About Meridian Healing Arts

Acupuncture uses very thin  needles (closer to the size of a hair shaft than a syringed needle) that pierces the skin in these specific points of the body where channels of energy run through the body. There may be a light sting, dull ache or no feeling at all. Hydrating and eating properly before acupuncture is recommended. Needles are usually retained about 20-30 minutes, while the patient lies comfortably on a therapy table. 

Eastern and Western medical philosophies are very different in philosophy, yet scientists are starting to understand the physiological reactions of acupuncture through evidence-based research. A renowned AMA medical journal, JAMA, (Andrew J. Vickers; Acupuncture for Chronic Pain) published an article in 2012 with randomized controlled trials (RCT), and concluded that: “Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of  chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option.” 

Over thousands of years of observation and experimentation with needles conclude that certain points on the skin are associated with specific internal body functions and emotions. In other words, acupuncture assists the body in increasing and moving blood and lymph flow, decreasing inflammation or swelling, warming or cooling an area and relaxing the nervous system, thus reducing pain.

Tuina can include Myofascial Release, Triggor Point Therapy, stretching and Acupressure Therapy. Yin Tuina is more similar to Lymph Drainage, CranioSacral which comes from the traditional osteopathic philosophy and is gentle pressure that encourages a Central Nervous System response for a more internal parasympathetic or visceral response that moves fluids and relaxes  the body. In 2017 a military study of cranio-sacral  effects on concussions reported (Wetzler et al. CranioSacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation: 

A New Treatment Intervention for Concussion Recovery):

“Ten sessions of specific CST/VM/NM therapy resulted in statistically greater improvements in pain intensity, ROM, memory, cognition, and sleep in concussed patients.” 

 Cupping brings blood flow to  the skin and may create redness or 

purple in the pores. This is a modality that helps move body fluids, 

stagnation of qi and blood,  lifts the soft tissue off their structure 

allowing lymph and blood to flow more efficiently. Similar to Gua Sha it 

can also assist in expelling environemntal pathogens and loosen fascia. 

This gained national popularity in the last two Olympics as athletes wore their cup marks during their televised events. 

The NCCAOM reports on their website: “Cupping is used in over 60 countries to treat a broad spectrum of conditions such as headaches, musculoskeletal pain, infections, insect bites, hypertension, respiratory conditions, skin disorders,, digestive problems, and infertility.  Dr. William Osler, considered the Father of Modern Medicine and one of the founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital, recommended cupping for bronchopneumonia and acute myelitis in the early 1900’s.”

 Gua Sha is an East Asian  medicine healing technique  that involves “Gua,” the term meaning scraping or rubbing and due to the surface frictioning raises transitory petechiae and ecchymosis to the surface of the skin called “Sha”. This technique is applied to the skin usually using a stone, porcelain, or bone tool. According to TCM, it can be used to expel external pathogens such as wind, heat, cold and toxins from the environment, loosen fascia and increase blood flow. 

Gua Sha has shown to cause a fourfold increase in microcirculation at the treated area, reported in a  study (Nielsen A; The Effect of Gua Sha Treatment on the Microcirculation of Surface Tissue: A Pilot Study in Healthy Subjects) that was conducted at the Department of Nephrology, Unit of Circulation Research, University Hospital of Essen, Germany. The study also reported:

“Each subject experienced immediate decrease in myalgia in both the site treated, in 

the related distal control site, and in some cases, other distal sites. Pain relief persisted to 

some extent up to the follow-up visit. There were no adverse reactions.”

Other medical professions have modified Gua Sha techniques in their therapies. Grafston therapy has become a staple within the Physical Therapy community. This technique focuses on smoothing adhesions and increasing circulation in the fascia as well. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a variety of herbal formulas that are used to treat different ailments. These formulas are classified into different categories based on their functions

This may include specific pain, head aches, mental health symptoms, digestive disturbances, reproductive imbalances, and acute and chronic disorders.