◦ Sorry, we do not accept insurance, but HSA/FSA cards are welcome ◦

4545 Research Forest Drive Suite C, The Woodlands, TX 77381

Call us: (713) 377-1832

◦ Sorry, we do not accept insurance, but HSA/FSA cards are welcome ◦

4545 Research Forest Drive Suite C, The Woodlands, TX 77381

Call us: (713) 377-1832

Services

— What We Offer

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Texas

Our team of experienced practitioners is dedicated to providing exceptional TCM services that encompass a range of modalities, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, gua sha, tuina massage, and more. 

Whether you are seeking relief from pain, looking to address a specific health condition, or simply aiming to enhance your overall wellness, our TCM services offer a holistic approach that focuses on restoring balance and harmony within your body.

— Balance Your Qi

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical practice that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. These points, known as acupuncture points, are believed to be connected by pathways or meridians through which vital energy, called Qi, flows.

Some acupuncture needles on a wood table with some leaves behind
A brown-haired woman lies down on her side with acupuncture needles in her ear.

The goal of acupuncture is to restore the balance of Qi in the body, as imbalances are believed to cause various health conditions.

The needles are typically inserted to varying depths and may be stimulated by gentle manipulation or heat. Acupuncture is commonly used to alleviate pain, promote relaxation, and improve overall well-being. It is often used in conjunction with other forms of traditional Chinese medicine.

Several small white bowls with different medicinal herbs

— Alternative Medicine

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese herbal medicine is an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that involves using various herbs and botanical substances to promote health and treat ailments. It is based on the concept of restoring balance and harmony within the body.

Chinese herbal medicine utilizes a vast repertoire of plant-based ingredients, such as roots, leaves, flowers, and minerals, which are often combined into complex formulas tailored to individual patients based on their unique patterns of disharmony.

Chinese herbal medicine aims to address the underlying causes of illness and improve overall well-being by restoring the body's natural balance. It is commonly used to treat a wide range of conditions, including digestive disorders, respiratory ailments, hormonal imbalances, and more.

— Other Services

Other TCM Services

A group of men and women are practicing Qigong at the park

Qigong

Qigong is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine that focuses on the cultivating, balancing, and manipulation of Qi (vital energy) within the body for healing and promoting well-being. It involves a combination of breath control, movement, meditation, and visualization techniques.

Through focused intention and mindful movements, Medical Qigong aims to strengthen the body's self-healing mechanisms, boost vitality, and improve overall health. It can be used as a standalone therapy or in conjunction with other forms of traditional Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine.

A woman is doing Taiji at the beach

Taiji

Taiji, also known as Tai Chi, is a traditional Chinese martial art and a form of exercise that combines deep breathing, slow and flowing movements, and mindfulness. It originated in ancient China and is rooted in the principles of Taoism and the concept of yin and yang.

Taiji aims to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit by promoting balance, flexibility, and inner calm. Practitioners perform a series of gentle, graceful movements slowly and deliberately, focusing on the present moment and cultivating a sense of tranquility.

It is widely practiced for its numerous health benefits, including improved posture, enhanced relaxation, increased strength and flexibility, and reduced stress. Taiji is more than a martial art; it is a holistic practice that promotes overall well-being.

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor is performing a cupping treatment on a woman's back

Cupping

Cupping is a therapeutic technique that has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine and other cultures. It involves placing cups, typically made of glass, plastic, or bamboo, on the skin and creating a vacuum effect.
Cupping helps to promote blood circulation, relieve muscle tension, alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, promote relaxation, and stimulate the flow of Qi (vital energy) in the body.
It is commonly applied to areas of the back, shoulders, or limbs; and may leave temporary circular marks on the skin due to localized congestion.

An African-American  woman is relaxed while getting a gua sha massage on her face.

Gua Sha

Gua sha is a traditional therapeutic technique popular in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves using a smooth-edged instrument, often made of jade, horn, or ceramic, to scrape the skin gently. The scraping motion is applied to lubricated skin in a specific pattern, typically along the meridians or energy pathways of the body.
Gua sha aims to promote blood circulation, release tension, and stimulate the flow of qi (vital energy) to alleviate pain and restore balance. The scraping action creates temporary redness or bruising, known as "sha," which is believed to indicate the release of stagnation and toxins from the body.

A professional chinese medicine doctor is permorming ear candling to a woman.

Ear Candling

Ear candling is a practice that belongs to the world of alternative medicine. It is used to treat earwax buildups and many other ear-related conditions.

An ear candle performs the process of the candling. It's a hollow cone made out of fabric covered in wax. When the pointy end goes into the ear, the other side is lite. The result is a suction-like action that is made possible by the warmth.

Some benefits of ear candling include: removing wax, bacteria, and other debris from the ear canal, treating sinus infections, improving hearing or reversing hearing loss, relieving sore throats, treating colds and cases of flu, relieving headaches and migraines, improving mental clarity, purifying the blood, reducing tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing problems, and sinus infections or other sinus conditions.

Acupuncturist applying pressure on a man's hand

Tuina / Tui Na / Chinese Massage

Tui Na, also known as Chinese Massage, is a therapeutic massage technique rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. It encompasses a range of manual techniques, including pressing, kneading, rolling, and stretching, to the body's muscles and acupressure points.

Tuina aims to promote the flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood throughout the body, balance yin and yang energies, and enhance overall well-being. The techniques used in tuina are applied with specific rhythms, pressures, and sequences tailored to individual needs and conditions. It helps alleviate pain, reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and enhance overall well-being.

Acupuncturist applying pressure on a man's hand

Lab Consultation

Lab consultation typically involves seeking professional advice, guidance, or expertise from laboratory specialists or scientists to address specific issues or challenges related to laboratory operations, research, or testing processes. It can be beneficial in various scenarios, including:
● Experimental design● Method development and optimization● Troubleshooting● Quality assurance and regulatory compliance● Instrumentation and equipment selection● Training and education
When seeking lab consultation, it is important to provide clear and concise information about your objectives, challenges, and expectations. This will enable the consultants to better understand your needs and offer relevant and practical advice. Additionally, engaging with reputable and experienced consultants or consulting firms can ensure the quality and reliability of the consultation services you receive.

— Oriental Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions

We have collected some questions with their answers so you can learn more about our services and approach. If you still have questions, you can get in touch with us.

About Acupuncture

  • What is acupuncture?

    Acupuncture is a complete and holistic medical system with a history of more than 3000 years, and is one of the main branches of Oriental Medicine.
    It involves the insertion of fine, flexible, hair-like needles onto specific points of the body to promote natural healing, strengthen immunity, eliminate pain, and restore physical and emotional health.
    As one of the oldest continually practiced medical systems, acupuncture has stood the test of time with its vast knowledge of effectively treating many illnesses ranging from everyday to complex.

  • How does it work?

    In Eastern Medicine terms:Acupuncture works by unblocking and promoting the energetic flow called Qi (pronounced “chee”) of the body through a network called “meridians,” similar to the systems of nerves and blood vessels. The entire body’s vitality and its functions depend on this energetic network. Pain or illnesses are formed from the blockage or lack of flow, like a dam blocking a stream watering the trees.
    Each meridian is connected to a specific organ, and the pathways are mapped onto the body in specific acupuncture points. These points are like relay stations that regulate the network. When being needled, they activate the communication and restore the Qi flow of the meridians.
    In Western Medicine terms:Western Medicine has yet to fully understand how acupuncture works, mainly due to the differences in medical structure and holistic philosophy.
    With research, popular theories have come up such as the Autonomic Nervous System Theory, Gate-Control Theory, and Blood Chemistry Theory. These systems are thought to be activated when certain points are being needled, resulting in pain relief, and improvement in immunity response.
    The specific points have also been shown to have lower electrical resistance than non-acupuncture points. The latest research has been able to identify the physical structure of the meridians as micro-tubular networks called a Bonghan Channels, rich in DNA fragments, stem cells, and hyaluronic acid. They are theorized to be able carry a high volume of information versus the limited one-way signals of the nervous system.

  • What is Qi?

    Qi is the fundamental energy that makes everything exist and function. When it comes to health, Qi is the equivalence of biological electricity that circulates, activates, and balances the overall functioning of our bodies.
    The abundance of Qi or lack thereof, as well as the quality of flow, determines our physical, and emotional well-being. Qi flows on pathways called “the meridians.” Through thousands of years of experiments, the meridians have been accurately mapped. There are more than 360 acupuncture points where Qi can be accessed and activated.

  • How safe is acupuncture?

    Acupuncture is very safe, and minimally invasive. Your acupuncturist has been trained extensively for safe handling of the needle. Make sure your acupuncturist is licensed, and has been trained in a nationally accredited school by NCCAOM, with at least 2800 hours, and has a diploma in Oriental Medicine.

  • Is acupuncture effective and safe for kids?

    Yes, acupuncture can be very safe and effective for kids. The general age range for acupuncture is from 6 years old on. If younger than 6, then acupressure (noninvasive) can be used to obtain similar results.
    Young children's constitution is very responsive to treatment due to lack of complexity, and faster energy flow. This typically results in a quick response to treatment and them getting well quickly.

  • What are other treatment therapies in Oriental Medicine besides acupuncture?

    The other therapies include:● Herbal therapy: Your acupuncturist may prescribe you herbal medicines either in the form of pills, tea granules, or loose herbs, to help maximize your results. Chronic conditions will often benefit from herbal therapy.
    ● Diet therapy: Diet is very important and often the core of your well-being. A popular saying in Chinese medicines states “Most diseases start from the mouth…” Your acupuncturist will provide nutritional guidelines to help you get the maximum and long-lasting results.
    ● Tui-Na: This is therapeutic bodywork that your acupuncturist may perform to help release tension, correct musculo-skeletal imbalances, improve circulation, and complement acupuncture session to provide maximum relief.
    ● Gua-Sha: This is a manual therapy of using a tool with a blunt edge and stroke along certain areas of the body to release tension, break up knots, and improve immune function. Gua-sha can be a treatment of its own or can be combined with acupuncture.● Cupping: This is a manual therapy of adding heat or fire to a glass cup "fire cupping" which, when cool and placed on the affected area, creates a suction or vacuum effect. This suction "pulls" up layers of muscle and tissue, which helps to release tension, improve blood flow, loosen fibrous adhesions, and improve immune function.
     Moxibustion: This is the burning of an herb (mugwort) close to an affected area of the body, used generally to treat pain, especially if the pain gets worse with cold or damp, rainy weather. It is used in stick form and may be sent home for patients to use on their own.

The Acupuncture Treatment

  • What will my acupuncturist do?

    Your acupuncturist will first ask you questions about your current condition(s), your health history, diet and lifestyle, and any related issues/symptoms. We will then look at your tongue, and take readings of your pulse to determine the diagnosis in Chinese medicine terms.
    Physical examinations may be necessary to further help the diagnosis. Once the treatment protocol is planned out for you, you will receive your first acupuncture treatment.

  • Does it hurt?

    This is a very common question! Acupuncture is very gentle, and most often painless. The needles are so thin that about 5 of them can fit in a hypodermic needle. Everyone is a little different in their sensitivity, however, and you may feel in the area being needled a slight sensation of heaviness, achiness, warmth, tingling, or even relaxation. This is absolutely normal.

  • How many treatments do I need?

    The number of treatments depends on the severity and the type of condition that you have. Recent conditions will typically need fewer treatments than chronic conditions. The average number of treatments to begin is 4-6. It can be done once, or twice a week, whichever yields the best result for you.
    Acupuncture works in a series of treatments. You should not have treatments too close together, nor too far apart. For example, you may initially come in twice a week for the first 2 weeks. Then once your symptoms improve, we'll back off to once a week, steadily increasing the level of improvement.
    Once the symptoms are basically gone, it's ideal to come in once every 3 weeks or once a month for a tune-up on the results. It's important for every patient to keep this structure to prevent off-and-on symptoms from creeping back in-between, so that results will stay more permanent.

  • What can I expect after a treatment?

    After a treatment, a patient will usually feel very relaxed and calm. If your treatment is for pain relief, you can expect a reduction in pain, or may feel a little tender to the area that has been worked on. This is normal and it is a healing response.
    For many pain cases, relief is instant. Depending on your severity, the length of relief after a treatment can vary, from hours, days, or a week or more, which then you may have to follow-up to maximize your results.
    Acupuncture's effect is cumulative, so the results of the current treatment are enhanced by the previous treatments, until you are fully well.

  • How should I prepare for an acupuncture treatment?

    ● Because acupuncture works with your own energy, it is recommended to eat a light meal or snack before the treatment, to prevent any fatigue. ● Make sure to not brush the tongue beforehand for a correct diagnosis. ● Loose clothing like sweat pants, buttoned shirts, and t-shirts are recommended. If needed, you may have to change into a medical gown or robe. ● Be sure to bring your list of medications so the acupuncturist can help determine the most appropriate treatment protocol.

  • Where are the needles being placed?

    For most cases, needles will be placed on the extremities of lower arms and legs, ears and/or head. Other cases may need local areas to be needled as appropriate to the diagnosis and treatment.