Adjunctive Therapies

Cupping

Cupping is an ancient alternative medicine technique that involves placing glass or plastic cups on the skin to create localized suction.

  • Benefits: It is primarily used to improve blood flow, reduce pain (including migraines and back/neck pain), and release myofascial tension or muscle tightness.

Auricular (ear) acupuncture

Auricular acupuncture stimulates over 200 points on the external ear, a microsystem reflecting the body as an "inverted fetus". It primarily functions through vagal regulation, modifying the autonomic and central nervous systems via the brainstem.

  • Benefits: Regulating cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal functions. Clinically, it helps manage chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety. The specialized NADA protocol is widely used for addiction recovery, while other applications assist with weight loss. It provides a non-invasive approach to treating diverse physical and psychological disorders.

Acupuncture without needles

Laser acupuncture uses low-intensity laser to stimulate traditional acupuncture points instead of needles. It merges the principles of traditional Chinese medicine with modern photobiomodulation. Laser acupuncture can be done on body or ear points. Ear seeds is another needleless acupuncture method. Tiny seeds or metal balls are taped to ear points for continuous stimulation for a few days.

  • Benefits: It is highly effective for patients with needle phobias, children, and the elderly. Ear seeds have the advantage of continuous stimulation. These non-needle techniques can be used to treat musculoskeletal disorders (such as knee and back pain), reduce inflammation, and may assist in peripheral nerve repair.

Cold Laser Therapy

Also known as low-level laser therapy, cold laser therapy is a non-invasive, painless procedure that uses low-intensity laser to penetrate tissues 2–5 cm deep. Unlike traditional lasers, it does not produce heat.

  • Benefits: It stimulates cellular healing, increases ATP production, and reduces inflammation. It is an effective non-toxic alternative to medication for managing chronic or acute pain from conditions like arthritis, tendinitis, and muscle strains.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses plant-derived essential oils to enhance well-being. It can be inhaled via an inhaler or a diffuser, or applied topically by anointment, massage, or used as a bath oil.

  • Benefits: It stimulates the brain’s limbic system, helping manage stress, anxiety, and depression. It can improve sleep quality and relieve nausea, pain, and inflammation. Some oils also provide antibacterial support.

Hypnotherapy

Lok-Kwan trained in hypnotherapy at the Milton Erickson Foundation in Phoenix, AZ. Ericksonian hypnotherapy is a collaborative, indirect approach that utilizes the unconscious mind’s creative potential for problem-solving. It employs metaphors, storytelling, and subtle language to bypass conscious resistance.

  • Benefits: It is effective for treating anxiety, stress, and chronic pain. It also promotes positive behavioral changes, such as weight loss, addiction recovery, and building self-efficacy.

Meditation

Lok-Kwan has studied and practiced Buddhist and Daoist meditation for decades and he is well-versed in many other approaches to meditation. In using meditation as a therapeutic tool he is not interested in teaching any school of thought. He uses his knowledge and experience to guide his patients into a meditative state, a state that is freed from the constraints of habitual, conditioned responses and one that gives rise to creativity and harmony.

  • Benefits: It helps to discover or recover a consciousness that is in harmony with the world and with itself. From this consciousness new discoveries and recoveries are possible in all realms of life.

Gua Sha

Gua sha is a traditional healing method where a smooth-edged tool, often made of jade or quartz, is used to scrape the skin. The technique typically involves applying facial oil and using light to medium pressure in upward and outward strokes.

  • Benefits: It helps improve circulation and lymphatic drainage, reduces puffiness, and relieves chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. It is also used for facial sculpting to define the jawline and may boost collagen production.

MOXIBUSTION

In moxibustion, dried mugwort (moxa) is burned near the skin at acupuncture points. It is a warming technique for stimulating qi/blood flow. At our office, we also use an electrical moxa pen as needed to avoid any fire, smoke or smell. The pen can also be equipped with a point tip for stimulating ear points.

  • Benefits: By stimulating the flow of qi and blood, it is great for painful conditions (e.g., arthritis), chronic fatigue, digestive issues (IBS), infertility, breech pregnancy, and cancer-related fatigue. It also has anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting, tonifying qualities.