within a day or two of taking the herbs. If for any reason you don't, contact me by phone or email and I will change your formula so that better fits you.