Acupuncture is practiced with the insertion of very fine needles into certain spots on the body which are usually called acu-points. These acu-points are on 12 different basic meridians that connect from head to toe and needles are placed on certain acu-points based on the ailments of the patient. A painful spot is usually where the flow of Qi, an invisible essential of TCM that runs within meridians, is blocked so with the insertion and manipulation of acupuncture needles, the blocked meridian is unblocked and the patient’s ailment disappears.

After the first discovery of certain herbs as pain killers, the ancient Chinese people started to try all sorts of leaves, barks and roots.  Later they identified more and more Chinese herbs from Mother Nature to treat various medical conditions. With over several thousand years of development, Chinese herbs have been widely accepted both in the treatment and the prevention of disease. Different from any other folk medicine in Eastern Europe, Africa or South America which employed single herb generally, the combinations of 10, 20 or even more Chinese herbs are used to treat patients. Chinese herbs are safer and less toxic than artificial substances, like modern-day pharmaceuticals, since they are naturally sourced.  In fact, about 150 TCM herbs are commonly used in food preparation by Chinese people.      

Moxibustion is a heat therapy in which dried plant material called “Artemisia” (dried Mugwort) is burned near the skin usually close to certain acu-points.  This powerful medicinal herb is believed to be the only herb that can penetrate all 12 meridians according to TCM theory.  As moxibustion is burned at a high temperature (180 to 230oC), the heat and the active ingredients from the herb can get into the meridians and stimulate the flow of Qi within.  Moxibustion works best in the tonification of Qi whereas acupuncture is great at unblocking blocked meridians.

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One concept in TCM is called Original Yang, is similar to biomedicine’s vitality or immunity, which everybody gets from the parents as the prenatal essence.  In the average person, Original Yang remains at a high level until one reaches roughly the age of 35.  Then it starts to drop gradually and eventually reaches zero at death.  TCM strives to keep Original Yang at an optimum level and regular moxibustion treatment can slow down the diminishment of Original Yang and help people live a healthier and longer life. Moxibustion works extremely well for the majority of cancer patients because they all suffer from severe deficiency, given the fact that cancer cells quickly and broadly consume the nutrients from cancer patients. 

The Chinese Tui Na massage is different from relaxation massage because it is a therapeutic technique. In fact, the Department of Tui Na massage is an independent department in hospitals in China where all practitioners are graduates with an MD degree from traditional Chinese medical colleges. Tui Na massage focuses on problems of muscles, tendons and ligaments and treats various conditions usually treated by chiropractors, physical therapists or orthopedic doctors in the United States.