temp treatment

Pain Management – I use a style of needling that is especially effective for pain and injury whether chronic or acute.  This style is based in a thorough knowledge of human anatomy, how the body moves, and where areas of restriction tend to occur.  It is considered the “sports medicine” of the all the acupuncture styles. For this reason, I have spent many years treating athletes, dancers, people with repetitive strain and traumatic injury.

Internal Medicine – For internal problems of any variety, I primarily use TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) style of acupuncture combined with other techniques I have  learned over the years. I have found that internal issues are often well treated with a combination of acupuncture, herbs and improved nutrition.

Mental/Emotional – Acupuncture is very helpful for some of the more common mental/emotional issues we are facing today.  Anxiety, depression, inability to focus to name a few. I have spent the past year (2010) collaborating with a psychiatrist and learning how to most effectively treat a variety of mental/emotional conditions and work with medications.  For mental/emotional concerns I will often combine acupuncture with mindfulness instruction, movement and simple meditation.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest healing modalities known to humankind. It originated in China over five thousand years ago. It is one of the major modalities that constitutes Oriental Medicine. The basic underlying principle of acupuncture is an understanding of “chi”, or “life force”, an energy that courses through the entire person. When that life force is in balance health predominates. By placing acupuncture needles in various energy points in the body, a patients balance can be restored and symptoms healed through the body’s own restorative powers.

TCM is a style Acupuncture  that is effective for many types of problems and conditions.  There is really no illness that acupuncture cannot treat to some degree.  Some of the more common illnesses are;

• Pain – including muscles, bones,  joints, nerve pain, and internal discomfort.
• Mental/Emotional – Stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD.
• Gastro/Intestinal – Weight gain/loss, digestion and elimination issues.
• Gynecological – Fertility (male and female), menstrual problems, menopause  and peri-menopause, pregnancy.
• Immunity – Colds and flu, poor immunity, auto-immune conditions.
• Ear and Eye problems
• Skin
• Hormonal Issues
• Heart and circulation
• Addiction – all types
• Spiritual conflict
• Trigger Point Acupuncture

Trigger Point Acupuncture is based in a thorough understanding of the body’s muscular and kinesthetic systems as well as the Chinese meridians.  Trigger points are small areas of irritation in the muscle that can be responsible for chronic and debilitating pain. Needling these points is the most effective way to release them and to facilitate muscle relaxation.

I have  been working with this style for my entire career.  My background as a dancer, personal trainer and massage therapist has given me a strong working knowledge of the body and how it moves.  In addition to using acupuncture for muscle release, I also incorporate massage, stretching, postural assessment, and strengthening tips to help heal current and prevent future pain and restriction.

In cases of pain management and injury healing, I will often use topical formulas.  These include linaments, plasters, lotions, gels etc. All of them have the end result of diminishing pain and accelerating healing and are easy to use.

The more relaxed the patient is the more effective the acupuncture. For this reason, I will often begin a treatment with light massage before the acupuncture and follow up with more specific injury massage. After that, I will often use facilitated stretching if indicated and movement based alignment techniques to reeducate the muscle.

I am also trained in pelvic floor trigger point massage for women which is indicated for a variety of concerns including; sports injuries (traumatic and non traumatic), pain with urination, defecation, and intercourse, incontinence, post surgical scar tissue, infertility, low back pain, congested pelvis and many other syndromes. This work can be profoundly helpful.

Cupping has been around for thousands of years in many countries. It beneficial for many types of pain as well as flu and cold/prevention and treatment. I also like to use cupping for treating areas of tightness in the body, such as anywhere on the back, neck and the side of the leg and hip.

Guasha has some similarities to cupping in that it improves blood flow and stretches fascia. Also great for flu and cold prevention/treatment. I use it for for joints and other places where there is restriction. It is excellent for increasing mobility in a joint.

Moxa is great for immune system building, increasing circulation for pain relief, and flu and cold prevention/treatment. I will often use moxa instead of needles in cases where the patient is weak or suffering with an injury that is too sensitive to needle. I also give instruction in how to use it at home for self care.

Elastic therapeutic taping has become popular with athletes all over the world. The tape creates a light tension on the surface of the skin which lifts the skin up off the flow of lymph directly underneath. This allows for better circulation through the area of pain. It also helps “extend” the treatment by allowing for better circulation so the acupuncture treatment lasts longer.