Techniques and Procedures
We use a number of procedures in our practice, including the following:
Traditional Acupuncture
Acupuncture works by stimulating and/or correcting the body’s natural
healing ability. Whether we call this ability Qi, “healing energy” or
simply a well-functioning immune system, gentle stimulation of key
points on the body can have profound effects.
The earliest known reference to acupuncture dates from the Han Dynasty, approximately 2,000 years ago. The Huangdi Neijing (The Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor) is the oldest text of Chinese medicine. The first part, the Su Wen (Plain Questions), introduced the principles which would form the foundation of traditional Chinese medicine.
The second book, the Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) focused on acupuncture specifically, describing the channels, the nine types of needles, the functions of the acupuncture points, etc. All acupuncture disciplines, whether Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Tibetan or Southeast Asian, can trace their origins to the Su Wen and Ling Shu.
The earliest needles were made of bronze. Today, needles are made of disposable surgical stainless steel. They vary in width from .12 to .30 millimeters (note: for comparison, needles commonly used for drawing blood are approximately .81 mm in diameter). At Gig Harbor Acupuncture, we use .16 and .20 mm gauge needles almost exclusively.
Electro-Acupuncture
Electro-Acupuncture was developed in the 1930’s as a substitute for the traditional practice of rapidly stimulating acupuncture needles manually.
By running low-voltage, pulsating stimuli from one needle to another, improvements such as pain relief can be more rapidly achieved. Electro-acupuncture can be used on its own, or as an adjunct to traditional acupuncture.
Cupping
Cupping is technique used to improve circulation and move Qi by applying special cups made of glass to the skin with a vacuum created by heat. Cupping, as practiced in China, began more than 1,500 years ago. However, other cultures, including those in the Middle East and Eastern Europe also used cupping as a means to improve health.
Cupping works to break up adhesions in muscles and fascia and by pulling toxins and waste, such as lactic acid, to the surface. At Gig Harbor Acupuncture, we often use a running cupping technique, where a single cup is moved over the affected area.
We also use stationary cupping, where a number of cups are used at specific points, usually on the back. The cups are left in place for approximately ten minutes, drawing toxins and wastes to the surface.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is a technique which employs a blunt-edge instrument to gently abrade the skin, i.e., create dermal friction. We use gua sha to relieve pain, stimulate circulation and bring toxins to the surface.
Moxibustion
Moxa is soft, spongy herb derived from mugwort (Artemis vulgaris). It is burned on or near the body to warm tissues and improve circulation of Blood and Qi.
The herb is very malleable and can be formed into many shapes, including “rice grains” or larger cones. These are placed on the skin and when burned, directly warm tissues and stimulate the flow of Qi and Blood (but are quickly extinguished or removed before burning the flesh). Moxa can also be wrapped in rice paper, cigar-style, and used indirectly above the skin to warm larger areas.
More dramatically, it can shaped into half-inch balls and burned on the ends of acupuncture needles, to more deeply warm the channels and move the Blood and Qi within the channels.
Traditional Acupuncture
Acupuncture works by stimulating and/or correcting the body’s natural
healing ability. Whether we call this ability Qi, “healing energy” or
simply a well-functioning immune system, gentle stimulation of key
points on the body can have profound effects.The earliest known reference to acupuncture dates from the Han Dynasty, approximately 2,000 years ago. The Huangdi Neijing (The Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor) is the oldest text of Chinese medicine. The first part, the Su Wen (Plain Questions), introduced the principles which would form the foundation of traditional Chinese medicine.
The second book, the Ling Shu (Spiritual Pivot) focused on acupuncture specifically, describing the channels, the nine types of needles, the functions of the acupuncture points, etc. All acupuncture disciplines, whether Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Tibetan or Southeast Asian, can trace their origins to the Su Wen and Ling Shu.
The earliest needles were made of bronze. Today, needles are made of disposable surgical stainless steel. They vary in width from .12 to .30 millimeters (note: for comparison, needles commonly used for drawing blood are approximately .81 mm in diameter). At Gig Harbor Acupuncture, we use .16 and .20 mm gauge needles almost exclusively.
Electro-Acupuncture
Electro-Acupuncture was developed in the 1930’s as a substitute for the traditional practice of rapidly stimulating acupuncture needles manually.By running low-voltage, pulsating stimuli from one needle to another, improvements such as pain relief can be more rapidly achieved. Electro-acupuncture can be used on its own, or as an adjunct to traditional acupuncture.
Cupping
Cupping is technique used to improve circulation and move Qi by applying special cups made of glass to the skin with a vacuum created by heat. Cupping, as practiced in China, began more than 1,500 years ago. However, other cultures, including those in the Middle East and Eastern Europe also used cupping as a means to improve health.Cupping works to break up adhesions in muscles and fascia and by pulling toxins and waste, such as lactic acid, to the surface. At Gig Harbor Acupuncture, we often use a running cupping technique, where a single cup is moved over the affected area.
We also use stationary cupping, where a number of cups are used at specific points, usually on the back. The cups are left in place for approximately ten minutes, drawing toxins and wastes to the surface.
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is a technique which employs a blunt-edge instrument to gently abrade the skin, i.e., create dermal friction. We use gua sha to relieve pain, stimulate circulation and bring toxins to the surface.Moxibustion
Moxa is soft, spongy herb derived from mugwort (Artemis vulgaris). It is burned on or near the body to warm tissues and improve circulation of Blood and Qi. The herb is very malleable and can be formed into many shapes, including “rice grains” or larger cones. These are placed on the skin and when burned, directly warm tissues and stimulate the flow of Qi and Blood (but are quickly extinguished or removed before burning the flesh). Moxa can also be wrapped in rice paper, cigar-style, and used indirectly above the skin to warm larger areas.
More dramatically, it can shaped into half-inch balls and burned on the ends of acupuncture needles, to more deeply warm the channels and move the Blood and Qi within the channels.