Clinical Practice

The Heart of Chinese Medicine is Clinical Practice.

Chinese Herbal Medicine - the therapeutic ingestion or external application of various natural substances derived from plants, minerals, animals, & insects to provide optimal nutritive and energetic balance to treat many diverse illnesses

Acupuncture - the insertion of hair-thin sterile needles to optimally adjust the flow of Qi and Blood which results in pain-relief, disease management, and optimized energy, sleep, immune, digestive, and mood states

Electro-acupuncture - the addition of low-intensity electrical stimulation to enhance pain relief and increase point stimulation. Typically locally applied to some sites of muscular or joint pain, as well as used over important trunk points that influence vital organs to treat internal medical conditions

Moxibustion - the traditional heat therapy of Chinese medicine involving the burning of mugwort (Artemesia vulgarism) on, or suspended above, acupuncture points & channels

Cupping (suction) - the use of glass suction cups to create a "negative pressure massage" to help enhance the free flowing of Qi, Blood, & Body Fluids to treat soft-tissue pain and internal medical conditions

Gua Sha (friction) - the use of blunt, hard-edged tools to rub and scrape the skin and underlying tissues which enhances the circulation of Qi, Blood & Body Fluids to relieve pain and enhance the immune response

Tui Na (massage) - China's ancient bodywork techniques designed to stretch and loosen muscles and connective tissues to address both painful and internal medical conditions

Chinese Dietary Therapy - the understanding of the thermal quality and taste influence foods have on our bodies and minds, and the use of diet to treat disease and maintain optimal wellness

Qi Gong (Chinese energy work) - a large body of physical and mental practices developed over thousands of years emphasizing movement and postural efficiency, breath control, specific stretching, and intentional mental focusing to achieve pain and disease control, provide great exercise to mind and body, and maintain radiant health; TaiJiQuan ("Tai Chi") is a form of Qi Gong   

The heart of Chinese medical clinical practice was revealed more than 2000 years ago in the Four Great Classical Texts: Huang Di Nei Jing (Ling Shu and Su Wen), Nan Jing, Shang Han Lun, and Jin Gui Yao Lue.  At Piedmont Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, we continually study and refer to these ancient classics to guide us in the genuine practice of Chinese medicine.

The "Four Pillars of Diagnosis", practically based upon a medical interview including questions regarding presenting complaint(s) and general health and lifestyle habits, pulse and bodily palpation, and a visual tongue inspection reveal the "Pattern(s) of Disharmony" (the Chinese medical diagnosis).

Treatment is completely individualized - never protocol - to perfectly match your unique situation and wellness needs. "One size fits all" is not the way of Chinese medicine, the original "Patient Centered" medicine.  Treatment may include one, but often several of the above modalities during a single session.

Your initial evaluation and treatment includes a complete diagnosis and thorough treatment and will last for 75 to 90 minutes.  Return (follow-up) treatments are completed in 60 to 75 minutes.  We take great care to allow adequate time for the most relaxing and effective results. 

Use the sidebar to the right to discover more about the theories of Chinese medicine, and the therapies used at Piedmont Acupuncture to help our patients feel great! 

DAO (道): The Way, The Road, The Path