Acupuncture, Herbs, Nutrition | Ascending Health | Santa Barbara Comprehensive Medicine

 Modalities

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used forms of medicine in the world. Originating in China more than 4,000 years ago, acupuncture is currently one of the most widely researched, practiced, and respected forms of complementary medicine in the U.S.According to Chinese Medicine, your overall health is determined by the quality of the Qi (energy) flow through the natural pathways of your body. Acupuncture uses a variety of techniques, including placing very thin sterile needles into specific points on the body, to stimulate and improve your Qi flow. The many benefits of this type of therapy include:

  • Pain reduction
  • Relaxation of body and mind
  • Stress and tension relief
  • Increased blood circulation
  • Increased energy levels
  • Aids with digestion and toxin removal
  • Improved internal organ function
  • Relief from bad habits and addictions
  • Greater sense of overall well-being 
  • For a complete List of Diseases the World Health Organisation (WHO) endorses Acupunture to effectively treat (click here).
Acupuncture remains the primary treatment modality associated with Oriental Medicine in the West.  Nationally introduced in the 1970’s after a group of American Doctors (Nixon’s diplomatic relations) visited China where they observed the anesthetic effects of acupuncture.  Since then the Occident has continued to explore its effectiveness, learned that acupuncture treats much more than pain, and in the last few years medical insurances have begun to pay for the services.  A doctor of Oriental Medicine receives a license to practice medicine in California as a licensed acupuncturist, but the medicine is much more than acupuncture.


Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing. Moxibustion has been used for healing purposes throughout Asia for thousands of years. The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of Qi (energy), and enhance overall vitality and health.

Among other benefits, a landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that up to 75% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the bladder meridian.


Acupressure

Acupressure is a form of bodywork similar to acupuncture, with the aim of stimulating specific points along the energy lines of the body to establish overall health and vitality by balancing your Qi (energy) flow.  Unlike acupuncture however, with this modality I use my hands to apply pressure to the specific points rather than needling, producing similar therapeutic results.


Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu Massage is a Japanese form of massage. The word Shiatsu comes from two Japanese words - "shi" (finger) and "atsu" (pressure). In addition to the direct stimulation of pressure points along the energy pathways of your body, gentle stretching techniques are applied over a wider area of the body to integrate the point work and encourage the flow of Qi (energy) throughout the body. Shiatsu is a meditative healing art that honors the body, mind and spirit.