"Healing from the heart." - Lotus Heals - Acupuncture NYC

Traditional Chinese practitioners discuss different areas, or meridians, of the body that are used to transfer energy. They believe each body has twelve different meridians and treatment can be applied to each meridian for a myriad of reasons. Chinese medicine is alternative medicine compare to western medicine. Alternative medicine is defined as any form of medical treatment that is used in the place of traditional therapies or traditional and modern scientific medicine and practices. Alternative medicine claims to provide healing effects that other forms of medicinal therapy have not been proven to work. Alternative medicine is quickly growing in popularity as a way to promote the same healing properties that can be found in traditional medicine but without the risk of the same side effects.

Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years in China where it was widely used to treat different conditions. Acupuncture is being used more often with Western Medicine, as it has shown to be beneficial. Acupuncture is based on Channel Theory. Believed to be a living being constantly breathing in and out, there is “Qi”, or an energy flowing through a channel, which is more like a network, or web covering the entire the body. Imagine that energy is like water flowing on the earth in many forms. There are oceans, seas, rivers, ponds, streams, springs, and wells.  A healthy flow is a smooth and clean flow. An unhealthy flow is disrupted, stagnated, or twitched due to unbalance from diet, trauma, emotional stress and life style. 

 Acupuncture works to free the unhealthy flow by inserting very thin needles into the key points,  which unblock the stagnation, regulate the stream, and balance the energy. The importance in Chinese Medicine is to have a proper diagnosis and treatment, that is why it is very important to find a practitioner with proper training, who is also practicing qigong with good energy flow by themselves. Since acupuncture is described as a pivot of energy or spirit in ancient Chinese book, the practitioner is holding space for you and finds the right key to open the door of your body, so the blocked energy can flow properly. Because of the influence of Acupuncture on the points in our energy channels, research suggests that Acupuncture can help manage pain, and many internal diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) named more than fifty conditions that Acupuncture has helped: chronic illness, depression, infection, cold/flu, digestive issues (IBS,Ulcerative Colitis), fatigue, insomnia, injuries, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, sciatica, migraines, nephropathy, infertility or other hormonal dis-balance etc.

We use only very thin disposable needles. Consequently, with the insertion of acupuncture needles, you will feel little, or no sensation. When the needle contacts with your energy flow at the points along your energy channels, you may feel a tingling sensation or energy moving, most time there is obvious sound from abdominal area as we practice a lot of abdominal methods in school.

Acupuncture treatment length and frequency is carefully determined to give individual patients the best relief from their presenting conditions. Acupuncture treatments are usually given 2-3 times/week throughout the prescribed course of treatment if you have some conditions to dress ; once a week is good for maintaining your general health and preventing diseases. Acupuncture can also help with balancing hormones, stopping PMS, as well as menstrual cramping, and overall getting a healthy menstrual cycle.

Acupuncture and moxibustion are two traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies that have been used for centuries to support overall health and well-being. They are increasingly being recognized for their potential role in boosting the immune system.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. These points are believed to be connected to meridians, or pathways, that carry energy (qi) throughout the body. Stimulating these points with needles is thought to help to balance the flow of qi and promote healing.

Moxibustion involves the burning of dried mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) leaves or cones near or on the skin. The heat from the burning moxa is believed to help to stimulate the circulation of qi and blood, and to dispel pathogens (disease-causing factors).

How might acupuncture and moxibustion support the immune system?

• Increase circulation: Acupuncture and moxibustion may help to increase blood circulation, which can help to deliver immune cells and antibodies to where they are needed.
• Reduce inflammation: Acupuncture and moxibustion may help to reduce inflammation, which can be a protective response to infection but can also damage healthy tissues.
• Modulate the immune system: Acupuncture and moxibustion may help to modulate the immune system, making it more effective in fighting off infections.

Research on acupuncture and moxibustion for immune support:

• A 2019 study published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology found that acupuncture was effective in reducing the severity of symptoms in people with the common cold.
• A 2017 study published in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine found that moxibustion was effective in improving immune function in people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

It is important to note that more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion for immune support. However, the existing evidence suggests that these therapies may have a role to play in promoting overall health and well-being.

If you are considering acupuncture or moxibustion for immune support, it is important to talk to a qualified practitioner. They can help you to determine if these therapies are right for you and can develop a treatment plan that meets your individual needs.

Here are some additional tips for supporting your immune system:

• Eat a healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Get regular exercise
• Get enough sleep
• Manage stress
• Practice good hygiene

We hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
 

Chinese Herbal Medicine is part of the ancient healing art of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Chinese herbs are used to restore the "Qi", or energy of the body by bringing balance to the opposing forces of Yin and Yang. TCM believes that the imbalance of Yin and Yang creates blockage in Qi which results in illness. TCM identifies combinations of herbs that are particularly effective in restoring the balance between Yin and Yang under many different conditions. The result, according to TCM, is a return of the flow of Qi throughout the body, and an improvement in general physical and mental health. There are over 6,000 species of herbs that are processed in a number of ways to ensure that the active ingredients are accessible. Chinese herbs use all-natural ingredients in special formulations individualized for each patient. Modern herbs are ground into a powder before being placed into a capsule, or pressed into a tablet for easy swallowing.  Many of these millennium-old recipes have formed the basis for Western medicine after rigorous research.  For example, TCM expert Tu Youyou was awarded half of the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2015 for her discovery of the herb artemisinin, isoltated from the plant known as Sweet Wormwood, now compounded into a drug to treat malaria. Chinese herb formulas could significantly improve fertility capacity if you have low AMH, estrogen or progesterone or a thin uterus lining.  

Tui Na massage is a modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine that addresses specific patterns of disharmony in the body. Here are five benefits of Tui Na massage people are discovering every day.

Tui Na is a complete system of medicine.Tui Na, along with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, are the main components of Traditional Chinese Medicine. As such, Tui Na can be used to treat specific areas, or it can be used to improve the overall Qi or energy flow throughout the body. Because Tui Na is a complete system, the treatment often helps both these components at the same time. Tui Na is thought to be the oldest system of bodywork practiced today. It uses the same principles as acupuncture. Acupuncture involves releasing and connecting energy at 12 specified points throughout the body through the use of tiny needles. Similarly, Tui Na, which means “pushing and grasping,” addresses the same points using manual stimulation. Tui Na rectifies anatomical abnormalities of both inner and outer surfaces by altering the energy levels of the biological system and adjusting the bio-information of the body. It can also be used alongside acupuncture.

Because it is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine and because it employs the same principles, Tui Na can also be used as a complement to acupuncture treatment. Using both treatment modalities can be an effective approach to working with energy and addressing and restoring its flow. Tui Na massage can relieve multiple disorders including insomnia, constipation, headaches, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, and emotional problems. It can also treat disorders related to digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Many people seek the treatment for stiff neck, distension of shoulders, sciatica, and sore back. Tui Na can be used to address both internal diseases and external injuries.

Tui Na massage integrates well and can be used with various modalities. Tui Na can be used as an integrative treatment with traditional medicine. In addition, it can be used with other forms of alternative medicine, including Shiatsu massage, sports massage, deep-tissue neuromuscular bodywork, and myofacial release.

If you’re suffering from a physical ailment or looking for an alternative, holistic approach to overall wellness, Tui Na massage may be an effective option. Learn more about the health benefit from our Chinese Massage, and Acupuncture in NYC individualized treatments, 

Cupping therapy, also known as hijama therapy in some Arabic cultures, is a fascinating alternative form of medicine that has received mention in historical accounts dating from possibly 5,000 years ago. Chinese Cupping Therapy is often used in conjunction with more commonly known forms of traditional Chinese medicine treatments and methods such as acupuncture and acupressure.

Cupping therapy was first discussed in old medical textbooks in the Western World and was described as a medical practice that was used by Egyptians. There have also been accounts of Hippocrates using the Cupping Method for internal disease. Fire Cupping has also been practiced throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Cupping therapy is an alternative form of medicine and is perhaps better known as a traditional Chinese Medicine, like acupuncture.

Several other cultures used cupping therapy as a method to treat several different ailments. The Chinese have been reported to use cupping during surgical procedures as a way to help divert the blood flow from the surgical site. American and European doctors have used cupping to treat more common ailments such as the common cold, chest infections and congestion.

The basic idea behind cupping therapy is to place glass cups on the skin, using fire to create a vacuum, so the blood is drawn to the surface of the skin in specific parts of the body that need healing. The heat from the fire can disperse the cold and help the blood flow; cupping also used to be performed using hollowed out animal horns and was a method employed to treat boils, snakebites, and skin lesions. The cupping method was said to pull toxins from the body. The application of cupping throughout the years has evolved from the use of animal horns to bamboo cups, and then to the glass cups, that can withstand being exposed to elevated temperatures during the heating process, you can see it used today at our clinic. Cupping moves the stagnation and dispels pathogenic fluid from the body, it stimulates and guides oxygenated blood to the local point by creating a suction within a superficial level.  

There are other material like earthenware and silicone or plastic that are only for home usage, and have not been recognized as professional or as original cupping tools in clinic. Fire glass cupping is effective and clean, as it uses the heat to disperse the pathogen not only with pressure. Other cupping tools are hard to wash, and aren't very good hygienically. Our clinic uses fire glass cupping, cups are washed and sanitized after every treatment. We also do flashing and sliding massage styles. Cupping plays a significant role in invigorating blood and promoting ovulation and a timely menstrual cycle.