Several styles of acupuncture are practiced at Rivertown Acupuncture. Each has its strengths, and I may utilize one or a combination, depending upon your diagnosis and presentation.
- Acupuncture Physical Medicine with dry needling is a meridian or channel based system that incorporates Western physical medicine techniques. Diagnosis relies primarily upon palpation of the channels and, where muscular-skeletal pain presents, palpation of musculature to detect and locate any myofascial constrictions. The use of trigger point needling (or dry needle technique) is integral to the success of this style.
- Kiiko Matsumoto or KM Style is a Japanese style formulated by renowned teacher, Kiiko Matsumoto. Her method thrives as a living tradition, a synthesis derived from her own teachers, Master Nagano, Master Kawaii and Dr. Manaka. KM style relies extensively upon palpation of the abdomen and other reflex zones of the body, very fine needles with shallow insertion, and the use of tools unique to Japan, such as silver diode chains, diode rings and magnets, ion and triple bypass cords.
- TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine is the “default” style that is taught in almost all acupuncture schools and is the style upon which the national certification exams are based. This style relies upon questions, observation of tongue, complexion, and palpation of pulse, to choose a standardized diagnosis of pattern and treatment. The needles tend to be a little thicker and insertion deeper. Guasha, a scraping technique used to loosen fascia, and cupping are both non-needling techniques commonly used in TCM.
- Esoteric Acupuncture is a fairly recent style, formulated and taught by Dr. Mikio Sanakey, that’s evolved to incorporate the chakra system. Esoteric acupuncture utilizes a pendulum to determine which chakras are most closed or congested, and utilizes sacred geometry to determine needling pattern. This style relies upon shallow insertion with long needle retention. This style has a deep and transformative effect especially on the emotional and spiritual bodies.
- Classical Chinese Acupuncture as taught by Master Jeffrey Yuen, is a broad and comprehensive tradition from which TCM was derived. Classical Chinese has a deep history with many schools, but what distinguishes it from TCM is that it is very multi-faceted, with a highly individualized diagnosis and treatment, is rooted in the naturalist philosophy of Daoism, and possesses a synthetic (as opposed to analytic) approach.
- Facial Rejuvenation or Cosmetic is acupuncture utilizing many fine needles to minimize wrinkles and sags in the facial folds.
