What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Traditional Chinese medicine denotes a number of different techniques for optimizing physical and mental wellbeing, which have been practiced and perfected over the course of at least 2000 years. These techniques include acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, herbal formulae, and lifestyle and dietary modifications.
All of these are natural, non-invasive ways of restoring the body’s wellbeing.
The body is like an ecosystem, and the function (or dysfunction) of one part of your body affects the performance of the rest of your body, too. With traditional Chinese medicine, the idea is to restore the overall balance and support the body’s ability to heal itself. A skilled practitioner can determine what your body needs to regain or stimulate its ability to self-heal.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the most commonly used medical practices in the world. Specific points on the body are stimulated with very fine disposable needles to encourage the body to promote natural healing, improve functioning, and restore health.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pain and illness result from imbalances within the body. By needling specific acupuncture points, internal organs can be influenced and imbalances can be corrected. Acupuncture helps balance the movement of energy within the body, reducing pain or preventing illness gently and without side effects.
Although western medicine has yet to fully explain how acupuncture works, it is generally believed that acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals either change the experience of pain or trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones, which influence the body’s internal regulating system.
Herbal Medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, a number of herbs are used in combinations that allow the herbs to work synergistically. The effects tend to be stronger when multiple herbs are used in combination rather than individually; additionally, this method reduces or eliminates any side effects that might arise from taking single herbs.
Herbal prescriptions are available in many convenient forms: pills, powders, and tinctures.
If our practitioner determines that herbal remedies are required for your treatment plan, a personalized herbal formula will be created just for you. The formulae are based on traditional herbal combinations, which have been developed over thousands of years.
Our herbs are government tested and approved upon arrival in Canada for heavy metals, toxins, and contaminants. All the herbs we prescribe are of the highest quality.
Dietary Modifications
Traditional Chinese medicine classifies all food depending on its flavour, temperature, and method of cooking. Food is seen as a form of medicine, which directly influences the body.
Depending on each individual’s diagnosis, some foods may need to be eliminated and others added to the diet in order to maintain the body’s balance and optimize your health. Consequently, a personalized food plan may be prescribed for you as part of your custom treatment.
Lifestyle Recommendations
It is often beneficial to include some lifestyle techniques to supplement your treatment plan, as well. These can be performed at home and will magnify the results you see from your office visits.
Gentle exercises may be recommended, as well as stress reduction techniques and breathing exercises. We may provide you with a moxa stick and instructions for using it at home to speed healing, and/or we may recommend some acupressure treatments for you to perform on yourself.
Join our newsletter to learn more about techniques you can try at home, or book an appointment to obtain a customized treatment plan.
SCHEDULE A CONSULT
Or for more information please call
250-334-3630
People Say:
“Michelle has been an integral part of my health regiment for over 2 years… She genuinely cares about your health and getting you well. I don’t hesitate recommending Michelle and acupuncture as a treatment if you’ve been thinking about trying it. It’s amazing!!”
© Dr. Michelle Hughes 2018.
MADE WITH love FOR great people.