Treatment and Counselling Methods
Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medicine (CM) as a medical system that has been continuously growing for more than 2000 years and was empirically evaluated even since an early stage, considers the human being holistically with all their physical and psychogenic aspects in the context of their environment.
In Chinese medicine, diseases are considered as imbalances and are described using models (e.g. Yin Yang, Wu Xing/ 5 phases of change, 6 levels, channel theory, etc.).
Therapeutical aim is both to treat the symptoms and restore the harmony of those (physical as well as psychological or mental) aspects that have turned 'out of balence' and have resulted in the respective disorder/disease.
Acupuncture and CHM are among the 'best known' of these therapies, and are often used in combination.
A special CM-capacity is the treatment of so-called functional diseases, i.e. those diseases for which no manifest substantial damage can yet be proven, i.e. for which the usual diagnostics by means of laboratory or imaging do not yet produce results.
By means of Chinese medical pulse and tongue diagnostics, it is often possible to bring 'light into the darkness' and 'a red thread' into a set of a patient`s symptoms that otherwise is difficult to classify.
Chinese medicine methods can also be applied in order to treat diseases that have already caused organic/substantial damage.
Whether it is applied in parallel with biomedical treatments (the terms 'conventional medicine' or 'western medicine' are considered obsolete today), at different times, or instead of biomedical treatment must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The effectiveness of acupuncture and the efficacy of various Chinese herbal medicine applications in the treatment of several indications are well researched by now. For some indications, acupuncture is already listed among the evidence-based therapies. (Evidence-based means that the results of a number of scientifically high-quality studies on the same topic are checked for congruence, compared statistically (meta-analyses) and that these findings are combined with the patient`s goals and the therapist`s experience).
Please feel free to contact us with your specific requests.
Chinese medicine practitioners Mrs. Sayman and Mr. May will be pleased to advise you.
Acupuncture
In acupuncture, specific points of the human body are stimulated by inserting sterile needles.
The aim of needling is to exert a regulative effect on a particular disease. According to the classical Chinese medical concept, acupuncture regulates existing imbalances by restoring and harmonizing the appropriate flow of Qi, the vital energy that flows through all life.
Acupuncture is one of the most important therapeutic procedures in Chinese medicine. It looks back on a history of more than two thousand years, during which it has been continuously empirically researched and documented.
Most of the approximately 420 acupuncture points are assigned to specific pathways within a so-called channel system, which in turn are associated with specific organ systems.
By now, some bio-medical mechanisms of action of acupuncture have been identified, such as the activation of the endorphinic system.
Activation of the inhibition of descending signals by the needle-triggered stimulus has been identified being responsible for the inhibitory effect of incoming pain signals. Anti-inflammatory effects based on the activation of vasoactive neuropeptides have also been demonstrated. It was also found that stimulation of motor endplates is responsible for the resolution of muscular trigger points.
Recent research results show that these very different mechanisms are based on fundamental purinergic reactions.
Thanks to these research results concerning the purinergic reactions, the question of how acupuncture can be successfully applied to symptoms that vary strongly in their disease mechanisms, is currently becoming clarified.
Between four to 20 needles are applied per acupuncture session.
Which points are applied on which parts of the body depends on your particular complaints and your individual Chinese medical diagnosis.
The retention time of the needles is usually 20 to 40 minutes.
How many treatments are necessary in series varies seriously and usually cannot be predicted with certainty in advance.
Regularly, five to ten treatments are scheduled first.
Subsequently, any changes in the respective symptomatology that have occurred up to that point are evaluated and an interim balance is drawn.
An acupuncture treatment performed by lege artis has few or no side effects. Acupuncture treatments are often accompanied by a relaxation that is perceived as beneficial. They can be associated with an increased need for sleep and rest. This should be taken into account.
For legal reasons, the list of clinical pictures for whose treatment acupuncture is indicated must be omitted at this point.
The following link leads you to the homepage of our friends of Evidence-based Acupuncture. This organization regularly reviews, according to the highest scientific standards, the indications for which acupuncture treatment has been proven to be evidence-based (highest level of medical-scientific certainty).
https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM)
In Chinese herbal medicine, mainly herbal drugs (roots, rhizomes, barks, flowers and leaves) become utilised.
In addition, mineral substances and ingredients of animal origin are used. Mr. May does not prescribe the latter substances (of animal origin) in the community clinic *Praxis fuer Alle* for ethical reasons per se.
Chinese herbal medicine is often combined with acupuncture.
Please discuss with our qualified CM therapists whether Chinese herbal medicine might be a worthwhile treatment approach for your individual complaints.
CM therapists Mr. May in the community clinic *Praxis im Gaengeviertel* will be happy to give you advice.
Chinese herbal medicine is the most important therapeutic pillar of Chinese medicine besides acupuncture.
Similar to acupuncture, this method has been empirically researched, documented and further developed for over 3000 years.
In the literature of prescriptions, there are over 650 classic formulas, each of which consists of about two to 25 systematically combined medicinal drugs.
In addition to the very detailed and precisely written classical Chinese monographs, comprehensive pharmacological drug monographs are now available for about 520 regularly used Chinese herbs.
The selection of the 'right' compound displayed for you and your individual symptoms is based on a carefully made Chinese medicine diagnosis.
In addition, the selected compound may be modified individually: Under certain circumstances, individual herbs may be removed from the formulation, or additional ones may become added.
According to empirical findings and the resulting classical doctrine, CHM often is assumed to catalyse the effects of acupuncture.
Chinese drug therapy is used for a wide range of diseases: In addition to infectious and neurological diseases, there are hormonal, gastro-intestinal, allergic, gynaecological, vegetative and psychological/psychosomatic indications.
At present, there is a large amount of research, some of it of high quality, on the effects of Chinese herbal medicine on a large number of diseases.
For legal reasons, a list of diseases for which Chinese herbal medicine is indicated must be omitted at this point.
Cupping and Gua Sha
In cupping therapy, for example, a flame is used to create a vacuum between skin/tissue and a cupping glass. The cupping glasses are placed over acupuncture points or affected tissue (e.g. hardened muscular areas).
According to classical Chinese conception, blockages of Qi and blood circulation may become removed and the physiological condition of the respective tissue might be restored.
Scientific research has shown that immunological healing processes may become catalysed by the increased blood circulation of the respective target tissue and the associated increased oxygen supply.
A so-called cupping massage can also be performed with the cupping glasses: upping glasses are placed on the oiled back, and then are moved back and forth on the back extensor muscles, 'including the generated vacuum'.
This results in a significant increase of blood flow in the target tissue, accompanied by pronounced redness.
Usually this is perceived by patients as truly pleasant.
Similar with Gua Sha: By means of a scraping tool (e.g. made of jade) scraping movements are carried out on an affected area, e.g. the shoulder-neck area. This results in an enhanced blood circulation and thus, in an increased oxygen supply.
This, in turn, promotes tonus reduction and regeneration of the particular tissue.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion ('moxa') is an Asian heat therapy. Mugwort (usually Artemesia vulgaris or Artemesia innuae), e.g. rolled in a cigar shape ('moxa cigar') or in the form of prefabricated and pre-perforated cones placed on acupuncture needles, is lit over acupuncture points or body areas and burnt off at a certain distance from the skin. Thereby, an intensive warming effect is generated which, according to the models of Chinese medicine, might be able to release Qi or Xue (blood) stagnation and to positively influence associated complaints. Moxibustion is applied, for example, in the treatment of various orthopaedic, vegetative and gynaecological indications, as well as for exhaustion.
Tuina and Triggerpoint therapy
Tuina refers to the manual-therapeutic system within Chinese Medicine. It includes massages affecting muscle and connective tissue as well as muscular mobilisations and a certain amount of chiropractic manipulation.
Tuina is used for both biomedical and Chinese medical diagnoses:
Triggerpoint therapy (TPT) aims to detect myofascial trigger points (TPs). TPs are often (partly) responsible for both acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain, which can radiate into distant regions. A well-known example are TPs of the hooded or shoulder-lifter muscle, which trigger headaches in the neck, temples or behind the eyes and can even become migraine.
Finally, TPs represent permanently contracted areas within a muscle, which are thus cut off from oxygen supply.
TPs can be caused by overloading, as well as due to poor posture.
In TPT, TPs are isolated even more strongly from the oxygen supply by means of targeted compression (about two minutes per TP), in order to subsequently achieve increased blood flow in the affected area with reactively improved oxygen saturation, in order to break the ciruculus vitosus of muscular tension and transmitted pain.
TPT is often combined with acupuncture (so-called 'dry needling'), whereby sterile acupuncture needles are inserted directly into an identified TP.
Tuina and TPT can be combined excellently in practice.
Such a combination represents a good example of an eclectic combination of therapeutic procedures of former occidental (aim: blood flow stimulation for increased tissue O2 saturation) and oriental (aim: dissolution of qi and xue stases, in order to restore the free flow of qi and xue in the respective pathway) origin.
(Diploma-) Psychological Counselling
Competent and well-founded psychological counselling can help to orientate oneself in challenging times or in the context of traumatic experiences, as well as in order to develop an individual 'roadmap' that meets one's personal needs.
The psychological counselling in the community clinic *Praxis fuer Alle* is a low-threshold offer that supports you in finding your way through crises, or in dealing with challenging topics.
Solidly founded and carried by empathy, perspectives can be developed together.
Possible further support-options may be pointed out.
The question "Which therapeutic method makes sense for me in my current situation with my particular issues" may be addressed.
Furthermore, any institutional or legal steps that might be indicated will also become explained and accompanied in an advisory capacity.
Nutritional counseling according to the 5 phases of transformation ('5 Elements') (TCM)
Dietetics according to the 5 phases of transformation (often referred to as 'nutrition according to the 5 elements') classifies all foods according to the Chinese medical philosophical model of Wu xing, the 'five phases of transformation'.
The five phases namely are 'fire', 'earth', 'metal', 'water' and 'wood', each of which is associated with specific organ systems within the human organism.
These in turn are linked to particular tissues, times of day and year, psycho-emotional aspects, constitutional variables, etc.
On the basis of this model which is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an individual diagnosis is generated, which in turn forms the basis for the subsequentl individual nutrition plan.
Nutritional consultation according to the 5 transformation phases does take into account your individual constitutional characteristics.
Nutritional counselling
Focus on vegan/plant-based nutrition
More and more people are opting for a diet including an increasing proportion of plants for ecological, ethical, or health-related reasons. Some even going as far as a purely vegan diet.
In the media the topic is worked up, the connection between climate change and our eating habits gradually gets more described, and also the health advantages of a well planned vegetable nutrition, particularly regarding disease prevention, become ever more well-known.
At the same time, many people are also unsettled by some media or the social environment as to whether a purely plant-based diet can cover all the necessary nutrients, how a well-planned vegan diet can be designed, and what important background information is needed.
Furthermore, incompatibilities and complaints with the digestion lead to an increased avoidance of animal products.
The nutritional consultation in the community clinic *Praxis im Gaengeviertel* offers you the possibility of becoming acquainted with the advantages and connections of a vegan nutrition, and of determining your personal nutritional needs. Tipps and all day-practice-related examples will familiarise you with the variety of a plant-based diet.
When changing over to a plant-based diet, the integration of one´s social environment often plays a role in this as well. For example, perhaps you and your family may like to switch over together, or you may plan to become pregnant. Not at least, a well-planned diet is also particularly important for children and young people. Thus, in such cases, corresponding nutrition plans can be developed parallel to yours.
The range of services of the nutritional counselling focus vegan/plant-based nutrition in the community clinic *Praxis im Gaengeviertel* includes personal counselling and long-term support, detailed evaluation of a nutrition protocol, home visits for thematic consolidation or joint shopping and cooking in your own kitchen, cooking classes, lectures or workshops.
Honoraria
The particular fees depend on the profession of the practitioner you are consulting.
In general, the community clinic *Praxis im Gaengeviertel* works according to a solidarity-based payment model (see 'Home'). Therefore, the individual fees may vary considerably.
Please discuss this with your respective therapist before or at your first appointment.
Here are some orientations:
First consultation on Chinese medicine,
ca. 90 - 120 min; 40 (reduced) - 90 € (regular), including:
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Medical history interview
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Pulse and tongue diagnostics
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Preparation of a Chinese-medical diagnosis
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Acupuncture treatment
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Composing a Chinese herbal prescription (if indicated; the costs of the medication are to be settled directly with the pharmacy)
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Generating a treatment plan
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Consultation
Any further (follow-up) acupuncture treatment,
30 - 45 min; 25 (reduced) - 65 € (regular), including:
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Short tongue and pulse diagnosis
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Acupuncture treatment
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If indicated, application of cupping glasses or moxa
Manual therapies
6 (reduced) - 10 (regular) €/ 10 min
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E.g. Tuina, triggerpoint therapy, or medical massages, or chiropractice
Generation of a new/follow-up individual Chinese herbal prescription:
15 (reduced) - 30 € (regular)
(the costs of the medicines themselves are to be paid directly to the pharmacy)
Nutritional advice,
Focus on vegan/plant-based advice: First appointment:
approx. 90-120 min; 50 (reduced) - 120 € (regular), including:
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Nutritional history
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Optional recording and evaluation of a nutrition diary
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Creation of an individual nutrition plan
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Answering your questions, introduction to tips and tricks for a complete diet
Nutritional advice,
Focus on vegan/plant-based advice: Follow-up appointment:
approx. 60-90min; 30 (reduced) - 50 € (regular), including:
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Analysis of your dietary history
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Adaptation of the nutritional concept, if necessary
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Discussion of your questions, important tips and tricks in the vegan kitchen