Modalities used in conjunction with Acupuncture:

Moxibustion:
Moxibustion is the burning of the herb mugwort. It is part of the written Chinese character that makes up acupuncture and is thought to have been used before acupuncture as a heating therapy. Mugwort is picked on the fifth day of the
fifth month, May 5th. It is left to dry for seven years as the young mugwort is to hot and quick to burn. Mature mugwort is warm, milder and is slower to burn, giving off a gentle, but powerful warming effect. Moxa is burned in the office in Pole form and as Warming Needle Moxa. The properties of moxa are said to enter the channels to provide warmth and relief of chronic pain, discomfort and internal conditions where there is cold in the body, such as in some forms of arthritis, chronic pain, autoimmune disease and gynecological conditions. It is used on conditions that have been slow to respond to conventional medicine. There is an excerpt from an ancient text where moxa was used on an emperor with a disabling condition. 100 moxa cones where placed on Bladder 43, gaohuangshu and the disease was cured.

Cupping: Cupping is a therapy which uses sterilized cups of various sizes that are placed on specific parts of the body. A suction is formed in the cup and then onto the skin, creating a vacuum effect. The cup is either left in place (cupping), quickly removed to another area (flash fire cupping) or a medium is used and the cup is moved up and down the skin (sliding cups). The suction is seen to bring conditions deep into the body closer to the surface at the same time providing a means for new blood circulation to get into the area. Cupping is commonly used in the office for chronic/acute back pain, neck pain and tightness, hip pain and cold and flus.

Gua Sha:
Gua Sha uses a Chinese spoon and a lotion or oil to help break up congestion for muscle spasms, tightness and pain. The spoon is “scraped” over the skin until a redness appears. The red color can be of various intensities depending on the amount of congestion. Most people report less tightness and pain and an increased range of motion after gua sha. It is a common adjunctive therapy to many acupuncture treatments.

Release Work:
Therapeutic touch is an integral part of treatment. It emphasizes the effects of the needles by increasing circulation and range of motion. Release work includes circulatory massage, trigger point and muscle release, reflexology, meridian stimulation, lymph drainage and detoxification. Release work is performed according to your individual conditions. Common areas include the neck, back muscles, all major joints, sinuses and jaw.