Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is remarkable in that it is a complete system for medical diagnosis and treatment that has not only survived the millennia, but is as relevant today as ever. Treatment may consist of a wide variety of modalities from acupuncture and acupressure to injection therapy, from moxabustion (heating acupoints), cupping, and diet therapy, to exercise regimens and physical rehabilitation methods. It also has a sophisticated system for the prescription of medicine in the form of herbal oral and topical formulae.

Chinese medicine emphasizes balancing the functions of bodily systems within us and with the environment in general. This very different view of health and disease provides additional approaches that the Gracer Medical Group utilizes to complement our more traditional Western medical approaches.

Most patients seeking pain management from San Jose to Sacramento find a comprehensive program is most effective. Consider adding traditional Chinese medicine to your strategy working with Dr. Richard Gracer. Contact him today to find out how acupuncture, acupressure and Chinese herbal medicine can make a difference for you.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is used to treat problems ranging from obesity to chronic pain by people from San Jose to Sacramento and beyond. It can also be beneficial for internal medical problems, alcoholism and drug addiction.

In Chinese medicine, the body consists of matter and "energies" that "circulate" through channels, or meridians-a network of vessels and organs. These networks connect all the body tissues into intricate systems that represent the body's "information systems."

What is acupuncture? Small needles are inserted into "acupuncture points" to balance bodily functions.

Key Benefits of Acupuncture:

• Provides drug-free relief for pain
• Stimulates the body's healing mechanisms
• Unblocks blocked pathways
• Restores balance, both physical and mental.

Acupressure is used to treat chronic and acute injuries or disease by helping to balance the body systems.

It is a traditional Chinese medicine technique based on the same fundamental ideas as acupuncture.

What is acupressure? It involves placing physical pressure, either with the hand, elbow, or a device, on different pressure points (also known as trigger points) on the surface of the body. These points can be distant from the presenting symptom, but they are related by the system of channels, or meridians, of the body. Pressure on the trigger points softens them and brings relief by increasing circulation of blood and lymph fluids and increasing metabolic energies in the body.

Key Benefits of Acupressure:

• Provides relief from head, neck and shoulder aches
• Relieves stress and tension
• Improves blood circulation
• Promotes the healing of injuries

Chinese herbal medicine is used to treat many pain syndromes, functional digestive disorders, respiratory problems, urinary disorders, and reproductive problems.

Herbal medicine has been the core of Chinese medical therapy through most of its history. Chinese herbal medicine, as the world's most documented form of herbology, shows both safety and clinical effectiveness.

What is Chinese herbal medicine? It is a unique method of combining several of the herbs used in Chinese medicine for effective treatment with very few side-effects.

At GMG, we use both Chinese and Western herbal therapies. The formulae used can be used safely with most modern medicine as well.

Key Benefits of Chinese Herbal Medicine:

• Has few side-effects
• Balances and treats many side-effects of pharmaceutical medications
• Treat many conditions that are poorly managed by Western medicine
If you live near Oakland, Sacramento, or San Jose and you need relief from chronic pain, call 925.277.1100 or send us an email to learn more about adding Chinese therapies to your program.. Gracer Medical Group on Norris Canyon Road in San Ramon--just off Crow Canyon Road--serves the pain management needs of Californians from Bakersfield to Chico, as well as patients in the nearby communities of Walnut Creek, Danville, Dublin and Pleasanton.