Chinese Medicine

What is Chinese Medicine?

Chinese medicine has been used to treat all the ills of human societies for over, 3,000 years. This system of medicine is extremely safe with no known side effects. It works by communicating with the energy system of your body-mind to remind it how, to be in it’s natural, healthy state. Once you are balanced, your natural healing ability kicks in to heal yourself of, whatever problems you may be having.

Due to the experience of many stressors, the affects of which accumulate, during our lifetimes, our energy system develops deficiencies and stagnations, which then opens us to developing symptoms. Acupuncture, herbology and, massage as well as diet and exercise are used in the best combinations to, balance the particular pattern of disharmony which has given, or may give rise, to symptoms. Although Chinese Medicine is great for removing the cause of, symptoms, it is even better to receive treatment before you have a symptom to keep yourself healthy and balanced and prevent illness.

Traditional Acupuncture 

Acupuncture is a system of medicine which is described in classic texts dating back thousands of years. Many people believe acupuncture came from China, but now it has been discovered that Persia, Egypt and India had acupuncture even before China. Today acupuncture is still used to treat or prevent most of the ills of human societies. It is used extensively in Eastern countries like China, Japan and Korea making up 50% of their treatments. Acupuncture has also gained widespread popularity in the United States and Europe in the last few decades. A 2007 N.I.H. study showed that 3.1 million Americans used acupuncture in 2007.

The reason acupuncture has stood the test of time is that it works. It works on so many conditions because it treats the person rather than the illness. Acupuncture facilitates the patient healing their own body-mind-spirit of whatever is bothering them. Because acupuncture is only helping the patient to release their own healing potential it is extremely safe. There are no side effects. There are no chemicals injected into the patient through the needles. The needles are very thin, solid and sterile and direct the flow of energy in the body when placed into the accupoints.

Acupuncture works with the natural life force energies of the body to promote the free flow of energy. In the Tao Te Ching a Chinese text from 500 BC which shaped the belief system that Chinese Medicine arose from, the author Laozi describes "the life force energy" as a mighty river that flows through us.

While the river is flowing freely we remain strong and healthy; however, if blockages or deficiencies develop in the flow, the person begins to weaken and can eventually develop illness.

Acupuncture works by freeing up blockages and strengthening deficiencies in the flow of a person’s energy. On the first visit, the practitioner listens to you tell your story of your symptoms and what has lead you to seek acupuncture treatment. Your medical history, your life stressors, past and present, your diet, exercise, and your predominant emotions. All of these characteristics of who you are are taken into account as the practitioner diagnoses the pattern of imbalance that you have which has given rise to the particular problems you are having.

With the acupuncture treatment, the practitioner sends the signals to the body to balance your pattern of disharmony. These treatments clear up blockages and increase deficiencies that you may have had. Repeated on a weekly basis for a few weeks, these positive patterns begin to take root, and your body relearns how to remain in a healthy balanced state. After you start feeling stronger and healthier, The treatments are spaced out to occur less frequently until you only need an occasional tune up to maintain your healthy balance. On average, a course of 10 treatments is recommended to help return you to your natural state of balanced good health. We do often see significant improvements within the first few treatments. During the course of treatment patients usually experience a gradual lessening of symptoms, and an increased feeling of good health. In many cases additional improvements occur that are outside of what the original concern was for seeking treatment. For instance, often a patient comes in only for back pain, but during the course of treatment they may also feel like they have more energy, a better mood in general, better digestion and they may also find they sleep better. Their whole being seems to improve at once because acupuncture treats the energy field which affects the total person, so healing occurs on all levels at once all over the body. In other words, it balances you body-mind-and spirit so you can begin to heal.

Therapeutic Massage

Therapeutic massage is deeply relaxing and rejuvenating. There are lots of reasons why one might want to get massage on an ongoing basis. With the stressors of modern life, we could all use a little stress management. In addition, most people have aches and pains that massage can help to alleviate.

Blood flow and energy flow are greatly increased by the gently loosening and stretching of the muscles and tendons. In the process, the nervous system also relaxes completely. This peaceful flow that is created throughout the body by the massage is excellent for rejuvenating every system and cell of your body.

Conditions that massage is known to improve are: Improper circulation, headaches, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, stiffness, joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, sciatica, allergies, insomnia, musculo-skeletal concerns, post operative rehabilitation, asthma, TMJ, pain, high blood pressure, carpal tunnel and this is just a partial list of conditions that the different types of massage offered at Chinese Healing Arts can address.

Deep Tissue Swedish Style Massage

A deep tissue massage is a very pleasurable way of relaxing your mind while loosening areas of stress, stiffness and tension from your body. When the body is tight and stiff it inhibits the free flow of blood, fluids, oxygen and delivery of vital nutrients and removal of waste products. A good deep tissue massage is a wonderful way to get these areas of stiffness and stagnation moving in the body in order to relieve pain and return you to a state of balanced good health. Most people love deep tissue massage, however, for people who find deep tissue work too intense, Swedish Massage can be done in a gentle, flowing style without as much deep penetration. As always, the treatment is tailored to each patient’s particular needs.

Lymphatic Massage 

Many people also suffer from fluid accumulation due to poor circulation of the lymphatic system. Lymphatic massage techniques can eliminate pain, discomfort and weakened immunity due to poor lymphatic movement with massage techniques designed to encourage lymphatic circulation.

Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is another method often added to treatments. It feels fabulous and is good for you. The warm stones have a way of deeply relaxing your body, mind and spirit and when added in combination with a deep tissue / Swedish style massage and an acupuncture tune up, will leave more balanced and relaxed than you ever thought possible.