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Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) is an ancient holistic medicine that has been used around the world for a good 5000 years. It evolved quite a bit over that time; from using bone slivers for the needles to the sterile stainless steel single-use filiform needles that are used today. AOM engages intrinsic energy, called Qi, in each being. Just like Western medicine, AOM continues to evolve, and studies around the world illustrate its effectiveness. AOM is based on solid evidence based and applied concepts, models, and text from ancient to modern. It has positively impacted human health, wellness, and disease. Some of the most contemporary applications include AromaAcupoint TherapyTM and Neuro-Acupuncture (Scalp Acupuncture).

The World Health Organization recommends AOM. Dr. Walston uses the styles and techniques that are best suited for each patient at each visit.

Her approaches include:

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the medicine that is taught consistently across the United States today and has the most history in the United States. It is the basis for the medicine that Dr. Walston uses with each of her patients. It includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, massage therapy, and movement therapy.

Japanese Meridian Therapy

Japanese Meridian Therapy (JMT) is a gentle approach that uses very tiny needles and some non-insertion techniques to re-balance the body and relieve patient issues. Dr. Walston almost always uses JMT constitutional balance techniques with each patient. The goal, like other acupuncture approaches, is to coax the body back into balance in order to heal itself.

Classical Chinese Medicine

In the mid-19th century, one of the Chinese leaders homogenized Chinese medicine into what is called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), partially in order to make it more palatable to the West when the “Bamboo Curtain” was lifted in the early 1970’s. Some of the other disciplines in Chinese medicine continued underground, and they are now openly available to the modern acupuncturist. This includes Master Tung’s acupuncture points that predate many of the acupuncture points that are taught in modern acupuncture institutions. Dr. Walston uses some of these points for many types of pain and for female hormonal issues.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

In New Mexico, all Doctors of Oriental medicine receives extensive training in Chinese Herbal Medicine, and must pass the national board in order to have a license to practice this medicine. Herbal formulas are prescribed based on an individualized pattern diagnosis as well as any disease diagnosis. In contrast, Western folk herbalism primarily uses single herbs or groups of herbs that treat the same symptom or disease for everyone. TCM formulas include from 6 to 18 herbs in each custom-written herbal prescription designed to treat both the symptom or disease and the patient’s individual pattern.

AromaAcupoint(TM) Therapy

Essential oils have always been part of the Materia Medica of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Over the last 30 years, this area has evolved greatly with the improvement of techniques for isolating and harvesting the oils, along with practical applications that have been developed by American practitioners Peter Holmes, LAc. and Tiffany Pollard, LAc. AromaAcupointTM therapy uses the energetics of each fragrance with the energetics of each acupuncture point to add another layer of effectiveness to acupuncture treatments for certain patients.

Chinese Scalp Acupuncture

Scalp acupuncture was developed only in the late 1960s and published in the Western world sometime thereafter. It is based on integrating contemporary understanding of brain function and anatomy with traditional Chinese needling methods. It can also affect every part of the body. It is very good at treating acute and chronic central nervous system disorders, often with immediate results.

Five Element Therapy

Physics in the inside of our body is the same as the physics outside of our body in the universe in which we live. Chinese physicians and philosophers observed that the same forces that organize the physical, sensory, and perceptual life of organisms affect the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual life of people. 5 Element yin-yang rhythms define all processes in nature, and they are assessed to help patients equilibrate for optimal health and balance.

Auricular Acupuncture

The role of the ear as an instrument for diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and treatment has been discussed in Oriental medical literature from ancient to modern texts. The external ear has over 100 acupuncture points that correspond to every part of the body, a highly effective microsystem. Dr. Walston uses ear acupuncture and/or places tiny pellets in the ear as an independent treatment, although she usually uses this as an addition to other treatment methods. Sometimes people leave her clinic with tiny pellets to remain in their ears for several days in order to enhance treatment that occurred in her office.

Trigger Point Acupuncture Therapy

This is another current application of Acupuncture. When muscles develop a trigger point for various reasons, they have a “tetany,” or area in the muscle that is contracted and just can’t let go in a never-ending cycle of muscle contraction, an extremely painful syndrome. A trigger point can also affect other parts of the body. Trigger Point Acupuncture Therapy, or what is often called “dry needling” now can be very effective for this pain syndrome.
In addition to the use of acupuncture needles, Dr. Walston’s hands-on techniques Include:

Delayed Food Sensitivity Testing

Chronic inflammation from IgG reactions can show up in unexpected areas of the body from unsuspected foods

Cupping

Generally pleasant removal of stagnation or toxins from different parts of the body, usually on the back

Shiatsu

Japanese massage techniques

E-Stim

Microcurrent and Millicurrent Electrical Stimulation for acute or chronic pain

Guasha

Use of round-edged tools in a type of massage that promotes normal circulation and metabolic processes. Dr. Walston usually uses jade tools.

Craniosacral Therapy

Modern gentle hands-on techniques that work with the craniosacral fluid

Facial Rejuvenation

Acupoint facials can positively affect other parts of the body via several meridians that begin in the face

Tuina

Chinese massage techniques

Moxabustion

Artemesia leaves, or Mugwort, used with needles or magnets