Treatments

In your Oriental Medicine assessment, Martin will diagnose or differentiate your condition with a thorough examination. This will include an interpretation through your complaints, medical history, pulse, and tongue diagnosis. Methods of treatment vary by individual, but typically involve acupuncture and sometimes Chinese herbs.  


Acupuncture

Oriental medicine (acupuncture, herbs, and related techniques) is a medical system that has been used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness for over 23 centuries. It can remedy acute or chronic ailments, relieve pain, enhance recuperative powers, and strengthen the immune system.

People are surprised to find treatment quite relaxing.

Extremely fine, flexible, sterile/disposable needles are placed at specific points on the energetic pathways, known as meridians. When the needles are inserted you may experience a sensation of tingling or warmth, or feel nothing at all.

There are many different styles of acupuncture. Martin uses a combination of Japanese and Chinese techniques. Japanese technique involves thinner needles and lighter stimulation.

The length and frequency of a treatment may vary for each individual and will be determined by your diagnosis. Acupuncture treatments are scheduled according to the nature of your condition. As you improve, fewer visits are required. Many people use regular visits (monthly, seasonally, etc.) to maintain their health, or to protect against imbalances that may eventually develop into illness. Discuss your treatment plan with us, since each individual is different.


Chinese Herbs


How do I take them?

Formulas come in pills, capsules, granules, tinctures or raw herbs boiled like a soup. Chinese Herbology is considered most safe and effective when prescribed by a qualified practitioner of Oriental Medicine as the herbs have a strong effect and are used for many different types of TCM diagnoses.

Presently, Martin uses herbs in pill form (Pine Mountain, Seven Forests, Standard Process, OHCO, and others). He can also provide herbs in granular/powder and traditional raw forms the patient can prepare at home.

Other Treatments

Cupping

Glass, plastic, or traditional bamboo cups are used to create suction on specific problem areas on the body. The suction removes blood-stagnation from tight or painful muscles by releasing “stuck” blood and pulling it to the surface. Even though the cups often leave a red circle or small bruise on the skin, the process is painless and relaxing.

Gua Sha

This technique uses the edge of a Chinese soupspoon, or something similar, to scrape the skin. Oil is applied and the skin is scraped lightly and rapidly to release heat or tension under the skin. It is very good for tense muscles. In China it is popular to use on children at the first sign of a cold.

Dry Needling

Dry needling (DN) is acupuncture. It is differentiated from acupuncture by saying that DN is a “biomedical” procedure and acupuncture is an “energetic” therapy. However, when a needle is inserted into you, your body will not differentiate the reaction based on what title it is given. All needles used here are dry.

Moxabustion

Moxa is an herb, known as mugwort (artemesia), that is crushed into a cotton-like consistency and burns slowly. It is used to warm acupuncture points, create heat and energy movement in the body and can be used in several ways: a stick form, like a cigar, held over a point or an area; or “rice grain” moxa which refers to a tiny rice grain size piece of moxa burned directly on the skin. It is very simple, and very effective for a lot of disorders.

  • Indirect - A cigar shaped form, held over the skin
  • Direct - Small rice-grain size, or smaller, burned directly on the skin to stimulate points
  • Needle-Top - Small balls of moxa wrapped around the needle handle and burned to send heat through the needle

Electrical Stimulation

Low voltage electrical current of varying frequencies can be attached to needles at acupuncture points. Much like a TENS unit, it provides continuous stimulation to the needles during a treatment.

Ion Pumping Cords

A Japanese invention in which a cord containing a diode is attached between two needles directing a flow of ions from one needle to another. Simple but very effective.