Acupuncture is the use of sterile, one-time-use needles, which puncture the skin in order to stimulate the body’s qi, or internal energy. The needles are placed in specific points on the body, along various meridians (energetic lines that connect different organs and their energetic components) for therapeutic purposes. Acupuncture can be utilized for a wide range of symptoms and diseases including mental-emotional disorders, physical ailments such as headaches and pain, and internal diseases including gastrointestinal illnesses and endocrinological imbalances. There are over 400 acupuncture points, located along the surface of the body, from the top of the head to the tips of the toes, and everywhere in between.

Sources: **World Health Organization (WHO), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), and National Institutes of Health (NIH)**

Using specific points in combination have been clinically found to reduce pain and invoke anesthesia, as well as serve to re-establish the body’s natural balance and internal harmony.

“Findings from basic research have begun to elucidate the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, including the release of opioids and other peptides in the central nervous system and the periphery and changes in neuroendocrine function.” (Source: National Institute of Health, NIH)

Acupuncture is a safe, drug-free alternative and complementary modality to Western medicine. It is performed by trained Professionals who have undergone 4 years of training to receive a Master’s Degree, and additional years for a Doctorate.  

Applicants to accredited acupuncture schools must first complete at least two years of study at the baccalaureate level, and many schools require a bachelor’s degree. One must be certified by the  National Certification Council for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), graduate from a ACAOM-accredited program, complete a clean needle technique course offered by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCOAM), and pass board exams in the foundations of Oriental medicine, acupuncture, and biomedicine in order to become a licensed Acupuncturist.

In Chinese Medicine, herbs are used both internally and externally to treat a wide range of diseases, and can be understood to include plants, animals, and minerals.  There are currently 5,767 medicinal herbs listed in the Materia Medica, and are categorized by function, area of treatment (which organs and meridians they affect), taste, temperature, flavor, and any cautions, contraindications, and drug interactions which they may elicit. There are currently 27 categories for herbs: such as Drain Damp, and Tonify Qi, Tonify Blood, and Expel Parasites, to name a few. There are conditions which require herbal medicine as a primary form of treatment, and acupuncture as a secondary and complementary modality. The range of conditions which herbal medicine can be effective in treating include headaches, fertility, menstrual disorders, GI and Endocrine diseases and imbalances, arthritic and osteopathic conditions, in addition to maintaining overall health and preventing dis-ease.

Herbs can be used in singularly, or in combination to create a formula. Often, TCM practitioners will used two or more substances together to create a balanced and synergistic effect to fully address the particular diagnosis. Traditional formulas from China are often modified to reflect individual needs, conditions, deficiencies, and dietary restrictions.

Chinese Medical formulas can be prepared in a number of ways:

Decoctions: this is the most traditional method for preparing an herbal formula, and involves the timely cooking of herbs to create a drinkable “tea”. This method is the strongest and most potent way to consume an herbal formula, and is often noted for its strong, pungent  flavor and aroma, and are therefore not as popular in the West.

Powder/Granules: Herbs are granulated into their smallest compounds and then added with hot water or tea and dissolve into a drinkable beverage. These are not as potent as raw herbal decoctions, but are less timely and have more mild flavoring, and are a more common way to consume herbs in the West.

Patent Formulas: These herbal formulas are pre-made and often come in capsules or tincture in an easy to administer fashion. These are less potent than both raw decoctions and granules, but are the easiest to consume, and are therefore the most popular form of administration in the West.

Syrups: These are often based in vegetable glycerin, and are used for conditions such as sore throats and coughs. These are most commonly used for pediatric and weak geriatric patients.  

Liniments/Salves/Plasters/Compress: Herbs are prepared for external application to treat wounds, inflammation, bruising, or weakness in a particular are of the body.

*Source: Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica: 3rd Edition (1986).

**Herbs are an incredibly powerful aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and should always be cross-referenced with a Primary Care Physician and/or Licensed Acupuncturist before being taken alongside other prescribed pharmaceutical, naturopathic medicine, supplements, and over the counter medications.

Cupping is an ancient therapeutic technique, that dates as far back as 1550 B.C. in Ancient Egypt, and can be seen in Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures as well. Cupping is an alternative and complementary technique in TCM, and is when cups are placed along the surface of the skin for several minutes in order to elicit strong suction. Cups can be made from a few different materials, including glass, bamboo, silicone, and earthenware; however, glass is the classical Chinese therapeutic method.

There are also to kinds of cupping: Wet and Dry. In both scenarios a flammable substance is burned, typically alcohol, but sometimes herbs or paper can be used, and then as the flame is reduced, the cups are quickly placed on the skin. The cooling of the air inside the cup is what elicits the suction mechanism, and causes the skin to rise to the surface and redden as the blood vessels expand. The cups can be left stationary for several minutes, or moved up and down the length of the skin, known as “Sliding cupping.”

Dry cupping is the use of cups as described above. There are a wide range of conditions which cupping can treat, such as:

1. Dermatological Disorders: Acne, Herpes Zoster (Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 2015).

2. Pain

3. Facial Paralysis

4. Cervical Spondylosis

Moreover, the British Cupping Society reported that cupping therapy can be used to treat:

5. Blood disorders, including anemia and hemophilia

6. Rheumatic diseases, including arthritis and fibromyalgia

7. Fertility and gynecological disorders

8. High blood pressure

9. Mental-Emotional disorders like Anxiety and Depression

10. Bronchial congestion caused by allergies and asthma

11. Varicose veins

12. Carpal Tunnel

(Source: WebMD & British Cupping Society, 2018)

Wet cupping is when a lancet is used to prick the skin prior to the placement of the cups to draw drops of blood and interstitial fluids out of the body during the suction process. This is used during cases in which heat and inflammation are stuck in the body, and the practitioner needs to quickly pull it out. This method has been shown useful for enhancing the body’s natural excretory functions of the skin, and increase filtration in capillary beds and restore homeostasis, and enhance immunity. In addition, recent studies have found that concurrent compression pressure on the skin for more than a few seconds can benefit reactive hyperemia phenomenon.

**Source:El Sayed SM, Mahmoud HS, Nabo MMH (2013) Methods of Wet Cupping Therapy (Al-Hijamah): In Light of Modern Medicine and Prophetic Medicine. Altern Integr Med 2:111. doi:10.4172/2327-5162.1000111

There is also a form of cupping sometimes called “needle cupping”, in which a needle is inserted into the skin first, and then a cup is placed over it. Sometimes this can elicit blood from the skin during suction, but not always.

When done by a licensed practitioner, cupping is a safe and effective form of treatment for a list of disorders and ailments. The major side effect is usually redness or bruising in the area and skin sensitivity in the areas of treatment, which can last up to 10 days, but usually clears with 3-7 days.

**Although the treatment does not have any major side effects, it is not indicated for individuals with certain medical or health conditions, including some bleeding disorders and immunocompromised patients suffering from decreased or inadequate healing mechanisms.

The term Gua Sha, pronounces “Gwah-Sha”, comes from the Chinese word means “scraping”, and is a technique which involves using a tool, usually a bone or piece of jade, to scrape the skin in long strokes with significant pressure to elicit redness and minor bruising, which appear as purple or red spots known as petechiae, or “sha”.  The treatment is used to move qi, energy, in and around the body, break down scar tissue and connective tissue, improve circulation, and increase joint motility.

Since it is understood in TCM that one’s health is dependent on the free flow of qi in the body, Gua Sha is a helpful tool to utilize in areas where qi may be stuck. Blockage of qi in the body can elicit pain, tension, or numbness in the muscles and joints, where the Gua Sha tools are mainly applied. Moreover, in TCM, blood stagnation is equated with sharp, stabbing pain in specific areas in the body. In order to decrease or eliminate this kind of pain, the area of blockage must be addressed, and the blood moved. Gua Sha serves to move the stuck blood, and bring new blood vessels to the area by breaking up stagnation and eliciting an immune response.

Gua sha is mostly used for musculoskeletal issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, or muscle tension, but can also reduce inflammation and be used to treat a cold, fever, or lung problems. The small bruises which gua sha elicits, called microtrauma, elicit an internal response within the body that helps break up scar tissue, and is therefore helpful for individuals suffering from fibrosis, caused by a buildup of excessive connection tissue during the body’s healing process.

Although the treatment does not have any major side effects, it is not indicated for individuals with certain medical or health conditions, including some bleeding disorders and immunocompromised patients suffering from decreased or inadequate healing mechanisms.

* People who should not have gua sha include those:

who have medical conditions affecting the skin or veins

who bleed easily

who take medication to thin their blood

who have deep vein thrombosis

who have an infection, tumor, or wound that has not healed fully

who have an implant, such as a pacemaker or internal defibrillator

Massage is used as supplementary modality to increase the flow of qi and blood within the meridians, and release tension in the musculoskeletal system of the body. The name comes from two words: “Tui”, which means “to push”, and “Na”, translated as “To grab or squeeze,” which together serve to describe the actions being utilized in this modality. Within this category of massage, there are several techniques which can be used, including rolling, finger springing, kneading, rocking, and slapping, all in an effort to increase the free flow of qi and regulate blood circulation. Patients are typically clothed during a massage, and is ideal for those suffering from chronic pain disorders.

In addition to Tui-Na, other massage modalities can be substituted, including Swedish and Deep Tissue, if indicated and upon request.

Moxibustion, often abbreviated as “moxa”, is the use of burning dried Mugwort in a variety of ways to increase qi and blood flow to specific areas, acupuncture points, and meridians. There are two forms of using moxa: Direct and indirect.

In the indirect form, moxa can be utilized as the form of an incense stick, in which it is held over a specific acupuncture point or at the beginning or end of a specific energetic meridian, to elicit a therapeutic response. The heat from the burning of the moxa opens the pores of the body, thus giving the herb an access point into the body, to offer its benefits of stimulating qi and blood. The most common techniques for this kind of application are called “circling” and “pecking” , in which the incense stick is manipulated in a circular fashion for large areas, or moved back and forth over one specific point in a “pecking” fashion.

In addition, in traditional Japanese style, loose Moxa can also be applied directly on the skin in the form “Rice grain moxa”, as it is rolled into tiny grain size pieces, or “cone moxa”, in which a large amount is stuffed into a cone shape between one’s fingers. Both techniques  involve burning moxa on specific acupuncture points in an effort to push heat directly to the meridian in the cases of cold invasion or yang deficiency, for example. Since heat implies movement, and is a characteristic of yang energy, it can be very helpful for instances of fatigue, depression, and pain caused by lack of proper qi flow.

Finally, needle head moxa is utilized when a pre-packaged compact, slow-burning moxa piece is placed at the exposed end of an inserted acupuncture needle. This frees the practitioner from focusing on one point/area as is required with the incense stick and direct skin applications, so moxa can be burned on multiple locations at the same time, in a controlled manner. In this technique moxa guards, such as cardboard or small pieces of wood, are placed around the needles as a protective measure.

As mentioned, Moxa is utilized in conditions of cold or qi and blood stagnation. Moreover, research showed that moxibustion on an acupuncture point along the bladder meridian has been found to successfully turn breech babies into a normal head-down position prior to childbirth in up to 75% of women. (Journal of American Medical Association, 1998).

Reiki (pronounced “Ray-Key”), originated in Japan, and can be best explained as the laying on of hands, with the intention of offering healing touch therapy. Reiki is composed of two Japanese words; “Rei” which translates as "God's Wisdom” or the “Higher Power", and “Ki” which means as "life force energy". So, together, “Reiki” is explained as "spiritually guided life force energy.” Treatment is based on this notion that each individual contains this “life force energy”, which contributes to their overall well-being, or in cases of imbalance, their dis-ease. The use of laying on hands, allows the practitioner to become a direct vessel, or conduit, for this universal life force energy to be administered through them, in order to supplement and direct the energy of the patient. It is typical to feel heat emanating from the practitioner's hands during a treatment, as the Reiki energy begins to be transmitted through their palms. It is believed that one’s hands contain the most neuron receptors for transmitting energy, which has been proven in many clinical studies which examine the power of human touch, and the positive effects elicited from intentional contact (The Handbook of Touch: Neuroscience, Behavioral, and Health Perspectives, by Dr. Matthew J. Hertenstein, PhD, Dr. Sandra J. Weiss, PhD, DNSc, RN).

The Reiki energy is directly responsive to individual thoughts and feelings, and can become disrupted based on the acceptance, albeit consciously or unconsciously, of negative thoughts or feelings about oneself. Once integrated into the somatic and psychotic imprint of the individual, the negative energy attached to these thoughts and feelings disrupt the proper flow of Reiki, or universal life force energy. This, in turn, begins to affect the vital functioning of the cells, and if left unchecked, ultimately the organs of the physical body. Reiki heals by locating areas of intense negativity, or disrupted life force, and raising the vibratory level of the physical body by charging it with positive, loving energy. This intense surge of Reiki energy, forces the lower vibrational energy to break apart and fall away, thus clearing the body of the toxicity of negativity. Once removed, the body naturally works to regain homeostasis, and rewires on a cellular level to receive this new positive, universal life force, Reiki energy; and create a natural flow of positivity within in a balanced, and healthy manner.

Reiki is a non-invasive, holistic, and safe method of healing and self-improvement that anyone and everyone can use. Reiki has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady, and always creates a beneficial effect. In addition, it works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques, and serves to relieve side effects, while also promoting recovery. In addition, it is common to employ both the chakra system and crystal therapy to amplify the energetic vibrations utilized during a Reiki healing.

Like all other energetic modalities, the effects can be inexplicably profound. The key is for the patient to be fully open and receptive to receiving Reiki for optimal results to be achieved.

Reiki is taught in a series of courses, in which the information is gradually presented in a manner that allows the individual to gently and powerfully reclaim their own energy, and then learn how to serve as a vessel for others to do the same. Attunements are given at the end of each progressive level, as a means to honor the individual’s gradual increase in energetic ability and control.

There are four levels to Reiki:

Reiki I: This is all about self-healing, and the individual begins to explore their own universal life force energy.

Reiki II: This is about healing others. Here, the individual is given their first set of symbols, and is taught the proper way to channel Reiki, and lay their hands on another without interfering, projecting, or commanding the energy in anyway.

Reiki III/ Master: This level is when the individual receives a quantum leap in their own energetic abilities, by receiving their final set of symbols. These symbols grant the ability to work in higher realms of existence, while still staying deeply grounded and maintaining their place in the treatment room.

Reiki IV/Master-Teacher: This final level is when the individual learns how to properly attune others on their Reiki healing journey, and transmit the sacred knowledge of energy healing in an appropriate and professional manner.

*I have completed all levels of Reiki training, and maintain a Reiki Master-Teacher status, and have administered over 25 attunements.