Patti-Ann is the Registered Acupuncturist member of the Fernie Wild Heart Team. She utilizes a number of modalities in order to achieve the best possible outcome for patients. These include:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been around for
centuries – with some sources dating it back over 5000 years ago. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very
fine, disposable filiform needles into the skin at acupuncture points. Most acupuncture points are found on meridians,
or energy pathways, that have been mapped out on the body over centuries. The points chosen are individualised to each
person and depends on what they are seeking treatment for.
Tui
na
Tuina is a form of Chinese
Massage. It is interpreted as “Push and
Hold” and involves the use of many different techniques to solve muscle
skeletal, tendon and joint issues. It is
less of a relaxation massage and more of a therapeutic modality.
Fire
Cupping
Fire cupping involves placing a flame
into a glass cup in order to create a vacuum.
The cup is then placed on the skin where it acts on the tissues of the
body and, depending on the therapeutic intention, it can be used for decreasing
pain, relaxing the tissues of the body, promoting lymph flow, increasing
circulation and removing pathogens. In
Chinese Medicine it is believed that the source of many issues stems from
stagnation in the body due to a variety of different factors – from emotions to
the weather. Cupping helps pull out the
toxins in the body and allows for blood flow to circulate with ease and
harmonize the body.
The marks of the cups are called
“cupping marks” and resemble large circular bruises that can range from light
pink to purple/black. The more
trauma/stagnation/toxins there are in the body, the darker the colors tend to
be and the longer the marks will stay.
The marks are painless and generally last from 3 days to a week, however
can last longer depending on the condition of the individual.
Gua
sha
Gua sha is an traditional Chinese
Medicine technique that helps increase circulation and is used to break up
stagnation of blood in areas of discomfort.
Gua means “rub” or “scrape” and sha refers to a reddish rash that this technique
leaves behind. Gua sha is performed by
rubbing the skin with a liniment and then rubbing or scraping the skin with a
smooth-edged tool. The “rash” that gua
sha leaves behind can vary in color and gives clues to what is going on in the
body and areas of disease and trauma.
The “rash” left by gua sha can sometimes seem alarming to someone new to
this technique, however the marks usually fade in 3-5 days. It is often used
for pain, but is very effective in use of asthma, colds & flus and
fibromyalgia.
Moxa
Smokeless
Moxibustion is an ancient therapy
practiced along side of acupuncture. It
involves burning the herb Mugwart on acupuncture points or areas located on the
body. Mugwart can burn at 600 degrees
Celsius and the heat penetrates the body creating a healing cascade of
reactions. Because of the smoke the moxa
creates, we do not use the actual herb.
Instead we use an electronic version that heats up very quickly. Moxa is useful for arthritic conditions,
frozen shoulder, menstrual disorders, chronic diseases and more.
