Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a system of medicine that has developed over the last 5000 years. Some of the classics of diagnosis and treatment are over 3000 years old, and they are still studied today. TCM is very safe. Acupuncturists pay less malpractice than any other medical professionals, because the risk of harm to the patient is so extraordinarily low.

In order to diagnose a patient, an Acupuncturist will look at the tongue, feel the pulse and press on various points on the body. These diagnostic techniques will give him or her a picture of what is going on inside the body. Once the underlying imbalance is revealed, a treatment can be designed to bring that individual back to harmony.

TCM employs many different treatment methods. Most people have heard of acupuncture, which is the insertion of very fine needles into specific points in order to affect the circulation of qi (pronounced chee) through the meridians. The meridians are the areas where qi flow is most concentrated, like the interstate highways of the body. By directing traffic on these highways, the correct qi flow can be restored in all the parts of the body.

Cupping is used to improve blood circulation to an area. A vacuum is created inside a glass cup, and it is then quickly applied to the skin over specific areas. This creates suction, and the cup “sticks” to the point. The cup is left on for about ten minutes. It is removed by breaking the seal with the skin by gently pressing down.

Chinese herbs are extremely effective for extending the treatment’s effect between acupuncture appointments. Each herbal prescription is made exclusively for the individual.

All aspects of the patient’s health, including chief complaint, medications and overall health, are considered when determining the correct herbs.

There are many other treatment methods for your Acupuncturist to choose from. After a thorough evaluation and history, a determination will be made of which therapies will be most helpful to you.

More questions? Feel free to schedule a consultation, call 415-424-3213 or email at any time. We never charge for speaking with you about your questions, concerns or fears. We believe an educated patient is a dedicated patient, so we hope you will give us the chance to help you learn more about TCM and how it can help you.