Non-needle therapies

Interested in East-Asian Medicine, but do not want acupuncture? Susanna offers non-needling therapies that are available as a standalone service. Some services are only included as part of an acupuncture treatment.

 
 
Photo of cupping a woman’s back, courtesy of Bob Wong

Photo of cupping a woman’s back, courtesy of Bob Wong

Cupping

Cupping therapy uses jar-like cups, which attach to your skin via suction. The vacuum action of cupping rapidly facilitates the release of rigid soft tissues, stimulates the peripheral nervous system, loosens and lifts connective tissues, breaks up and drains stagnation. It also increases blood and lymph flow to skin, muscles, and connective tissues. Cupping draws stagnant blood and other fluids that has fallen out of healthy circulation up to the skin and away from the injury so that healthy circulation can be restored to the affected area. 

Although painless, cupping leaves signature red circles where the cups were placed. The marks are not bruises. In most cases, the marks will disappear within a few days, but be prepared for them to last up to 3 weeks.

Cupping Pricing

  • Cupping is included in acupuncture sessions, if desired

  • Cupping as a stand-alone service: $80 | 25 minutes

 
Susanna performing Guasha on a patient’s sole of foot

Guasha

Guasha stimulates your immune system, detoxifies your body, improves circulation, relieves chronic pain, diminishes fatigue, rebalances emotions, relaxes, and promotes clarity of the mind. Guasha helps allieviate the common cold, flu, bronchitis, asthma, and chronic or acute pain. It is especially effective with head, neck, shoulder, and sciatic pain, as well as migraines.

Guasha is performed using a soft-edged tool such as a smooth sterile metal lid or specialized stone tool. During Guasha, an oil or balm is spread on your body and then the tool is used to rub gently along your skin, resulting in skin reddening or the appearance of small red dots. While the markings may make it appear painful, it actually feels quite good. 

Some say that Guasha is the best kept secret in East-Asian medicine!

Guasha Pricing

  • Guasha is included in acupuncture sessions, if desired

  • Guasha as a stand-alone service: $80 | 25 minutes

 
Gold earseeds on a woman’s ear

Auricular Acupuncture + EarSeeds

Based on the principles of acupuncture and East-Asian medicine, auriculotherapy uses the ear as a tiny map of the entire body. There are hundreds of acupuncture points in the ear corresponding to just about every organ, hormone, and system.

Earseeds (aka ear pellets) are tiny, stick-on vaccaria seeds or 24K gold-plated metal balls that attach with adhesive to your ear. They are painless and can stay on your ear for up to 10 days. Many health issues can be supported with auriculotherapy including stress, anxiety, depression, detoxification, digestive issues, fatigue, headaches, immunity, insomnia, libido, pain, quitting smoking, seasonal symptoms, and so much more.

EarSeeds / Auricular Pricing

  • Auricular Acupuncture + Earseeds are included in acupuncture sessions, if desired

  • Auricular Acupuncture + Earseeds as a stand-alone service: $80 | 25 minutes

  • 24K gold-plated ear pellets are available to purchase for use at home

 
Moxa and needles on a patient’s knee

Moxibustion (Moxa)

Moxibustion (also called "moxa') is an antique form of heat therapy which is thought to predate acupuncture and is known as  zhen jiu 针灸 in Chinese. Moxibustion is very relaxing and does not hurt at all.

Moxibustion is the placement and burning of the leaves from the mugwort plant (Artemisia Vulgaris) at or above specific acupuncture points to elicit a warming sensation. Mugwort has many medicinal properties that when combined with heat, increase circulation and promote a smooth flow of blood and energy throughout the body. Modern research has shown that moxa therapy is effective at raising white blood cell counts in severely debilitated patients and, most famously, is used to reposition breech babies. It is also often used to treat pain and other conditions.

Moxibustion Pricing

  • Moxibustion is included in acupuncture sessions if appropriate for your treatment

  • Moxibustion (in several forms) are available for purchase for you to use at home

 
Photo of fruits + veggies, courtesy of Brooke Lark

Photo of fruits + veggies, courtesy of Brooke Lark

Lifestyle + Nutritional Recommendations

What you put into your body and do with your body on a daily basis has a huge impact on how you feel. The appropriate lifestyle and diet for your constitution is important to ensure that you feel like the best version of yourself.

Susanna provides lifestyle and nutritional recommendations from an East-Asian perspective as part of your acupuncture treatments.

She may recommend supplements that can be purchased via Fullscript, and others can be purchased in-office.