Acupuncture/Acupressure

  • Jin Shin Do® Acupressure
  • Medical Qi Gong
  • Herbology
  • Tuina massage
  • Moxabustion
  • Cupping
  • Gua Sha

If you are looking for a particular massage or Chinese medicine modality please contact us by phone or email to check if it is available

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture has been used as a healing modality for over 3,000 years. Although what is called acupuncture comprises several different therapies (known collectively as Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM), the best-known application is the gentle insertion of very fine needles at specific points on the body. These points have been shown to be effective in the treatment of various health problems (in the past three decades, electromagnetic research has confirmed the existence and locations of these points). The benefits of acupuncture have become widely recognized and integrated with mainstream healthcare. Acupuncture takes into consideration the person as a whole. The aim is to not only eliminate the symptoms, but also to treat the underlying cause, increase function, and improve vitality.

Acupuncture helps to prevent illness by improving the overall functioning of the body’s immune and organ systems. Acupuncture is helpful for treating existing illnesses and injuries, preventing both recurrence of illnesses and new illness, and improving overall health.

How does Acupuncture work?

Traditional acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of Qi (chee), which can be loosely translated as energy. Qi flows in channels (or meridians) throughout the body and over its surfaces. These meridians are rivers of energy flowing through the body, distributed much like nerves and blood vessels. The meridians are often compared to a series of interconnected highways. Each major organ is associated with its own meridian. Through the network of meridians the internal organs are connected to certain areas and parts of the body, including the muscles, bones, joints, and other organs.

In Chinese medicine, health is a manifestation of balance, both within the body itself and between the body and the external environment. When the body is internally balanced and in harmony with the external environment, Qi flows smoothly through the meridians to nourish the organs and tissues. If an obstruction occurs in one of the meridians, the Qi is disrupted and cannot flow properly. When Qi cannot flow smoothly or is forced to flow in the opposite direction, the body’s innate balance is disrupted and illness results.

Acupuncture points are the specific points on the meridians where the Qi is both concentrated and accessible. Acupuncture adjusts the flow of Qi in the body, leading it to areas where it is needed and draining it from areas where it is stuck or in excess. In this way, acupuncture restores balance to the body. When balance is restored, health returns.

What can acupuncture treat?

Traditional Chinese Medicine can often make sense of illnesses that Western medicine has difficulty treating. In cases where Western medicine may be limited to prescribing medication for symptom management, acupuncture may be able to intervene and encourage the body’s self-healing process. The benefits of acupuncture have become widely recognized and integrated with mainstream healthcare. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is currently the fastest growing medical modality in the United States.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognize acupuncture’s effectiveness for many common disorders (this is by no means a complete list of what acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can treat):

Musculoskeletal Disorders:
Tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, TMJ, sciatica, back pain, knee pain, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia…

Emotional & Neurological Disorders:
Stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, migraine, headache, trigeminal neuralgia, Bell’s palsy, post-stroke paralysis, peripheral neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, dizziness, tinnitus…

Gynecological Disorders:
Menstrual irregularity, amenorrhea (no period), dysmenorrhea (painful periods), endometriosis, PMS, PCOS, infertility, menopausal syndrome…

Ear, Nose & Throat Disorders:
Toothaches, earaches, Meniere’s disease, acute and chronic sinusitis, laryngitis, emphysema…

Respiratory Disorders:
Colds, flu, bronchitis, asthma, allergies…

Gastrointestinal Disorders:
Food allergies, nausea, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, reflux, gastritis, duodenal ulcer, colitis…

Circulatory Disorders:
Hypertension, hypotension, high cholesterol, angina, arteriosclerosis, Raynaud’s disease…

Urogenital Disorders:
Bladder and kidney infections, cystitis, stress incontinence, prostatitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy…

In addition, acupuncture has been used to help many other conditions with great success! If you are unsure wether or not acupuncture can help you, please contact Fiona for more information.

“There is no pain if there is free flow; if there is pain, there is no free flow”.

Jin Shin Do® Acupressure
Jin Shin Do® translates to mean “The Way of the Compassionate Spirit”. It is a unique synthesis of traditional Japanese acupressure techniques, classic Chinese acupressure theory, Reichian segmental theory, Taoist philosophy and Qi Gong exercises. Developed by Iona Marsaa Teeguarden, M.A., L.M.F.C.C. Jin Shin Do uses acupressure points which help release physical and emotional tensions. Best of all, it helps one learn to transform, rather than repress, painful feelings – leading to a more joyful way of life and the realization of one’s full potential.

Acupressure refers to any technique using finger pressure on “acupoints” to reduce stress and balance the energy in our body. An acupressure method may be simple and symptomatic, or sophisticated and deeply therapeutic. Jin Shin Do® covers both ends of this spectrum, for it can be used both as a selfhelp tool and as a professional therapeutic method. It brings about pleasurable, deep relaxation and increased awareness of both body and psyche. Jin Shin Do contrasts with acupuncture in the absence of needles, and because one individual is touched by another in a highly supportive way which evokes the feeling of being held, cradled and safe. It contrasts with Shiatsu in being a slower method of release and focusing more on deep release of muscular armoring.

Release of tension improves bodymind wellbeing, and learning that we can transform pain to pleasure is a psychological boost. Acupressure theory says that bodymind wellbeing is also influenced by energy balance in the “channels” or “meridians”, lines of related points through which Qi (energy) moves. JSD recipients report experiencing this “energy flow” as a pleasant “tingling” or “streaming”.