At Puget Sound Healing Arts, we employ a natural approach to health care, placing emphasis on the whole person and not just their symptoms. The client becomes an essential part - and partner - in their own healing. Natural medicine is effective in treating specific health issues as well as providing preventive care. Our range of services includes offerings that are often covered by health insurance providers. Our treatment techniques ensure that the client receives maximum attention and consideration. Choose from naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, and more. Jeffrey B. Thompson, M.Ac., L.Ac., is a licensed and national board certified (NCCAOM) acupuncturist who received his Master's degree from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NIAOM) in 1999. Though Jeff's training focused primarily on traditional Chinese medicine, he integrates various other healing modalities into his practice, including Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion techniques, sound therapy, and Qigong. As part of his training at NIAOM, Jeff completed internships at Harborview Medical Center in the Chronic Fatigue, HIV, and International Refugee Clinics. He also worked for many years at the North Seattle Rehabilitation Facility, Cedar Hills Treatment Facility and Therapeutic Health Services providing acupuncture services to clients with mental health issues and drug and alchohol addiction. Jeff studied with Julian Scott, pediatric specialist and author of the book Acupuncture in the Treatment of Children, and Donna Carey, co-founder of the Acutonics Sound Healing System and the Kairos Institute of Sound Healing. Jeff continued his Qigong practice through the master level teacher training program with Madame Liu He and Dr. Liu Dong, Qigong Masters and founders of the Ling Gui International Healing Qigong School in Seattle, WA. Jeff's career in acupuncture and traditional medicine began after returning from the Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa, where he had contracted malaria. After many unsuccessful attempts to improve his health using Western treatments, it was a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbs that finally helped. Western herbs, homeopathy, Bach flower essences and yoga are other important components to Jeff's lifestyle and contribute greatly to his continued health and successful practice. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to assist the body in attaining its optimal level of health. The use of thin, sterilized and disposable needles on specific acupuncture points is a painless and effective method of healing a variety of health conditions. Needles are used to help move the body's energy or Qi (pronounced "chi") along specific meridians or pathways. Our bodies are in a constant struggle to maintain their equilibrium due to the nature of our modern-day lifestyle. Improper diet, emotional issues, stress, and insufficient exercise are some examples of the things that contribute to this imbalance. Acupuncture can rebalance your mind, body, and spirit to make you feel better. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute of Health (NIH), acupuncture (with or without moxibustion) may be effective in treating:
Moxibustion is another Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technique that may be used in an acupuncture treatment. Moxibustion involves the burning of the herb mugwort on specific points of the body. Often mugwort is placed on top of the needle or directly onto the skin. The penetration of heat on a localized point can have profound healing effects by increasing blood circulation to that area. This is an excellent way to alleviate pain and inflammation, and create wellness systemically. Research has shown that the use of moxibustion may increase white blood cell levels which strengthen the immune system. Acupuncture and moxibustion are very complimentary forms of treatment. Qigong is an ancient practice whose literal translation is "energy work." It is a type of meditation that can strengthen one's mind and body to promote mental stability, focus, and calm, as well as all of the physical aspects of one's being. Qigong can be practiced in private or in classes. There are many different styles and forms; some involve seated meditation while others may utilize specific movements to strengthen various organ systems. To attain true health, we must learn to create quiet and calm by temporarily removing our connection to outside stimuli. There is a saying that by closing the "five doors" (eyes, ears, and mouth) we can start to bring our focus to ourselves which will in turn open us to a greater connection with the universe and thus create significant healing. "Close the curtains (the eyelids) and see the lights inside." Some Qigong forms taught at Puget Sound Healing Arts include Five Animal Frolics, Six Sound Therapy, Eight Treasures, as well as two forms specifically taught by the Ling Gui International Healing Qigong School: 1000 Hands Buddha and Qigong of the White Crane. 1000 Hands Buddha is a beautiful and powerful seated meditation developed by the Liu family over several generations. It is great for controlling emotions and stimulating the brain. By using various hand movements called mudras, very specific areas of the brain are engaged to process any emotional imbalances. This practice allows us to open our heart, to eliminate fear and suffering, and find good health and happiness! White Crane Qigong is an amazing form with very simple yet elegant movements created specifically to strengthen our respiratory system and lungs. By moving our arms outward to the sky like a flying crane, we can increase oxygen levels to the brain and engage the heart to promote circulation. When the lung energy is strong, we have a strong immune system. This Qigong technique will help you regulate your breathing to maximize your lung capacity. Stress and emotional imbalance contracts the lungs when, in fact, we need them to expand and work more efficiently to help us to breathe. Tuina is a form of Chinese massage that uses a variety of unique techniques on specific acupuncture points to promote well-being. Clients remain fully clothed at all times, in direct contrast with the more familiar Western style massage. Qigong Tuina is a very special type of Tuina that requires increased training and relies on a higher level of intention and focus on the part of the practitioner. By using such depth of focus on very specific points, great healing benefits can be achieved. Small, gentle circles are often followed by shaking and pulling of points along acupuncture meridians. One example of Qigong Tuina offered at PSHA is the Turtle Qigong Tuina for the abdomen. In Taoist medicine, the abdomen is the center of our body and being and is therefore considered our "second brain." By working deeply on points on the back and then the abdomen, the client will move into a state of deep relaxation, enabling both the client and practitioner to identify things that otherwise may have been difficult to ascertain. As practitioner intention and focus is so strong during this type of treatment, both may receive information that will create greater healing results. Tuning forks are used as part of the Acutonics Healing System which employs sound and vibration instead of needles on specific acupuncture points. Sound therapy and music have been used for thousands of years for a variety of health benefits, and research has shown that our bodies react to sound on a cellular level. Varying in size and frequency, several different tuning forks are used alone or in combination during treatment to achieve quite profound results. This healing modality works remarkably well for respiratory issues (e.g. sinus pain, cough), insomnia (sleep disturbances), and pain relief. Links to other resources Ling Gui International Healing Qigong School National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine National Acupuncture Detoxification Association National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine |