education
We love the educated client!
We encourage you to ask questions and bring your curiosity of what we do to the table. This page contains a few of the most common terms, questions and misconceptions that we’ve encountered along the way. Still puzzled by something? Speak to your Healing Arts Practitioner on your next visit or send them an email via the Contact page.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture: the insertion of very fine needles into specific points of the body that help stimulate natural healing, reduce pain, improve digestive, and decrease stress.
Community acupuncture: a national movement to create greater access to acupuncture by offering low cost treatment in a group setting. Points on the scalp, ears, and below the elbows and knees are used to treat the entire body.
Stagnation: a lack of movement or flow. In Chinese Medicine, stagnation is the cause for pain and dis-ease. Acupuncture breaks-up stagnation and emphasizes movement.
Gua Sha: an ancient folk remedy still widely used all over Asia. Through gently scraping the skin with a smooth object and body oil, painful tension (blood stagnation) in muscle tissue and joints can be removed very efficiently. The flow of lymphatic fluids as well as the circulation of blood all over the body is promoted. Guasha is also very effective during the early stages of a cold.
Cupping: an ancient method that involves placing glass cups on the body, especially the back. By creating a vacuum inside the cup (using heat to suction out air) the skin will be sucked into the cup resulting in a strong flow of blood to the area being treated. Pain and tension can be relieved by this strong blood flow.
Moxibustion: a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to warm areas of the body or acupuncture points. In this process the moxa is applied directly to the body or rolled into a cigar and held approximately 1-2 inches above the skin. The patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the body. The purpose of moxibustion is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of Qi and expel coldness from certain areas of the body. Moxa is especially useful for digestive issues, muscle pain, and gynecological issues.
Is acupuncture painful? Acupuncture needles are very thin and are not painful like hypodermic needles. The insertion of the acupuncture needle is similar to sensation of a hair being pulled. There can be a sensation of warmth or heaviness at the insertion point, which means the body is reacting in a positive way, but most patients find that there is no discomfort. It is perfectly normal for some points to feel stronger than others.
Will I be cured after one treatment? Although acupuncture can help with many issues, its far from a cure-all. Some patients do experience changes after one treatment, but like everything in life – it is a process. Acute issues may require fewer treatments, while chronic issues will require more. Acupuncture is cumulative experience. It is important to receive regular treatment to truly benefit from acupuncture.
If I don’t fall asleep, is the treatment still working? Yes. The needles are going to do what they have to do whether you’re taking a power nap or chatting with friends. Some patients who are a little sleep-deprived would probably benefit from a little downtime, but taking a gentle pause in your day is often enough.
My back hurts. Why aren’t you putting needles into my back? Because the body is connected, there are ways to access certain parts with acupuncture by inserting a needle in other areas. Especially if the pain you are experiencing is sharp and intense, and made worse by touching or massaging it – logic tells us not to put a needle there. Instead we want to direct that sensation away from that area. This is especially true with an acute injury.
Is my entire body going to be covered with needles, like you see in the movies? Nope. The number and location of the needles depends on the acupuncturist’s style and the patients condition. Because acupuncture is regulating and sedating, a patient who is already fatigued or recovering from illness would benefit from fewer needles. Where a patient who has a stronger constitution or more excessive symptoms would benefit from more needles. An average treatment usually uses 12 acupuncture needles, but it could be more or less.
Skin Care
Facial: a skin care treatment involving a variety of steps including steam, exfoliation, extractions, massage and facial masks.
Enzyme exfoliation: a gentle enzyme gel applied to the skin under steam to loosen dead skin cells and prepare the skin for extractions of blackheads and whiteheads.
Extraction: manual removal of debris collected in skin pores, often called blackheads, whiteheads or comedones.
Ionization: a procedure that utilizes a low level galvanic current to push water soluble vitamin solutions into the skin.
Antioxidant: a molecule that helps fight inflammation-containing substances in the body known as free radicals. Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin A or beta-carotene can be applied to the skin in order to reduce free radical damage.
Glycolic acid: a sugar based, alpha-hydroxy acid used to exfoliate the top layer of skin.
Pigmentation: dark spots that appear on the skin, usually as a result of inflammation (acne) or sun exposure. also called “melasma”.
Threading: a method of hair removal, originated in India, using special thread to pull hair out at the root.
Do I need a facial? Both men and women can benefit from receiving facials, you will learn how to correct any skin issues that concern you as well as prevent new issues from arising.
How often should I get a facial? It depends on your skin. People with acne may need to come as frequently as every 2 weeks until their breakouts are under control whereas people that need minimal maintenance can have a session every 8-12 weeks. The average is every 4-6 weeks.
My skin is sensitive, can I get a facial? Yes. There are professional products and treatments designed to benefit even the most sensitive skin. You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire before your first session so your esthetician will be aware of your concerns.
I had a facial once that made me breakout, why? The skin is a living, breathing organ made up of layers of tissue. When your skin feels “bumpy” or “clogged” this is a result of congestion in one or more of these layers. During the extraction portion of a facial, the pores on the surface of the skin are cleaned. You may have debris clogging the deeper layers of the skin which is encouraged to “purge” after the treatment. If this is an issue for you, have a facial 2 weeks prior to your big event, or opt for a treatment like Deep Skin Ionization that includes an electrical current to kill the bacteria in the lower layers of the skin and prevents residual breakouts. When you are on routine that includes regularly scheduled professional treatments and the correct home care products, this will no longer be an issue.
