Acupuncture, Asheville

_{^{For the past twenty two years Kyle has been practicing the art of Massage and Bodywork.� Developing a proficiency over a wide scope of modalities through the years, he has learned how the physical body is affected by life.� Influences such as emotions, diet, energy, sounds, etc... all create imprints upon a body that either nurture or hinder a person's health. � One of the many gifts that come from recieving Body-oriented therapies is the release of these cellular-neuro-muscular memories that are imprinted upon the body, thus restoring balance and health to the body.� There are a number of� Massage and Bodywork therapies Kyle uses in his treatments:

Swedish:}}
^{_{This technique employs long strokes, kneading and friction.� Performed on more superficial muscle layers, it is generally lighter-handed and geared toward relaxation. It is also used for warming tissues in order to perform deeper work, but can be used for the entire session.}}_{^{Deep Tissue Massage:

This technique is usually a firmer, deeper and slower work affecting deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to break up congestion and speed removal of metabolic waste.}}_{^{Neuromuscular Massage:

Treats areas of neural activity to break cycles of spasm and pain. The definition of Neuromuscular Massage Therapy (St. John Method) is the science by which homeostasis (balance) is brought about between the nervous system and the musculo-skeletal system. This balance is affected through the analysis and treatment of 5 physiological principles:}}

^{_{1. Dysfunctional Biomechanics
2. Postural Distortion
3. Ischemia (lack of blood)
4. Trigger Points
5. Nerve Compression or Entrapment.}}

_{^Polarity:^{A hands-on approach to balancing the human energy field and its structural counterpart. Polarity facilitates the dissolving and releasing of energy blocks and deep-seated tensions. Techniques include circular pressure on sensitive contact points, light rhythmic rocking and stretching motions, joint mobilization, and energy holds.}}
_{^{Zero Balancing:

�A hands-on treatment developed by osteopath and acupuncturist, Dr. Fritz Smith, in 1973. ZB incorporates Eastern views of energy within the Western scientific construct of functional anatomy.� The hallmarks of ZB are the integration of the client's body energy (Qi) with their body structure; creating clearer, stronger fields of energy in the body/mind; and balancing energy in the densest tissues of the body, the bone and skeletal system. Practitioners use gentle adaptations of osteopathic and acupressure techniques to help relieve physical and mental symptoms; improving the ability to deal with life stresses; organizing vibratory fields thereby promoting the sense of wholeness and well being.}}
_{^{Tui Na:

A hands-on-body treatment using acupressure that is a modality of Chinese medicine whose purpose is to bring the body into balance. The principles being balanced are the eight principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press and rub the areas between each of the joints (known as the eight gates) to open the body's defensive (Wei) Qi and get the energy moving in both the meridians and the muscles. The practitioner uses a range of motion, traction, massage, with the stimulation of acupressure points that treats both acute and chronic conditions. Tui Na is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Many East Asian martial arts schools also teach Tui Na to their advanced students for the treatment and management of injury and pain due to training.

Gua Sha:

Uses repeated pressured strokes over lubricated skin with a smooth edge. Some commonly used tools are; a ceramic Chinese soup spoon , or a well worn coin, even honed animal bones, water buffalo horn, or jade. A simple metal cap with a rounded edge is also commonly used.� In cases of severe fatigue from heavy work a piece of ginger root soaked in rice wine is sometimes used to rub down the spine from head to tail.

The smooth edge is placed against the pre-oiled skin surface, pressed down firmly, and then moved down the muscles -- hence the term "tribo-effleurage" (i.e., friction-stroking) -- or along the pathway of the acupuncture meridians, along the surface of the skin, with each stroke being about 4-6 inches long.

This causes extravasation of blood from the peripheral capillaries (petechiae) and may result in sub-cutaneous blemishing (ecchymosis), which usually takes 2-4 days to fade. Sha rash does not represent capillary rupture as in bruising, as is evidenced by the immediate fading of petechiae to echymosis, and the rapid resolution of sha as compared to bruising. The color of sha varies according to the severity of the patient's blood stasis -- which may correlate with the nature, severity and type of their disorder --appearing from a dark blue-black to a light pink, but is most often a shade of red. Although the marks on the skin look painful, they are not. Patients typically feel immediate sense of relief and change.

Gua Sha technique is most commonly used to:

�� * Reduce fever (the technique can be used to treat cholera).
�� * Treat fatigue caused by exposure to heat (often used to treat heat-stroke) or cold.
�� * Cough and dyspnea: bronchitis, asthma, emphysema.
�� * Treat muscle and tendon injuries.
�� * Push sluggish circulation, fibromyalgia.
�� * Treat headache.
�� * Treat stiffness, pain, immobility.
�� * Treat digestive disorders.
�� * Treat urinary, gynecological disorders.
�� * To assist with reactions to food poison.

Shiatsu:

Shiatsu is a Japanese system of bodywork/energywork developed in the early part of the century by a healer named Tamai Tempaka. Although Tempaka originally called his system �Shiatsu Ryoho� or �fingerpressure way of healing�, in actual practice a variety of techniques are used and pressure can be applied with hands, fingers, knees and feet.

Treatments are done on a mat or cushions on the floor, and the recipient remains clothed. Shiatsu is a perfect portable skill that frees the practitioner to treat persons virtually anywhere, with no need for massage table or oil.

Although this system of bodywork/energywork was developed in fairly recent times, it grew out of a traditional Japanese form of massage called Anma. Anma was introduced into Japan, and is based on the very ancient traditional Chinese massage practice of Anmo (now known in China as "Tui Na").

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (T.C.M.), energy circulates along well-defined pathways called channels or meridians.� Along these pathways are specific acupressure points, which in Shiatsu are called "tsubo". The word tsubo translates �where the cycling of electromagnetic energy gathers�.

In the practice of Shiatsu, pressure is applied rhythmically along the energy pathways and tsubo, which moves �Ki�(energy). The effects of treatments are to deeply relax the recipient and to balance Ki, moving Ki from areas where there is stagnation or excess into areas of deficiency.}}