The ancient Chinese believed that within the body, there are channels of energy called meridians, which regulate your body’s functions. Any imbalance in energy or qi (pronounced chee) causes illness. In acupuncture, needles are used to manipulate the energy along meridians and their corresponding organs in order to bring about balance. From a western viewpoint, we know that all matter is made up of atoms. The building blocks of atoms are essentially bundles of energy which vibrate at different frequencies to form different atoms. The needles are used to restore the original frequency (balance- harmony-good health) bringing about a balance in energy.

Herbal Prescriptions (raw herbs or prepared supplements) are often used in conjunction with an acupuncture treatment or may be used in place of acupuncture. Each herb in a prescription has a particular function. Unlike Western pharmaceuticals which may use the isolated active ingredient of an herb to treat a disease or a synthetic version of an active ingredient, most herbologists work on the premise that a herb should be used in its entirety. There are complementary ingredients in an herb that balance out the main ingredients. This is why there are so few side effects with most herbs and herbal formulas. Tuina Massage is a traditional form of Chinese massage also used to treat disease. Tuina (the name given to traditional Chinese massage) has been proven effective for many ailments including musculoskeletal and joint problems. There is a special component of Tuina, Pediatric Tuina, used in place of acupuncture for infants and children to treat common illnesses such as infantile diarrhea, constipation, malnutrition and colds. Meditation, dietary therapy and Qi gong (energy balancing) exercises such as Tai Chi may be recommend to complement therapy.