TCM and Acupuncture

Herbal Medicine has been used for thousands of years. It involves using leaves, bark, roots, seeds, flowers and other compounds from plants. These natural compounds are blended together and ingested or applied to the body to give therapeutic benefit as a complementary medicine.

Acupuncture is the insertion of very thin sterile needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. By inserting needles into specific points along the meridians, your energy flow (QI) will re-balance. Acupuncture is commonly used for natural pain relief and decreasing inflammation by stimulating nerves, muscles and connective tissue.

Body meridians are energy channels within the body which if blocked lead to lack of energy supply to certain areas and surplus of energy in others. Imbalance leads to disease and illness. Each Meridian relates to an element; Earth, Fire, Metal, Wood or Water.

Fire Cupping is a form of TCM where heat is added to a glass cup which causes a vacuum effect when applied to the skin. The cups may be placed on the body and left in one spot for an amount of time or moved around on the skin in a gliding motion.

By creating this vacuum effect, the cups drain or pull toxins out of the body and allows the blood to flow, breaking up stagnation and congestion.

Moxibustion is a therapy used in TCM that involves burning dried mugwort (moxa) on specific points on the body. The moxa is used to heat and stimulate points of the body and improve energy flow. It is often combined with acupuncture.

Gua Sha is the use of a metal, wood or plastic tool to stroke the skin to increase circulation. This can promote detoxification, relax tight muscles, release fascia and connective tissue and therefore promote healing. The skin often looks bruised after a treatment, this will subside and is part of the healing process.