TCM Diagnosis

Traditional Chinese Medicine has five basic methods to diagnosis a patient, which consist of observation (looking), auscultation (listening), olfaction (smelling), inquiry (asking), and palpation (touching).  In our clinic, we combine TCM methods and moderns together to having more information at the first, then we use pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, face diagnosis & meridian diagnosis to make the best and effective treatment plan for our patients facilitate their healing and rehabilitation.

Acupuncture is a system of integrative medicine that inserts needles penetrating the skin to stimulate specific points on the body.  It is a safe, painless, calming, and effective way to treat various health conditions. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.  

TCM uses yin and yang theory to balance our life.  Qi (energy flow) go along with meridians or pathway in our body.  These meridians and energy flow through 350 acupuncture points in the body, inserting needles to these points can balance energy flow and help to facilitate certain zang-fu organs. It helps many medical conditions such as headache/migraines, low back, knee or shoulder pain, infertility, female/male conditions, gynecology issues, etc.    

All needles used in acupuncture treatments are sterile, stainless-steel, discarded after each use. Acupuncture is covered by most insurance companies.

 Weight gain is caused by body imbalance, however, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, weight gain is caused by malfunctioning of organs such as the spleen, liver, kidney, endocrine system, and so on.  For weight loss, acupuncture treatments are the target in those areas of the body. Use ear seed is one of the treatment plans for weight loss to stimulate the part of the brain & control food craving, reduce appetite, and so on.  We strongly encourage our patients to have positive thinking, making healthier lifestyle choices such as moderate exercise, healthy food intake will help to lose weight faster.  Acupuncture can stimulate certain points on the body to manage weight control. If plan to losing 10 pounds, it may have several treatments per week for eight to ten weeks depends on the patient's constitution. Of course, each practitioner has different levels and lengths of their treatments.

Facial rejuvenation or "cosmetic" acupuncture is to focus on the regrowth of collagen underneath the skin on the face. For many people looking for their anti-aging treatment such as Botox and fillers are very expensive and also contain chemicals as well.  However, acupuncture is a very safe and natural way to effectively improve skin tone, elasticity, reduce the appearance of fine lines, smooth wrinkles, and remove scars.  

Practitioners use very tiny needles on the face to increase qi/energy flow and blood circulation to the area and gives you the most radiant and natural beauty in your life. 

It is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on the skin for a few minutes to create suction, feel like a vacuum.  Cupping therapy is good for many purposes such as pain management (eg: shoulder pain, back pain), inflammation, improve blood flow, alleviate certain kinds of conditions (eg: cough, asthma), detoxify toxins from the body, relaxing & well-being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage. 

There may be red or purple marks left on the skin. However, the marks will disappear in few hours or a couple of days.

Guasha first uses at Stone Age.  It has been traditionally used by medical practitioners to treat related chronic pain caused by inflammation with the literal goal is to "scrape away illness".  Rubbing the skin surface is helps to break up this energy, reduce inflammation and promote healing. 

Guasha using a special tool to scrape on the skin means "Gua", it may cause light redness, purplish on the skin surface, as known as petechiae or "Sha".  The patient typically won't feel any pain during the treatment and petechiae will disappear in a few days.  In Chinese medicine theory, the energy flow can sometimes become blocked and may cause pain or tension in the muscle. When there is pain, there is a blockage.  In some cases, if blocked from blood stagnation or stasis, it may cause pain and illness.  We use Guasha techniques to pull out stagnant blood outward under the skin which is a bruise. However, your body's metabolism and immune system can remove all pathological products. 

Generally speaking, Guasha helps qi and blood flow through the body, which can balance and flow freely to ensure body health and wellbeing.  It is the best choice for people who are not comfortable with needle treatment.

Moxibustion is a type of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  It involves burning moxa, a cone, or a stick made of ground mugwort leaves.  It is placed on the acupuncture points or near the body's meridians.  This herb improves blood and energy circulation and also warms the body. It helps certain health issues from chronic pain to digestive troubles such as menstrual cramps, urinary incontinence, asthma symptoms, fatigue, eczema, cold & flu prevention, diarrhea or constipation, etc. 

Moxibustion can be applied directly or indirectly.  Direct moxa, the moxa cone rests on certain points, and the practitioner lights the cone & lets it burn slowly until the skin begins to turn red.  Once you feel the heat, the practitioner will remove it.  Indirect moxa is commonly used and also safe because the burning moxa doesn't touch the skin. Instead, the practitioner holds the moxa stick about 1 inch away from the body and removes it once the skin turning red and warm.

Tuina is one of the most popular TCM treatment modalities.  It gives you pleasure, relaxation, and promotes general wellness.  TCM uses tuina to harmonize yin and yang in the body by manipulating the qi in the meridians.  Tuina is also known as "acupressure" where practitioners use finger pressure instead of needles to stimulate the acupuncture points.  

Tuina is often used with children and infants, we called "Chinese pediatric massage therapy" to help and boost children and infant's immune systems.  It also can help in the treatment of superficial trauma and injury of musculoskeletal problems.

TCM practitioners often encourage and instruct patients to do self-massage and certain exercises at home.  This exercise will be extremely beneficial to facilitate the healing process.

We offer registered massage in our wellness center. Our massage therapist can perform all kinds of treatment, such as Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, prenatal or postpartum massages, and much more.  The goal of our massage treatment is to relax the body and give your therapeutic effect result after,  melt away muscle tension and increase the blood flow to your heart, decrease muscle toxins, increases oxygen levels in the blood, and improves flexibility in the body.   

Prenatal massage is therapeutic bodywork that focuses on the special needs of the mother-to-be as her body goes through the dramatic changes of pregnancy. Postpartum massage can help enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves circulation and general body tone, and relieves mental and physical fatigue.