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Acupuncture
Acupuncture protocols have been used for thousands of years to treat pain, reduce anxiety, balance hormones and other body systems, and deal with chronic and acute disease states. Rooted in the philosophy of Daoism, ancient Chinese doctors viewed the body as a microcosm of nature itself based on the aspects of Yin and Yang. To maintain health we must have a balance of Yin & Yang in the forms of Qi (Yang) & Blood (Yin). By inserting needles at acupuncture points along specific channels within the body, Qi can be unblocked or stimulated in order to have an effect on a particular part of the body or symptom.
Using these principles, acupuncture protocols can resolve disorders of qi and blood, thus restoring the balance of Yin & Yang and the overall health of the body landscape.
Research has shown acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins (the body's natural pain killers), improves blood pressure and circulation, stimulates the immune system, relaxes muscle spasms, and triggers the release of anti-inflammatory compounds.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is a style of bodywork in which a licensed practitioner applies manual techniques to the soft tissue (muscles and fascia) in order to effect movement and change. Massage has both physical and psycho-emotional benefits. There are many modalities of massage therapy — Swedish massage being the most traditional and common Western style. Other modalities include Myofascial Release, Sports Massage, Rolfing Method, Trigger Point Therapy, Feldenkrais Method, CranioSacral Therapy, Trager Method, and Shiatsu. Therapeutic touch from a trained practitioner can facilitate healing in the body, mind, and spirit. A Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) studies the anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology of the human body in depth. A New York State LMT completes at least 1000 hours of study.
Traditional massage therapy encourages well-being and optimal functioning by promoting relaxation, improved circulation, and mobility of joints. Long flowing strokes induce the relaxation response and engages the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). Applied friction can break down adhesions in tissues caused by trauma due to injury or surgery. The stimulation of blood, lymph, and energy channels promotes homeostasis, or balance, in the body’s systems. Application of pressure and intention to individual muscles, groups of muscles, and connective tissue can relieve soreness, tension, and improve function. The nervous system has a chance to down regulate during the therapy session which promotes a feeling of wellness that can maintain through the day and week.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal formulas are used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with acupuncture. We like to say taking herbs is like taking your treatments home with you. Chinese herbal formulas can be delivered in a few ways: boiled decoctions using raw herbs, powdered granules, pills (patents), and tinctures. At Be Well Katonah, we use our in-house custom granule pharmacy and patents, depending on the patient’s individual needs. Patients add hot water to granule formulas and drink it as a tea.
We are board-certified in Chinese herbal medicine. This comprises four years of rigorous training in the Chinese herbal materia medica containing over 400 single herbs and 400 formula structures. Chinese herbal medicine takes into account the actions, taste, temperature, dosage, and contraindications for each individual herb and formula. We use this specialized knowledge when choosing all herbs and formulae for our patients.
We carefully source our herbs to make sure they are free of toxins, pesticides, binders and other harmful ingredients, and ensure they are lab tested by a 3rd-party facility. We are proud to use Evergreen Herbs as the primary distributor of our herbs.
Energy Medicine and Sound Healing
Integrative Energy Medicine is a non-invasive healing technique that accesses the subtle energies within all of us to restore the body back to health. Shamans and other healers have known for millennia what scientific research is finally understanding, that it is clear there is more to human beings, and all beings for that matter, than just the physical body. The Chinese used Qi Gong to interface with a person’s Qi while the early Hindu texts from India named the chakras as the subtle energy vortexes within all beings. A typical treatment lasts about 30-40 minutes and involves light therapeutic touch over various parts of the body and can help facilitate deep healing on all levels. Common forms of energy medicine include Qi gong and Reiki, and may also be referred to as wholeness healing, esoteric healing, and therapeutic touch. It is particularly useful when working with children or anyone who prefers not to use the more invasive energy medicine of acupuncture. It can also be used as an enhancement to any acupuncture technique.
Sound Healing
Sound healing is the use of music, instruments, and tones to create specific sound vibrations (aural frequencies) that help balance the mind, body, and spirit. It is based on the principle that all matter is in a state of vibration, and that our bones, tissues, and cells carry a vibrational frequency. In a sound healing session, a practitioner may use music, singing bowls, chimes, and other instruments allowing the body to resonate with the sound frequencies and enter a state of deep relaxation. This has been shown to have a positive impact on health such as lowering stress, boosting immune function, balancing the central nervous system, and aiding sleep. Sound healing is used in many yoga and wellness centers around the world. A typical session lasts 30-60 minutes, can be done in a group setting, and may incorporate guided meditation.
Cupping & Moxibustion
Cupping originated in early China around the same time as acupuncture as a way to treat disease and other ailments. Originally the cups were typically made of bamboo although today glass cups are commonly used. When applied to the skin using heat or suction it allows for stagnation and toxicity trapped inside the body to rise up to the skin and be released through the pores. This can be used to treat acute or chronic pain conditions, help reduce inflammation, increase blood and Qi circulation, and stimulate lymphatic flow. A cupping treatment may consist of the use of one cup or several cups and can be left stationary or the practitioner may slide them along acupuncture channels or muscle pathways.
Since cupping treats such a wide variety of ailments, the protocols eventually crossed over to other parts of the world such as eastern Europe, and today is often used on professional athletes and celebrities for muscle pains and strains as well as facial rejuvenation. Gua Sha, like cupping, also allows for the release of stagnation and toxicity through the skin. This technique employs a flat tool made of jade or other stone used to repeatedly scrape the surface of the skin to cause the same redness, or “sha”, that one gets from cupping. While both cupping and Gua Sha are non-invasive painless techniques that are very relaxing, they do leave red marks on the skin that can last for a few days to a week.
Moxibustion (aka “moxa”) is a type of heat therapy that involves the burning of dried mugwort leaves (Artemisiae argyi folium) on or near acupuncture points and channels. Your practitioner might choose to use pole or stick moxa that is held just above the skin or small cones of moxa directly on the skin. Moxa allows for the healing properties of mugwort to sink deep into the channels to help warm and move qi and blood. Moxa might be used in cases where there is pain and/or with internal medicine conditions, such as chronic fatigue, gynecological disorders, fertility, autoimmune conditions or digestive disorders depending on the Chinese medical diagnosis.
“My massage was like nothing I have ever experienced — the experience was pure gold — and I am very selective when it comes to my bodywork choices. Heather uses her mastery/ knowledge of muscle insertions and lines of the body fascia. She treated the whole section in an intuitive order to have the muscles release — if my body was ready and willing to do so. Heather seemed to gently lift up and make space in my ribcage and reminded my body that the area had so much more expansion available for me to use! Heather also delightfully engaged my long leg bone in the hip socket. She invited it back into the space closer to my hip, sort of teaching my body how much more space is really available for movement and expansion in my body for breath and space for movement. I highly recommend Heather as a master massage therapist.”
- AW