What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a classical chinese medicine therapy with roots going back thousands of years.   It is the use of needles to stimulate point locations on the body.   Classical Chinese Medicine also employs techniques such as diagnostic observation of the face and tongue and palpation of the pulse.   Chinese Herbs, individually and in Classical Chinese Formulas, are prescribed based on the patient's diagnosis.   Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs are used to rebalance the body and open the meridians.   A treatment may also include other techniques such as cupping, tui-na massage and electro-acupuncture.   Only sterilized, individually packaged, disposable needles are used at the Finley Center.

What is naturopathic medicine?

Naturopathic Medicine is a patient centered primary care approach that uses natural means to restore and optimize health.   It is a distinct system of healthcare:   an art, science, philosophy and practice treating and preventing disease.   Core Naturopathic Therapies include Botanical Medicine, Medical Nutrition, Hydrotherapy, and Mind/Body Medicine.   The goal is to help people discover what is causing their illness, to remove those obstacles, and then to support the body in restoring health and balance.   Naturopathic Therapies promote the natural healing force, in the gentlest, least invasive and most efficient manner possible.

The Principles of Naturopathic Medicine:

Vis medicatrix naturae - The Healing Power of Nature .   The body has an inherent ability to establish, maintain and restore health.

Tolle Causam - Identify and Treat the Cause .   Naturopathic physicians search to find and treat the Root cause rather than suppress presenting symptoms.

Treat the Whole Person - The physician must treat the whole person by taking into account one's physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors.

Docere - Physician as teacher - a physician's most important role is to educate and encourage each patient to take responsibility for one's own health.

Primum non nocere - First, do no harm - The physician's actions can support or antagonize the actions of the body's own healing process.   Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing underlying causes are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized.

Prevention - A naturopathic Physician's ultimate goal is to prevent disease.   Naturopathic Physicians are specifically trained to assess risk factors and hereditary susceptibilities and make the appropriate interventions to not only avoid future harm and risk to the patient, but to also encourage optimal health.  

What is a Physical Therapist (PT)?

Physical Therapy is movement science. Physical Therapists (P.T’s) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat people of all ages who may have medical problems or health related conditions that limit or prevent their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.

P.T’s are trained and educated to perform examinations that recognize movement dysfunctions and thus help identify what is leading to the patients limitations. With this information a Physical Therapist designs an individualized treatment plan focusing on restoring these movement dysfunctions and returning the patient to their desired level of function and recreation.

What is Manual Therapy?

The use of skilled hand movements (techniques) performed by a Physical Therapist which include mobilization and manipulation of skeletal joints and soft tissue. These skilled techniques are intended to improve tissue extensibility, increase ROM; induce relaxation; mobilize or manipulate soft tissues and joints; modulate pain; and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation or restrictions. (APTA, Guide to PT practice rev 2001)