Acupuncture
I’ll greet you at the door to my office wearing my N95. I’ll check that you have a high filtration mask on before entering, and will offer you touchless hand sanitizer to use.
On your first visit, we begin with a review of your health history and an assessment of your goals. You’ll get a pulse diagnosis, where I measure your pulse at three positions on each wrist. Because of masking, we won’t do a tongue diagnosis in the office, but you can bring a photo of your tongue so that I can assess its color, moisture, and coating.
The acupuncture occurs in the treatment room, where you’ll be able to relax in privacy. You can get cozy with a TDP heat lamp on your feet and a heated table. I’ll palpate your sore, tense areas to determine where to place the needles, and I’ll treat additional areas to help your muscles relax. After cleaning the areas with isopropyl alcohol, I’ll gently insert the needles, and you can give feedback on what you feel. Most people feel a little tugging at the needle, or warmth, or pressure. The needles stay in for 20‑30 minutes.
You can choose to listen to music, or relax in silence. The points may feel tingly during the treatment, and you may feel your muscles pulsating, or releasing tension. The needles will help stimulate the circulation and release inflammation throughout the targeted areas. You may get very drowsy, or fall asleep.
I only work with one patient at a time, so you get my full attention during your session.
All needles at Heavenly Stems Acupuncture are sterile, disposable, and individually packaged. All needles are disposed of in a sharps container at the end of the treatment. We have sinks for hand washing, which I use throughout the session, as well as touchless hand sanitizer.
Windows are opened between patients (or during the treatment if weather is appropriate), and an Austin air purifier runs during the session to filter the air. Melissa wears an N95 at all times.
Ear needles and electroacupuncture are both available, as appropriate or by request.
The number of visits you will need to get better depends on your goals. Mild or newly present symptoms sometimes resolve after a single treatment. Longer‑term, more chronic conditions may require ongoing treatment for a longer period. Occasional maintenance “tune‑ups” may be recommended for some chronic or recurrent conditions. Many of our patients keep turning to us for ongoing care over the years, and acupuncture becomes part of their health care regimen!
Herbal Medicine
The practice of herbal medicine in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is based on a whole body pattern diagnosis. Practitioners use synergistic formulas composed of multiple herbs, based on traditional recipes that go back hundreds or thousands of years. We don’t use a single herb for single symptom approach, but instead use combinations of herbs and formulas to restore balance in your body, personalized for you.
Some herbs, called tonics, build up depleted energy, build blood, or moisten the body. Some herbs have warming or cooling functions. Others remove mucus, reduce spasms, or stimulate blood circulation. Herbal medicine is typically taken over a period of weeks to months, with some exceptions.
Heavenly Stems carries Evergreen Herbs, available in both capsules and powdered granules. Evergreen Herbs is a premium quality brand in terms of purity and processing method. Each batch is tested for heavy metals and contaminants, and all products meet the California Proposition 65 safety standards. Their catalog contains hundreds of different formulas, both traditional and modern.
Heavenly Stems also carries potent tinctures by Griffo Botanicals, a Petaluma‑based company. Griffo Botanicals uses sustainable and eco‑friendly manufacturing practices. They source their herbal ingredients from Spring Wind herbs. Spring Wind is a top‑grade quality supplier, and they test all of their herbs for heavy metals and contaminants.
For your topical liniment needs, Heavenly Stems carries Evil Bone Water. This quality liniment comes in a spray bottle for your aches and pains. It is formulated based on the traditional formula Zheng Gu Shui, and is made in the USA in small batches.
Heavenly Stems only uses herbs from plant sources and does not use animal products.
Cupping
Cupping is usually used to loosen tight muscles in the back and shoulders. Glass cups are applied to the back, using a flame to create suction, or using a suction apparatus. The suction pulls the skin upwards, drawing circulation into the area. This improves circulation, and helps release trapped waste products from underneath rigid muscles.
There are two types of cupping:
Stationary cupping: Cups are left in place. Note: This is more likely to create some bruising.
Moving cupping: A thin coat of unscented massage oil is first applied to the back, lubricating the skin surface. We manually glide the cups all around the back and shoulders, breaking up knots in the muscles and fascia. The experience feels something like a deep tissue massage. (Typically a 20‑minute‑service)
Cupping can be booked as an add‑on with your acupuncture session.
