Acupuncture & Chinese/Asian Medicine

Asian Medicine (Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM) is a medical system that has diagnosed, treated, and prevented illness for over two thousand years. Methods of diagnosis include your health history and examination of the tongue and the pulses to determine weaknesses or imbalances in the organs in in the entire body system.

TCM can be very effective at treating many different kinds of diseases, and Chinese medicine can enhance your recuperative power, immunity, and the capacity for work and creativity. In-office treatments include the use of acupuncture, acupressure, moxa/moxibustion, cupping, scraping, and different herbal formulations to support the body’s systems and correct the dynamics between all the organs. Theories of harmony and balance also guide some dietary & lifestle recommendations.

Energy and blood must be strong and flow freely in order for the body to function optimally; stagnation or accumulation of Qi (life energy) and blood in different areas of the body can cause pain (e.g. headaches, muscle/joint pain, menstrual pain, etc). The different aspects of TCM & acupuncture focus on removing these blockages, strengthening weakened organs, and balancing the interactions between organs to relieve pain and optimize health.

Acupuncture itself is the insertion of very fine, sterile, steel acupuncture needles into specific points to move Qi and blood. Insertion of the needles goes unnoticed by some, and to others feels like a small pinch followed by a sensation of tingling, numbness, ache, warmth or heaviness. In her practice, Vanessa only uses disposable needles, which are discarded after one use.

For those afraid of needles, our clinic now offers Needle-Free Acupuncture through the use of a light electrical pulse that is applied to the skin over the acupuncture points.

News: Vanessa is in the process of obtaining AFCI certification (and a CAFCI number), which allows Acupuncture to be claimed through many insurance companies. Estimated Fall/Winter 2010.