I am on the constant search few new innovative ways to combine traditional therapies to enhance and compound the benefits. I have been a traditional orthodox practitioner for much of my early career to allow a deeper understanding of how acupuncture works and how best to apply it.
However, we no longer have traditional clients we cannot rely on people to come in regularly three times a week for treatments and I often only see people a few times before they give up and seek other means or decide perhaps acupuncture is not for them. People need in this internet world fast results and instant relief. So I have changed my work to accommodate this trend . I still believe the old fashioned way is superior because we are working from the ground up on the root of the problem but for those busy people who believe they just need their pain fixed and that's it, well we can help that too.
I like being client directed however I would warn when one just asks for their pain problem and nothing else there is an opportunity for change that is being ignored. The body is talking or even yelling in some instances and it is not like a car just change the part and the rest will be fine. Prevention is the opportunity here and it is often overlooked as one of the main reasons to ever come to an acupuncturist. So I would just like to share a bit of wisdom here that when you look for the big change in your symptom it is like the tree in the forest. Fixing one tree is not going to do much for the forest. However, it is a good start and the reduction in stress and pain is often a catalyst for change and gratitude for life. So one treatment is better than no treatment but ongoing visits are more important for the client than the acupuncturist.
With that preamble here are some of the methods I have studied and practiced and developed over the years to help make people feel better and prevent future problems. They are all natural and the side effects are usually pleasant surprises like my sleep has improved or my golf game is better or can acupuncture help my memory cause I seem to be remembering things easier.
Before you read further I would say to a common question WHY DO YOU DO ACUPUNCTURE? My answer is always if there was anything that worked better, was more natural and had less side effects I would do it instead. I still stand by this and I wish there was anything more effective than acupunture for so many things and really there is not. Most people who come dread it and only try it because they have tried everything else then like a miracle, at least to them it helps. What other profession has more pressure more complex cases and more doubt and resistance than acupunture. Yet we still get amazing results almost all the time. I hope you enjoy this short explanation below or some of the wonderful ways I like to do acupuncture.
TYPES OF |ACUPUNCTURE I PRACTICE
TRADITIONAL CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE
The strength of this is the diagnosis of internal organ problems. I use this diagnostic system with every client to have an idea of the root cause and to gauge how long and how strong the treatment should be. This style goes deeper and uses longer needles. The idea is the energy can be deeper than on the surface and it seems to be true with studies on reflex and blood flow changes in the body. This style is very balancing and focuses on the root and branch both or the cause and the symptom both. Treatments with this style are very complex and require numerous visits but the results are slow but really worth it. This is the best way to work in my opinion but it is time consuming and requires an deep relationship between client and practitioner. Herbs should also be included in this approach and an ongoing treatment plan with a minimum of four visits per year when symptom free is required to really benefit from this approach. This is the real deal when it comes to acupuncture but it is the slow and easy way which some people don't have the patience for.
JAPANESE MERIDIAN ACUPUNCTURE
This is also very traditional and involves seeing a problem more as a meridian flow problem. One reroutes energy by using point often on the opposite side of the problem to balance the energy deficit or blockage in a particular area. One example that works quite well is treating the left leg to treat the right shoulder. Palpation plays a major role in this method and finding points that are tender to the touch are often most effective.
This method usually uses more needles and smaller ones and going just below the skin is often enough. Results here are quick and instant literally within a minute or two you notice a difference in pain in particular. However the results need to be reinforced and weekly visits are important for a few weeks usually if the problem is old and chronic. People are impressed with this method because it works so fast they think you are a magician or something. This is great for a first visit and builds trust and proves there is some clear benefit to acupuncture.
MOXIBUSTION
This involves using an herb mugwort or infrared heat from a lamp or laser to warm the points. Both Japanese and Chinese styles use this and I find it is very good for slow to heal infections like bed sores or ulcers on the leg or foot. This method increases and stimulated blood flow to the area as well as boosts the white blood cell count. This is great for weak and chronic problems that have been difficult to get movement or progress on. This is a more intensive treatment and can be included in the above even on a first visit but because of the smell usually I use a heat lamp. People love the dry heat when focused on a painful pain for example.
CUPPING
Cupping is an amazing way to also bring stimulation to an area also to relieve stagnant swollen stiff joints. It tends to straighten out fascia in the area cupped and when used in a sliding manner is great on the back and tends to have a lasting effect on how the blood flows in an area weeks after ward. I find energy levels and metabolism generally increase also. The bruising that can be avoided or used to advantage deposits blood in an area delivering platelets which help to heal joints and tendons and torn muscles. This uses the bodies own natural healing mechanism similar when a bruise occurs.
ELECTRO-STIMULATION-ACUPUNCTURE
This has has been found to enhance the production of human growth hormone in the body and works great to reduce energy in the body. It is kind of the opposite of cupping and moxabustion in that is is great for acute problems that are fairly new or a problem that is in excess. A overly energetic person or to gently simulate a muscle or area when a person is overly sensitive. I also have used it to numb an area to allow some deeper needling to be done more comfortably. It is wonderful to help a person deeply relax as well as to suppress the appetite.
GERMAN AURICULAR MEDICINE & EAR ACUPUNCTURE
The german system is based on the early french and chinese ear system but takes it a step further using fMRIs and vascular autonomic system responses to map out the ear points to a precise degree, This system can treat almost any pain, addiction, emotional problems, and many functional problems like high blood pressure allergies and more. It is another complete system which I use almost daily to great success. The added benefit is tiny metal pellets can be placed with tiny skin colored band aids to keep the treatment working for a week or more at a time. Great for quitting smoking or any ongoing problems anxiety high blood pressure or even back pain.
DRY NEEDLING
This is a way of manipulating the needles to find trigger points inside painful muscles. A twitch response is usually the outcome in the muscle being needled. It is less uncomfortable than having the area pressed or massaged and instantly the muscle relaxes knots disappear and the flexibility is regained. Some soreness due to the muscle relaxing not because of the needling occurs for a few hours to a few days. This works great when the pain is chronic and keeps coming back when other methods have failed to retain pain free functioning.
ACUPOINT INJECTION THERAPY
This involves all of the above methods accept an added benefit of safety is added using a more sturdy needle. This allows for deeper muscles to be safely addressed. The other added benefit is the use of homeopathics and vitamins to aid in the healing response. B12 is very common to use for it speeds up the healing response in a muscle as well as the detoxification of any stored waste materials in the muscle. The homeopathics used are trameel, zeel and lymphocet all these are used for inflammation pain and swelling and can be used in combination if one has two or three problems. I have been using these only in the last year and have found the results to be remarkable. I can say for many pain issues this is one of the fastest methods available to resolve old or new injuries and any chronic pain. Back pain, heel pain knee pain wrist pain all of these require multiple and ongoing often treatment. However with injection the healing time and number of treatments is cut easily in half. As an acupuncturist this is an amazing leap in practice and a great way to help people especially the most difficult of cases.
OTHER THINGS I DO.
HYPNOSIS
EFT
MINDFULLNESS
MASSAGE
COUNSELLING
NUTRITION
HERBAL MEDICINE
TAI CHI- QIGONG
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