What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Having existed for thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the world’s oldest systems of health and wellness that focuses on the entirety of a person’s wellbeing. Tenets of TCM include treatments focused on balance, harmony, and energy. These are realized through the concepts of “Qi” and “Yin and Yang.” Common practices in TCM include acupuncture, cupping, herbal remedies, meditation, Tai Chi, Reiki, and more.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the insertion of micro-fine needles into the body to facilitate a healing response. From a Chinese Medical perspective, the needles are inserted into specific points that have access to various vectors of the body. These can include basic skin and muscle stimulation, organ response, emotional reaction, or as deep as the constitutional (genetic) level of being. These locations act both locally and globally to influence and regulate a wide range of biomechanical and energetic stimuli and functionality.
From a biomedical perspective, as these micro-fine needles are inserted, the body perceives it as if it has been wounded. It then proceeds to instigate a healing response by activating the body’s nervous system and circulatory system, which regulate the production, secretion, and transportation of various molecules, including endorphins, neurotransmitters, and hormones. By regulating your body’s physiological functions, a state of homeostasis is restored within the body.
The intent of acupuncture is first to promote health and alleviate pain and suffering, and second to provide an effective method whereby disease can be prevented. Acupuncture appointments may include insertion or non-insertion of needles, moxa, cupping, gua-sha, e-stim, tuning forks, Chinese botanical herb prescriptions, nutrition, and movement therapies.
Our team includes doctors trained in traditional and classical Daoist, Japanese, and Esoteric styles of acupuncture. This includes both insertion and non-insertion techniques using sterilized, single-use, stainless steel needles.
Medical Qigong
Qigong is the practice of utilizing the effects of vibrational healing. This area of medicine is one of our specialties at Integrative Psychiatry. In Qigong, healing occurs through balancing qi, or electromagnetic energy, which surrounds and pervades all living creatures.
Disruptions in the electromagnetic energy of the body occur throughout our lifetime as a result of poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, injuries, surgery, suppression of emotions, and aging. The goal of Qigong is to correct these bio-energetic imbalances and blockages, enabling the body to strengthen and regulate its internal organs, the nervous system, and the immune system, as well as relieve pain, regulate hormones, and strengthen and release deep-seated emotions and stress.
Medical qigong therapy consists of a treatment to regulate your qi. During the treatment, you will be given qigong prescriptions to assist in your ongoing healing tailored specifically to your needs. Medical Qigong exercises use physical movement, breathing methods, and mental intention to correct and restore the function in the body.
Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by means of touch and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind, and spirit by creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security, and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results. Reiki is a simple, natural, and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.
Qi Gong Therapy
Qi Gong is a general term that refers to energy movement. There can be physical movement Qi Gong exercises that might look similar to Tai Qi. There are also internal movement Qi Gong exercises that utilize breathing and concentration techniques in a sitting, meditative style. Finally, there are manual therapy techniques that are basically energetic hands-on bodywork and are also referred to as Qi Gong Therapy.
Qi Gong dates back thousands of years and, like all Chinese Medicine, can trace its roots to Daoist origins. From the outside it might look similar to Tai Qi, however, Qi Gong is different. Tao Qi is a specific martial art, where Qi Gong refers to all energy exercises.
