Oriental Medicine is a complete medical system which uses acupuncture, herbal and nutritional therapy to improve well-being, prevent disease, and diagnose and treat illness. It is beneficial for physical, psychological and spiritual issues. This mind/body/spirit medicine originated in China more than 3,000 years ago. Its proven effectiveness has been embraced throughout the world. Tongue and pulse diagnosis are two of the more important diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine. They are both used to derive a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis for your condition, which is used to plan your treatment. Pulse diagnosis is felt on the radial pulse. There are 12 pulses felt, one for each meridian. The quality, speed, regularity and depth of each pulse is determined and felt. Generally tongue diagnosis is less subjective than pulse diagnosis. It is less meridian-specific than the pulse; however, the tongue will show more organ-related imbalances. It also reveals the depth and nature (hot, cold, etc.) of an imbalance and it is less affected by short-term influences such as nervousness. The tongue is also useful as a measurement tool to gauge the progress of a disorder. Shallow and deep palpation of the abdomen is used in traditional Asian medicine. The abdomen is used to test for tension, pain, or congestion within the intestines, which can effect the whole body. The abdomen can be retested to show effectiveness of the acupuncture points used in the treatment.

Specific acupuncture points can be tested and palpated prior to your acupuncture treatment. They are palpated for pain, tension, "hollowness" or "fullness." These acupuncture points are determined as useful or not useful within your treatment. You might be asked how they feel subjectively to you.

You will sense the changes in your body and start to feel your body's energy system, through bringing awareness to your body and your meridian system. You can find yourself extremely sensitive to your body's energy, or it can take several sessions to become aware of your body at all. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are integral parts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and have been used for over 5,000 years to treat and prevent diseases and prolong life. Traditional Chinese Medicine views health as more than merely the absence of disease. It is a complete medical system, capable of treating disease in all its forms. In keeping with Chinese philosophy, Chinese Herbal Medicine is based on the harmony and balance of Yin and Yang. The slightest disharmony, excess or deficiency can be picked up by a well-trained practitioner. The traditional view places great importance on preventing disease before it occurs, as well as treating whatever complaint that you come in with.

This ancient system of health care has been modified and expanded continually over the centuries, as the causes of illness that afflict us have evolved. Traditional Chinese Medicine is the only indigenous form of medicine today that is practiced in hospitals alongside modern medicine. Due to rigorous research and western scientific testing methods, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been proven safe and effective. This type of medicine is not only practiced in China, but now is considered mainstream in America and around the world.

Each herb has a specific interaction with the body. The formulations combine the qualities of these herbs to blend their actions, inducing long-lasting changes in the promotion of health within the body. Adverse reactions to Chinese herbs are extremely rare, and are negligible when compared to those commonly produced by pharmaceutical drugs. Herbal medicine comes in several forms: pills, powdered granules, capsules, liquid extracts (both alcohol and glycerin-based), and salves. Chinese herbal medicine can be used at any age or for type of constitution, including children and pregnant women.