Integrative Medicine

Rakuda Health is an integrated medicine practice; which means we combine eastern modalities with the tools of modern lab testing. Eastern healing modalities are used along with nutrition counseling, supplementation, lab testing, and mind-body techniques; to create a whole body approach to health.

East Asian Medicine includes a variety of modalities that stem from traditions other then Western allopathic medical practices. Countries of origin include (but are not limited to): China, Japan, Tibet, India and Korea. Many of these cultures developed unique medical systems over hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a complex and complete system that includes: internal medicine (herbs, nutrition), external (acupuncture, tui-na, moxibustion), and mind-body (qi-gong).

It is important to remember that when seeing a practitioner for a modality such as acupuncture; you are being treated within a whole medical system that includes many practices. Thus, successful and efficacious treatment often depends upon lifestyle changes that go beyond the time spent in a practitioners office space. Most Eastern medical traditions are whole-body based and rarely offer quick-fix solutions; rather, they promote a shift in mind, body, and soul to foster growth in the optimal health of each individual.

Acupuncture is one modality used in Traditional Chinese Medicine; it has been practiced in China for thousands of years, and was introduced to the United States in the 1970's. Acupuncture is a technique in which single use filiform needles penetrate the skin at specific points around the body, in order to treat a variety of disorders. The needles themselves are extremely thin, and many patients are surprised at how little sensation they feel during a treatment.  Acupuncture is often accompanied by the modalities of moxibustion (burning of dried mugwort) and cupping (suction created in muscle tissues).

I practice both Chinese and Japanese styles of acupuncture. The Japanese style is very gentle and nourishing. Acupuncture is now widely practiced around the world. It has a multitude of diverse benefits and is being used to treat some (but not limited to) the following health concerns: