Kristen Chew, L.Ac. CMT CYT - Acupuncture and Holistic Energy Medicine
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a holistic healing system with a documented history of more than 2,500 years. Through the insertion and stimulation of very thin needles in the body, acupuncture encourages the body to return back to its natural state of balance and equilibrium, and thus to its optimum health.
According to TCM, a vital energy called qi flows throughout the body via a system of meridians or channels. In a healthy body, the meridian pathway is unobstructed and qi is able to flow smoothly, nourishing the body from the vital organs out to the extremities. If there is an obstruction within the meridian pathway, however, qi will stagnate and illness may then result. Acupuncture works to remove these obstructions, regulating the flow of qi in the meridians and restoring the natural health and function of the body.
Obstruction of the meridian pathways can occur as a result of several different factors including disease and injury, as well as unhealthy lifestyle patterns such as stress, overwork, poor diet, and lack of proper rest which can all cause an imbalance within the body. Through the use of various diagnostic techniques which look at how the body is functioning as a whole, the affected meridians can be isolated and a diagnosis can be made. Specific points on the body are then chosen to open and regulate the appropriate circulation pathways.
Learn more about the common conditions that are treated with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine...
According to TCM, a vital energy called qi flows throughout the body via a system of meridians or channels. In a healthy body, the meridian pathway is unobstructed and qi is able to flow smoothly, nourishing the body from the vital organs out to the extremities. If there is an obstruction within the meridian pathway, however, qi will stagnate and illness may then result. Acupuncture works to remove these obstructions, regulating the flow of qi in the meridians and restoring the natural health and function of the body.
Obstruction of the meridian pathways can occur as a result of several different factors including disease and injury, as well as unhealthy lifestyle patterns such as stress, overwork, poor diet, and lack of proper rest which can all cause an imbalance within the body. Through the use of various diagnostic techniques which look at how the body is functioning as a whole, the affected meridians can be isolated and a diagnosis can be made. Specific points on the body are then chosen to open and regulate the appropriate circulation pathways.
Learn more about the common conditions that are treated with acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine...
Auricular Acupuncture
Auricular acupuncture refers to the stimulation of points on the external ear intended to elicit a therapeutic response and alleviate health conditions in other parts of the body.
Records of acupuncture points on the ear have been recorded as far back as 500 B.C. in the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), an ancient Chinese medical text fundamental to the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It states that all six Yang meridians are directly connected to the ear, and all six Yin meridians are indirectly connected to the ear by way of their associated Yang meridians. Auricular acupuncture, as it is most widely practiced today, however, is a standardization of the World Health Organization (WHO) which is based predominantly on the work of the French physician Dr. Paul Nogier and research by the Chinese Nanking Army Ear Acupuncture Research Team.
Ear seeds can also be applied to the external ear for constant acupressure on specific ear points. Ear seed kits for at home application are available for purchase in the clinic. Available specific condition kits include:
Records of acupuncture points on the ear have been recorded as far back as 500 B.C. in the Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), an ancient Chinese medical text fundamental to the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It states that all six Yang meridians are directly connected to the ear, and all six Yin meridians are indirectly connected to the ear by way of their associated Yang meridians. Auricular acupuncture, as it is most widely practiced today, however, is a standardization of the World Health Organization (WHO) which is based predominantly on the work of the French physician Dr. Paul Nogier and research by the Chinese Nanking Army Ear Acupuncture Research Team.
Ear seeds can also be applied to the external ear for constant acupressure on specific ear points. Ear seed kits for at home application are available for purchase in the clinic. Available specific condition kits include:
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Schedule an appointment to come in and purchase your ear seed kit today!
Cupping Therapy
Cupping is one of the oldest forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine. While cups were originally made out of hollowed-out animal horns, bamboo or clay, today glass or plastic cups are typically used. A vacuum is created inside the cup and the suction penetrates deep into the tissues, stimulating the lymphatic system and increasing local blood circulation to promote healing.
Cupping can be used to treat a variety of conditions, but is most commonly used to ease tight painful muscles, relieve symptoms of the common cold, alleviate painful periods, and draw out toxins to the surface of the body.
Please note that cupping is not ideal for everyone. Cupping is contraindicated for individuals with connective tissue disorders, bleeding disorders, fracture, malignancy, and on the abdomen and lower back of pregnant women. Cupping should be avoided at the site of skin lesions, a hernia or deep vein thrombosis.
Cupping can be used to treat a variety of conditions, but is most commonly used to ease tight painful muscles, relieve symptoms of the common cold, alleviate painful periods, and draw out toxins to the surface of the body.
Please note that cupping is not ideal for everyone. Cupping is contraindicated for individuals with connective tissue disorders, bleeding disorders, fracture, malignancy, and on the abdomen and lower back of pregnant women. Cupping should be avoided at the site of skin lesions, a hernia or deep vein thrombosis.
Tui Na
Tui Na is an ancient Chinese therapeutic massage which dates back to the Shang Dynasty (1700 B.C.) and is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) today. It can be translated as "push-pull" or "push-grasp", and uses various techniques such as kneading, pressing (acupressure), grasping, rolling and shaking to remove blockages along the meridians in the body, thus increasing circulation and bringing qi and blood to the body's surface in order to promote the healing process. Tui Na aims to break up scar tissue and adhesions, warm and relax the muscles and other soft tissues of the body, and serves to stretch and mobilize the joints. It stimulates both energy channels and specific acupuncture points, and is especially beneficial for specific musculoskeletal disorders, as well as chronic stress-related disorders of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems. Tui Na is often used in conjunction with acupuncture, as the two treatment modalities complement one another well.
Shiatsu
While not part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shiatsu is a unique form of Japanese therapeutic bodywork which incorporates gentle, yet deep, rhythmic pressure, as well as yoga-like stretches that act as a passive form of exercise. The aim of Shiatsu is to help create balance within the individual, and therefore has the potential to produce a number of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Some of these benefits include the following:
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In the Eastern Healing Arts, the use of touch as a therapeutic tool has a long time-honored history. Practiced informally since atleast 200 B.C., Shiatsu was systematized in the early 1900s and brought to the United States where it became accepted as a versatile and effective form of therapeutic bodywork widely practiced today.
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