Traditional Chinese medicine sees the human body as a set of interconnected systems that when operating in balance maintain the body in a state of wellbeing. Symptoms are a message from your body that it is having a difficult time maintaining balance. They are a warning sign, not the problem itself. Pain and stress signal that something deeper needs to be addressed.
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine look at how the body is functioning as the primary medical indicator. Diagnostics are based on observing the function of the body's systems as an integrated whole. Western diagnosticians more and more have come to rely on laboratory tests and individual examination of the parts of the body that seem most directly involved with a symptom. If there is pain in a shoulder, they look first and foremost at the shoulder. Traditional Chinese medicine is holistic, taking into account all the things happening to a person when symptoms manifest.
Acupuncture originated over 5,000 years ago when the ancient Chinese discovered an energy network inside the body. This life energy is called Qi (pronounced "chee."). It circulates through specific pathways called meridians that link internal organs and structures to the outside of the body.
When the energy or Qi flows freely, a person feels balanced and well. However, when this vital energy becomes blocked or weakened, it can clog the entire system, producing pain and other symptoms.
An acupuncturist is trained to diagnose and treat imbalances in the system by inserting thin, sterile, disposable needles at specific acupoints on the body. This safe, proven technique promotes natural healing by releasing energy blocks, enhancing recuperative power, immunity, and overall function and health.
Herbal medicine is the primary therapeutic modality for internal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine. More than 500 therapeutic herbs are recognized, and about 250 are commonly used in combinations and dosages tailored to meet an individual patient's needs. Practitioners of traditional Chinese herbal medicine are trained to acquire and analyze the information about a person's state of health and then to prepare highly combinations of herbs to accurately target the underlying cause of the symptoms.



