Chinese Medicine is a philosophy of nature that involves herbal preparations, food therapy, exercise, and massage, and acupuncture. It involves a completely separate form of anatomy, physiology and diagnosis which relates to imbalances of energy or Qi in the body (Qi is pronounced “Chee”). Energy circulates through pathways known as meridians or channels. Acupressure and Acupuncture seeks to rebalance these disturbances through stimulation of specific points along these channels.
Mary Ann Settembrino – Licensed Acupuncturist – Narberth Family Medicine and Acupuncture – Main Line of Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania
Dr. Marina Yanover, ND, LAc – Naturopathic Medicine Family Practice & Acupuncture – New York City, Brooklyn, Connecticut
The Henderson Center – Chiropractors, Shiatsu Therapy, Massage Therapists – King of Prussia, PA, Montgomery County PA, Southeastern Pennsylvania
Chinese Medicine modalities include:
Acupressure
Acupressure is a term encompassing any number of massage techniques that use manual pressure to stimulate energy points on the body.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a system of treatment which has been in existence for thousands of years. It is totally different from Western Medicine, having its own complete system of anatomy, physiology and diagnosis, which relates illness to imbalances of energy in the body. This imbalance causes a disruption in the flow of vital energy, Qi, that circulates through pathways in the body known as meridians and channels. Acupuncture seeks to re-balance the fundamental disturbance in the body’s energy through the stimulation of specific points which lie along these channels. There are, in fact, two types of acupuncture which are used. The most common is the Traditional Chinese method, and the other is known as “trigger point needling”. The latter is of most value in treating painful conditions, but it also has a variety of other uses.
Chinese Herbs
Herbal medicine is a primary part of Chinese Medicine. Formulas may contain six to nineteen different substances from the vegetable, animal and mineral kingdoms, and are assembled with great care. They are prescribed to treat the root cause of the disease and its manifestation, and the formula must also be balanced within itself.
Jin Shin
Jin Shin Jyutsu was developed in Japan by Jiro Murai, who rediscovered the ancient qi flow in his own body and mapped a powerful system of healing points. Combinations of points are held with the fingertips for a minute or so, usually with the client lying on his or her back. Various schools of Jin Shin style have evolved, including Jin Shin Do and Jin Shin acupressure.
Electro-Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture has become widely used as an effective way to treat pain. By adding micro-current to the acupuncture points, the muscles and painful area relax and the Qi flows more smoothly. Just as with traditional acupuncture, needles are inserted in patient- specific points on the body to which a device is connected. The device genereates an electric pulse through small clips attached to the needles. Most patients feel a tingling sensation, some patients do not feel anything at all.
N.A.E.T.
An allergy elimination technique, developed by Dr. Devi Nambudripad, with over fifteen years of research. N.A.E.T. (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique) is a combination of kinesiology, acupressure and acupuncture that clears and rebalances the energetic and nervous systems. By eliminating energy blockages that cause allergic reactions, N.A.E.T. restores the body to a balanced and healthy state.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu, like acupuncture, deals with the flow of vital energy along meridians in the body. Shiatsu uses the application of gently applied deep finger pressure, as well as other manipulative techniques, to affect the balance of energy in the body. This “touching” stimulates the immunological and natural curative abilities of the body to move toward balance. It also releases endorphins into the blood stream and beneficially affects the nervous system.
Five Element Shiatsu
Five Element Shiatsu is based on the naturalistic Chinese Medicine’s Law of the Five Elements. The Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water and they have corresponding physical and emotional aspects in people. These physical and emotional energies move in specific pathways or meridians on the surface of the entire body. The goal of the Five Element Shiatsu practitioner is the maintenance of a smooth flow of these energies through the body to help prevent or alleviate dis-ease which they believe is the result of poor energy flow caused by the effects of an unbalanced lifestyle: excessive work, little exercise, poor diet, and stress.
Thai Massage
Originating in Thailand thousands of years ago, this is an expanded form of floor massage, involving long, relaxing, slow stretching movements. It is a comprehensive, full-body massage, which also utilizes the meridian system common to Eastern cultures. Shiatsu is a modern, shortened version of Thai Massage.