Treatment Philosophy
Here at Mokuti Medical Arts, we are committed to bridging excellent care to quality of life for our patients
Our treatments are rooted in Classical Chinese Medicine, a practical medical system that has evolved over the past 3000 years, with which we treat the whole human being: mind, body, and spirit.
As it is a holistic health care system, Classical Chinese Medicine can address a variety of health issues from acute injuries to chronic illnesses
Our treatment approach is to gently remove excess and regulate where there are blockages or impediments, then nourish the areas that need support. We do this as gently and non-invasively as possible so the inherent drive for balance may reestablish itself and allow greater health to flourish.
The most important principle that we adhere to is recognizing that your body has an inherent capacity to regain a healthy state, and the role of the practitioner is to support and attempt to remove obstacles to that process.
3 Factors that Influence Your Health
Genetics
Your genetic inheritance provides you with the starting resources in your life, which are then molded by your environment.
Environment
This could be your climate, geography, diet, and emotional environment in which you are exposed. The early years of your life have the greatest impact on how you express yourself in mind, body, and spirit.
Perception
This is your internal world and how you interpret your environment.
Your health and well-being are influenced by how you engage the world and how you perceive the world
For example, with an autoimmune disease, we would look at how you related to yourself before the illness, when the illness began and progressed, through to the present. We believe the illness may be shaped by environment, climate, diet, pollutants, friend and family relationships, traumas, unexpected events, personal beliefs, and/or the lens through which you see the world.
The modalities we use to promote the shifts necessary to achieve health include Medical Qigong, Acupuncture, Diet and Lifestyle recommendations, Herbal Therapy, and Qigong Tuina bodywork. We determine what modalities to use based on your individual situation and history.
As each presentation is unique, we draw from the various modalities for what best fits your needs in the moment
Treatment may include a combination of qigong table work, acupuncture needles and gentle bodywork. You may then be provided with qigong exercises, herbal prescriptions, and/or dietary and lifestyle suggestions to support your recovery.
The most important principle that we adhere to is recognizing that your body has an inherent capacity to regain a healthy state, and the role of the practitioner is to support and attempt to remove obstacles to that process. With that in mind, to effect a change to better health, the client has to make necessary changes in their life to remove or minimize the causes of disharmony. There will be certain expectations that the client may have to modify their lifestyle which may include specific qigong and meditation practices, changes to their dietary habits, and change how they relate to people and manage their stress.
Code of Conduct
- I promise to follow the way of the Great Physician.
- I will strive to live in harmony with nature, and teach my patients to do the same.
- I will stay calm and completely committed when treating patients.
- I will not give way to personal wishes and desires, but above all else hold and nurture a deep feeling of compassion.
- I will be devoted to the task of saving the sacred spark of life in every creature that still carries it.
- I will strive to maintain a clear mind and am willing to hold myself to the highest standards*.
- It will be my duty to diagnose sufferings and support harmony and wellness of physical, energetic, and spiritual bodies.
- I will not be boastful about my skills nor driven by greed for material things.
- Above all, I will keep an open heart.
- As I move on the right path I will receive great happiness and reward as I see my patients doing likewise.
- Personal cultivation
- Developing greater qi skills
- Gaining deeper understanding of principles of Chinese medicine
- Professional conduct throughout each day
—Based on The Great Physician, by Sun Si Miao
*Highest Standards:
What to expect
A session usually is about 75 minutes in which we initially discuss health history, presenting symptoms, and the underlying aspects of the current life situation. Then the practitioner will do an assessment, feel the client’s pulses and palpate the landscape of the body, making a determination of the optimal combination of modalities to remedy the health issue.
During a treatment the client will lie on the table, generally fully clothed unless working on a specific area such as the lower back that requires clothing adjustment. The safety and comfort of the client is of utmost importance and with open communication, these boundaries will be maintained and honored. After the treatment, the practitioner will provide lifestyle suggestions, and possible herbal, qigong or meditation prescriptions that are specifically tailored to the particular situation and that the client can incorporate into their daily life.
In the end only the individual has the capacity to change their life situation and heal. The practitioner can only facilitate and support this process…as Lao Zi, the author of the Dao De Jing states, “a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step,” so we invite you to start your journey to better health Right Now!
How to schedule an appointment
Initial appointment
For your initial appointment, please call (503) 892-5160. If you would like to use your medical insurance for your appointment, please have your insurance card available when you call.
Most medical insurance plans and PIP will cover complimentary care. *Please be advised that we use medical liens for personal injury claims.
Follow-up appointment
To schedule a follow-up appointment, please choose from the following:
- Call (503) 892-5160
- Email mary@mokuti.net
- Text (503) 753-7442
Medical Qigong
"Qi" means vital force, "gong" means discipline.
Qigong is the oldest modality of Chinese Medicine, from which the other treatment modalities evolved. Within this modality, the practitioner manipulates the vital force within your body to nourish and regulate its proper functions, and create greater balance within your mind and body. The practitioner uses either gentle touch or works off of the body to engage its energies.
One may experience physical sensations of tingling, throbbing, hot and cold movements, heaviness, or lightness. Some may experience colors or flashes of light with their inner vision. Furthermore, a variety of emotional releases may occur during or after the session.
Medical Qigong is a powerful modality for all recovery processes and can support your recovery from chronic illness, pain, autoimmune disorders, emotional traumas, cancer, and stroke. As with all Chinese medicine modalities, it enhances the healthy functioning of the body, and therefore, the overall health of the person.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the fastest growing complimentary modality, both worldwide and in the US. In acupuncture, we use thin sterile single-use needles that are inserted at specific points along the body to affect the energy flows within the body.
Other tools we use include vacuum cups and moxibustion to further effect the physiology of your body. Cupping is used to loosen up the soft tissues within the body in order to allow for greater circulation and the removal of waste products. Moxibustion is the burning of herbs near the skin to create a distinctive heat that penetrates deep within the tissues to facilitate greater nourishment.
In general, you may feel a slight prick during needle insertion, and as the needles are being manipulated you may have dull achy sensations along the pathway of the acupuncture channel. Depending on the congestion within the tissues, there may be more pain as the tissues are being regulated. Of course, your comfort level will be honored at all times and open communication with the practitioner will keep this type of discomfort to a minimum. If you are uncomfortable with needles, there are other modalities we can employ to provide the same benefits.
Acupuncture is beneficial for structural issues, such as low back pain, and injury recovery, as well as digestive disorders, auto immune diseases, migraines, and fertility. The World Health Organization lists over 100 disorders that may find relief with acupuncture (pdf ).
Qigong Tuina
Qigong Tuina uses gentle to deep touch to regulate the vital force within the tissues. The focus of this modality is to allow tissues to regain their natural movement, which facilitates greater health. In Chinese medicine there is a notion that ill health starts with a congestion around joints and parts of our body that are taxed by improper body alignments which is prevalent due to office/computer work and poor postural habits.
Generally, you might experience a loosening or opening in the tissues. As structures relax, you may experience temporary aches. If there are scar tissues and adhesions, you may have greater discomfort as those tissues are being rehabilitated. Many disorders have their basis in misaligned structures, so this modality may not seem appropriate, but can be extremely effective in supporting recovery.
Tuina can support chronic pain management, organ diseases, spinal problems, as well as nerve and circulation issues.
Diet & Lifestyle
An important aspect of Chinese Medicine is self-care. There are many simple and effective ways to modify your lifestyle, such as dietary habits, sleep, exercise, and aligning yourself with seasonal changes in order to maximize your health and quality of life.
Part of treatment is an assessment and recommendation on how to incorporate these principles into your daily life. These principles are generally simple, easily incorporated into your life, and are based on the law of moderation.
In our culture, we have a tendency to push and strive to our limits, which leaves us exhausted and causes wear and tear that we will feel in the latter years of life. So trying to incorporate this law of moderation will provide a sustainable way of maintaining energy and vitality and prevent premature aging and undue stress.
Herbal Remedies
Chinese medicine has a long history of using herbal decoctions to treat a multitude of diseases. Generally, we use it for more acute or dire situations, because in most other situations the body’s own resources are preferable for regaining health.
If we feel herbals are appropriate, we prescribe tinctures, granules, or capsules. The herbs that we use are harvested with great care to maximize potency as well as minimize contaminants.
The power of herbal medicine lies in the combination of various herbs, and although they may taste bitter and earthy, these combinations can swiftly rebalance body functions and allow for faster recovery.