Treatment Methods

The primary treatment method used to regulate the nervous system, improve circulation, and support the body’s natural healing response.

Acupuncture is one of the main practices of Chinese Medicine. Its history goes back thousands of years and it is widely used in China alongside Western Medicine. Through the insertion of fine needles into the body, acupuncture aims to restore the energetic balance within a complex of channel systems, activating the body’s own healing response in order to alleviate pain, ease tensions and treat various health conditions of the body and mind.

A manual therapy used within treatment to release muscular tension, improve mobility, and support structural balance.

Tui Na is part of the Chinese Medicine tradition. It is an ancient therapeutic medical massage and bodywork used to treat patterns of disharmony of the body and the mind. It is based on the Chinese Medicine meridians system and it addresses local conditions as well as deeper, constitutional patterns. Tui Na can be practiced on its own or in conjunction with acupuncture, cupping and gua sha. At Living Practices we integrate Tui Na as a complementary therapy, when appropriate, to enhance the treatments.

A gentle suction technique used to help ease muscular tightness and support local circulation in areas of restriction.

Cupping is widely used in China as Chinese Medicine practice but historically it has been used for centuries all over Asia, eastern Europe and Middle East. Small warmed jars that generate a suction effect are placed on the skin surface, drawing up congestion and stagnation from deep within the body, releasing locked tension and encouraging detoxification. By promoting the blood circulation, oxygen and nutrients are delivered in order to nourish the area treated and reduce inflammation. Moreover, the cupping therapy all together supports the body/mind relaxation which in turn stimulates the parasympathetic system (rest and digest).

A controlled scraping technique used to release surface tension, improve blood flow, clear Heat, and reduce areas of stagnation in soft tissue.

Gua Sha is an ancient healing technique used in Asia to address a wide range of conditions. It is often used to relieve musculoskeletal tensions like back and neck pain, along many other conditions. In recent years, Gua Sha has gained popularity in the Western society and it is widely used by Western medicine practitioners and in the cosmetic industry. At Living Practices, we believe that Gua sha has a particular effect in “heat” related conditions (most frequently inflammation). Whether it is a musculoskeletal complaint such as neck pain or an acute joint and muscular pain, as well as chest congestion or sore throat, Gua sha can be the simple but effective remedy to promote pain relief and start clearing the inflammation. By scraping the body with a Gua sha tool we release the stagnation and tension, clear heat, and promote the regeneration of the local tissue and blood circulation. It is also believed to have a detoxifying outcome by promoting lymphatic drainage. Often the anti-inflammatory effect of Gua sha gives an effective relief also in subjects with chronic inflammation conditions.  

A warming and nourishing therapy using specific dried mugwort and gentle heat on specific points and meridians to support circulation, Nourish Blood, areas of depletion or cold.

​​Dried Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris) is used to warm channels, points or regions of the body. This practice is believed to be older than acupuncture. It is used to warm and nourish the body. 

By warming points and channels Mugwort stimulates the Yang energy combining the heat therapy with the bio-active compounds that penetrate deep into the body for the therapeutic effects such as improving the blood flow, anti-microbial and analgesic effects. Mugwort can be used directly on the skin, on the needle or as a stick.

A mild electrical stimulation applied through acupuncture needles to enhance the effect of treatment where deeper activation is needed.

Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture that stimulates the acupuncture points and blood circulation in the treated areas. It is mainly used as a pain management technique (among other therapeutic advantages) as it stimulates an anti-inflammatory effect. By applying electrical current on the needles, the stimulation enriches the effect of the acupuncture therapy stimulating the body’s natural pain-relieving response. It is often used in sports medicine to speed up recovery time and improve muscle tone, as well as induce analgesic effects. 

Light-based therapy used to support tissue recovery, improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and assist the body’s natural repair processes.

Red Light Therapy uses low levels of red light to increase the production of mitochondria, improving your cell function and repair processes. Studies are ongoing on this emerging therapy. Anecdotally, as well as through some small studies, it has been reported effective in such conditions as dementia, pain and swelling, arthritis, tendinopathy, hair loss, acne, TMJ jaw conditions, improved memory, better sleep and mood, thyroid function, and more. In combination with acupuncture, breathing and relaxation we believe this will enhance both the physical and the mental aspects of recovery for you. In addition, our red light device can also offer the infrared function together with red light therapy. Infrared will penetrate slightly deeper into the skin, muscles and nerves. Synergistically, they work on boosting blood flow, stimulating production of ATP and collagen, and reaching deeper into the body to stimulate natural recovery processes.