Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers pain to be caused by the lack of free flow of qi and/or blood. To put it simply, when the qi and blood move freely, there is no pain. Unfortunately, the flow of qi and blood can become inhibited at any and every area of the body. The internal organs, joints and ligaments, muscles can all be affected by qi and blood stagnation. What causes the stagnation?
-Internal causes, such as a weakness in a particular organ or energy system, a deficiency of qi or blood.
-External causes such as cold, damp, wind or heat
-Traumatic injury to soft tissue such as whiplash or a strained muscle As a TCM practitioner I aim to restore the flow of qi and blood in order to alleviate pain. I will use a combination of the following techniques alongside acupuncture to achieve this:
Tuina
Tuina is a traditional hands-on manipulation treatment method guided by the TCM theory. It helps stimulate the flow of vital energy qi and blood throughout your body. When the flow of qi is blocked at any point along a meridian (an invisible line that connects your organs with other parts of your body). By removing these blockages, tuina is said to restore your body's balance of qi and, in turn, improve your health.
Cupping
Cupping, is a traditional Chinese therapy, in which a glass cup is applied to the skin with suction, in order to draw and hold skin in conjunction with superficial muscle tissue and fascia inside the cup.
Cupping is often applied to certain acupuncture points as well as to most areas of the body that have been affected by pain or muscle and fascia tightness. The cupping process will draw blood from your vessels and into your tissue. Your body will use this blood and create a
positive inflammatory response, bringing local antibodies to the area, kicking off the healing process. The cupping process has many benefits for physical health, including:
Stimulate blood flow
Help drain lymph and debris around an injury
Separate layers of fascia, connective tissue, or muscle
Release tension in tight muscles
Reduce muscle spasm
Lift and stretch myofascial tissues, separating each layer individually
Improve joint range of motion
Reduce pain around an injury
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese Heat therapy that involves burning herbs and applying the resulting heat to specific points on the body. This technique is typically administered in conjunction with acupuncture.
The heat generated during moxibustion helps increase the flow of vital energy- Qi and blood throughout the body via certain pathways (meridians).
Moxibustion can help treat the following health problems: · Arthritis · Back pain · Headaches · Migraines and Muscle stiffness.
If you need help to manage your pain, I am here to help. I am available for Acupuncture appointments Friday and Saturday mornings, where I will incorporate different techniques specific to your needs and help manage your pain naturally.
Tanya Graham
