OTHER TREATMENTS At Olive Acupuncture clinic in Houston, TX

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  Electro-acupuncture is the use of an FDA approved electrical device to provide a continuous, gentle stimulation to specific acupuncture needles. The mild current flowing through the needles improves the healing of injured or inflamed joints or muscles, increases pain relieving endorphin release, and stimulates the nervous system to promote balanced functioning and a sense of well-being.

Many medical studies of acupuncture have demonstrated the use of electrical stimulation on specific acupuncture points to effectively relieve pain, improve tissue healing, reduce nausea and improve organ functions.

  In Chinese Medical Theory many types of pain are caused by stagnation. This condition arises when energy or blood becomes trapped in the skin and/or muscle tissue and is unable to move. Cupping stimulates the circulation within the superficial muscle layers and benefits conditions such as arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, headache, common cold, and cough. Small glass or plastic cups are placed over specific areas and a vacuum is created under the cup using suction. This creates a non-painful tugging sensation on your skin. The cups are usually left in place for a period of several minutes. We also employ a technique called “sliding cupping” where the cups are moved around over a large area – such as your back – to help increase circulation in the tissues. Cupping creates areas of redness, which generally resolves in about three to five days. 

  Moxibustion (aka Moxa) is a therapeutic heat therapy that harnesses the properties of various herbs, with Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris) being the most commonly used herb. During moxibustion, the heated herbs are applied either directly or indirectly to specific acupuncture points. This gentle and soothing therapy provides deep penetration of therapeutic heat and herbal properties within the body. It effectively warms the meridians and promotes increased circulation.  

It is especially effective for cold and achy joints, warming and softening scar tissue, and promoting healing of injured tissue.  

It is also known to help boost the immune system, improve digestion and relieve menstrual cramps. 

  Gua sha is a traditional Chinese healing method in which a trained professional uses a smooth-edged tool to stroke your skin while they press on it. This motion raises small, red, rash-like dots that show under your skin called petechiae. 

Gua sha improves local circulation and breaks up scar tissue or adhesions in the muscles and connective tissue. This technique can be performed anywhere on the body, but is commonly done on joints, the back, neck and shoulders. 

  The auricle of the ear is a complete Microsystem of the human body. Auricula Acupuncture is a therapeutic intervention in which the auricle of the external ear is utilized to alleviate pain, dysfunction and disease as represented and manifest throughout the body.  It can be applied as a stand-alone intervention or included as a component of a full-body treatment; needles may be applied, as well as ear seeds or magnets (affixed with a small adhesive) at points located on the surface of the ear.  Ear seeds provide the basis of stimulation to the point through gentle massage or acu-pressure. 

Auricula Acupuncture is used for a wide variety of conditions, including treatment to support addiction recovery (drug, alcohol, tobacco, food), PTSD and trauma recovery, insomnia, stress, and pain syndromes.