Community Clinics

Clinical Services

If you are looking for a place where your healthcare needs are met by caring providers of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who have the time to listen; visit our student clinics. There you will find experienced professors supervising enthusiastic interns. The clinics offer treatments using acupuncture, far infra-red heat treatments/moxibustion, cupping, guasha, tuina massage, acupressure, and electro or laser stimulation, herbal medicine, nutritional and lifestyle recommendations.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture began with the discovery that stimulating specific areas on the skin affect the physiological functioning of the body’s processes. It has evolved into a scientific system of healing that restores and maintains health by the insertion of fine needles into acupuncture points. These acupoints are in specific locations and lie on channels of energy called meridians.

What is an acupuncture treatment like?

When needles are inserted, patients may experience a quick, light sting followed by a tingling or heavy sensation in the limbs. During treatment, needles are left in place for about 15 to 30 minutes. Many patients report a pleasant feeling of relaxation. Treatment with acupuncture can produce rapid results, but more often it requires several treatments over a period of time. Usually, treatments are once or twice a week, but they may be less frequent. Sometimes, the effect is quite dramatic, and only one or two treatments are needed. For older problems, the effect may be more subtle and require treatment for several months.

What can acupuncture help?

An acupuncturist may be consulted by people with troublesome conditions such as stress, anxiety, nagging pain, or fatigue. Many diseases respond well to TCM treatment: arthritis, allergies, asthma, migraine, high blood pressure, menstrual disorders, and digestive problems. While acupuncture is effective in helping people with these conditions, as well as with many others, it does more than simply relieve symptoms. The aim of acupuncture is to treat the whole person, restoring your sense of vitality, peace, and well-being.

Your consultation

During the first consultation, your practitioner takes a medical history and then asks about any medications you are taking or treatment from your doctor. They continue by careful questioning and observation to determine the nature of the energetic disharmony according to TCM.

This detailed analysis includes physical symptoms, lifestyle, diet, sleep patterns, and emotional feelings. Diagnosis also includes an examination of the tongue for its color and coating, and of the pulses, which are felt for their quality, rhythm, and strength. The practitioner looks for a pattern that provides a total picture of your constitution. Having decided on the cause of the problem; acupoints, herbs, and other methods of treatment are selected to give you immediate relief, as well as, treating the underlying cause of the problem.

Herbs and nutrition in TCM

Chinese herbal formulas and nutritional supplements, developed from natural sources, fill an important need in modern healthcare. They assist and stimulate the inner healing capacity of the body to effectively treat a range of common diseases. Traditional herbal formulas have proven safe and effective over many years of clinical experience and research both in China and America.

Chinese herbal formulas are traditionally brewed into tea from raw herbs. Your practitioner will custom blend a formula based on your constitution and energetic balance. If you are recommended herbs at the College Clinic, you can make a traditional tea or choose tablets or liquid tinctures. Whatever you feel is more convenient and comfortable.

More and more patients are recognizing that healthy eating is a key to good health and the recovery from illness. In addition to herbs, many practitioners of TCM are using traditional nutrition to help patients. First, by recommending foods to avoid and then suggesting healthy recipes for home cooking. If you would like to work on improving your quality of foods and quality of life, visit the College Clinic for good advice.