A Brief History of Acupuncture

Have you been considering acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida? Curious about the history of acupuncture? When it all started? How it came to the United States? At Dawn Potter Acupuncture we are proud to offer Clearwater acupuncture and love educating our patients about it. Today, we’ll be covering a brief history of acupuncture and how it could benefit you. For additional questions about acupuncture near you or to schedule an appointment, contact our acupuncturist in Clearwater, Florida today.

About Ancient Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient system used for healing the body that actually predates recorded history on Earth. According to the research of acupuncture around the world, the practice actually began during the Stone Age (thousands and thousands of years ago) where sharp-edged tools and stones were used to puncture the skin and drain abscesses.

The first recording of acupuncture was actually in The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, an ancient Chinese medical text by Huang Di Nei Jing. Modern acupuncture was established in 1368-1644 during the Ming Dynasty of China in the publication of The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Acupuncture In The United States

Although acupuncture had existed in China for many years, it wasn’t until 1972 when President Nixon visited China that acupuncture became known in the United States. In 1995, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified acupuncture needs as a medical instrument. In 1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began acknowledging acupuncture as an effective treatment option for various conditions. Over 40 states in the United States have licensing and certification training for acupuncture practice, with many of them requiring a national examination.

Clearwater Acupuncture

We have been providing acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida for many years, helping a variety of patients with a wide range of health issues and complications. To get started with your Clearwater acupuncture treatment, simply schedule a consultation with Dawn Potter.

Schedule Acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida Today

Ready to start your acupuncture in Clearwater, Florida? Contact Dawn Potter Acupuncture today, we’re always accepting new patients and would be happy to get started.

Beginner’s Guide to Chinese Medicine

When it comes to Chinese Medicine, many people can become confused. While Chinese Medicine is widely known for its pain relieving abilities, many people are unaware of how it can affect digestive disorders, stress levels, allergies and even fertility. At Dawn Potter Acupuncture, we offer a variety of Chinese Medicine treatment options, including acupuncture, chinese herbal medicine, cupping and even moxabustion. Depending upon the cause of your ailment, symptoms or conditions, different techniques may be recommended. If you have additional questions about our Clearwater chinese medicine, feel free to give us a call. We’re always happy to answer questions.

Acupuncture in Clearwater

Acupuncture is a chinese medicine technique that involves inserting very fine needles into points on the body. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years across the world and can be used for the treatment of a variety of conditions, pains and even addictions.

Clearwater Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese herbal medicine involves the use of plants, minerals and even flowers to heal the body. Chinese herbal medicine can come in various forms, however the most popular are pills and teas. Chinese herbal medicine generally has very few side effects and should be monitored closely.

Cupping in Clearwater

Cupping involves the use of jars being placed on the skin to create a vacuum using suction. This results in the tissue underneath being sucked and raised into the jar, increasing circulation, relieving pain and pulling toxins from the body. Cupping does leave temporary red, blue and/or purple marks, however they typically resolve after a few days.

Clearwater Moxabustion

Maxobustion involves burning an herb known as “mugwort” which is placed near the skin to warn a specific point. Maxobustion has been used around the world for thousands of years to treat a variety of conditions, including asthma, gynecological disorders, diarrhea and more.

Start Clearwater, Florida Chinese Medicine Today

Interested in improving your health with chinese medicine in Clearwater, Florida? Dawn Potter Acupuncture is always accepting new patients and would be more than happy to help. Schedule your appointment with us today for chinese medicine near you.

Qi Gong for Self-Healing

You’ve heard of yoga and its wonderful benefits, right? And meditation, of course. And many people are familiar with the slow, martial arts type movements of Tai Qi (“tie chee”). But, have you heard about Qi Gong (“chee gung”)? In fact, Tai Qi is one form of Qi Gong, of which there are many forms and lineages that have been passed down through the millenia in China.

My friend, classmate, and fellow acupuncture colleague, Brodie Welch, L.Ac, has been practicing and teaching Qi Gong for many years, and has finally created an online class that teaches you how to do the movements, how each movement benefits you, and how to think about the energy flow through each movement, in order to get the most from each Qi Gong exercise. I am excited to be able to take her class myself, and to share it with you.

Here is how Brodie describes Qi Gong:

Want to increase your energy and calm your mind in 20 minutes a day? Let me introduce you to a good friend of mine. Her name is Qi Gong. She’s Yoga and Meditation’s less-sexy, easy-to-underestimate cousin — and she’s AMAZING.

Qi Gong (“chee gung”) is originally from China and her name means “energy exercise.” Like her Indian cousin Yoga, Qi Gong links up the body, breath, and intention. She’s less flashy than her cousin Yoga. But don’t overlook her — those still waters run deep.

Here are 10 reasons why you’ll love getting to know Qi Gong:

1. She’s an incredible healer. She can reduce arthritis, chronic pain, heart disease, fatigue, diabetes, and inflammation, while boosting your immunity, energy, bone density, sleep, focus, and balance. She’s even got the studies to prove it.

2. She’s over 3000 years old and still looks great. She’s got gorgeous curves. Unlike the straight lines of her angular cousin Yoga, Qi Gong moves in circles and spirals: she flows.

3. She’s unpretentious. There’s nothing showy about her. Her movements are slow, mindful, graceful, and powerful. While she’s great at building strength and balance, her moves aren’t particularly difficult, and you probably won’t see her on the cover of a glossy magazine sporting lululemon. No stretchy pants are required to hang with her.

4. She’s energizing. Spend just 20 minutes with her and you’ll feel revitalized, more positive, and more mobile throughout your day.

5. She’s easy to be with. Unlike her cousin Meditation (who’s awesome, but let’s face it, can be kinda uptight sometimes), Qi Gong doesn’t ask you to sit there and try to not pay attention to your thoughts. Instead, she helps the mind and nervous system to settle down by giving you lots to pay attention to, like your breath, and simple movements that repeat.

6. She’ll help you relax. She can help tame anxiety and stress. You might even sleep better.

7. She’ll help you get out of your head better than Yoga. Don’t get me wrong: I’ll love Yoga forever, but a lot of what she does is so challenging that it often feels like a “mind-over-body” practice rather than one of mind-body unity. With Qi Gong, the struggle to do it “right” or make it look like someone else’s practice goes away. The simplicity of the movements make it easy to feel the qi flowing in your body and between your hands.

8. She’ll make you feel good. She’ll love you no matter how strong or how flexible you are, and you’ll love her back.

9. She’ll help you love your body. Rather than seeing the body as something you need to ignore or transcend (like Meditation sometimes says), Qi Gong encourages you to tune into the body as a focal point for concentration. Your body becomes a portal for tuning into the more subtle layers. (So she’s kind of a feminist — none of that “body is dirty and mundane” baggage here.)

10. She’s sophisticated. She’s got different routines designed to support each system of the body. She’ll even teach you some points that acupuncturists use to get qi to move properly. Want to meet her? She’s available in a new home-study course, “12 Treasures Qi Gong: Your Movement MultiVitamin,” created by Brodie Welch, L.Ac., M.S.O.M.

Click here to learn more about her program, and to start your own Qi Gong practice.

Dawn Potter, AP, Dipl.OM

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