~ A sea of calm ~  

Acupuncture is a safe and effective ancient medical practice, developed in China over the course of thousands of years. It is based on the idea that Qi (pronounced ‘chee’), sometimes referred to as a life force or vital energy, flows through the human body in channels or meridians. Imbalances and blockages in Qi can
affect the body in many ways including poor health and pain.

Using tiny, sterile, single use stainless steel needles inserted into specific locations in the body, acupuncture can redirect energy, remove blockages, and relieve discomfort.

For a more in depth introduction to Acupuncture and how it works, please use the link here.
Today it is used throughout the world and promoted by both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health

There are thousands of Chinese herbs and several hundred in common use throughout the world. Generally the herbs are of plant origin, some of which are common household items such as cinnamon, orange peel, mint and ginger. Others are of animal or mineral origin such as talc, oyster shell and cuttlefish bone.
Chinese herbal medicine is a highly developed medical system which uses herbs both internally and externally in the treatment of any kind of disease. For a more in depth introduction to Chinese herbs please click here.

The World Health Organization recognizes over 100 diseases and conditions which can be successfully treated with acupuncture and herbs. These include but are not limited to:

Digestive
Abdominal Pain
Constipation
Diarrhea
Indigestion
Hyperacidity
IBS

• Emotional  
  Anxiety
  Depression
  Insomnia   
  Irritability
  Postpartum Depression
  Stress  

Women's Health
Fibroids
Infertility
Irregular Cycle
Labor Induction
Menopause
Malpositioned Fetus
Morning Sickness
No Menstrual Cycle
Ovarian Cysts
Painful Menstrual Cycle
Heavy Menstrual Cycle
PCOS
PMS

• Musculoskeletal
  Arthritis
  Back and  Neck Pain
  Bruising and Trauma
  Bursitis and Tendinitis
  Carpal Tunnel
  Enhancing Athletic Performance
  Gout
  Muscle Cramps and Weakness
  General Pain Management
  Hip and Knee Pain
  Shoulder, Wrist and Arm Pain
  Sciatica
  Sports Injuries
  Sprain
  

Neurological
Bladder dysfunction
Headaches
Migraines
Post-operative pain
Stroke

• Respiratory
  Allergies
  Asthma
  Bronchitis
  Common Cold
  Sinusitis
  Smoking Cessation

Miscellaneous

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Infectious Diseases

Dermatology
Pediatric disorders

Disorders of the Sense Organs
Side-effects from Chemotherapy
Fybromyalgia 

Urogenital disorders
Weak Immune System

High blood pressure
Weight Loss / Gain 

Hypo/Hypertension
        

Acupuncture is surprisingly painless.
The needles used are smaller than most human hair, and a good practitioner will make sure you remain comfortable throughout your treatment. An acupuncture treatment is also very relaxing and most people say they feel like they spent an hour at the spa and not the doctor’s office.

There are many ways to use herbs. Herbs may come in the form of pills, powders and raw herbs that you take home and boil into teas. They may also be made into poultices, salves, balms, steams, washes and soaks.  They may be taken internally or applied externally. Your specific recipe and how you take your herbs depends
on your condition and lifestyle.

For those who don’t like needles but still want to access the wisdom of an ancient medicine, non-needle acupuncture is available. Instead of needles, acupressure can be applied to specific locations on the body. In addition to acupressure, the use of heat lamps, infrared therapy, herbal liniments, Chinese therapeutic massage and moxabustion can be used.

If you wish, you can also come in for herbal consultations without the acupressure, acupuncture, or any other modalities.

This is a difficult question to answer. The answer depends on the condition you are being treated for, and how long you have had the condition.
There is a rule of thumb in the use of Acupuncture. For each month that you have had a given condition, it takes one weekly treatment.  So if you wake up with a sudden neck and shoulder pain, one treatment may be all you need. On the other hand, if you have had knee pain for years, you may require months of weekly treatments. Please contact me for a more personalized answer.

In addition to acupuncture, there are other methods of treatment that are utilized when appropriate. These include:

Moxabustion: (A) Indirect moxa: A stick of mugwort with burning embers is held over the skin to create a warm sensation,
(B) Direct moxa: Rice grain sized balls of mugwort are placed onto the skin at specific locations and burned
with an incense stick.

Warming needle:A marble sized ball of mugwort is placed onto a needle and lit with incense.

Plum Blossom: Tapping a specific area with a small hammer with 7 needles. When treatment requires, a small amount of bleeding may occur.

Gua Sha:A technique of rubbing the skin with a hand held tool made of cow horn, plastic, ceramic or jade.

Cupping: The use of glass or plastic cups which have been slightly heated and placed on the skin.

Bleeding Techniques:  May include the use of a small lancet, or plum blossom alone or in conjunction with cupping.

All of these techniques are done with the patient’s consent.          

Training for acupuncturists is rigorous and demanding. A graduate degree can be obtained in no less than 3 years and in many schools the program lasts 4 years.  There are national board exams admininistered by the National Certification Commision on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. and the Washington state department of health oversees licensure in Washington. We are also required to do 60 units of continuing education for every license renewal. Before choosing an acupuncturist, you should always check their credentials, learn more about their training and be sure that you feel comfortable with their level of knowledge.