FAQ
What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
TCM is a holistic system of medicine that has evolved over thousands of years, and it is rooted in ancient wisdom which is continuously evolving. It combines therapies Acupuncture, Tuina, Herbal medicine, and Qigong therapy, that look to restore the body’s balance and health. TCM forms an ideal approach either to resolve a specific health concern or improve your overall wellness.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture therapy involves inserting thin needles into specific areas (points) on the body, which according to TCM theory have specific effects. This stimulates the innate healing ability of the body, and brings it back to a healthier homeostasis. Acupuncture has been and still is widely researched and it is recommended for many diseases by the W.H.O. like:
- hay fever,
- depression,
- headache,
- hypertension and many others.1
Why Choose Acupuncture?
Acupuncture can work for you if you:
- Struggle with a condition that cannot be sufficiently helped by conventional treatments, such as anxiety, chronic musculoskeletal pain, or fibromyalgia.
- Are looking for a natural way to improve your overall health, without any side-effects.
- Need complementary support alongside other therapies, as it happens in stroke recovery or cancer-related care.
Using your own body’s natural healing power, acupuncture can make you feel better in a gentle and sustainable way, by addressing both the root cause behind your health concern together with the symptoms.
What is Tuina?
Tuina (pronounced twee-nah) is a form of therapeutic massage that mixes techniques similar to deep tissue, chiropractic care, and acupressure. It works both on the musculoskeletal system and the energy channels to achieve healing, which widen its benefits beyond a typical massage. Using a combination of specifically selected techniques – such as pressing, stretching, and joint mobilization – together with stimulation of crucial acupuncture points, it provides deep relief and restores whole-body balance.
While Tuina works very well for common issues like back pain and stiffness, it can also improve:
- Chronic migraines and headaches
- Insomnia and stress-related conditions
- Allergic rhinitis
- Chronic fatigue syndrome2
Why Choose Tuina?
Tuina is an excellent alternative if:
- You prefer hands-on therapy instead of needles
- Need focused treatment for musculoskeletal issues or chronic pain
- You want to get faster, longer-lasting results by combining it with acupuncture
How Do They Work?
Many studies have found that acupuncture and Tuina can reduce inflammation, regulate pain perception, alter the condition of tissues, and modulate brain activity, among others.3, 4
At its root however, TCM is an energetic medicine, that tries to stimulate the body’s ability to adjust its own energies. Its goal is to restore the proper flow of energy (Qi) in the system of meridians and organs making up your body.
What Can I Expect During my Visit?
The first visit usually lasts around 1.5 hours. There we discuss anything that is relevant to your complaint and we decide a treatment plan. After the initial examination, we proceed for the treatment which may last from 45-60 minutes depending on your condition.
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture is performed used very thin single-use, sterile needles. They are immediately disposed after use. The practice follows guidelines from our professional organization (Zhong) regarding health and hygiene.
Do I Feel Pain During the Treatment?
The needles used in acupuncture are very thin, many times thinner than those used to draw blood. Occasionally, you may feel a slight sharpness or a dull sensation which disappears within a few moments.
How Does it Feel?
With acupuncture you might occasionally feel sensation on an acupuncture point but this is just because your body responds to the stimulation. It can be a sensation of slight pressure, tinging, cold or warm, or simply a feeling like fluids moving in a particular direction. All these things are monitored closely to match your level of comfort.
How Many Treatments Do I Need to See Results?
This is different for each person and each condition. Usually for acute complaints, results happen faster and treatments can be more frequent. For more chronic problems, treatment course is longer, with treatments usually being once per week, and results appearing during the course of treatment.
Eager to Discover the Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine?
If you’re looking to feel better—whether that means alleviating pain, reducing stress, or addressing ongoing health concerns—go ahead and take the first step.
Arrange a complimentary consultation call or book an appointment now to get on the path to better health.
References
- World Health Organization. (2002). Acupuncture: review and analysis of reports on controlled clinical trials. ↩︎
- Xu, Yl., Xu, Xm. & Du, Yh. Study of a list of modern diseases treated by tuina therapy in China. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 8, 62–66 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-010-0062-3 ↩︎
- Lin JG, Kotha P, Chen YH. Understandings of acupuncture application and mechanisms. Am J Transl Res. 2022 Mar 15;14(3):1469-1481. PMID: 35422904; PMCID: PMC8991130 ↩︎
- Al-Bedah, Abdullah and Ali, Gazzaffi and Abushanab, Tamer and Qureshi, Naseem (2017) Tui Na (or Tuina) Massage: A Minireview of Pertinent Literature, 1970-2017. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research, 3 (1). pp. 1-14. ISSN 24566276 ↩︎
