Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the manual insertion of very thin, surgical grade, sterile filiform needles in the body on points that lie along meridians, to create a focused healing response at the sight of insertion.  This often results in an automatic physiological change that releases internal inflammation, increases lymphatic drainage, increases circulation, and releases the "feel good" endocrine release of endorphins into the blood stream.    

Acupressure

This type of therapy is a more refined form of body work that utilizes the chinese pulse and tongue as a method ofdiagnosis.  Once a diagnosis has been decided, a treatment plan or point prescription will be decided as to correct any imbalances and bring one into optimal health. Acupressure is identical to an acupuncture session with one exception: NO NEEDLES INVOLVED!  With the point prescription selectedthe acupuncture/pressure points are stimulated with pressure to activate the function of the points throughout the various meridian network of the body.  Acupressure therapy is highly effective in treating many different types of physical, emotional, chronic, and acute conditions.  Tui Na and Shiatsu utilize Acupressure as a functional unit of each modality. 

Cupping Therapy

Cupping Therapy otherwise known as “Fire Cups” has been used widely across Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Central America throughout history and is still used to this day.  Cupping Therapy utilizes a round edged glass or plastic cup with the introduction of a small flame, or hand pump to create a vacuum. The circulation of blood, lymph and qi increases when the vacuum is applied to the surface of the body creating a cleansing and detoxifying effect within the muscle layers of the body.  Cupping Therapy is also one of the fastest and most effective ways to perform myofascial release, free trapped nerves, excellent in both acute and chronic conditions.  When utilized in it’s purest form and placed on specific acupuncture/pressure points on the body with varying degrees of suction, one may receive the benefits of an acupuncture session.  

Moxibustion Therapy (Heat Therapy)

Moxibustion (Moxa) is said to have been used as the primary form of medicine along with Tui Na for more than 5000 years of Ancient Asian History, with an impressively longer record of use than acupuncture.  What is Moxibustion?  Moxibustion is the burning of the herb Ai Ye or Mugwart (Artimisia Vulgaris) which has been dried and crushed into a flush-like texture and then can be shaped or rolled into different composite forms for varying uses. Moxibustion can be done in the form of a rolled or pole moxa, which has the shape of a cigar and provides the practitioner with the freedom of movement and control over each specific acumoxa points on the body.