About
Our philosophy on healing
Body
The physical stucture of one's self - bones, muscles, tendons, organs, etc.
Mind
Two interdependant elements (the Conscious and Subconscious mind) that work together to create one's thoughts, actions and reality.
Spirit
The non-physical part of one's self which is the seat of emotions and character. Your higher conscious helps connect your mind and body to your spirit.
Our Philosophy
Our office practices HOLISTIC MEDICINE, which includes TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) – one of the most ancient, beautifully crafted and commonly used systems of healing in the world, originating in China some 3,500 years ago. It is based on the belief that the mind, body, and spirit are all interconnected. What happens in one part of the body affects all other parts of the body.
The human body is a powerful machine. At any given time is it performing thousands of functions. Even when we are “sleeping” it is doing deep detox and healing work so that when we wake we feel rejuvenated for a new day. The “basics” of human life, require a lot of functions on our own part — eating, drinking, exercising, connecting, playing, resting, sleeping, detoxifying, eliminating, etc. When we’re overly busy doing things like working, running errands, raising families, an emotional/mental/physical trauma occurs, or we have a disconnect with our inner spirit, we tend to get off track and our “basics” get ignored. When we neglect our basics our body can fall into disharmony and unwanted symptoms and dis-ease may appear.
We believe the body is powerful, but sometimes it needs a little help and a little guidance to get back on track. We also believe we should give it a boost to heal naturally as it is designed to do. That’s where our practice and holistic medicine comes to play. Not only will we help you get back on track, we will teach you tools to help yourself and offer guidance on how to connect with your spirit and use your intuition.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS TCM (TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE)?
TCM encompasses many therapeutic methods designed to help patients achieve and maintain optimal health such as Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Moxibustion; manipulative and massage techniques such as Cupping, Gua sha and Tuina; Herbal medicine and Nutritional supplementation; Diet and Lifestyle changes; Meditation; Exercise; and Mind-Body-Spirit alignment.
One of the core concepts of TCM is based on the element of Qi (pronounced “chee”) which means “life energy”. Without qi we would not exist on this physical plane. Qi flows through us via energetic pathways called Meridians/Channels. These meridians travel the entire body and allow qi to flow to different organ systems, tissues and body parts so that they may do their function in keeping us healthy and strong.
When qi is abundant and flowing properly the body maintains a healthy state of being. On the contrary, when there is an imbalance in the amount of qi, a blockage, or misdirection in the flow, disharmony or illness appear. Acupuncture along with other related therapies help regulate the body’s qi by restoring balance to promote natural healing from within.
WHAT DOES ACUPUNCTURE TREAT?
Acupuncture promotes the body’s natural ability to heal itself, therefore, it treats a wide variety of aliments and is a safe and proven therapy for preventative medicine. It helps millions of people all around the world become well and stay well. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health approve acupuncture for conditions which include but are not limited to the following:
- Acid Reflux
- Acne
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Back Pain
- Bell’s Palsy
- Carpal Tunnel
- Chemotherapy Side Effects
- Chronic Pain
- Cold & Flu
- Constipation
- Depression
- Detox
- Diarrhea
- Digestion
- Energy
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Heart Health
- Hemorrhoids
- High Blood Pressure
- Immune Support
- Injury
- Insomnia
- Knee Pain
- Liver Health
- Low Blood Pressure
- Migraines
- Nausea
- Neck Pain
- Numbness
- Performance
- Post Surgery (dental or internal)
- Quit Smoking
- Radiation Therapy Side Effects
- Sexual Health
- Shoulder Pain
- Shingles
- Stress
- Stroke
- Tingling
- TMJ
- Tune-ups
- Urination Issues
- And much more
IS ACUPUNCTURE PAINFUL?
Acupuncture is performed using single use, sterile, solid needles as thin as a cat’s whisker. They are not hollow like syringe needles that are used for vaccines and blood draws, therefore they easily glide into the skin. Most patients do not feel any pain at all. What many patients may feel during a treatment is the sensation of “Qi” moving around the body and this is a very positive effect. Qi sensations very in feeling. It may feel like a heaviness, dullness, tingling, traveling, light pulsing, warmness or coolness either around the needle or effected meridian. Overall, patients feel very relaxed during and after treatment. Many even fall asleep.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS DO I NEED?
Acupuncture is a cumulative and dosage dependent therapy. This means that an average number of sessions per week (1-3) over an average number of weeks or months are needed for proper healing, and each session builds upon the next to strengthen the body. You should begin noticing how your body is “responding” to acupuncture within 3-5 visits. After this time, the practitioner is more able to gauge how many treatments may be necessary for proper healing. Treatments must be close enough together so the body does not lose the momentum of healing and sessions should not be skipped. Some patients will need ongoing maintenance treatments to support their condition. One to two sessions per month is recommended for maintenance.
Furthermore, each individual’s healing time is different and results vary from person to person. Response time greatly depends upon the length and severity of your condition, the state of your health, how quickly you heal, and your participation in the healing process (diet, water intake, exercise, etc). Some patients heal quicker than others. For example, people with acute issues tend to heal quicker than those with chronic issues.
It is also important to note that acupuncture is wonderful preventative medicine. This means that you do not need to be treated for a particular issue to receive acupuncture; it will help keep your body, mind, and spirit in balance.
WHAT DO I WEAR TO MY TREATMENT?
For your comfort we recommend wearing loose clothing like soft shorts and a tank/t-shirt. Many of the acupuncture points are located below the elbows and knees or on the abdomen and can be accessed by moving the clothing. Patient gowns are available when needed.
I HAVE A PHOBIA TO NEEDLES. ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO USING NEEDLES?
Yes! Some options include: acupressure, ear seeds, cupping, gua sha, tuina, moxibustion and reiki.
WHAT PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU TAKE?
We accept all major credit cards, check, and cash.
DO YOU TAKE HEALTH INSURANCE?
A few insurance plans under (Aetna, Cigna, Humana, United Healthcare) cover Acupuncture and related services in North Carolina. You may submit your insurance information here: insurance-verification and we will contact you with the details of your coverage within 5-7 business days. Please note that we bill for “out-of-network” services ONLY.
If you have Blue Cross & Blue Shield and know you have “out of network” coverage, we are NOT able to bill them directly, however, we are happy to provide you with a super-bill you can submit directly to your insurance provider after your acupuncture treatments for reimbursement. We ask that you confirm your coverage for “out of network” acupuncture benefits before we draft the form.