Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the use of needles to encourage natural healing, reduce or relieve pain and improve function to the affected areas of the body. In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is used to balance the body’s energy or qi (chi).
A nurse performs acupuncture using their knowledge of anatomy, physiology and patho-physiology. The nurse uses very fine sterile disposable needles that are inserted at specific points on the body. No drug is injected from the needles. It is a safe and effective treatment and is often used successfully as an alternative to drugs.
Acupuncture works by causing a cascade of chemicals to be released in the body. Some of these are endorphins, which are the body’s naturally occurring painkillers, and others are neurotransmitters, which transmit nerve impulses to the brain. Acupuncture also stimulates circulation and affects the autonomic nervous system.
Our nurse will only perform acupuncture and other forms of traditional Chinese Medicine once they have completed a thorough nursing assessment of their patient.
Suction Cups
Cupping is the term applied to a technique that uses heated small glass cups or bamboo jars as suction devices that are placed on the skin. There are several ways that the nurse can create the suction in the cups. This is similar to the practice of Tui Na, a traditional Chinese medicine massage technique that targets acupuncture points as well as painful body parts, and is well known to provide relief through pressure.
Generally, cupping is combined with acupuncture in one treatment, but it can also be used alone. Cupping is used to relieve back and neck pains, stiff muscles, anxiety, fatigue, migraines, rheumatism, and even cellulite. Cupping is one of the best deep-tissue therapies available. If you watched the Rio Olympics swimming races, Michael Phelps used cupping as part of his therapies to win his Gold Medals.
For more information, please contact us.
