Other Modalities in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Apart from acupuncture and herbs, there are other types of energy manipulation used at Heavenly Stems Acupuncture. Your treatment may include:

1. Heat lamps.

To open and warm the meridians, increase blood flow during a treatment.

2. Cupping.

Glass cups are applied to the back using a flame to create a vacuum. The suction helps improve circulation and release trapped waste products from rigid muscles. This can also be effective for relieving the symptoms of a cold or flu.

3. Electroacupuncture.

Some types of muscle and joint injury respond more quickly to acupuncture when a fine electrical current is applied to the needles using a special stimulation unit.

4. Moxibustion.

Burning the herb Artemisia vulgaris, a Chinese variety of mugwort, improves blood circulation, relieves pain, increases energy and stamina, and warms up cold parts of the body. It is especially useful for acute and chronic injuries and menstrual irregularities. Most commonly, a cigar-shaped stick is used and held about an inch away from the skin until a warm sensation is felt; the stick is moved up and down the meridians (energy pathways in the body) to encourage the free flow of qi.