About Classical Chinese Medicine

Classical Chinese Medicine encompasses Acupuncture, Herbalism, and bodywork styles such as Tuina and Shiatsu. It is the system of Chinese Medicine that pre-dates Traditional Chinese Medicine, and as such, retains its connection to some of the more esoteric origins and practices of Chinese Medicine. It carries the wisdom of the influence of Daoist and Confucian philosophy, is based in an alchemical approach and pulls from a variety of other arts and sciences to provide the most tailored treatment possible. 

In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine is the "modern" and "unified" system of Chinese Medicine created in the 1950's following the establishment of the PRC. Traditional Chinese Medicine sought to simplify, condense and pare down the practices of Classical Chinese Medicine to make them mesh better into a modern biomedical sciences.

Classical Chinese Medicine is a different approach, insisting on the core of this medicine which is to view a person within their macrocosm, and to treat them within the context of their entire life and being. In Chinese Medicine we don't split the body into different parts to fix, we view the body, mind and spirit as a whole and seek to restore balance between those systems within the body.

As with anything, one approach may work better for you than another, depending on the context of your being. As someone who struggled with multiple chronic illnesses triggered by Long COVID, I was not getting any results seeking care for each diagnosis separately. I felt like I was always juggling doctor's visits, trying to get into different specialist's offices, and that my full time job became managing my healthcare. That's when a friend suggested I try acupuncture.

Not every acupuncturist offers the same level of care, or has the same approach, if you try acupuncture and don't like it, I recommend trying a different type of practitioner and seeing if you might like that style better.

There are multiple styles of Acupuncture including Chinese Acupuncture, Japanese Acupuncture, and non-insertive Acupuncture techniques such as using a Teishin or Enshin. Don't be afraid to keep trying new ways of finding peace in your body, you might just find a practice that is an amazing fit for your needs.