Offerings
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Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a safe, natural, effective, and drug-free way to treat pain, reduce stress, and restore health and balance. It involves the insertion of ultra-fine, single-use, sterile needles at carefully selected points along the body's energetic pathways to remove blockages, rectify the flow of qi and blood, and stimulate the body's natural pain control and healing mechanisms.
From a Western medicine perspective, acupuncture points are located at the sites of bundles of sensory neurons that, when stimulated, send signals to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to release endorphins (the body's natural pain killers), anti-inflammatory agents, hormones, increase blood flow and boost immunity.
Private acupuncture sessions often include a combination of acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, bodywork, guasha, and dietary, exercise and other lifestyle recommendations.
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Community Acupuncture
In Community Acupuncture, multiple patients are treated simultaneously in a shared space, resting quietly while their needles are retained. This design significantly reduces the cost of treatment, allowing people to receive acupuncture at the frequency necessary to get optimal results. The points used in community acupuncture are commonly located below the elbows and knees, on the scalp and on the ears.
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Acudetox
Acudetox, also known as the NADA protocol, is a low-cost, low-barrier approach to harm reduction and community healing. It helps reduce cravings, withdrawal symptoms, stress, and trauma and calms the nervous system. It is a standardized ear acupuncture or acupressure treatment that involves placing up to 5 single-use sterile needles or seeds into specific points on each ear. No intake or medical history is required. The practice is often performed in a group setting, with participants resting quietly for the duration of the treatment. Needles are retained for 20-45 minutes.
Acupuncture treats a wide variety of conditions, including:
Allergies/Asthma, Anxiety/Depression, Arthritis/Joint Problems, Back Pain, Bladder/Kidney Problems, Constipation/Diarrhea, Colds/Influenza, Cough/Bronchitis, Dizziness, Drug/Alcohol/Smoking/Addiction, Fatigue, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Gynecological Disorders, Headache/Migraine, Heart Problems/Palpitations, High Blood Pressure, Immune System Deficiency, Knee Pain, Menopausal Discomfort, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Pre-Menstrual Syndrome, Paralysis/Numbness, Rhinitis, Sciatica, Sexual Dysfunction, Side Effects of Chemotherapy, Sinusitis, Skin Problems, Stress/Tension, Stroke Rehabilitation, Tendonitis.
A Brief History of Community Acupuncture and Acudetox
Aucdetox (aka the NADA protocol) was developed at the Lincoln Detox in the South Bronx, New York, in the 1970s. At that time, the South Bronx was a war zone, ravaged by landlord arson sprees that left many residents homeless. Schools, sanitation, fire departments and hospitals were in dismal condition. The Lincoln Detox was formed by Dr. Mutulu Shakur, Walter Bosque, fellow revolutionaries from the Black Panthers and Young Lords, and allied Doctors as a direct action, community response to the opium epidemic, neglect, and lack of accessible health care that plagued their community. They combined community health and radical politics to create the first acupuncture detoxification program and community acupuncture clinics in America.
Since then, auricular acupuncture has been used extensively in substance abuse treatment programs, hospitals, and prisons in over 80 countries worldwide.
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Cupping
Cupping therapy has been used throughout many cultures for thousands of years. It uses glass or silicone cups to create a gentle suction that encourages blood and lymph circulation, strengthens the immune system, and helps remove cellular waste from the body. It releases muscular tension, increases collagen production, and relaxes the nervous system. Cupping therapy typically leaves painless bruise-like marks that resolve in a week or so. It is a normal part of the treatment and healing process.
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Moxibustion
Moxibustion involves burning Mugwort (Artemesia Vulgaris) over specific acupuncture points to promote blood and qi circulation, enhance immunity, relieve pain, and warm the body. Moxibustion is often used to complement acupuncture but is also effective as a stand-alone treatment. Moxibustion treats many health conditions, including digestive issues, lower back, shoulder and knee pain, cold conditions, menstrual and fertility problems, and men's health. It is particularly well known for its ability to turn breeched babies.
Moxibustion is a deeply warming and relaxing treatment particularly beneficial for those who tend to get cold easily.
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Herbal Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine treats many health concerns with few to no side effects.
Herbal Medicines usually contain plant parts (roots, stems, leaves, berries, and seeds), though they may also contain minerals, shells, and animal products. Every herb has a specific characteristic, action, flavour, temperature and affinity to particular locations or organs in the body. Combined, they act synergistically to support the body’s natural healing functions and restore homeostasis.
Formulas are carefully customized while considering the patient’s pattern/s of disharmony and individual constitution. As symptoms improve or change, formulas are modified accordingly.
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Bodywork
Shiatsu means “finger pressure” and is a form of bodywork developed in Japan. It is a whole-body treatment based on principles found in Chinese Medicine, modern anatomy, and kinesiology. It involves the systematic application of acupressure and gently applied stretches to the body’s energetic pathways to diagnose and treat various conditions.
Shiatsu treatments regulate the autonomic nervous system, which improves organ function, reduces muscle tension, relaxes the body, and calms the mind. Shiatsu is an ideal preventative medicine for stress-related conditions, managing chronic pain, and improving overall well-being.
Shiatsu is performed on a futon, with the patient wearing loose, comfortable clothing.
QIGONG
Qigong is an ancient self-healing practice from China that has been evolving for thousands of years, forming the foundation of Classical Chinese Medicine and many martial arts. It combines posture, meditation, breathing, self-massage, movement, and the intention to unite and maximize the potential of our mind, body, and spirit.
Exercises consist of sequences of movements that promote overall health and longevity and strengthen immunity, heal specific physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments, regulate the organs and energetic channels of the body, and purge toxic energy.
Some of the benefits of practicing qigong include: Feeling more relaxed, energized, flexible, and centred, improved blood circulation, bone density, immunity, digestion, and sleep.
Qigong is a gentle practice suitable for all ages and physical abilities. Mai offers private, semi-private and community qigong classes.
