Treatment Techniques

Cupping Cupping is a form of traditional Chinese medicine which is often used as a painless alternative to acupuncture, particularly for people who are uneasy about needles. A partial vacuum is created inside a thick glass cup and then placed on certain acupuncture points on the back. Usually a number of cups are placed on the back at the same time and left for about fifteen minutes. In some cases, a method called wet cupping is done- this involves pricking the skin with a three-edged needle before placing the cup over it. Usually a couple of drops of blood are drawn and this method is believed to draw toxins out of the body Moxibustion Moxibustion is a form of oriental medicine therapy, which utilizes an herb known as mugwort. This is ground into a fine fluff and shaped to look like a cigar. In the method known as direct moxibustion, the cone is placed on top of the skin and then burned. There are two types of this method- scarring and non-scarring, with the scarring method leaving localized blisters or scars. Indirect moxibustion is a more popular method as there is a lower risk of burning and scarring with it. In this case, the burning cone is placed close to the skin. Another form of indirect moxibustion is done using acupuncture needles and by wrapping the tip with mugwort. Herbology Herbology is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine and deals with the combining of different herbs to suit the individual needs of a patient. Unlike Western medicine, which usually relies on generic medication, herbology creates a customized mix of medicinal herbs, based on the individual's diagnosis. As a result, each patient is given a different remedy. These mixtures usually consist of one or two herbs which target the patient's illness. Other herbs are added to balance the yin-yang of the patient, to act as a catalyst or cancel out herbal toxicities. The balance of all of these herbs in the mixture is the most important part of herbology. Apart from herbs, minerals and some animal ingredients are also used. Electro-acupuncture Electro-acupuncture is an extension of the process of using hand manipulation in acupuncture. Once the needles are inserted and the Qi reaction has been obtained by hand, an electrode is attached to the needles. This provides constant stimulus to the area. The benefits of this method are that it takes a great amount of stress off of the acupuncturist. It can also induce strong stimulation without harming the tissue, which is something that happens when acupuncture needles are twirled or turned. The frequency can also be controlled very easily. This method is often used to treat patients with chronic pain or paralysis. Patients with a heart condition are advised to use this method with extreme caution. Tui Na  Tui Na is a form of manipulative therapy used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is usually done in conjunction with other treatments like moxibustion, cupping or acupuncture. Tui Na uses acupressure to bring the body into a state of balance. Only the hands are used and the practitioner kneads, brushes, rubs or rolls certain parts of the body. These areas are known as the Eight Gates and are found in between the joints. Tui Na is often taught along with martial arts training to help deal with injuries and pain management. It is a form of therapy which is safe for infants and elderly people as well. It is also used to treat respiratory and digestive ailments. Gua Sha Gua Sha is a treatment used in traditional Chinese medicine. While it is often viewed as a folk remedy, it has become increasingly popular as a remedial and preventive form of therapy. It is primarily used to eradicate blood stagnation, which is seen as the cause of ailments of the immune system, organs and surface tissue. The practitioner lubricates the skin and applies pressure using an object with a smooth, round edge. This could be a wooden spoon or even an old coin. Apart from being used to treat stiffness and muscle injuries, Gua Sha is also used for dealing with respiratory problems, digestive ailments and reactions to food poisoning. Reiki Reiki is a Japanese method of stress reduction, which uses the hands to not only induce relaxation but also to heal. This healing power is channeled through the practitioner's palms and he/she may use a touching or non-touching method of treatment. While some practitioners follow a strict pattern of hand positions others might use their intuition and allow the body's energy to guide their hands to the body part that needs healing. Group treatments are also done, where more than one practitioner heals the same person. Many people have also turned to Reiki to relax and heal their pets. A Reiki practitioner needs to complete three levels of learning to become a Reiki Master. Heat Treatment Heat plays a very important role in traditional Chinese medicine. When it enters the body in different ways, it can cause a range of ailments. If a body has heat, it means that there is too much Qi or that the body is not cooling down properly. There are five main kinds of heat: lung heat, stomach heat, toxic heat, damp heat and blood heat. People who suffer from acne often undergo heat treatments, as acne is usually the result of lung heat and stomach heat. All heat treatments deal with dissipating the Qi and bringing a balance of energy to the body. Heat is often the result of stress, a bad diet and in some cases, a congenital factor. Cranio-Sacral/Visceral Balancing Cranio-sacral/Visceral balancing is a technique which imbibes three important principles. One is that the body is the mirror of the soul. Secondly, one needs to work towards aligning the Soul Will with the Ego Will. This is the best way to harness and release the creativity and genius that we are all born with. Thirdly, all of us are tender on the inside and need to be treated and healed with care. Cranio-sacral/Visceral balancing corrects problems in the craniosacral system using non-invasive methods. It frees up the natural flow and rhythm of the body around the brain and spinal cord. This kind of therapy is based in finding the root of a problem, rather than simply treating its outward symptoms. Acupressure Acupressure is a treatment used in traditional Chinese medicine. Like acupuncture, it also focuses on the acupoints of the body. Pressure is applied to these areas using the elbow, hand or special instruments. In some cases, only the thumb is used to stimulate the acupoints. This form of therapy is frequently used in martial arts training, not just as a form of treatment but also as a way of conditioning the body and making it supple and flexible. Many people prefer acupressure treatments because they do not use needles and it very rarely has any kind of side effects. It is also known to release the body's own natural pain killers. Acupressure can be used to treat asthma, diabetes, paralysis and arthritis.