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TREATMENTS

Traditional Chinese Medicine

WHERE TRADITION MEETS MODERN HEALING

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a long standing medical system that has been practiced for over 3500 years. Aimed at balancing the body's qi (energy) - pronounced "chee", TCM utilizes many methods to bring proper flow to the body's energy pathways known as meridians. 

 

Factors that interrupt the healthy free-flow of qi include:

  • Physical injury: pain and inflammation

  • Infection by microorganisms

  • Weather and external environment

  • Chronic stress, emotions, and illness

  • Poor diet, sleep deprivation, and lack of exercise

 

At Hero Performance Health we believe that healing  continues outside of the clinic, and that maintaining a balanced qi is done best through a well calibrated lifestyle. To maintain and promote the flow of the energy meridians at home, we prescribe lifestyle modifications that deal with shifting tendencies in mindset, diet, movement, and other daily habits that are contributing to an imbalanced internal climate.

 

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine is the most effective catalyst of all and steps in when these lifestyle changes are not enough. These come in a combination of loose herbs, powders, tinctures and capsules and are primarily botanically based. Examples of herbs commonly used in TCM include Ginseng (Renshen) - used for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and energy promoting properties -, Licorice Root (Gancao), Walnuts (Hetao), and Lotus Seeds (Lianzi).

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Acupuncture

MAKING THE ENERGY FLOW

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical therapy that uses the insertion of very fine needles into targeted points on the body to influence various physiological functions. During an acupuncture treatment, each needle is used to create a micro-trauma, which sends a signal through the body triggering a healing response. Acupuncture has been practiced for over 2500 years and is founded in the theory that energy, referred to as "qi", travels through the body in specific pathways known as meridians. If the energy is flowing properly, an individual will have good physical and mental health. However, if there is a blockage in the energy flow, the individual could experience pain, illness, and a lack of energy. Recently, research has been conducted that confirms the existence of these energy meridians in the body, and found that acupuncture points are located by their lowered electrical resistance.

 

Acupuncture can be used to treat: 

  • Allergies 

  • Anxiety & Depression

  • Chronic Pain

  • Digestion Disorders

  • Hypertension

  • Insomnia

  • Menstrual Cramps & PMS

  • Menopause

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​By stimulating target acupuncture points along the energy pathways, Dr. Ryley aims to promote proper energy flow within the patient. By establishing this flow, healing can take place. Acupuncture is a virtually painless treatment, and typically takes 30-60 minutes depending on the condition being treated. The World Health Organization (WHO) endorses the use of acupuncture for several conditions.

  • Migraines

  • Morning Sickness

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Sports Injuries

  • Sprains

  • Stress Reduction

  • Strokes

  • Tight Muscles

Manual Treatments

NO PAIN, NO GAIN!

At Hero Performance Health we use three main manual therapy techniques - Cupping, Tuina & Guasha. 

 

Cupping is a therapy often using glass or silicone cups to create suction at targeted points on the skin. It can be used to treat a variety of ailments including pain, inflammation, sports injury, as well as the common cold, depression and other not-so-obvious conditions. Some say they feel as though they just received a deep tissue massage minus the intense pain.

 

Cupping will often leave therapeutic marks known as ptechiae due to the local breaking of capillaries caused by the suction. This effect does not only call upon and allow for new blood flow but it also calls for a focused repair at the cupped location. The cups are usually kept on for 3-5 minutes and marks typically take a few days to heal. 

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Tuina uses massage and other manual techniques like stretching, traction and mobilization to promote healing. There are Tuina used to treat everything from constipation and to headaches and insomnia

 

Guasha uses a special set of tools to create abrasions on the skin, causing an increase in blood flow, freeing up adhesions and promoting healing in the area. "Gua" refers to the scraping technique, while "Sha" refers to the reddish rash known as ptechiae that is created during the treatment. The abrasions are relatively painless and heal over the course of a few days while the strong therapeutic effect remains.

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