Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Herbalist in Tucson

Singing Bowl and Acupuncture needles in front of leaves

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Within the realm of complementary medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely recognized as a complete medical system which includes diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease to improve an individual’s health and wellness. TCM also shows the path to transformational healing through the understanding of our emotional body. Its gentle yet powerful modalities include acupuncture, herbal medicine, Tui Na medicinal massage, moxibustion and cupping, nutrition therapy and the practice Qi Gong and Tai Chi, which will help your body to stimulate its natural healing power.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the most well-known complementary therapy from TCM and a key service we provide at our Tucson acupuncture center. In the United States, acupuncture is used as a stand-alone treatment for a variety of conditions, however it is increasingly used in conjunction with conventional medicine treatments. Acupuncture helps to restore and maintain well-being by the stimulation of specific points connected through the individual’s internal energy network with the goal of bringing the body to balance. 

Acupuncture needling whether performed with manual stimulation, electrical stimulation or microcurrents, is used to stimulate the correct flow of Qi or vital energy in the body. Research supports acupuncture for its stimulating effects on the central nervous system, as well as endocrine and immune systems thereby increasing blood flow to IMPROVE CIRCULATION, REDUCE INFLAMMATION and ALLEVIATE PAIN. Acupuncture also enhances the REMOVAL OF TOXINS and speeds up the healing process.

Book an appointment at our Tucson acupuncture clinic to experience the healing benefits for yourself.

About electrical stimulation

Electroacupuncture is a fusion of traditional acupuncture principles with modern technology that involves gently applying low-frequency electrical currents through small electrodes attached to the acupuncture needles. A controlled amount of electricity runs through the electrode stimulating the acupuncture point in a more stable manner. This ensures you get the right amount of stimulation during your whole treatment. 

When you get electroacupuncture, it activates your sympathetic nerve fibers. By activating these fibers, your body releases endorphins, helping to reduce inflammation and pain. At the same time, other endogenous opioids activate the reward circuitry in your brain, flooding your body with dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter to boost your mood and feelings of pleasure. 

The principle behind electroacupuncture lies in its ability to fine-tune the body’s bioelectrical signals, effectively amplifying the treatment’s efficacy for various conditions. This makes electroacupuncture an effective treatment for chronic pain and stress.‌

About Microcurrent

Each tissue type in your body has its own signature electrical frequency, which may be disrupted by injury or disease. Microcurrent therapy simply restores normal frequencies within the cells, resulting in remarkable improvements in pain, inflammation, and function.

At the cellular level, microcurrent therapy stimulates a dramatic increase in ATP, the energy that fuels all biochemical functions in the body. It also stimulates protein synthesis which is necessary for tissue repair. The ensuing enhancement in blood flow and decrease in inflammation leads to reduction in pain and muscle spasms as well as increased range of motion.

*A critical aspect in healing with Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture is finding a licensed practitioner who has been fully trained (at least minimum 3–4-year master’s degree program) and is board-certified by NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine).

TCM is a powerful, yet safe medicine, thus, extensive training is required.

CANCER SUPPORT For patients with cancer—whether just receiving the diagnosis, currently receiving treatment, or in post care—acupuncture is used to support the body and the mind by alleviating physical symptoms such as bone pain, hot flashes or coldness, poor appetite, and nausea, as well as emotional symptoms like sadness, anger, and fear, to enhance ongoing conventional treatments.

Other techniques

Along with acupuncture, other techniques such as moxibustion and cupping are commonly used to treat different conditions. Moxibustion is a therapeutic method in TCM, and it commonly goes concurrently with acupuncture. Used since about 500 BCE, moxibustion involves burning Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) sticks or cones which are then lighted and used to warm points on your body. Moxibustion can travel through the meridians in the body, and it is used to regulate Qi and Blood, dispel cold, warm Yang and prevent diseases to maintain overall well-being.

Cupping therapy is an ancient healing method that may ease back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other issues. It uses heated glass cups or suction cups to pull on your skin and increase blood flow to the affected area. Suction from cupping draws fluid into the treated area; this suction force expands and breaks open tiny blood vessels (capillaries) under your skin. Your body replenishes the cupped areas with healthier blood flow and stimulates proper and normal healing at a cellular level. *Cupping may cause bruising. 

TUINA 

Tuina is one of the five main branches of TCM, along with acupuncture, Qi Gong, nutrition therapy and Chinese herbal medicine. This medicinal modality uses a gentle, deeply relaxing massage technique which engages all the energy systems of the body. 

Tuina massage is similar to acupuncture as it uses the same energetic meridians and acupoints to balance your body by getting rid of blockages and disturbances that manifest as illness, disease, and emotional issues. The practitioner uses fingers instead of needles to apply pressure and stimulates these points with the main therapeutic goal of removing energetic blocks that are causing Qi stagnation.

The massage activates the body’s nerve endings and stimulates metabolism which speeds up the healing process, relaxes muscles, enhances removal of metabolic wastes, improves circulation of blood and lymph, relieves mental and physical fatigue, and reduces pain, tension, and anxiety.

Tai Chi & QI Gong

They are part of the most powerful healing modalities in Eastern Medicine. Consistent practice can rebalance the mind and body connection, resolve physical and emotional issues, and even deepen one’s spiritual connection. Regardless of your age or level of fitness, your Tai Chi and Qi Gong practice begins where you are. 

Qi Gong combines meditation, controlled breathing, and gentle movement. Tai chi is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise in which you perform a series of motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths. It is sometimes called “meditation in motion” as the series of exercises help harmonize the body and mind’s energy. For those that cannot practice meditation while remaining still, this is a wonderful option. Meditation in movement will help you improve the communication between your body and mind.

It is time to relinquish physical and emotional stress created by the pressures of everyday life. Acupuncture treatments calm the mind and realign the body. They are sealed with a grounding Tuina massage leaving you with a feeling of peace and tranquility. Feel the energy within yourself flow freely as it harmonizes your body and mind.

Herbal Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an integrated approach to health that has been practiced for thousands of years. It encompasses various treatment modalities, with herbal medicine being a cornerstone alongside nutritional therapy.  TCM practitioners use an intricate system of pattern differentiation to diagnose and treat illness, which involves a thorough assessment of a patient’s signs and symptoms. This diagnosis then informs the selection of herbal formulas tailored to address the identified imbalances within the body’s organ systems and energetic channels.  These herbal formulas are composed of natural ingredients, each chosen for their resonance with specific organ systems, the energetic channels into which the substance is meant to enter, and pathogenic factors and patterns of disharmony that the substance is known to address. Chinese herbs have specific therapeutic properties and the ability to harmonize the body’s Qi, or vital energy. The goal of TCM and its use of herbal supplements is not only to treat illness but also to maintain wellness and prevent disease by nurturing the body’s inherent balance.

If you are interested in trying Chinese herbal formulas, look for a trained and licensed herbalist. Then make sure the herbalist uses high-quality herbs. You should look for a practitioner who is board certified in traditional Chinese herbology or Oriental Medicine. National board certification serves as grounds for a state license, and it also means that the practitioner has completed their Chinese herbalism education and has passed a rigorous board exam.