What Is Oriental Medicine?

           Traditional Oriental Medicine is a comprehensive system of health care with a clinical tradition of over 3000 years.  It is used by one quarter of the world’s population.  It includes the use of acupuncture, moxibustion, herbs, massage, dietary therapy, therapeutic exercise and meditation.  The World Health Organization has endorsed the use of acupuncture for treating over 200 disorders.  It will very rarely interfere with any treatment you may already be receiving and is an effective adjunct in preventive care.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

            Acupuncture is based on an energetic model rather than the biochemical model used in Western medicine.  The ancient Chinese recognized that vital energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the key to all life forms and life processes.  This vital energy flows in the human body along specific pathways called meridians, which are associated with physiological systems in the body.  These pathways of energy communicate with the body at specific points called acupuncture points.  Disease arises because of a blockage or an imbalance of Qi in the energetic pathways.  Acupuncture points are stimulated to harmonize the circulation of Qi, bringing the body, mind and spirit back into balance. For a more detailed description on acupuncture please read our article entitled How Acupuncture Works.

What Is Craniosacral Acupuncture?

           Craniosacral acupuncture is an integration of craniosacral therapy with acupuncture.  Craniosacral therapy involves the palpation of the wavelike craniosacral rhythm.  Trained practitioners are able to palpate the motion of the craniosacral rhythm, feel the restrictions in the body, and determine the source of an injury or dysfunction.  Once the restriction is located, it can be treated with acupuncture and gentle craniosacral releases.  The combination of these two modalities produces a deep and powerful effect which works on many levels in the body, making it possible to treat a wide range of conditions.  Many problems can be corrected with acupuncture before the use of drugs or surgery is required. For a more detailed description on craniosacral acupuncture please read our articles entitled What is Craniosacral Acupuncture? and Craniosacral Acupuncture Treatment.

Does Acupuncture Hurt?

            Acupuncture needles are very fine and flexible, about the size of a strand of human hair.  Most people find the experience very relaxing and hardly notice that the needles have been inserted.  Only pre-sterilized and disposable needles are used.  Treatments often result in the patient entering a deep state of relaxation and well-being which further serves to promote the healing process.

Are The Herbs and Supplements We Use Safe and Effective?

John and I have researched herbs and supplements extensively to find the best quality herbs and supplements available.  We feel it is not only important to have formulas which are put together well but also to have formulas which have excellent track records in terms of safety and efficacy.  Hence, we use herbs from suppliers whose herbs are cultivated, harvested and prepared so as to insure optimum efficacy and herbs that are manufactured according to Current Good Manufacturing Practices. We pride ourselves in keeping up to date on herbal safety issues as well as any possible herb-drug or supplement-drug interactions.  All this insures you that the herbs and supplements we give you are safe to consume and are of the highest quality and efficacy available.

What Can You Expect From Your Treatments?

The first office visit lasts an hour and forty five minutes to two hours.  We take a detailed medical history, evaluate your condition and propose a treatment plan.  We combine Chinese and Japanese acupuncture together with craniosacral therapy.  The treatments assist your body in activating its own healing responses to help bring it into a natural state of balance.  When indicated we use herbal remedies, hara visceral work, nutritional supplements, moxibustion, acupressure, dietary recommendations, Tuina and Qi Gong as adjuncts to our treatments.  We remain with you the entire session, tailoring our treatments to meet your specific needs and sensitivities.  You will be given recommendations for self-care as needed.  The return office visits last one hour and fifteen minutes to one and a half hours.

We not only treat your acute or chronic problems but take into account the whole fabric that goes into making you the unique person that you are. This includes any underlying physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs you may have.  Our treatments are characterized by being very focused and compassionate.  Our wholistic approach to health care encourages working in conjunction with other health care practitioners.  We are trained to know when to refer out to medical doctors and other health care practitioners.

About John G. Connor, M.Ac., L.Ac. and Barbara Connor, M.Ac., L.Ac.

We are both licensed acupuncturists in the State of North Carolina.  We received our Master of Acupuncture degrees in 1996 from Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Seattle, Washington where we were trained extensively in both Chinese and Japanese acupuncture.  We spent an additional three years taking intensive workshops and studying closely on a post graduate level with Gail Ptacek, L.Ac., an experienced and highly skilled craniosacral acupuncturist who was trained by a well-known osteopath acupuncturist.  We have completed over 100 hours of continuing education in craniosacral acupuncture.  We are both Diplomates of Acupuncture of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. We have both taken Upledger Institute’s CranioSacral Therapy I workshop as well as Upledger Institute’s Visceral Manipulation 1A, 1B and II workshops.  John is a member of the American Herbalists Guild.  We have been in practice for over eleven years.