Clinic Services

Healing Tools and Techniques
Your First Visit to the Clinic

"Enter our clinic and take the first steps in a rewarding journey of discovery. Along the way you will find new resources for better health, new challenges, and new ideas with which to fill your cup. Drink deeply and you will nourish the most important person in your world -- yourself. As long as there is 'you,' there is help." - Dr. Angela C. Wu

Wu's Healing Center offers a variety of resources -- including acupuncture, acupressure, herbal remedies and self-care practices -- to help clients pursue better health. We apply ancient Chinese healthcare tools and techniques with a modern, holistic perspective to offer a complement or an alternative to Western medicine. Many clients use our services in concert with those of their Western doctors to tap the wisdom of both medical disciplines.

Although the clinic addresses a wide range of medical concerns, many of our clients are women and their partners, looking to enhance fertility, conceive, manage a healthy pregnancy and delivery, and speed full recovery following childbirth. For more information please see our Fertility Program.

Healing Tools and Techniques

Because Chinese medicine treats the individual, Dr. Wu's approach varies by client, drawing on the following tools and techniques:

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the use of thin, sterile needles, inserted by a trained acupuncturist along the body's energy channels, or meridians, to stimulate, clear, or redirect body energy (also called Qi). After assessing your condition by asking questions, examining, and feeling pulses, Dr. Wu or her qualified associates insert needles in a pattern designed to rebalance your energy for optimal health. It takes just a few minutes to insert the needles, but you will rest with them inserted for a while.

Acupressure
Acupressure is the use of techniques and meridian stretches to redirect Qi along the body's meridians. Acupressure offered at the clinic range from brief treatments to two specialized practices: Chi Organ Acupressure and Chi Meridian Acupressure.

Using the area surrounding the navel as a map to the body's major organs, Chi Organ Acupressure involves direct pressure on the client's abdomen. Practitioners use fingers, hands, or elbows to stimulate and clear blocked energy from various points. Because the gut is considered the body's "second brain," Chi Organ Acupressure is especially effective in releasing trauma, and treating emotional disturbances, irregular elimination, abdominal congestion, and menstrual discomfort. In fact, the gut houses 95% of the body's seratonin, the chemical associated with the body's "fight or flight" response to stress. Chi Organ Acupressure is an integral part of Dr. Wu's fertility enhancement program.

Brief Chi Organ Acupressure is performed during regular pre-treatment preparation. You may also schedule a full Chi Organ Acupressure session with a certified practitioner.

Chi Meridian Acupressure, a Chinese acupressure technique effective in the treatment of muscle strains, sprains, and other orthopedic problems, may also be used during pre-treatment preparation at Dr. Wu's recommendation. Chi Meridian Acupressure is also part of fertility treatment, and is especially recommended for male partners.

Cupping
Cupping is an ancient technique used to stimulate and clear Qi/Blood along the same meridians used in acupuncture and acupressure. The practitioner uses a flame to create a vacuum inside a heavy glass dome, or "cup," then applies the cup to your back and other areas. The cups adhere to the skin through suction, drawing blood to the body's outermost capillaries to be recirculated throughout the body.

Using three or four cups at a time, the practitioner moves the cups along the body for a few minutes, sometimes resting on specific acupuncture points. Occasionally the suction created by the cups will leave mild redness or marking that usually disappears within 24 to 72 hours.

In most cases, Dr. Wu recommends cupping as a regular part of pre-treatment preparation. Cupping is particularly effective in improving circulation, clearing cold or flu congestion, and treating other conditions characterized by stagnation.

Moxabustion
In moxabustion, a dried herb called mugwort or "moxa" is burned on or near the skin to stimulate specific acupuncture points. The practitioner may light a stick of moxa and use it like a wand to warm various points, or may light moxa directly on specific acupuncture needles inserted in the body. For some conditions, moxa is burned on a fresh slice of ginger or on a mixture of garlic, salt, and herbs, which is applied to the skin.

Moxa burns with a distinct odor that may have a relaxing affect. Moxabustion may be used during pre-treatment preparation or recommended by Dr. Wu for self-care between clinic visits.

Herbal Prescriptions
Dr. Wu often prescribes Chinese herbs to support her acupuncture treatments. Prescriptions may take the form of a pre-made liquid, powder, pill, or capsule, or may consist of an herbal tea formula made specially for you. These formulas are concocted in the clinic of dried herbs that you cook at home, as directed by Dr. Wu. Guidelines are provided with each prescription.

Eating and Drinking Guidelines
In matters of eating and drinking, Dr. Wu adheres to the Five Elements and Eight Principles theory that is the basis for all Chinese medicine. Each food or herb has unique properties that affect the flow of energy, or Qi/Blood, in your body. To balance your Qi/Blood for optimal health, Dr. Wu may recommend that you avoid certain foods or add new foods. These recommendations may change as your condition evolves, and may also vary by season. By adopting these recommendations you can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your acupuncture and acupressure treatments and herbal prescriptions.

Dr. Wu may also recommend certain food combining principles to optimize your body's ability to utilize the nutrients in the food you eat.

Self Care
Dr. Wu can recommend a variety of self-care techniques -- from Six Healing Sound breathing exercises and the Inner Smile meditation to Tai Qi and Qi Gong-- to support your clinic treatments. More information on these techniques can be found in Fertility Wisdom. Dr. Wu shares over 60 years of experience in one book!

Your First Visit to the Clinic

• Download Welcome Packet: Female | Male

4) Intake
Before you consult with Dr. Wu, a staff member will talk with you about your health. On your first visit, you may wish to discuss aspects of your general medical history.

Afterward -- and on subsequent visits to the clinic -- a staff member will ask you a series of questions focused on your immediate health, including the status of your major complaint, new or recurring pains, sensations of heat or cold, thirst, headaches or dizziness, bowel movements and urination, gynecological health/menstrual patterns, sleep, and emotional state. The staff member also may ask you to estimate your energy level on a scale up to 100 percent.

From a Western medical perspective, many of these questions may not seem to apply to your primary complaint. However, from a Chinese medical perspective -- focused on your total health -- your answers reveal important patterns that help Dr. Wu diagnose and treat your condition. Over time, you will come to recognize your own patterns and understand the significance of various measures used in the clinic -- from sleep and thirst to the regularity of bowel movements.

5) Preparatory Treatment
After sharing the results of your intake with Dr. Wu and receiving any special instructions, a staff member will begin the "prep" portion of your treatment. This process may include brief acupressure, specific acupressure, visualization techniques, breathing exercises, cupping, and/or moxabustion.

6) Treatment by Dr. Wu
Following preparation, Dr. Wu will review your intake chart, following up on specific conditions or complaints. She also may feel your pulses (on both wrists) and examine your tongue -- both important indicators in Chinese medical diagnosis. Based on your condition, Dr. Wu will apply acupuncture needles of various sizes at different points along your body's "meridians" to stimulate, clear, or redirect energy. She will instruct you in a breathing technique to minimize any pain or anxiety associated with receiving needles. This technique also activates the effectiveness of the acupuncture.

Once Dr. Wu has applied needles, you'll be asked to rest quietly for a while-- remaining still and relaxing, breathing in and appreciating your body.

If you feel minor discomfort during your treatment, try focusing your breath on the point of pain until the discomfort diminishes. If your discomfort is severe, ring the bell placed by you on the treatment table and a staff member will assist you.

While your needles are in place, a staff member may visit to change "moxa" -- a Chinese herb that may be burned on certain needles to "warm" a specific acupuncture point.

7) Following Treatment
A timer will be set during your treatment, after which, a staff member will return to remove your needles. Take a moment to relax after treatment, then dress and return to the reception area. Be sure to drink 3 small cups of warm water to help your body maximize the benefits of treatment. Then you can check out, schedule your next treatment, and pick up any herbal remedies prescribed by Dr. Wu.

A Special Gift from Wu's Healing Center for 2008

According to the Chinese system, 2005 was the beginning of a new 20-year cycle. There is a Chinese saying, “a good start is halfway to success.” Dr. Angela C. Wu and the entire WHC staff wish to offer you the precious gift of how to properly start this cycle on the Lunar New Year's Day (solar calendar February 7th) 2008. This first step on that day may play a significant role during the rest of this 20-year cycle. Both the timing and direction of your initial exit from wherever you are on February 7th are of utmost importance.

This is what to do on that day:
On the morning of February 7th, 2008, pay special attention to personal hygiene and the initial exit direction from the building in which you are. The most auspicious time to go out is between 9am and 1pm. To welcome good luck, walk in the South direction. To invite divine help, walk in the Northwest direction. To invite wealth-spirit, walk in the West direction. You may only choose one direction to walk. If you would like to burn incense or pray, please do so between 3am and 7am.

If you live or stay in an apartment building, walk in the desired direction at these following exits: your bedroom, front door, elevator (if your building has one) and finally the door to the outside.

Please do not walk in the East direction. This attracts bad luck.

Please share this gift with your family and friends!

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The student traveled far to consult with the wisest of teachers. Atop the highest mountain, in a humble shack, the student found the sage. "Tell me the purpose of your visit," said the teacher, pouring the student a cup of tea.