Ayla Yavin Acupuncture for Men and Women in Manhattan

What is Chinese Medicine?

While acupuncture is the most famous form of Chinese medicine (and the stuff many a classic ‘80s sit-coms), there’s a lot more to what we do than that.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine, sterile, disposable needles into specific points on the body known as acupuncture “points.” These points act as gates into the body’s Qi (“chee”) and restore it’s smooth flow.

Think about it like this: you blow a fuse in your kitchen and suddenly the dishwasher won’t go. There’s nothing wrong with the dishwasher, but it still won’t work at all. Why? Because it’s not getting any energy. Flip the circuit breaker, get the energy flowing again, and the dishwasher hums back to life. Although we often don’t think about it like that, our bodies are not so different from this dishwasher. We operate based on impulses and electrical charges sent to us by way of neurotransmitters and hormones. Often, no single system is broken but communication between them has either been cut off or the wrong signals are being sent. Acupuncture can powerfully redirect this flow of communication can fine tune the system back to optimal health.

In the simplest terms, here’s how it works: depending on what ails you, I insert one of these needles at a specific point. You usually won’t even feel it, although some people notice a little pressure. Immediately, your body sends energy and blood circulation to that point. When I insert a second needle (at a different point), the Qi flows to that point. Now, energy is moving between these two points already, and it’s only been a few seconds.

Over time, with a few treatments, the Qi is able to flow freely, and your health — all aspects of your health — will improve exponentially. Digestion, sexual health, fertility, headaches, you name it. We just have to flip the circuit breaker!

Herbs

Herbs are an integral aspect of a Chinese Medicine Treatment. Herbs greatly enhance the effect of acupuncture because they can boost internal deficiencies as well as eliminate harmful substances that accumulate pathologically.

Customized herbal formulas are based on ancient combinations that are cooked together into a tea. Herbs can also be dispensed as granules, pills, tinctures, wines, and topical creams, pastes, and plasters. I go to great lengths to source my herbs from the cleanest, safest, and whenever possible organic sources. If you have concerns about the safety of herb I would be happy to discuss this with you.

Tui Na

Tui Na is a manual bodywork technique similar to massage that utilizes Chinese channel theory as well as ideas of supplementing, draining, and harmonizing to promote the smooth flow of Qi. As a complement to acupuncture, I combine Tui Na methods with Western thoughts on anatomy, physiology, and orthopedic injury to manually target areas where injuries and tension have created stagnation and pain. Whenever possible, I will teach you a few self-massage or tui na techniques to promote well-being in between treatments.

Tui Na has a lot in common with chiropractic bodywork. Some people believe that chiropractic was introduced to America with the Chinese workers building the western section of the Transcontinental Railroad. I’m not sure about that (there’s some debate), but I do know it works. And that’s what matters, right? \

Moxibustion

Sometimes, we need to get things really moving to unblock and detoxify your system. That’s when it’s time to add moxibustion to your acupuncture treatments. Moxibustion is the ancient method of burning dried mugwort leaves, or “Mogusa,” on or near the skin. Mogusa can increase blood flow to areas of injury and warm areas where cold accumulates. It is a calming, warming, and deeply nourishing technique that can alleviate all sorts of ailments from chronic pain to menstrual cramps to ulcerative colitis.

Cupping