THERAPY MODALITIES

ACUPUNCTURE

TUI NA MASSAGE

CUPPING

MOXIBUSTION

HERBS

NEIGONG

ACUPUNCTURE
 鍼刺

Acupuncture has evolved over several thousands of years to develop into a highly efficacious therapeutic modality. It involves the placement of very thin needles at ‘points’ that are located along pathways that travel throughout the trunk, head and limbs of the body – commonly referred to as ‘meridians’ or ‘channels’ – that collectively extend into the internal three-dimensional web of sinews that interconnects absolutely everything within your entire body.

The needles stimulate a freeing up of space in the body, to encourage an adjustment of the circulation within this matrix and thereby the functioning throughout all organ, glandular, tissue and ultimately cellular structures of the body.

There are various possibilities in terms of the sensations that may be experienced during an acupuncture treatment. These may include heaviness, dullness, numbness, radiating sensation away from the acupuncture point, itchiness, ticklishness, warmth, coolness, or sensations occurring in more distant areas of the body that the pathway being stimulated passes through. These sensations can occur by themselves or in combination, and are quite varied from person to person.

Such reactions are very favourable as they confirm having gained access to the body’s dynamic, referred to as Dé Qì 得氣 – “obtaining Qì” in Mandarin Chinese.

Additionally, acupuncture stimulates the functions of various structures within – and regulated by – the central nervous system, particularly its autonomic function, i.e. those basic physiological & life-sustaining functions that are generally not under our conscious control such as body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, enzyme, hormone, neurotransmitter production and output, glandular secretions etc. 

As these life-sustaining functions are inevitably affected to varying degrees with any given state of disease as well as by various daily factors such as the frequency and quality of rest, activity and food; sensitivity to weather factors, emotional temperament, posture, breathing habits, etc., acupuncture therapy is very effective in many medical situations as well as to address so-called sub-states of health.

How many needles are used?
This will vary from person to person, as well as the symptoms being addressed, and particularly also on the individual person’s capacity to be at ease during the treatment. I therefore always work with you based on what you are ultimately comfortable to handle. Lasting therapeutic effect can only be attained through a calm system.

TOP ↑

TUI NA MASSAGE
推拿

Tui Na is a system of Chinese therapeutic massage that consists of a variety of mainly hand techniques that are applied to the body to encourage blood and lymphatic circulation, as well as promote a regulating of the nervous system.

It is the mechanical displacement of all the different fluids of the body that improves the rate and quality of recovery from physical injury, and also from functional, emotional and mental stress.

My general approach is to begin a session with a gentle facial and scalp massage,moving to the neck and arms, chest and abdominal organs and legs.

You will then be asked to turn over and lie on your front to work on opening your spine. I will spend more time on certain areas that need more attention, based on the symptoms you are coming in with.

I often also use Tui Na as an auxiliary treatment tool, sometimes to relax a certain area of the body that is otherwise too tense before having acupuncture, or after an acupuncture treatment to relieve lingering discomfort.  Cupping treatments are always followed with Tui Na to settle the tissues.

TOP ↑

CUPPING
 火罐

Cupping is not unique to Chinese medicine, and is practiced in a variety of other Asian, middle eastern, northern African and European countries.

One of the traditional methods of ‘fire cupping’, which I apply in my practice, involves burning up the oxygen inside glass cups for a brief moment, immediately after which – as air is rushing back into the cup to equalise the pressure – it is placed on the appropriate area of the body to which it will adhere through the vacuum that has been created.

Through the network of blood and lymphatic vessels, this vacuum draws up the unprocessed metabolic wastes and toxins from the depths closer to the body surface where it is easier for the body to process these more efficiently.

Depending on the degree of stagnated toxins and unprocessed metabolic wastes, the cups will leave varying shades of discolouration on the skin surface. With darker discolouration confirming more intense stagnation having been moved. 

These markings can resemble bruising in appearance, yet differ distinctly in that bruising is caused by abrupt impact and consequent rupturing of blood vessels that leak out into the space between body tissues, whilst the cupping effect works with a negative pressure, causing the capillary vessels at the skin surface to rupture, whilst not causing damage to underlying tissues.

Cupping is also combined with acupuncture therapy or by itself, being very effective for chest infections, asthma, digestive disorders, menstrual, muscular & joint pain, common cold, and more.

TOP ↑

MOXIBUSTION
灸法

Moxibustion – ‘moxa’ for short – is a very old form of heat therapy that pre-dates acupuncture. 

It involves the use of the dried Mugwort plant (Chin. ài yè 艾葉; Lat. Artemisiae Vulgaris), which is then prepared in a variety of ways: rolled with thin paper into a cigar shape; used in loose form where it is moulded into small balls and placed on the handles of acupuncture needles; or moulded into cones and placed directly onto the body surface, or with different substances placed between it and the skin such as a slice of fresh ginger, aconite, or salt to enhance the therapeutic effect.

Additionally, there are also ‘moxa hammers’ and ‘moxa boxes’ that allow for a more focused application of greater amounts of heat to the appropriate areas of the body.

The moxa is set alight and the heat allowed to slowly penetrate the body and activate the dynamic of the acupuncture point(s) and channel(s) located beneath and around the moxa, as well as stimulate microcirculation in the local area of application. 

This allows for a more efficient exchange of metabolic wastes and toxins with more efficiently assimilated nutrients from the digestive tract and oxygen from the lungs.

TOP ↑

NÈI GŌNG  內功  &  QÌ GŌNG  氣功

Nei Gong loosely translates to ‘internal skill’ and can be thought of as a more committed Qi Gong practice (pron. ‘chee gong’ / ‘skill using Qi’). Instead of practicing Qi Gong to relax or recover from illness or injury, the motivation with Nei Gong training is now to change the body from the inside to progressively increase physical, functional and mental potential to more advanced levels.

As much as these goals are shared by both Nei Gong and Qi Gong practitioners alike, the Nei Gong practitioner will be committing more time to their practice, and will experience more pronounced and sustained effects. 

These practices combine physical, breathing & mental exercises which directly engage the person practicing them into the process of positive change whilst also granting an ever-increasing sense of control over their health and well-being, and are defined by the “Three Regulations” 三調 San Tiao, namely:

1. Regulation of Posture 調形
2. Regulation of Breath 調息
3. Regulation of Mind / Focus of Attention 調神

There are two main ways that these practices are used:      

1. For those suffering from illness as a self-help tool to support their bodies’ basic physiology in the fight against illness as well as aid in the recovery phase after illness, physical injury or surgery   
2. For those interested in increasing their levels of health, including physical, functional and mental strength, to minimise vulnerability to illness & injury, thereby potentiating yourself to improve on the performance of the activities you are already doing.

In other words, Nei Gong/ Qi Gong is appropriate for anyone who is interested in becoming more actively involved in how their bodies are able to continue to function, consequently gaining an ever-increasing sense of control over their physical, functional, emotional and mental selves. 

This is accomplished by regularly practicing a combinationof the following two routines: 

1. Stationary standing exercises that involve holding one’s posture according to strict principles of alignment for ever-increasing time periods, whilst releasing peripheral/superfluous muscular tension, all the while developing breath control 
2. Dynamic exercises that emphasise the above in motion, allowing for the body to become more and more engaged as a single dynamic unit

This minimises the degree of stress elicited by gravity on joint- and other soft-tissue structures of the body and thereby also the strain on the internal organs, glands, nerve pathways & blood & lymphatic vessels. This significantly decreases the effort the body requires to exert itself, whether for maintaining basic body functions, physical activity or selfdefense.

From a modern medical perspective, the combination of postural alignment and breath control provokes a regulatory effect on the sympathetic & parasympathetic aspects of the autonomic nervous system, consequently regulating heart & respiratory rate, blood pressure, digestive function, as well endocrine & hormone secretion.

This means that the spectrum of application of Nei Gong / Qi Gong exercises is very broad. With continued practice, fundamental physiological functioning continues at a more efficient pace which, in turn, allows for increased circulation to broader areas of the brain leading to heightened levels of consciousness.

In countries such as China and Japan, Qi Gong is routinely taught to people suffering from diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, immune compromised conditions, as well as to those undergoing modern conventional treatments for cancer and many other conditions.

With a long and richly documented history – the oldest archaeological find dating back to sometime during the Spring-Autumn/ Warring States period, 770 – 221 B.C., where the basic concept of Qi Gong practice was engraved onto a twelve-sided jade stone with a total of 45 pictographic characters – this system of medical and health-enhancing exercises is simple, safe and effective, warranting more serious attention for the benefit of those willing to become more involved with their own health, wellbeing and strength.ore serious attention for the benefit of those willing to become more involved with their own health.

TOP ↑

CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE
中草藥

Chinese herbal medicine is becoming an increasingly popular therapeutic modality outside of Asia. Similar to acupuncture, it had also developed to a very high level of application already a very long time ago.

Chinese herbal medicine is applied in two fundamental ways:

1. Internal ingestion in the form of decoctions / soups, granules, tinctures, pills, medicinal wines, food therapy
2. External application in the form of medicated poultices, creams, powders, steams, washes, baths, suppositories

Regardless of its application, traditionally and also ideally, Chinese herbal medicine is prepared much like a tailored garment is for the dimensions of the individual who will wear it, in that the individual ingredients of a prescription along with their respective dosages will be ‘fitted’ to the individual person taking it.

This allows for maximum flexibility on the part of the practitioner who authors the prescription to adjust the number of ingredients and their dosages appropriately to the nature of the condition being treated as well as the response of the person taking it.

The method of administration is determined by several factors, amongst them the nature of the condition being treated and, to an extent (with decoctions), also by the willingness of the patient to commit to the preparation process of their medicine due to the overall cultural unfamiliarity of being personally involved with the actual preparing of one’s medicine. The latter occasionally being grounds for some to decline and rather opt for the convenience of patented herbal preparations, often in pill form.

As much as patent medicines are indeed convenient for the patient, it is, in actual fact, somewhat limiting for the practitioner in that there is not the same kind of flexibility in adjusting the treatment approach and therefore being overall more restricted in addressing the patient’s pattern more accurately.

Patent medicines are nonetheless a very effective tool and can also lead to very favourable results. At the same time, patent prescriptions may function as an introduction to herbal medicine for the patient who may eventually be convinced to pursue the customised option.

Herbal medicine is often combined with acupuncture treatment to enhance the effects, and is also a very useful approach by itself for either people who are not receptive to acupuncture, or logistically cannot come for regular treatment. For the latter, I routinely courier medicinal herbal scripts through to patients, whether locally, nationally, or internationally.

I stock and dispense primarily medicinal granular herbs, as this makes preparation for the patient much easier and consequent compliance significantly higher. The active compounds have already been extracted so that one is simply preparing a kind of instant cup of medicinal soup. Additionally, it takes the burden off of the patient on ensuring correct preparation of their medicine.