Charleston Community Acupuncture uses moxibustion (heat therapy) to turn a breech baby.  After lighting the moxa stick, made from fine hairs underneath a mugwort plant’s leaves, the acupuncturist applies heat to special points on the body and then treats the patient with acupuncture needles. Though minimal, the moxa stick will emit some smoke.

Orthopedic acupuncture combines  western knowledge of Orthopedic testing  and acupuncture along with electro stimulation, heat therapy, and cupping. Local trigger and motor points are stimulated in order to release inflammation and increase blood and nerve circulation. It is most useful when treating pain and serious injuries associated with your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones (i.e. musculoskeletal).  It addresses more significant structural problems or physical performance issues by blending modern Sports Medicine with the traditional techniques of classical Acupuncture.

Charleston Community Acupuncture also uses electrostimulation, or e-stim, for a more targeted approach to musculoskeletal pain. After needling the treated area, the acupuncturist will connect two or more needles to an electrostimulation machine, allowing the pulse to pass from one needle to the other. We can adjust the frequency and intensity of the impulse on the e-stim device depending on the condition being treated.

Charleston Community Acupuncture uses cupping therapy as a type of deep-tissue massage before or after inserting needles. Cupping is used to dispel stagnant blood and lymph flow to improve the flow of qi, or life force, of a person. This helps treat injured or sore muscles and joints as well as treat respiratory diseases such as the common cold, pneumonia, and bronchitis. Our acupuncturists use heat to create a vacuum within special glass cups when placed on the body. Please note the bruises from cupping can last for a few days up to two weeks with repeated treatments causing less bruising as stagnation resolves indicating a successful result of cupping therapy.