You’ve heard that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture can be beneficial for a broad range of health conditions, and are considering giving it a try. How do you know who to call? To help you feel confident about choosing the best practitioner for you, we’ll explain the credentialing for acupuncturists, Chinese herbalists, and practitioners Read More
NOTE: This is not a substitute for you doctor’s recommendations. Chinese Medicine does not recognize the diagnosis of the “common cold.” Why? Because everyone is an individual and therefore not “common”! Chinese Medicine views symptoms in terms of patterns. In the case of the “common cold” you can have any one or a combination of Read More
What is the NADA Protocol? The NADA Protocol is named after the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, which first developed it in the 1970s to help with recovery from opiate addiction. It has since been refined and its applications have broadened beyond its origins in addiction recovery. The NADA Protocol is a form of “auricular acupuncture” Read More
Spring brings sunshine, warmer days, and renewal. It is also a time of transition, when the weather can alternate between extremes. Similarly, we too can experience swings, one day feeling energized by warmth and sunshine, and the next day discouraged by strong winds, cold rains, and, if you live in Chicago, even snow! Traditional Chinese Read More
How Does Acupuncture and TCM Helps Sprains and Strains? It’s that time of year again. As we become more active and start to venture outside accidents are bound to happen. Regardless of if you are a sport enthusiast or stepped off the side walk and twisted your ankle acupuncture and TCM (also referred to Read More
Understanding Allergies and Allergic Reactions An allergen is a foreign substance that causes your immune system to react. Dr. Devi Numbudripaud, the creator of NAET Allergy Elimination, has expanded on the definition of an allergen to include “anything that causes an adverse reaction in an individual, that does not cause a reaction in a healthy Read More
Eat less, exercise more. How many times have you heard this? If only it was that simple. For many, weight gain can be due to things other than eating too much and not exercising enough. Thyroid function, stress, adrenal fatigue, lifestyle, and emotions can all play a roll in weight gain and your ability Read More
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Spring Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal, regeneration, and growth. Awaken from your winter hibernation and brush off the cobwebs. Like most animals, humans tend to slow down during the colder months and in the process pack on a few extra pounds. As the first ambitious flowers of spring start Read More
The Emotional Aspects of The Heart According to Chinese Medicine “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13 In almost every culture there is a thought process that the heart holds emotion or the mind. Hence sayings like “follow your heart”. The Chinese culture Read More
Auricular Acupuncture Traditional Chinese Medicine is nearly 4,000 years old. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, one of the first written texts of Chinese Medicine, made mention of auricular acupuncture around 500 B.C. However, with technological advances and growing research, TCM has transformed into a much gentler and specific healing system. In the 1950’s Read More
Why am I so cold? Are you the type of person who is constantly cold? The type who remains happily bundled up even while others around you are shedding layers? Or, are you the person who snuggles in close to a special someone, with the ulterior motive of stealing their body heat? You know who Read More
The Bladder & Kidney System According to TCM According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, there are six yin organs that are paired with six yang organs. They work together. The vital substances (such as Qi, blood, yin and yang) are stored within the yin organ systems. The yang organ systems are more active, and Read More
Your Immune System and TCM Very few people can say they have gone their entire life without so much as a cold. For some, their bodies can fight it off quickly. While for others it takes substantially longer. Why is this? Why do some people get sick at a drop of a hat, and others Read More
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine have a long history of treating depression and insomnia. Treating Depression and Insomnia Depression is one of the most common mental disorders. It can have many complicated influencing factors, such as loss of interest and sleep disorders including insomnia. Approximately 70% of patients with depression have symptoms of insomnia. In Read More
According to the CDC allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost of over $18 billion. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. There is no doubt that allergies are on the rise affecting men, women, and children. Regardless of whether you suffer from Read More
There are many different types of migraines and just as many types of treatments ranging from over the counter medication, prescription pain relievers, or even Botox. Migraines affect approximately 18% of women and 5% of men in the United States. They can be debilitating and effect quality of life. Unfortunately, many of the common Read More
Acupuncture is becoming more main stream. However, many people still do not know the entire scope of Chinese medicine, which includes so much more than just inserting a needle. Acupuncture treatment for a variety of illnesses The practice of Chinese medicine starts with a diagnosis. This is not the type of diagnosis that you would Read More
It seems like every time you read something or turn on the TV there is someone showing off their cupping marks or doing a demonstration. Cups are easily acquired and viewed by many to not be harmful. However, I would caution you to seek the advice of a licensed acupuncturist prior to using. The reason Read More
Every acupuncturist is a little bit different when it comes to your initial intake. However, most will do a very detailed intake asking you questions not only pertaining to your chief complaint, but also some things that you may feel have absolutely nothing to do with why you are there. Like your feces. You will Read More
Traditional Chinese Medicine has numerous ways for treating disease and illness. One of those methods is something called moxibustion (moxa), and it is a very valuable tool in a TCM practitioners toolbox. What is Moxibustion? There are various types of moxa, but the traditional type is made of mugwort. Moxa is a heat Read More
When speaking to a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine or acupuncturist, you may hear terms like “your kidney is deficient,” or “you need to be nourished.” To the average person, these phrases make absolutely no sense. However, to an acupuncturist, it gives us detailed information into the complexity of your body, and to how to Read More
There are several different types of arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, septic arthritis, Still’s disease, and ankylosing spondylitis. Depending on which type of arthritis you have will determine the best treatment course for you. Arthritis is a painful and oftentimes debilitating condition that’s characterized by inflammation within one or more joints. According to Read More
