Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Chinese medicine views the mind and body as ecosystem in miniature, it seeks to improve our capacity to balance and renew our intrinsic resources. Chinese medicine can minimize the erosion of our "soil" by enriching it, maximizing the flow of nutrients by increasing circulation and helping to prevent bottlenecks that obstruct vital movement.
Western medicine intervenes only after crises arise. Chinese medicine anticipates problems by sustaining our interior harmony. By correcting depletion and stagnation at earlier stages, greater problems are avoided in the future.

The principle of TCM diagnosis is that diseases must be observed by taking a view of the human body as a whole. Local pathological changes may affect the whole body and pathological changes of the body may, in turn, be reflected in certain parts.
There are four methods in TCM diagnosis: inquiry (asking), observation (viewing), auscultation (smelling), and palpation (feeling the pulse). Physicians assess a person's health by feeling the pulse at each wrist and by observing the color, odor, and form of the face, tongue, and body. This information is interpreted in the context of a patient's present and past complaints, work and living habits, physical environment, family health history and emotional life.

The goal of treatment is to adjust and harmonize Yin and Yang. This is achieved by regulating the Chi and Blood in the Organ Networks: weak organs are tonified, congested channels are opened, excess is dispersed, tightness is softened, agitation is calmed, heat is cooled, cold is warmed, dryness is moistened and dampness is drained.
Treatment may incorporate acupuncture, herbal remedies, massage and exercise. Duration of treatment depends on the nature of the complaint, its severity, and how long it has been present.

Tuina (Tui Na) is an Oriental Bodywork Therapy. Tuina (Tui Na) uses the traditional Chinese medical theory of the flow of Qi through the meridians as its basic therapeutic orientation. Through the application of massage and manipulation techniques Tuina (Tui Na) seeks to establish a more harmonious flow of Qi through the system of channels and collaterals, allowing the body the naturally heal itself.
Tuina (Tui Na) methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue (muscles and tendons) of the body, acupressure techniques to directly affect the flow of Qi , and manipulation techniques to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships (bone-setting). External herbal poultices, compresses, liniments, and salves are also used to enhance the other therapeutic methods.

As one of traditional Chinese medical treatments, Tuina (Chinese bodywork) differs in several significant ways from Western-style massage therapies. The most obvious difference is that Tuina was basically created thousands years ago to treat pediatric problems, orthopedic and other medical conditions, while western style massage therapies focuses on muscular and soft tissue injuries as well as on general relaxation.
Tuina uses very complex manipulation system such as distinctive Tuina massage techniques, osteopathic joint movements, chiropractic correction, and deep tissue strokes, while Western manual therapist is usually specialized in a single technique such as chiropractic doctor, osteopath, deep tissue manual therapist, acupressure practitioner, etc.

Gua Sha is a healing technique used in traditional medicine. It involves palpation and cutaneous stimulation in which the skin is pressed with a piece of jade or horn; that results in the appearance of small red patches. "Gua" means to scrape or rub. "Sha" is a reddish, elevated patch of skin. Sha is the term used to describe blood in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as a small red bump.

Cupping is an ancient technique that involves attaching jar on to the skin by way of a vacuum. The underlying tissue is raised, or sucked, partway into the cup. Its purpose is to restore circulation, help relieve pain and pull toxins from the body tissue. You will feel a tight sensation in the area of the cup. It often feels very good on tight, achy muscles. The cups may be left in place for 5 - 15 minutes.
Cupping causes the skin to turn red, blue or purple, especially if there is an energetic blockage under the cups. The skin discoloration may last anywhere from a few days up to two weeks. Cupping is great for colds, flu,allergies,fevers,aches and pains.

Acupuncture literally means 'needle piercing," the practice of inserting very fine needles into the skin to stimulate specific anatomic points in the body (called acupoints or acupuncture points) for therapeutic purposes. Along with the usual method of puncturing the skin with the fine needles, the physicians of acupuncture also use heat, pressure, friction, suction, or impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points.
The acupoints (acupuncture points) are stimulated to balance the movement of energy (qi) in the body to restore health.

Chinese medical theory holds that a vital life energy circulates through the human body by way of channels called meridians (similar but not identical to the nervous and blood circulatory systems). When this flow of energy is smooth and unobstructed, good health is the result. However, if for any reason, this flow is blocked. Then ailments and disease occur. The function of acupuncture is to restore balance in the body so the vital life energy can flow.

Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and their insertion is often not even felt. Some persons have more skin sensitivity than others and some points are more sensitive to treat than others. Most people, however, say the treatments are not at all painful. Once the needles are in place, the patient can expect to feel a dull sensation, a sense of warmth, or sometimes even a slight flow of energy up and down from the point. Deep relaxation during treatment is the most common report of patients.