For general health conditions, checking, and maintenance. Also for moderate discomfort from various conditions as discussed above.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system that has a history over 3,000 years. TCM believes that we maintain our health and wellbeing naturally when our body is kept in a harmonious balance. If the Qi flow (the energetic life force) of our body is disrupted, our body and internal organs will lose its balance and symptomatic diseases will happen. TCM can rebalance our body to achieve harmony by using acupuncture, herbal formula and TUINA therapy. That is a simple truth.

TCM believes that Qi and blood flow in the meridians (channels) are connected with each internal organ. Needles stimulate key points on the meridians to adjust Qi and blood circulation to rebalance our organ's function. Over the past 50 years, extensive western medical research has proven acupuncture can cause multiple system reactions and changes under the order of our central nerve system, including the circulation system, lymph, hormones, enzymes, as well as other immune systems. The stimulation of needles helps bring energetic imbalance to a balance. Although we may not know how it works, we do know as a fact it works for many conditions. To me, acupuncture and herbs can certainly trigger the self-balance system in our body.

TCM uses natural herbs and herbal formulas to further enhance the effect of acupuncture. We have hundreds and thousands of herbal formulas designed to treat specific symptoms, syndromes or imbalances of organs or systems. Most of those formulas we use today have at least over 400 or 500 years of history. Some of them have been used over 2,000 years. Today, these formulas are used as part of formal treatments in every hospital in China, prescribed by physicians as real medication instead of as supplements. They are popular because they balance the body in a natural way with few side effects, which is one of the key features that distinguish Chinese herbal formulas from any other herbal supplements in the market. Also, I would like to emphasize that only a well trained TCM doctor or acupuncturist can select the right formula for your specific condition(s). The experience and sophistication of an acupuncturist plays an important part in the formula selection.

TUINA is a new name to most Americans. Actually, it is a big part of acupuncture and TCM with a history of over 3,000 years.

Many times, it is mistranslated into Chinese Massage. Professionally, we call it Hand Techniques. TUINA is not a commonly known massage. In China, it is a technique performed by orthopedic surgeons to treat almost all kinds of injuries, including most bone fractures, joint dislocations, spine injuries and joint, muscle and ligament injuries. During my 8-year practice as a senior medical doctor in China, I witnessed that TUINA therapy sometimes was more effective for injuries than any other treatments, including surgical operations.

In short, TUINA therapy combines massage and stretch techniques to stretch deep tissues to release inner pressure, to soften tissues and to break adhesion so as to rebuild blood circulation in deep tissues and between joints.

It can fundamentally control inflammation, relieve / stop the pain, and improve range of joints by working right on the problematic areas. Special training is required for TUINA therapy.

(The above is Rocky Wang's personal opinion.)