Acupuncture is a medical technique that dates back thousands of years and is the most common modality used in traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin, painless needles into specific points of the body. This process stimulates the body’s energetic meridians, enabling the body to come back into balance and heal. Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as an effective treatment for a wide variety of medical problems including pain and injuries, anxiety, and smoking cessation.

Moxibustion, or moxa, involves the burning of the herb mugwort. The practitioner lights the mugwart bundle and holds it over the patient’s injury creating warmth for the area. Moxa is often used in conjunction with other traditional Chinese medicine therapies and has been shown to aid in the treatment of a long list of conditions including arthritis pain, healing from cold/ flu, and gastrointestinal distress.

The process of cupping involves a special glass cup which is used to create a partial vacuum. Depending on the condition being treated, the cup is either left in one place or moved around the back. Like many of the modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine, cupping improves many conditions. Cupping mobilizes blood to speed up recovery time after musculoskeletal injuries and may be used to reduce scar tissue and muscle tightness, and to treat various lung issues like pneumonia and asthma.