SERVICES
Insurance Accepted:
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Acupuncture
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Acupuncture was developed about 2500 years ago as part of a comprehensive system of medicine called Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM. It is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person's skin at specific points on the body, to various depths. Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide range of ailments. Research suggests that it is effective for relieving pain.
Traditional Chinese Medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of complementary extremes of “yin” and “yang” of the life force known as “qi,” pronounced “chi.” Thus, illness is the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. Qi is said to flow through meridians, or pathways, in the human body. These meridians and energy flows are accessible through over 360 acupuncture points. Inserting needles into these points with appropriate combinations is said to bring the energy flow back into proper balance. The 12 main meridians connect with the 12 main organs. Thus, there is a lung, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, bladder, kidney, pericardium, san jiao, gallbladder, and liver meridian. There are also eight extraordinary meridians, called yang link, yin link, yang heel, yin heel, thoroughfare (chong), belt (dai), conception (ren) and governing (du). Acupuncture can be likened to tuning a guitar. When you turn the pegs on the guitar it causes the strings to tighten or loosen. By adjusting the pegs, you can bring the guitar into harmony and allow it to play in tune. Tightening is like tonifying and loosening is reducing. I like to think of acupuncture like getting an oil change, it seems to lubricate the system into an ability to function better. It seems to allow an exchange of information to go from the central nervous system into the periphery and thus gives the body information it need to function in better harmony and rhythm. |
Moxibustion
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Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy. It is done with “moxa” in which the dried plant “mugwort” or “ai ye” is rolled into a cone or stick. This is burned very near the surface of the skin. The intention is to warm and invigorate the flow of Qi in the body and dispel certain pathogenic influences. Moxibustion helps to increase blood circulation, tonify energy, stimulate the digestive system and boost the immune.
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Craniosacral Therapy
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Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered and developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University where he served as professor of biomechanics.
Using a soft touch which is generally no greater than 5 grams - about the weight of a nickel - practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. This is done by applying very light pressure to different bones in the skull or by holding the head in different holds. Craniosacral therapy is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and its effectiveness in addressing a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction. Craniosacral therapy is also effective for unwinding the body, or releasing old injuries and traumas. Because craniosacral and acupuncture both address dysfunction in the nervous system and help release it, I believe it is very effective to combine them to restore balance and harmony to the body. |
Energy Work (Reiki)
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Energy work is used to help balance the systems of energy throughout the body to alleviate stress, ailments, and disease. There are different approaches through different traditions. One example is called Reiki, which is a system of hands on energy work. Essentially, when one feels unbalanced either physically, emotionally, or mentally, energy work aids to restore and realign the body's subtle fields and vibrations.
Energy work is a conduit for channeling qi. Various techniques and tools may be used to release energetic blockages, ground or move energy, and to restore healthy balance and flow. The energy worker uses the power of intention, along with training and experience, to channel energy where it is needed to help the client integrate mind-body-spirit. In my Four Directional Model of Energy Management, I explain the theory and techniques behind my application of energy work. The four directions are seal/shield, ground/center, flow, and prune. I use this model in my practice to help people clear, restructure, and fill their energy field. Another strong influence in my practice is Barbara Brennan, who teaches a system of hands on energy healing. I recommend her books Hands of Light and Light Emerging. |
Swedish Massage
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Swedish massage is what most people imagine when they think of massage. It uses varying techniques, like petrissage or kneading, effleurage or long gliding strokes, or tapotement or tapping to manipulate the soft muscle tissue in the body to increase blood and lymphatic flow. Not only is it useful for relaxation, but it also increases oxygen levels in the blood, flushes out toxins, and improves circulation and flexibility. In addition to relieving stress, Swedish massage can also boost the immune system.
I offer a specialty treatment, in which I give my client a Swedish massage and then follow it with an acupuncture treatment. Because the body is already relaxed and the muscle tissue softened from the massage, it prepares the body for the acupuncture and the deep relaxation which follows. A study conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and published in The New York Times, found that volunteers who received a 45-minute Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as arginine vasopressin-a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. Volunteers also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system, and a boost in the immune cells that may help fight colds and the flu. Additional Swedish massage techniques include circular pressure applied by the hands and palms, firm kneading, percussion-like tapping, bending and stretching. Before and during your Swedish massage session, communication is encouraged with your professional massage therapist so that your massage is customized to your specific needs. |
Deep Tissue Massage
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Deep tissue massage therapy is similar to Swedish massage, but the deeper pressure is beneficial in releasing chronic muscle tension. The focus is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints).
A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that people's blood pressure fell after a single 45 to 60 minute deep tissue massage. Additionally, a 2010 meta-analysis in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that massage modalities like deep tissue reduce stress hormone levels and heart rate while boosting mood and relaxation by triggering the release of oxytocin and serotonin. |
Assisted Stretching
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Assisted stretching is when the practitioner facilitates stretches for the client. Assisted stretching can be active or passive and also includes using ROM or range of motion. Assisted stretching allows clients to release tension from joint areas and to increase flexibility.
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After a session:
• Rest
• Relax
• Drink Water
• Eat a healthy meal
• Stay Grounded and Centered
• Keep a journal of your feelings and dreams
In some instances, it is appropriate to take a bath to continue the clearing. I recommend taking a bath using a ½ cup to cup of sea salt and baking soda.
You may feel more tired, so please lay down and rest. Laying down on the earth can help your body adjust more easily to energetic changes.
• Relax
• Drink Water
• Eat a healthy meal
• Stay Grounded and Centered
• Keep a journal of your feelings and dreams
In some instances, it is appropriate to take a bath to continue the clearing. I recommend taking a bath using a ½ cup to cup of sea salt and baking soda.
You may feel more tired, so please lay down and rest. Laying down on the earth can help your body adjust more easily to energetic changes.
What NOT to do after a session:
• Use intoxicants
• Perform heavy labor
• Engage in stressful situations
• Engage in risky situations
After a session, I do not recommend:
Going into crowded public situations, Pogo sticking, Bungee jumping, etc.
Please be very careful with yourself after a treatment. Because your energy can shift, I ask people to stay grounded. Take extra precaution if you walk on a slick surface that you do not fall.
If you have sex and do not want to conceive, please protect yourself appropriately.
• Perform heavy labor
• Engage in stressful situations
• Engage in risky situations
After a session, I do not recommend:
Going into crowded public situations, Pogo sticking, Bungee jumping, etc.
Please be very careful with yourself after a treatment. Because your energy can shift, I ask people to stay grounded. Take extra precaution if you walk on a slick surface that you do not fall.
If you have sex and do not want to conceive, please protect yourself appropriately.
