White Cypress Natural Health

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Natural Health Services

Acupuncture As the body regains its natural balance, wellness returns.

Acupuncture is the gentle insertion of thin needles into points specifically chosen for you and your condition. This process stimulates movement of electromagnetic energy within the body in order to allow your body’s natural healing to take place. Points are selected based on many years of education and training which is based on over 3,000 years of practitioner experience in China (known as Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM).

 

 

Moxibustion & Acupuncture

Moxibustion, or moxa as it is commonly referred to, is a dried form of the Mugwort plant. This plant burns slow and hot, penetrating the meridians and warming the channels. There are many different forms of Moxa, but all will create the smoky smell you may associate with acupuncture practices.

 

At White Cypress, we utilize a very condensed form of Moxa stick called “smokeless” Moxa. Although the benefits of a more smoky moxa are vast, we are also limited by our environment and our old building has no exhaust fan or open windows.

 

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Acupuncture is a preventative medicine and helps to improve the function of the body’s immune system and organ system. Treatment is also helpful for existing injuries and illnesses and preventing recurrence.

acupuncture needles along spine

Acupuncture FAQs

How does Acupuncture work?

Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory

Classical Chinese literature tells us that Qi (or life-force/energy) flows through channels, or meridians, throughout the body. The meridians are often compared to an inter-connected highway system. They are roads of energy (71 in all that the Chinese have identified) connecting internal organs to other parts of the body including tissues, muscles, bones, joints, etc. Each of the major organs in the body is associated with its own meridian system.

 

The Chinese believe that health is equal to a balance, within the body and between the body and the external environment. When the body is balanced and in harmony, Qi flows smoothly through the meridians to nourish the organs and tissues. If an obstruction occurs in one of the meridians, the Qi is disrupted and cannot flow properly. When the Qi is blocked and cannot flow smoothly, the body’s internal balance is disrupted and illness results.

 

Acupuncture points are the specific points on the meridians where the Qi is both concentrated and accessible. Acupuncture engages the Qi by inserting needles at these specific points in order to restore the proper flow of Qi. As the body regains its natural balance, wellness returns.

Acupuncture and Modern Science

Acupuncture needles are a physical stimulus that the human body detects and then responds to. The metal of the needle causes an effect on the electro-magnetic field of the body. The act of breaking the skin with the needle causes the body to send white blood cells to the area to heal damage. Although acupuncture is not quite fully understood by Western science because of a lack of research, with modern technology scientists can now start “see” the body’s response to acupuncture. Using an MRI (a very sophisticated x-ray), research has shown when a needle is inserted at specific acupuncture points on the body, corresponding changes occur in the brain.

 

In the US, acupuncture is utilized most for its ability to relieve pain. Because of this, the majority of research thus far has been done in this area. Acupuncture points have been shown to stimulate neurotransmitters in the brain to release pain-relieving chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord and brain. Acupuncture also stimulates other chemicals to be released by the brain, including hormones that influence the self-regulating system of the body. This is how acupuncture stimulates the body to heal itself.

Benefits of Moxa
  • Moxa warms the channels to improve circulation which can, in turn, reduce pain.
  • Moxa is wonderful for treating deficient conditions in which the Qi or Yang is in need of a boost.
  • There has been research to suggest moxa on specific acupuncture points can turn a breech baby.
  • Moxa can increase white and red blood cell counts, leading to better immunity
  • Moxa with ginger or garlic can improve digestion

Conditions Treated

Most Common Conditions

In the US, pain is the most common condition treated with acupuncture.

 

But Acupuncture is effective in treating a wide range of conditions:

  • Allergies/asthma
  • Migraine and Headaches
  • Fatigue and sleep disorders
  • Arthritis
  • PMS
  • Digestive disorders
  • Addictions
Respiratory System
  • Acute sinusitis
  • Acute rhinitis
  • Common cold
  • Acute bronchitis
  • Bronchial asthma (most effective in children and in patients without other complicating diseases
Gastro-Intestinal Disorders
  • Spasms of esophagus
  • Hiccups
  • Gastroparesis
  • Acute and chronic gastritis
  • Gastric hyperacidity/Reflux
  • Chronic duodenal ulcer (pain relief)
  • Acute duodenal ulcer (without complications)
  • Acute and chronic colitis
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Chrohn’s Disease
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Digestive Disorders are one of White Cypress’ specialties. See our Specialties section to learn more!
Neurological | Musculoskeletal Disorders
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Facial palsy
  • Pareses following a stroke
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
  • Nocturnal enuresis
  • Intercostal neuralgia
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • “Frozen shoulder”, “tennis elbow”, “golfer’s elbow”
  • Sciatica
  • Low back pain
  • Osteoarthritis
Prenatal | Pediatric
  • Adverse Pregnancy symptoms: morning sickness, pain, headache/migraine, insomnia, heartburn, etc.
  • Spina Bifida
  • Pediatric asthma
  • Pediatric anxiety
  • Pediatric insomnia
  • Pediatric pain
  • Pediatric headache/migraine
  • Prenatal & Pediatric Services is one of WHite Cypress’ specialties. See our Specialties section to learn more!
Types of Moxa
  • Moxa Stick: A thick, compressed moxa stick is lit and held over an acupuncture point until the area surrounding the point is warm or slightly reddened.
  • Warming Needle Treatment: Dried moxa is shaped into a ball and placed on the handle of an acupuncture needle. It is lit to gently warm the needle and acupuncture point underneath.
  • Stick-on Moxa: A moxa cone on top of a hollow stand placed on a specific acupuncture point to draw heat down on top of the point.
  • Direct Moxa: Also called rice grain moxa, and small piece of moxa is rolled and placed directly on the skin to warm the channel underneath.

specialty Prenatal & Pediatric

From conception to birth, infancy through childhood, acupuncture can help relieve adverse pregnancy symptoms and is a wonderful natural treatment for disease and discomfort in children.

specialty Pain

Pain is the most popular condition treated with acupuncture and treatments are very effective. We can treat acute pain and/or chronic pain from head to toe.

specialty Digestive Disorders

Digestive issues are on the rise with the consumption of processed foods; between acupuncture and nutritional changes, we can help relieve symptoms and heal the gut.

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