What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is part of an Eastern medical system that has been used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness for over 4,000 years. Because of its effectiveness, acupuncture is now gaining broad popularity in the U.S. as a holistic healthcare option for physical, emotional, and mental disharmony. With this gentle yet effective approach, the body’s own restorative response is stimulated to promote healing.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views health as the constantly changing flow of vital energy, or chi along 14 energy meridians in the body. When this chi starts moving disharmoniously (gets congested or over stimulated), imbalance starts to surface in the form of symptoms. The goal of acupuncture is to assess these energy imbalances and use micro-fine needles at very precise acupoints along the meridians to balance the energy. This helps restore harmony at the deepest level of the body, mind and spirit.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an integral part of the health care system in mainland China and Taiwan. It is a comprehensive healing system that focuses on the treatment and prevention of disease. At its foundation is the understanding that the human body possesses inherent mechanisms for maintaining health. Thus, the practitioner’s goal is to stimulate ones own healing potential with an approach that addresses the underlying causes, as well as the symptoms of dis-ease.

TCM incorporates many techniques, including: Acupuncture, Herbology, Moxibustion (a warming method that promotes circulation), Tuina (medical massage), Cupping, and Gua Sha therapies; as well as Nutrition and gentle health exercises like T’ai Chi and Qi Gong. These modalities are often used in combination in order to most effectively restore balance.

Benefits of Acupuncture:

Since acupuncture promotes the body’s natural healing ability, most conditions can be corrected or improved. The effectiveness of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is well documented. The World Health Organization lists the following as just some of the ailments which are successfully treated with Acupuncture. In addition, Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for chronic health ailments that may not respond to conventional treatments or do not seem to have a clear diagnosis.

An Acupuncture Session:

When you arrive at Tulsi for your first Acupuncture visit you will be asked to complete initial paperwork. This can take up to 10 minutes so please plan to arrive a few minutes early. We also recommend that you wear or bring loose, comfortable clothing and eat a light meal prior to your appointment.

The initial Acupuncture consultation takes approximately 1.5 hours and includes a detailed assessment and TCM diagnosis (tongue and pulse readings and symptom intake to determine patterns of disharmony in the body). Based on this evaluation, the acupuncturist will create your treatment plan. In addition to acupuncture, you may be prescribed an herbal formula and given nutritional or lifestyle recommendations.

Follow-up Acupuncture visits take 1 hour and include a brief follow-up on your progress. Each treatment is customized to meet your continually changing health patterns as you progress through your treatment plan.

All treatments take place in a private, serene, and welcoming treatment room. We only use sterile, disposable needles and table coverings. We make every effort to ensure that your treatment is a comfortable, relaxing, and healing experience.