Chinese Medicine explained…

Herbal Medicine is consumed to address a plethora of disharmonies in the body. There  hundreds of formulas that have been designed to suit different issues and different constitutions. For example, three patients may come into the clinic with a common cold, presenting is very similar ways but they may differ in age, body size and digestion strength and will most likely be given three different formulas or three different dosages of the same formula. Their tailored composition ensures each individuals needs and requirements are met. Pills, powders and raw teas cater to different strengths called for in each case.

Acupuncture taps into the body's energy system. The body communicates via nerve impulses and this electric current is referred to as ‘Qi’ in chinese medicine. There are pathways that the Qi of different organs travels through in the body, sterile - stainless steel needles are safely inserted into at a combination of these different points to access their functions. Acupuncture can be used to restore balance in many different aspects via these channels, such as metal, hormonal, chemical, bacterial/viral, digestion, and physical disharmonies.

Cupping works in a similar way to massage but pulls rather than pushes.
This ancient Chinese technique is one of my favorites! It is used to improve circulation to reduce pain in muscles, it also works to revitalise the internal organs by encouraging healthy blood flow and the breaking down of toxins in the body. It works by creating a vacuum with a flame that is briefly inserted into the cup before the glass cup is placed on the skin. The cup marks left on the skin afterwards are dead red blood cells that haven’t previously been properly metabolised by the body and will now be taken into the natural cycle of disposal by the body. They can last 1-2 weeks. We call this marking ‘sha’ and it is considered a lack of movements for one reason or another in the body. As a practitioner my body craves cupping, it allows me to keep up with my busy schedule by relieving stress that can build up over time and helps to regulate my lymphatic circulation which keeps my immune system strong.

Gua Sha and Tui Na are both forms of Chinese Massage. Like all techniques implemented in Chinese Medicine they are unique, and used depending on how the patient presents on the day. Tui Na is a hands on - more typically 'massage' technique, where as Gua Sha involves the use of a scraping device such as a Chinese Soup spoon that is rubbed over the skin. Both aim to relieve pain and stress by moving the patients circulation or even body fluids in the cases where this is required. Similar marking may occur with Gua Sha as Cupping but usually only lasts a few days as it is a more superficial technique.
Whether is a head cold that won't budge, fuzzy or painful head, or a pain in the neck - Gua sha is one of my first go-to’s in clinic for fast results for a multitude of problems.