PathWays to Wellness
Taking the first steps to wellness
Healing is a journey that is unique to each and every person and no two paths are the same. While knowing where to begin might seem challenging, here at Noble Pathways we highlight the critical four stages that each of us must take in order to effectively orient ourselves. Even though the path may appear long and difficult we assist you at every stage of the journey.
“A Journey of a thousands miles, begins with a single step”
-Lao Tze
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Healing begins with honesty and recognition. In the first step we must look deeply within ourselves to uncover where the root of our disharmony is located. Whether the condition we want to treat is acute or chronic, we want to ask ourselves, “what is preventing my body from being able to heal itself?” The answer may lay in a disharmony that is physical, spiritual, and/or mental. Our goal at Noble Pathways is to help you identify the root of your condition and uncover they underlying disharmony.
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Once we have uncovered the root of your disharmony, we will then have a clear path toward its correction. In this second step we work together through the 8 pathways of Chinese Medicine to bring about the rebalancing of disharmony. These 8 pathways are Acupuncture, Herbs, Diet, Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy, Environmental Health, Philosophy, & Meditation. (You can learn more about these modalities below.) At Noble Pathways we customize each patient’s treatment strategy for their specific needs. While the length of this stage in the journey is unique for everyone, eventually the alleviation of disharmony will be obtained.
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As your condition resolves and symptoms clear up, we begin to shift our focus. Not only is our goal to alleviate illness, but we also want to strive for a sense of harmony and wellness. When body, spirit, and mind are in harmony health prevails and we can prevent future illness. At Noble Pathways we work together to identify what your vision of health and prosperity looks like and strategize a wellness plan going forward.
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Finally, once we have a clear vision of what harmony and wellness looks like, we can actively move forward and cultivate these ideals within ourselves. In this fourth step, health is preserved and wellness is cultivated through regular care.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive and holistic medical system based in 2000 years of clinical knowledge . It is similar to Functional Medicine in that it is understood that the body is an integrative and holistic system. Instead of treating only the symptoms of a disease, TCM looks to treat the root cause. Disease arises when there is an imbalance between the various functional systems of the body, spirit, and mind. Traditional Chinese Medicine has the ability to identify and correct these imbalances, thereby restoring perfect harmony and health.
At Noble Pathways each patient will receive a comprehensive health evaluation in order to identify the root cause. Based on your concerns and health goals, we will construct a treatment plan that is right for you. Traditional Chinese Medicine has various techniques and modalities in order to restore balance. You can read about these various techniques below.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the 2000 year old practice of directing and rebalancing the bodies physiology by way of targeting the biological energy systems of the body. This biological energy has many names, Prana, Spirit, Breath, or Qi. Without this energy system conducting throughout the body, there would be no physiological processes happening and therefore no life. Acupuncture strategically places needles along meridian pathways, analogous to the connective tissue, in order to effect the flow of this energy.
When the body receives input from the needle, there is a whole cascade of healing mechanisms. There is an affect at the neurological level, reprogramming the limbic system’s response to pain. There is a release of endogenous pain killers, enkephalins and endorphins. There is an anti-inflammatory response regulating the nitric oxide levels in the tissue and the cytokine production. There is an immunological response by stimulating and regulating the white blood cells and T-cells. And, there is the ability to stimulate regeneration of new tissue by stimulating the production of stems cells.
All these mechanisms make it possible for acupuncture to be able to treat a number of different conditions.
Orthopedic AcupuncturE
The art and science of acupuncture has developed many different treatment styles over the course of its 2000 year old history. One such style that was developed for treating pain and muscular-skeletal problems is called Ashi Acupuncture. In the west this treatment technique has many names such as Trigger Point Therapy, Dry Needling, or Orthopedic Acupuncture. All these treatments are the same, but only qualified acupuncturists have the full training and knowledge behind this these techniques. One of the tools used in Orthopedic Acupuncture is the use of electro-stimulation.
CUPPING & GuA SHA
Chinese Medicine has a number of unique tools to help balance the body and overcome illness. Cupping and Gua Sha are two such tools to alleviate pain.
Gua Sha is a method of using a hard edged tool to brush the surface of the body at varying pressures to breakup stagnation in the tissues and draw blood to the surface.
Cupping is the method of using suction to pull up on the tissues. It can be thought of as a “reverse massage,” where with a massage the technique is to apply pressure to break up a knot in the muscle, cupping pulls up on the tissue to unravel the knot, pulling apart the different layers of skin, fascia, and muscle. As the space between the layers open up, toxins, stagnate blood, and metabolic waste are drawn out to get cleared away and replaced with fresh blood, fluids, and nutrients.
CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE
Chinese herbal medicine has been used as a form of medicine for more than 2000 years. Chinese herbal therapy has proven successful in treating a variety of diseases, everything from internal medical issues, infectious disease, physical trauma, and mental/emotional stress.
The advantages of herbal therapy have gained enormous awareness in the medical community during the past ten years. The understanding of how diverse plant chemicals can be used to help sick individuals has been the subject of extensive research.
Chinese herbal medicine has a distinctive method of treatment. Chinese herbal wisdom recognizes that a single herb alone only has so much healing potential, instead a herbalist in Chinese medicine seeks to customize a complex formula of multiple herbs, each contributing and supporting the other.
MOXABUSTION
Moxibustion is the therapeutic burning of the mugwort plant in specific ways to promote bodily healing. Mugwort offers a range of therapeutic uses when burned. Moxibustion is used for physical disorders that are either acute or chronic to increase blood flow, the immune system, and the regeneration and repair of new tissue. Menstrual cycle control and enhancement, pain relief for physical injuries, and even persistent lower back pain are all beneficial uses. Additionally, it can regulate and promote healthy bowel movement.
Yoga & Qi Gong
Yoga and Qi Gong are two therapeutic traditions that focus on healing and cultivating the body, spirit, and mind. While Yoga is traditionally from India and Qi Gong from China they both share the same methodology of uniting body movements with controlled breath and sustained mindful awareness. Through these practices one can overcome physical, mental, and spiritual obstacles.
Meditation & Mindfulness
Meditation practice is one of the oldest and most profound therapeutic paths a person can embark on. It is the practice of cultivating and discovering our inner calm and clear awareness. The traditional methodology of Satipattana, is the foundation of any fruitful meditation. Within this practice you will learn the two techniques of Shamatha and Vipassana. Shamatha is the cultivation and discovery of our Calm Concentrated Awareness and Vipassana is the Cultivation and discovery of our Clear Insightful Awareness. The imagery is like the surface of a lake. When our minds are turbulent we are unable to see clearly, like a lake disturbed with many waves and ripples, but, when we calm the mind, the ripples gradually fade away. Like a lake that is perfectly calm and reflective, when our minds calm it becomes more clear and reflective towards the reality that is presented to us. From this awareness we can choose a path of being that is more in harmony.
