Traditional Chinese Medicine Techniques I Use

Acupuncture involves the insertion of small stainless steel needles into specific places on the body called acupuncture points. These points are located on lines called meridians which traverse the entire body from head to toe. An acupuncturist usually selects a combination of points using different meridians to help treat a problem including points directly in a problem area and points that are far away, for example- you may come in for back pain and have a couple of needles placed in the legs, back, and hands.

Electroacupuncture involves the same process as regular acupuncture but with the addition of electrodes placed on a few of the needles to increase the stimulation of the acupuncture point. This is commonly used for injury and with pregnant women seeking induction treatment after 38 weeks.

Tui na is a massage technique used by acupuncturists primarily to treat pain and stiff muscles.

Cupping is like a reverse massage. Instead of applying pressure into the muscles, a vacuum is created using fire in a glass cup to pull the fascia and muscle into the cup. Sometimes this therapy can leave behind small circular bruise-like marks that will go away within a couple of days of receiving the treatment. Cupping is great for sore muscles, injuries, and relaxation; it is not recommended for people with vascular problems, taking blood thinners, or with open wounds.

Acupressure uses the same points as acupuncture but there are no needles inserted. Acupressure may be used in your treatment or may be shown to you so that you can do it at home between treatments.

Herbology: sometimes patients require more than acupuncture to achieve their desired health goals, and herbal therapy is an easy way for patients to treat themselves daily during a treatment protocol. All herbs used at Healthy by Nature Calgary are patent formulas that are in pill form and require no cooking.

Moxibustion, or “moxa” as it is more commonly known, involves burning the herb mugwort and placing it near acupuncture points to achieve the desired effects. This treatment is famous for its ability to turn a breech baby but can also be used for menstrual pain and certain digestive disorders.

Gua Sha is also known as scraping therapy. Gua sha involves using applying pressure along meridian lines using a tool that scrapes the skin to release heat pathogens. This is commonly used when a patient has a cold but can also be used to treat muscle pain.