Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complex system of medicine which dates back over 3,000 years and includes its own system of diagnosis and treatment.

TCM views the body as a true reflection of nature and cultivating true health and balance. The medicine itself was developed through observing nature and understanding there is no separation between our bodies and nature itself.

Traditional Chinese medicine uses Acupuncture, Herbology, Gua Sha, Moxibustion, Cupping and Dietary Therapy to attain and re-balance the body’s ecosystem. 

By inserting very fine, no larger than a strand of hair, sterilized needles into specific acupuncture points – Qi is then stimulated allowing the energy to be coursed in its correct and harmonious way. Acupuncture helps to regulate the body’s overall health- evening out the imbalances, nourish what may be deficient and clear what may be stuck which then may be resulting in pain or illness, as well as enhance the body’s overall ability to heal itself. 

Auricular acupuncture, or ear acupuncture, is a form of acupuncture based on classical theory. This type of acupuncture is especially effective in two situations: pain control and addictive/compulsive behaviors. By normalizing the pathological, hypersensitive reflex pathways between nerves in the ear and the brain, endorphins are released and energy is rebalanced. This means a greater sense of comfort and relaxation and a renewed sense of well-being. 

Herbal medicine predates acupuncture as being the oldest form of medicine in the world. The study of herbs has since then advanced to become a complex, sophisticated system with specific insights into their unique properties as well as their functions.

Cupping is a form of therapy where cups are pressed onto the body using suction. It is designed to increase circulation, stretch tightly contracted tissue, and reduce pain. Those with very tight muscles often experience a looseness that oftentimes lasts longer than a traditional massage.

Just as Chinese herbal medicine is an important adjunctive in treatment and healing from root to branch, nutritional therapy is vital in restoring and preserving health at the innermost levels of the body.     

In Chinese medicine, food can be the greatest poison or the most treasured medicine depending on how it is used. Every food has it’s own property and temperature and powerful medicinal ability. This is why we prescribe certain foods dependent on the patient's pattern of diagnosis and symptoms present. 

Using nutritional therapy with my patients is a way to encourage mindfulness when eating: when we connect with food, we develop a greater appreciation for its benefits, how its sourced, how our bodies feel after being nourished by healthful food. Eating this way leaves us with feeling greater satisfaction and fulfillment and less likely to crave junk foods. This is medicine we can do at home and can be the pivotal change in our lives to create our greatest health.