Acupuncture is a gentle, time-tested healing practice that uses very thin, sterile needles placed at specific points on the body to support your nervous system and restore balance. The needles send signals to the brain that help regulate stress, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and encourage the body’s natural healing chemicals (like endorphins and neurotransmitters). Many people experience deep relaxation during treatment as the body shifts out of “fight-or-flight” and into a healing state.

Acupuncture supports the body as a whole and is commonly used for:

- Stress, anxiety, and nervous system overwhelm
- Pain and tension (neck, back, headaches, joint pain)
- Digestive issues
- Hormonal and menstrual concerns
- Sleep issues and fatigue
- Immune and overall wellness support

Rather than just treating symptoms, acupuncture helps your body do what it’s designed to do—self-regulate, heal, and function more smoothly.

Cupping is a therapy that uses glass suction cups placed on the skin to help improve circulation, release muscle tension, and support the body’s natural healing processes. The suction gently lifts the tissue, encouraging blood flow to the area and helping tight or stagnant muscles relax. This can reduce pain, ease tension, and support recovery. The circular marks that sometimes appear are not bruises and usually fade within a few days. While cupping is commonly used for muscle tightness, back and neck pain, headaches, stress, and general tension, it has other benefits as well. It is often used in supporting lung health and the immune system both in the beginning stages of an illness or in the recovery stage.

Chinese herbs can offer a powerful adjunct to acupuncture care.  Practitioners are able to formulate a prescription that specifically fits the needs of each individual and their unique imbalances,  allowing herbal therapy to give a consistent continuation of treatment long after you have left the office.  Herbs can be administered in the form of tea, tinctures, powders or capsules.  

Gua sha is a technique of scraping the skin with a smooth and blunt tool to bring up any stagnation in the body that may be creating pain or dysfunction.  The main premise of gua sha, physically, is the raising of stagnant blood to the surface of the skin. Like many forms of liquid that remain in one area too long, stagnant blood will begin to accumulate unwanted particles as well. The action of pulling this stagnation up allows for fresh blood and flow in the area allowing proper metabolic exchange and an increase range of motion in the area.  

Moxibustion is a traditional therapy that uses gentle warmth to support circulation, relaxation, and healing. It involves warming specific areas of the body with an herb called mugwort. The warmth helps increase blood flow, relaxes muscles, and supports the body’s natural repair processes. Many people find moxibustion deeply soothing, especially when they feel cold, tense, depleted, or run down. Moxibustion is commonly used to support digestion, menstrual health, chronic pain, fatigue, and overall vitality. It’s often combined with acupuncture for a more complete treatment.

Understanding the Chinese Medicine lens on food teaches us to see it beyond macronutrients and calories. Learning about a food’s thermal nature, flavor and what organ systems it impacts can help you to choose foods that work with your particular situation more specifically. This also applies to learning to eat according to the demands of the climate or season you find yourself in. Incorporating Chinese dietary therapy can enhance any meal plan to bring more nuance to truly nourishing your body.