My goal in clinic is to provide immediate change to your condition and outlook. You will feel better and leave your appointment with a plan to move forward. My approach of using combined modalities and motivating you to take an active part in your recovery has proven successful for over a decade.
With this in mind, most cases that present themselves to me see considerable improvement in 3-6 appointments, depending on the severity of the situation. Long lasting change takes longer and is dependent on your ability to commit to the exercises I share. These exercises represent some of humanity’s first forays into health preservation and longevity. They have been preserved through Chinese martial and internal arts and I have been very fortunate to have become proficient in their practice and teaching.
To truly start to change your movement patterns it takes 100 days of consecutive practice. This means a little practice every day culminates in a cultivation of new skills. Inherent in this learning is the shedding of old, damaging patterns. So while the exercises are easy to understand and preform, it takes the body time to rewire itself. This is just like any other skill - be it learning to play the piano, create computer code, deal effectively and reasonably with others - all these kinds of skills take patient, diligent practice. And a wonderful aspect of internalizing the movement patterns that I teach is that they nurture the principles of patience, gentleness, resolve and sensitivity so that these values insinuate themselves into our lives.
So the journey towards healing something like a painful shoulder has the opportunity to open levels of deep learning and evolution. Furthermore, I find that resolving patient’s pain issues often opens the door to internal issues including anxiety, depression, insomnia, all manner of digestive issues, migraines, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, repetitive strain injury, skin issues, allergies, chronic sinus infections…the list goes on and on. Tui na and acupuncture combined with internal arts exercises and a willingness on the patient’s part to rethink habits of lifestyle is an approach that can positively affect anyone’s life and circumstance.
Lastly, many of my patients come to me as heathy individuals whose approach to exercise or sports have become damaging. Chinese medicine has a very evolved and mature vision of how we age. Inherent to the philosophy of Chinese Medicine is meeting the big cycles of life with grace and positive intention. We all grow older and with our aging comes the need to adapt and change. I have found that the implementation of the exercises that I share can lead patients through the phenomenon of aging in a way in which their lives remain rewarding and exciting.
The true aim of my medicine is to share the knowledge and skills that I have accumulated so that you can learn to keep yourself healthy and vibrant.
Techniques
Tui Na
A stand-alone modality of body work the reintegrates muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones. In China, Tui Na is considered “medical massage.”
Acupuncture
Thin, stainless steel, sterile needles are used to marshal the body’s resources to initiate and quicken healing.
Craniosacral
Craniosacral and visceral manipulation therapies employ slower, subtler techniques that can affect the structures and rhythms of the body at their deepest levels.
Cupping
Cupping separates the superficial musculature with the deeper muscles to restore circulation and proper range of motion, and is used in many cultures to stave off cold and flu at its onset.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is similar to cupping but covers a much broader area. This technique releases stagnate fluids that are stuck in the tissue causing pain and lack of range of motion.
Electro-Acupuncture
Gentle electric stimulation is added to acupuncture needles to “shake free” chronically impinged tissue common in old and stubborn injuries.
Moxabustion
The process of burning herbs close to the body’s surface to provide a unique and deeply penetrating heat that unbinds chronic soft tissue injuries.