Vital Acupuncture Wellness Center

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What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

Through observing the laws of nature, communities, the human body, and their
interrelationships, the Chinese developed an elegant medical philosophy
to maintain a healthy, balanced life. They view the human body as a
microcosm of the universe. Health exists when humans live in harmony
with the laws of nature.

Some 5,000 years ago, the Chinese began to record this information of
health and healing. Traditional Chinese Medicine is one of the oldest
and best-documented systems of healing in the world. The TCM knowledge
available today is a culmination of the clinical experiences of
thousands of doctors over thousands of years, treating billions of
people.

TCM utilizes many different treatment modalities in its system of
healing. The most common therapies are Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine,
Massage, Diet and Nutrition, and Physical Exercise (Qigong and T'ai
Chi).

A fundamental concept of TCM is the idea of “qi,” which means life
force or energy. TCM views disease as an imbalance of qi in the human
body. When the qi-- i.e. oxygen, blood circulation, nerve impulses,
hormones, etc.--is impeded or deficient, diseases and illnesses arise.
The primary focus of TCM is to restore the body’s homeostasis and
support all the body systems to effectively heal any disease, and most
importantly, to prevent it.

Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, disposable stainless steel needles through
the skin at specific sites to regulate the body´s qi, i.e. oxygen, blood
circulation, nerve impulses, hormones, etc.  According to Traditional
Chinese Medical Theory, qi flows throughout the body in a network of
channels and vessels.  Acupuncture serves to harmonize and distribute
the qi to areas of the body that contain blockages or deficiencies in
order to facilitate the healing process. Recently, the National
Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organizations (WHO)
recognized the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating many conditions.
Click here for more information about acupuncture´s effectiveness.

Herbal Medicine:
Our ancestors discovered therapeutic herbs in much the same way that they
discovered edible foods: by trial and error and by observing what other
animals ate. Herbal medicine is a very important aspect
of Traditional Chinese Medicine and is especially effective when used
in conjunction with acupuncture. Today, most pharmaceutical drugs are
isolated compounds derived from plants and herbs.

Chinese herbs are usually combined together in herbal formulas based
on each patient´s specific TCM diagnosis. Herbs are generally safe and
effective, producing minimal side effects when prescribed by a licensed
practitioner. There are several ways to administer herbal formulas:
pills, tablets, tinctures, powdered extracts, and dried raw herbs that
are decocted to make tea.

Nutrition Response Testing (NRT):

NAET:

Medical massage:

Cupping:

Moxibustion:

Whole food nutritional supplements (Standard Process):