Because Chinese medicine approaches each patient in a unique and holistic way, multiple treatment modalities may be necessary depending on your presenting condition at any given time.  In addition to acupuncture and Chinese herbal remedies, I may use moxibustion (the burning of herbs near the skin's surface), gua sha (the scraping of the skin to improve circulation, eliminate stasis and relieve pain), and fire cupping (placing glass cups on the skin with a vacuum to relieve stagnation and increase circulation ).  All of these techniques have been used for thousands of years and continue to be safe and effective additions to treatment.   

A master teacher once told me I should never care about a patient's health more than the patient does.  The relationship between acupuncturist and patient should be a cooperative one, and therefore the patient should be willing to actively engage in her own healing.  I offer dietary and lifestyle counseling, as well as self-care techniques and qi gong exercises for specific conditions, and encourage patients to participate in and contribute to their own wellness.