Acu-Care Health Centers

What is Oriental medicine?

Oriental medicine is a complete system of healing that has been used successfully in Asia for over 2,500 years. Oriental medicine includes the use of acupuncture, exercise therapy such as Tai-chi and Qi-gong, herbal medicine, nutritional guidance and lifestyle counseling. Rather than focusing on a single symptom or specific illness, the emphasis is on determining the underlying pattern of disease. The overall goal of the treatment is to restore the body to a balanced state of functioning. Once this has been accomplished, the body is better able to heal itself.

Oriental medicine incorporates the use of the following modalities:

• Acupuncture is the skillful placement of fine needles in specific acu-points throughout the body. This stimulus directs the body to reduce pain and help normalize bodily functions. The acupuncturist may choose to use electrical devices and/or heat therapy in conjunction with the needles to enhance the therapeutic effect.
• Acupressure and Oriental massage techniques employ the same theoretical principles as does acupuncture, except that finger pressure and soft tissue manipulation are used instead of needles.
• Chinese herbal medicine is the use of medicinal plant substances, which are combined into formulas that address the underlying health problem. These herbs are natural, pesticide free substances which have many different healing characteristics. Some of their properties include aiding digestive function, improving circulation, stimulating hormone release and enhancing the body's immune system. Herbs are often used in conjunction with acupuncture to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment.
  
  The products used by Acu-Care Health Centers are developed by companies that are based in the United States and follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards. The herbs pass government inspection and are tested by independent laboratories for pesticides, sulfite, bacterial and other contamination, so they meet strict standards for purity and potency.
• Nutritional guidance and lifestyle counseling are important components of any health care program. Practitioners of Oriental medicine may advise a patient as to which foods and supplements would be beneficial for their specific condition, as well as those that should be avoided. In addition, patients may be given suggestions for therapeutic exercise, stress reduction techniques and proper breathing methods. All of these support the patient's overall program to restore good health.

If you have a question regarding your specific health problem, please give us a call.