Chinese Medicine Overview

Healing Treatment Principles

Chinese medicine helps restore the body, mind and spirit; nourish health, sustain wellbeing. Historically developed for over 4000 years as a preventive restorative medicine it applies the wellness model to the diagnosis and treatment of disharmony and illness. It can be used to address a variety of ailments from minor imbalances to chronic conditions.

The underlying principles are to provide the environment and tools to:

Nourish and sustain what’s strong within.
Restore and replenish what needs support.
Remove, and resolve what obstructs or interferes with health and wellbeing.
Bring harmony and balance through the previous principles.

I simultaneously treat the diagnosed condition while working to prevent further imbalance through addressing the underlying causes. Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Chinese functional medicine and integrative therapies are able to diagnosis and treat imbalances, which have become illnesses and correct imbalances before the appearance of symptoms, thus preventing illness while nourishing health and wellbeing.

You are a leading partner in the process of your treatment and care. I work together with you to decide which modalities are most effective and appropriate for your health needs and choices.

In diagnosis and treatment I work with the body’s dynamic energy or life force called “Qi” to address illness and patterns of imbalance. In Western terms Qi is related to the nervous system, the immune system, your unique biome, genes, and the brain’s neuro electrochemical pathways. Because our Qi is part of all systems it affects all aspects ofa person’s mind body and spirit. It constantly changes and influences the body. It flows through the body in a continuous pattern through a system of channels or “meridians.”Health and well being are determined by the smooth uninterrupted flow of Qi. When the flow of qi is unimpeded, there is balance and good health. Discomfort and illness result from an imbalance in Qi, too much or too little. The therapies of Chinese medicine work to both regulate and restore the proper function throughout all systems in your body supporting the innate ability of the body to heal itself.

This coherent system of mind body medicine uses the following disciplines in an integrated approach to diagnosis and treatment. They include:

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Functional Medicine
Diet, Nutritional Advice and Suggestions
Meditative Exercises: Qi Gong and Mindfulness Awareness Practices
Mind Body Integration Therapies
Mindfulness Practices

My treatments with Chinese medicine involve not only acupuncture and herbs, but lifestyle advice, psychotherapy and mind body integration practices such meditation and QiGong ( called integrative therapies ) are also available according to what’s appropriate to your specialized Chinese diagnosis. Each discipline is beneficial on its own. Using Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, functional medicine and integrative therapies I find that a coordinated combination of therapies that are tailored to each person result in the most effective treatments.

I make sure to give you exactly what you need in order to achieve your health goals, and sometimes that involves approaching your health through several different ways. I do this by working with other community practitioners such as nurse practitioners, nutritionists, and massage therapists.

What a Chinese Medicine Examination and Consultation Involves

The first visit to a Chinese Medical practitioner includes a consultation and treatment that begins with a thorough medical history and interview to find fundamental clinical imbalances. Through careful history taking, physical examination, and laboratory testing I consider multiple factors:

Effects of your Environment – These include the air you breathe and the water you drink, your diet, what you eat and its’ quality, your levels of physical activity and exercise, exposures to toxins and traumas you have experienced which affect your health.
Mind-body elements – Psychological, spiritual, and social factors all can have a profound influence on your health beyond your physical symptoms.
Genetic makeup – Current research shows that your genes are influenced by everything in your environment, as well as your experiences, attitudes, and beliefs.

DNA is is alive and changing. Because you can change your environment, your beliefs and attitudes, it is possible to change the way your genes are activated and expressed.

All lab results, Western medical findings, and existing diagnosis will be reviewed and considered as well. You will be examined according to Chinese medicine’s diagnostic tools of the appearance of the face and body, the shape and color of your tongue, the quality of the pulses and palpation of specific areas such as the abdomen and face which tell me the state of your overall health. An initial Chinese medical diagnosis will be made.

A clear explanation of the Chinese medical diagnosis and principles will be given to you. As I listen to you, I get a clear understanding of who you are, the underlying causes of imbalances as well as your symptoms before the treatment begins.

A unique treatment plan will be suggested which may include all or some of the modalities of Chinese medicine, acupuncture, functional medicine, and integrative therapies along with other modalities that you may currently be using. As part of a comprehensive integrated treatment plan I will make recommendations for you and offer choices that may benefit you. Some choices include, massage, nutritional counseling, meditative and other self-care practices to develop you mind and body’s healing abilities and optimize your wellbeing.

The number of treatments depends on the type of illness, and or imbalance you have such as acute or chronic issues. The complexity and the time you have experienced the condition, your state of health, and your response to treatment also influence the healing process. Some symptoms will resolve in the first treatment while others will take longer.

I am happy to consult collaboratively with other providers to integrate your care at the most thorough level.

What To Expect From Treatment

You enter a light filled natural setting designed to facilitate your healing process. It has been created to be a healing environment in which you can feel free to relax and open to your own rhythms.

Clear explanations of what is being done and why it being done-from both Eastern and Western perspectives-will be given. Feel free ask questions about your diagnosis, treatment, and care. I will listen and respond.

Your understanding is an important part of your healing.

To prepare for treatment, please eat by an hour or two before treatment. It is a good idea to wear or bring comfortable, loose clothing.

Treatment with acupuncture needles will occur while lying in a quiet room with soothing sounds; it will range from 30 to 45 minutes. Frequently a sense of wellbeing and relaxation occurs during and after treatments. If possible take time to relax after your treatment.

Treatment brings changes that you will experience within your system. After treatment you can continue to build and develop the positive patterns in your every day life that you have begun experiencing through treatments.

As you begin actively participating in your health care, you are empowering yourself to practice health and wellbeing.

Safety is an important part of my healing practice. I provide a meticulously clean and organized environment, carefully chosen treatments and the highest standards of training and qualifications. I only use sterile, single-use, stainless steel needles. Herbs are selected and thoroughly researched so you can be confident they are the best GMP quality available.

You can read more about credentials, sterile needle technique, and herb selection here.