TCM: Acupuncture: Rain Zhao TCM Practitioner and Osteopath
Acupuncture is one of the key components of Traditional Chinese medicine, which has been around over 2500 years. It is based on stimulating the points on “channels and collaterals” that lie throughout the body.
Acupuncture is an effective, drug-free practice. It is safe when practiced by trained professionals offering physical and emotional healing and support. It involves inserting extremely thin, single-use needles into precise points around the body. This allows the rebalancing of Qi that flows around your body.
Treatment process
If you agree to acupuncture, the TCM practitioner will insert needles at specific points. These points are carefully chosen by the practitioner after your assessment and relate to meridians that help restore balance. Your TCM practitioner is very skilled at inserting the fine needles. You may feel a slight prick or dull ache. Every attempt will be made to make the process as painless as possible so that you can relax.
The practitioner may move, twirl, heat, or apply electric pulses to the needles, depending on your condition and presentation. The needles could be left in the body for up to 20mins.
Electrical acupuncture
Certain conditions call for electrical acupuncture. The acupuncture needles are placed in their appropriate location, a small electrode is then attached to the needle. When turned on this creates a vibration through the needles to stimulate the acupressure point in your body that needs to be addressed.
Electroacupuncture activates part of your nervous system that maintains inflammation (swelling) and persistent pain. This form of treatment can be very beneficial for chronic pain and stress.
Western Acupuncture: Janice Huang Osteopath
Western, or Medical, acupuncture is an adaptation of Traditional Chinese acupuncture. Instead of using acupuncture needles based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophies (such as to balance energy flow in meridian channels),
Western acupuncture applies needles to modulate the nervous system for desired outcome based on knowledge\ of anatomy and physiology. As osteopaths have good training in anatomy and physiology, Janice sees Western acupuncture a natural extension to her core osteopathic practice. Janice integrates Western acupuncture into her practice and finds it particularly useful in reducing muscle tension, bring down tissue swelling and improving circulation.
Western acupuncture can be useful in the treatment of myofascial pain and musculoskeletal injuries. Western acupuncture may speed up recovery of injured muscles and tendons.