Ancient Medicine for Modern Ailments
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is one component of East Asian traditional medicine, and is over 2,000 years old. It consists of the insertion of thin, solid needles into the body at points located on energetic pathways, called meridians, that were discovered by the physicians of ancient China. These acupoints have been empirically proven to be effective at treating a wide variety of medical conditions. Acupuncture promotes the balanced flow of Xue (blood) and Qi (vital energy) by addressing the root of disharmony along with signs and symptoms. Since traditional Chinese medicine has evolved over a vast period of time, acupuncture theories are complex. In a nutshell, Qi is a term used to define the body's overall functioning ability. When it becomes blocked (for instance, from injury or trauma) or deficient (from chronic illness, insomnia, overwork, etc) or scattered (from stress), a disharmony in the flow of Qi occurs, and it is the job of the acupuncturist to facilitate the restoration of its proper flow as much as possible. Modern research has proven that acupuncture has a strengthening effect on the body's overall functionality by balancing hormone regulation, calming the nervous system, and boosting immunity.
Other components of East Asian traditional medicine include cupping (suction), gua sha (rubbing of the skin with a tool), moxibustion (warming acupoints indirectly with compressed herbs), electrical stimulation, shonishin (pediatric noninsertion meridian therapy), acupressure, qi gong (movement techniques), and Chinese herbal medicine.
Herbal Medicine
Cara is a board certified Chinese herbalist (NCBAHM), which means that in addition to her master of acupuncture studies degree training, she completed further schooling and Chinese herbology certification requirements of the National Certification Board of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine to be able to safely prescribe customizable herbal formulas for her patients.
Chinese herbology requires a deep knowledge of complex diagnostic frameworks, including Ba Gang Eight Principles, Zang Fu organs, Jing-Luo channels, Shang Han Lun Six Stages, Wen Bing Four Levels, San Jiao Triple Burner, and Wu Xing Five Element theories, as well as Chinese botanical nomenclature and classification, properties, actions, indications and contraindications.
Cara utilizes her training to identify patterns/syndromes of disharmony and prescribes patent and granular herbal formulas accordingly to support balance and harmony to each patient’s system. Granular formulas are highly customizable for optimum efficacy and convenient for modern lifestyles, combining botanicals from the Chinese Materia Medica with properties that work synergistically together to restore balance. Custom granular formulas can be modified over time and tailored to meet each patient’s changing needs throughout the healing process.
Safety and quality are of utmost important to us. We source our high quality patent and granular herbs from companies that rigorously test for bacteria, pesticides, molds, and fungus. We practice transparency and provide ingredient lists for all prescriptions. We emphasize herbs sourced from plants and minerals, and never from the CITES endangered species list. Our main suppliers are Crane Herb Company, Urban Herb Co, KPC, Sunten, and Mayway.