Acupuncture & traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on an ancient philosophy that describes the universe and the body in terms of two opposing forces: yin and yang. When these forces are in balance, the body is healthy. Energy, called "qi" (pronounced "chee") flows along specific pathways, called meridians, throughout the body. This constant flow of energy keeps the yin and yang forces balanced. However, if the flow of energy gets blocked, like water getting stuck behind a dam, the disruption can lead to pain, lack of function, or illness. Acupuncture therapy can release blocked qi in the body and stimulate function, evoking the body’s natural healing response through various physiological systems. Modern research has demonstrated acupuncture’s effects on the nervous system, endocrine and immune systems, cardiovascular system, and digestive system. By stimulating the body’s various systems, acupuncture can help to resolve pain, improve sleep, balance hormones, benefit digestion, and create a sense of well-being.
Acupuncture improves the body’s functions and promotes the natural self-healing process by stimulating specific acupoints. The most common method used to stimulate acupoints is the insertion of fine, sterile needles into the skin. Pressure, heat, or electrical stimulation may further enhance the effects. TCM therapy may also include: soft-tissue release techniques, moxibustion or heat therapy, cupping, and the application of topical herbal medicines and liniments.
INITIAL Acupuncture EXAMINATION + Treatment | $150
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Your first Acupuncture & TCM appointment will last approximately an hour for examination and treatment.
During the first part of your session, the practitioner will review your completed health history questionnaire with you, and conduct a physical examination. This examination may include vital signs, physical inspection, pulse assessment, or tongue diagnosis.
You will be educated on all the findings and their significance. Once a diagnosis is determined, a treatment plan will be recommended that best suits your needs, from active care to relieve pain and dysfunction, to maintenance care for well-being and prevention.
Please bring copies of recent imaging or laboratory reports for the practitioner to review.
If your condition(s) are beyond the capabilities of this office, your practitioner will help you with a referral to the appropriate physician.
An itemized billing summary is available upon request. This bill will provide all the information necessary for submission to insurance companies, health savings accounts, or flex spending accounts for potential reimbursement directly back to you.
TCM & Acupuncture TREATMENT | $80
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For ESTABLISHED patients only.
TCM sessions blend therapies based on need & best results. Making acupuncture a regular part of your routine will change your relationship with your body. The goal is for you and your practitioner to work together to take better care of your health, long term.In addition to Acupuncture, a treatment may include modalities such as cupping, gua sha, e-stim or moxibustion.
Acupuncture & TCM Packages are available. $900 when pre-paying for 12 sessions ($60 savings). Valid for 1 year from purchase. Please reach out viaour CONTACT page, email, or by phone (331) 901-5672, for details & to purchase.
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF THE MONTH |
As August sweeps in, we enter Chinese Medicine’s season of Late Summer. These lingering warm and sunny days are governed by the Spleen channel and Earth element. It is a time to be outside and let our bare feet be grounded to the earth.
Chinese Medicine’s Spleen channel plays a large role throughout our entire body. It is responsible for transforming everything we eat and drink into qi (energy) and blood. It is then responsible to transport it throughout the body as nutrients to your muscles, mind, gut, veins, and organs.
When the energy of the Spleen is weak we tend to have symptoms such as fatigue, loose stool, poor appetite, nausea, weak muscles and limbs, pale complexion, organ prolapse, bruising, light periods, infertility, and an overall feeling of cold.
The Spleen doesn’t like cold or damp. Foods that are frozen and raw take too long to break down. Dairy is good example of something that can cause phlegm and bloating. Eating foods like soups, stews, and broth are easy to digest. Yellow is the color of the Spleen energy. Sweet is the flavor. A good snack is unsweetened yellow raisins. Make sure you are chewing your food and eating mindfully, without heightened emotions or while multitasking. Eat moderate amounts and walk after.
While the Spleen helps give energy to digest in the gut, it also helps digest in the mind. Emotionally it is in charge of digesting information and experiences. When the Spleen’s energy is weak people tend to have cluttered minds, ruminating and worrying, day and night. They talk excessively, overthink, over sympathize, struggle to say no, and have cluttered homes. The problem with overthinking is we worry without action. We solve nothing at the ground level, only in our head, and are frozen in reality. We need healthy Spleen qi to push us forward and take action.
So how do we boost our Spleen qi? We take a break. We say no. We clean and declutter our thoughts and environment. We make to do lists with small goals. We eat warm and nourishing food. Meditate to clear our thoughts. We get Acupuncture.
SINGLE SESSION | $80 | BOOK ONLINE
SERIES OF 4 | $280 | $40 savings - expires in 1 month of purchase | contact Sage to purchase.
*seasonal acupuncture protocols do not require an Initial Exam, however if you decide to continue with TCM acupuncture treatments, an Initial Exam will be required.
Cupping
Cupping is an accessory technique, to acupuncture, that uses small glass cups as suction devices. They are placed on the skin to break up stagnation by drawing congested blood, or other toxins to the surface. Once suctioned, the cups are left in place for 15 minutes while the patient rests.
Sliding Cupping
Slide cupping is a variation of cupping that produces a stronger sensation. Before placing the cups, we apply oil to the skin, which allows us to glide them over the targeted area. This is typically recommended for those with chronic back pain, and for athletes who have regular muscle tension.
Gua sha
Gua sha is an accessory technique, to acupuncture, that involves scraping the skin with a porcelain spoon to reduce muscle tension and pain. It may cause a light “bruising,” like that of cupping. This is not a bruise, however, but rather “sha” which is an indication that the treatment is effective. Gua sha is best for pain in smaller areas of the body, such as the neck and elbows. This treatment is beneficial for those with carpal tunnel syndrome, or those who sit for long periods of time during the day.
Herbal medicine
Herbal formulas are used in conjunction with acupuncture to compound the results, and to restore your body to health. Chinese herbal formulas contain mostly plants. Some of them you are probably familiar with like ginger, mint, mulberry and ginseng. Although Chinese herbs are safe for most, we always consider herb-drug interactions when recommending formulas to patients.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion, or moxa, is a warming therapy that uses a Chinese herb to increase circulation and decrease water retention. The moxa is light like an incense and placed near the surface of the skin. Moxa is often used to soothe menstrual cramps and reduce bruising or inflammation from trauma. This is performed in addition to acupuncture, for patients who are applicable.
E-stim
Electric stimulation applies a pulsating electrical current through the acupuncture needles to generate blood flow to certain areas of the body. By stimulating blood flow to injured tissues, we can increase the rate of healing. Electric stimulation is most effective on acute injuries, such as pulled muscles, strains, and sprains.
How To Prepare for your Acupuncture Appointment
Eat within 4 hours of your treatment; make sure you are adequately hydrated, as well.
Refrain from caffeine and alcohol before your treatment.
Wear loose fitting clothing to the treatment. You can also bring clothes to change into.
Provide a copy of any recent lab results that pertain to your condition, or general health.
Also, provide a list of any medications you are currently taking. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a great compliment to allopathic medicine, but it is still important for us to be up to date on any pharmaceuticals, and supplements, that you are taking.
