As many patients have aches and pains, whether as the primary complaint or as a by the way alongside your main complaint, gentle bodywork modalities are incorporated into almost every acupuncture treatment.
- Cranialsacral therapy - using an Osteopathic approach, this gentle hands-on technique releases tensions and restrictions within the central nervous system through manipulation of the joints of the cranium, spine and sacrum. It improves whole-body health, pain and dysfunction and may even have a positive effect on mood, stress management and other emotional distress.
- Sotai - a Japanese system of neuromuscular re-education and structural integration utilizing gentle movements against light resistance with slow mindful breaths. This system of bodywork identifies subtle stress held within the body and works to relieve these, reducing pain and allowing better movement. It also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, creating the necessary internal environment for the body to heal and reconnect with the mind.
- Shiatsu utilizes dynamic movements such as rocking, pushing, pressing and percussion of the body to relax the body’s muscles and help restore the movement of Qi in the body.
- Myofascial release - relaxation of the muscles and fascia (the thin layer that holds our body together below our skin) is achieved by tuning in directly with the fascia to restore suppleness, movement and diminish adhesions from trauma ultimately reducing pain and improving recovery from injury.
- Yin-Yang Channel Pulsing - also known as Qigong Tuina, this system is based on the contraction and expansion of Yin-Yang theory helping the body to release tension through its own internal pulsing of Qi.
- Cupping is a classical Chinese medicine technique which utilizes glass cups which are placed strategically on the body with a suction that is created with a flame. Cupping helps reduce stagnation and promotes the circulation of Qi & blood, improves pain and muscle recovery. For this reason, cupping has become popular with sports-related injuries and therapy. Cups may be left stationary for a short period of time or may be moved along the meridians of the body creating a massage effect.
- Guasha, which literally translates as “to scrape”, is a classical technique often used at home in many East Asian countries. A tool with a smooth and blunt edge is used to “scrape” along the body to promote the circulation of Qi and blood. Similarly to cupping, it can help improve pain and muscle recovery.
Both cupping and guasha are techniques that leave bruises on the surface of the skin that may last 3-10 days.
