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There are several modalities used in oriental medicine that compliment
the benefits of acupuncture.
Two modalities that we commonly employ are
1) Cupping
Special cups are placed on the skin and suction is created using heat or mechanical pumps.
"The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup. Cupping is much like the inverse of massage - rather than applying pressure to muscles, it uses gentle pressure to pull them upward. For most patients, this is a particularly relaxing and relieving sensation. Once suctioned, the cups are generally left in place for about ten minutes while the patient relaxes. This is similar to the practice of Tui Na, a traditional Chinese medicine massage technique that targets acupuncture points as well as painful body parts, and is well known to provide relief through pressure."[1]
2) Moxibustion
"Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. Moxibustion has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years; in fact, the actual Chinese character for acupuncture, translated literally, means "acupuncture-moxibustion." The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of qi, and maintain general health."[2]
Moxibustion can be administered directly or indirectly.
[1] Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
For thousands of years people have looked to acupuncture for relief from every
kind of pain and illness, chronic and acute.
The World Health Organization and the National Institute for Health
both acknowledge that acupuncture treats many common conditions such as
Chronic and Acute Pain, Headaches, Fibromyalgia,
Arthritis, Muscle Tension, Sciatica
Asthma, Cold and Flu, Allergies, Bronchitis
Infertility, Irregular Periods, PMS, Menopause Symptoms
Aid in Post Stroke Recovery and other Neurological Disorders
Insomnia, Anxiety, Stress, Depression
Improve Immune Function, Supportive Treatment for Cancer,
Supportive Treatment for HIV/AIDS
Addictions
Acupuncture needles are very thin. They are usually a thickness of 0.25mm (1/100 inch) or less. In comparison, hypodermic needles used for injection are usually a thickness of 0.81mm (3/100 inch) or more.
BodhiQi Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
Kirk Forde L.Ac., Dipl.O.M., MS
Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, CA
(805) 835-6929