ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is one of the components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, yet it is more well-known than TCM.
By definition, acupuncture is the insertion of sterile needles into specific points on the body to achieve theoretical effects. Yet, it is more than just simply inserting needles into the body. The application of acupuncture is based on meridian theory and Qi theory. Those two theories believe that there is a constant flow of energy, and the meridians are the pathways in which the energy flows.
There are 22 meridians, and 14 of them are major meridians and 8 of them are accessory meridians. Each meridian has different numbers of acupuncture points on it, total 361 points. Based on the disease and condition, TCM practitioners need to choose the right meridian(s) and point(s) and apply different needling techniques. The goal of acupuncture is to help the body restore its balance by itself.
Body Work
Bodywork in TCM has 3 components: Cupping, Gua Sha, and Tui Na.
GUA SHA
Gua Sha is done by using flat ceramic or steel tools with smooth edges, performing a unidirectional, press-stroking of the body surface, to intentionally raise transitory therapeutical petechiae and ecchymosis. Gua（刮） mean to press-stoke, and Sha（痧）is the petechiae and ecchymosis.
Gua Sha has been shown to be able to create an anti-inflammatory and an immune protective function called ferroheme metabolism.
HERBS
Herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine are the counterpart of pharmaceutical drugs in modern medicine. In the English language, the word herb can mean plants with medicinal use, as well as cooking spices. In the Chinese language, the word herb shares the same character with the word medicine – 药. Chinese herbs use a vast variety of plants. Some of them are even food that people consume on a regular basis. This makes herbs have less risk of adverse side effects and harm to your liver or other organs. Chinese herbs do not chemically alter the body like many western drugs; instead, they work with your body to improve your health in a more natural way.
Body Work
Bodywork in TCM has 3 components: Cupping, Gua Sha, and Tui Na.
CUPPING
Cupping is done by creating suction within a cup then adhere it to a large area of the body, often on the back, for 10-15 minutes. Traditionally cupping is done with glass or bamboo cups with fire. The practitioner lights up a small fire and burns out the air in the cup to create a vacuum(suction), then put the cup on the patient’s body. Now there a type of new cups made from plastic and the suction is created by a suction pump.
Cupping in China was first invented as a surgical tool to remove pus from deep wounds. As TCM developed, newer means were invented to do the job and cupping was found to have the therapeutical effect on muscular relaxation by increasing blood flow. Since then, cupping has been used to help relieve muscle tension.
Cupping is a painless procedure, and there will be round, red marks after. Depending on the level of muscle tension, the color can be even purple. The marks usually will disappear within a few days.
