Treating the mind, body and spirit.

Other Non-Needle Modalities

Some other non needle modalities used at Points Of Wellness are:

Cupping

cuppingCupping is one of the world's oldest medical treatments. It quickly relieves sore and stiff muscles and joints and it also improves circulation. A plastic cup is attached to the skin and a vacuum is created inside the cup. The vacuum exerts a slight pull on the skin and underlying tissue which relieves pain, relaxes the body and improves circulation. cupping is also used to strengthen the whole body, improve immunity and eliminate stagnation.

Gua Sha

Gua sha therapy is used for relief of stiff or sore muscles, improve circulation and increase range of motion. For gua sha, the skin in lubricated with lotion or medicated ointment and then scraped with a specialized instrument made of either molded plastic, horn or porcelain until the skin turns slightly red or red dots (known as petichiae) appear. the red appearance can last up to a few days and the area should remain covered. This technique produces very quick pain relief and significant increase in range of motion.

Magnet Therapy

Magnets are used for balancing the body's energy. It has been found that when magnets or certain combinations of two dissimilar metals contact the body, a small electric current is generated termed the Polarity Agent Effect. Some commonly used pairs of metals which exhibit this phenomenon include: gold/silver, copper/zinc, nickel/copper, and gold/aluminum. Magnets, by virtue of their natural north (-) and south (+) magnetic poles also exhibit this same phenomenon. In addition to polarity effects, small acu-magnets and small press pellets also provide continuous acupressure to the point. By creating a polarity using magnets, we can direct the flow of Qi to properly balance the acupuncture meridians.

Ryu Therapy

Ryu therapy is utilized in each treatment at Points of Wellness. Small ryu or press balls are metal ball bearings made of a variety of different metals and are usually about 2mm in diameter. The ball bearings are secured to a circular piece of tape that is applied to the skin. In Japan, the press balls are placed on body and ear acupuncture points to stimulate the point. they are often used in pediatric acupuncture as well. Ryu therapy can be used to create a polarity using two different metals during the treatment. They can also be used as a substitute for needle acupuncture treatments.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion is the technique of burning moxa which is an herb made from mugwort leaves. It has the ability to warm the tissue deeply and relieve pain. When burnt, moxa does not burn with a flame but smolders and radiates it's warmth evenly. Depending on the desired results, a variety of techniques are used with moxa. At Points of Wellness the most often used technique is tiger warmer. Tiger warmer is an instrument that allows the use of moxa, warmth and pressure at the same time. It is used for gentle and relaxing treatments. The tiger warmer consists of a thin moxa stick which is lit and placed inside a double metal casing. The outside casing has a small hole and a rounded end which is moved across the skin at varying speeds. The patient enjoys a warm, soothing and relaxing feeling. Common uses for tiger warmer are but not limited to:

  • relieve muscle tension and pain
  • improve circulation at sites of old injuries and scars
  • prepare stiff or cold muscles for further treatment
  • as a substitute for needle acupuncture

Itokyu

Itokyu, "thread moxa", is another moxibustion technique utilized in Japanese acupuncture. It uses the highest grade of moxa rolled into a tiny thread (smaller than a grain of rice). This tread is placed on top of skin protective cream and lit with a small stick of incense and extinguished before reaching the cream on the skin's surface. The patient feels a brief warmth or tingling sensation.

Korean Hand Therapy

Korean Hand Therapy (K.H.T) is a system for awakening the body to health and wellness through your hands. By stimulating specific points on your hands, you can resolve pain and balance internal organ function. K.H.T. includes the reflexology level of treatment, similar in concept to the reflexology of the foot. K.H.T. also includes the entire acupuncture meridian energy system, but in miniature, on the hands. This addition to the reflex system gives hand therapy many treatment options. Stimulating points in K.H.T. is done with point massage, tiny tape-on metal acu-pressure pellets, heat through tiger warmer and micro-current electrical stimulation.