Naturalpath

Chiropractic, which loosely means to treat by hand, is a type of manipulative therapy that has been practiced in the U.S. for over 100 years. This discipline is based on the premise that function of the joints and muscles of the spine can have a profound effect upon health.

Through a complex relationship with the nervous system, problems with vertebral (spinal) joints can result in local neck and back pain and even cause pain to be felt in the head, arms, and legs (referred pain). Chiropractors identify these problems in specific joints as chiropractic subluxations or joint dysfunctions. (Note: Medical doctors use the word subluxation in a different way, denoting a bone that has nearly dislocated.)

Acupuncture has been used to treat a variety of illnesses for more than 2,000 years. Acupuncture is a component of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system of medicine.

As such, a diagnosis based on TCM is generally made prior to the administration of acupuncture needles. This TCM diagnosis, which is much different than diagnosis in Western medicine, is based on a practitioners observation (of the pulse and tongue) and a thorough patient interview. The patient interview is useful for assessing the bodys balance of yin and yang (hot or cold properties), for evaluating deficiency or excess patterns of disease, and for determining the state of the bodys internal organs and channels.