Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the insertion of hair-thin needles into the skin at specific points of the body to address excess and deficient functions of the systems. These tiny needles activate your body’s innate responses to heal itself by stimulating the immune system, promote circulation, promote wound healing and relieve pain. Some conditions that benefit from acupuncture are:
Acute pain, Chronic pain, Arthritis
Allergies & Asthma
Anxiety, Depression, Stress & PTSD
Digestive issues
Facial Rejuvenation
Fertility Health, Prenatal & Postpartum support
Gynecology & Women’s Health
Hypertension / Hypotension
Insomnia
Kidney Health & recurrent UTIs
Migraines & Headaches
Skin Issues - acne, eczema, psoriasis
Smoking Cessation
Stroke
And more
Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy is a West Asian and East Asian practice used to treat a variety of conditions. Cups are placed at certain points on the body, a suction is created by the practitioner, and the cups pull against the skin and muscle layers.
Cupping therapy is a myofascial release method that:
Loosens tight muscles
Relaxes muscles in spasm
Relieves pain
Decreases tissue change and inflammation following trauma
Decompresses adhesions and scar tissue
Promotes circulation
Sedates the nervous system to aid with sleep
Stimulates the lympathic system and therefore boosts the immune system
Support quicker recovery and prevention of common colds & flus
Facial Rejuvenation
A natural way to tighten the skin, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. This is both a preventative and corrective treatment, meaning you can start at any age.
Fine needles are placed in common acupuncture points to stimulate blood circulation and call up collagen and elastin to the surface of the skin. After needling, skin care products suited to your skin type are applied, followed by a gentle face massage. This treatment not only improves the quality of your skin but also helps to improve overall health because of an emphasis to treat your whole system holistically through the addition of body acupuncture.
Benefits of facial rejuvenation acupuncture:
A reduction in wrinkles & fine lines, puffiness & brightening of the eyes.
An improved complexion with healthier, firmer, softer & vibrant skin.
Increased elasticity through the production of collagen & elastin.
Relieves muscle tension in face & jaw.
In addition, this also treats:
Acne & rosacea
Dehydrated skin
Sun- damaged skin
Bell’s Palsy
Post-stroke sequelae
This treatment is not suited for those who have seizure disorders, hypertension, diabetes, cancer and other serious health conditions. Also not suitable for those who are pregnant. Regular Acupuncture treatments would be more suited for these conditions.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine with some of the earliest medical records dating back in the Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644. In both Mandarin and Cantonese, “gua” means “to scrape” and “sha” refers to the petechia rough, sand-like bruises created by the treatment.
In Gua Sha, a practitioner uses a gua sha massage tool to scrape the surface of the skin with long and short strokes. This technique stimulates microcirculation of the the soft tissue, loosens the superficial fascia, increases blood flow and therefore stops pain. The practitioner applies massage oil to the skin and repeatedly scrapes the skin with the massage tool until “sha” comes up on the skin. This treatment is painless and the marks from the treatment typically fades away anywhere from 3-7 days.
The benefits of gua sha include:
Anti-inflammatory, provides pain relief.
Facial Rejuvenation: A much gentler pressure is used on the face to reduce puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles, plumps up and tightens the skin.
Stimulation of the immune system, thus allowing the body to speed up its natural healing process.
Needle free, so Gua Sha is common for pediatric treatments.
Microneedling
Microneedling AKA collagen-induction therapy is the insertion of very fine short needles into the skin for the purpose of rejuvenation. These micro-wounds help to stimulate the skin’s healing response by producing more collagen and elastin and allows serum to absorb up to 3000%, thus making the skin firm and smooth. Based on 2000 year old Chinese Medicine principles, microneedling moves Qi, blood and generates flesh. 4-6 treatment sessions are recommended at 1 treatment once a month. Effects of microneedling can last 3-5 years after these treatment rounds.
Microneedling may help with issues like:
Acne and scars
Hair-loss (alopecia)
Hyperpigmentation
Fine lines and wrinkles
A reduced skin elasticity
Enlarged pores
The following are contraindications to microneedling:
Sunburn in the last 24 hours
The use of retinoids, exfoliants and topical antibiotics in the last 5-7 days.
Active acne, actively taking acne medications.
Blood disorders or actively taking anticoagulants
Cancer and receiving chemotherapy and/ or radiation therapy
Skin rashes such as contact dermatitis, cold sores, eczema, psoriasis. Local infections such as warts.
Keloid scars
moles and freckles that change in size, shape or bleed.
Pregnancy / breast-feeding
These are conditions where regular acupuncture and / or herbal treatments are better suited.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine is an important modality in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is used for the treatment of acute and chronic conditions. Like Acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy is used to address any imbalances in the body and help strengthen the body’s resistance to disease. Typically, after a consultation and assessment, a combination of 6-12 herbs are put together in a customized unique formula made just for you.
Chinese herbs may be used for:
Pediatric issues
Common colds / flu
Increasing energy
Headaches / Migraines
ENT issues
Helping with lung function
Aiding in digestion
Acute and chronic pain
Improving sleep
Improving menopause symptoms
Other hormonal imbalance issues
Regulating the menstrual cycle (if infertility is an issue)
Post-partum recovery
Recovery for after cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and /or radiation
Rehabilitation from chronic diseases and more.
Sound Therapy
Sound therapy is said to date back to ancient Eastern and Western civilizations where music was used to treat mental health disorders, boost morale, increase productivity and creativity and in some cultures, to ward off evil spirits through chant and meditation. Sound therapy is the utilization of music, musical instruments, and voice to improve the emotional, psychological, spiritual and physical well-being and health of a person. The many health benefits of sound healing that studies have shown are as follows:
A reduction in stress, anxiety and depression
Improvement in sleep, memory and concentration
Pain reduction