TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine
How does a TCM treatment work?
After a detailed TCM assessment about your current concerns, your medical history, workload, mental condition, as well as your dietary, digestion and sleep habits, I then use various diagnostic criteria such as tongue and pulse diagnosis.
Only the combination of these individual components provides me with a holistic picture in order to create a treatment tailored specifically to you. The treatment may subsequently consist solely of acupuncture, but can also be combined with Tui Na and other TCM methods.
As we progress, we will review your treatment plan together and may also address new nutritional approaches. If you wish, I can provide you with Qigong exercises and mycotherapeutical suggestions that you can easily integrate into your daily routine, supporting your body and enhancing your vitality.
What should be considered before a TCM treatment?
As TCM practitioners, we appreciate it if you do not use a tongue scraper on the day of the treatment, as the coating and its characteristics provide us with many indications for our TCM diagnosis. Coffee, blueberries, or other strongly coloring foods may also mask the color of the tongue and its coating.
If you are unsure whether you can attend your appointment while having a cold or other existing symptoms, feel free to call me and we will clarify together whether your condition allows you to come in for treatment. Normally, there is no reason against it – on the contrary, TCM is particularly helpful for acute conditions and supports your recovery in the further course.
What should be considered after a TCM treatment?
After your treatment, allow yourself rest and relaxation, as you may experience a feeling of tiredness. Please avoid planning intense sports activities or activities involving extreme temperature differences such as sauna sessions, Bikram yoga, ice-cold showers, cold plunges or hot baths.
Drinks such as coffee, black tea, matcha, or alcohol should preferably be avoided direct after the treatment, as your body needs time to regenerate. Take it easy for the rest of the day, prepare yourself a warm favorite meal, and make sure to drink enough fluids.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture is an evidence-based and effective treatment method, as demonstrated by numerous international scientific studies and articles over the past 20 years.[1]
To understand how acupuncture works, it is necessary to consider biochemical processes in the body and the influence of acupuncture on the autonomic nervous system. When an acupuncture point is needled, it stimulates the nerves in the immediate area. These nerves can then trigger the release of various hormones and chemical substances such as neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters transmit signals between nerve cells in the body and regulate a wide range of bodily functions. This can lead to various physical changes, such as stress reduction, improved digestion, and enhanced immune function. In addition, very positive results have been observed in pain management – particularly in postoperative pain, in managing side effects of chemotherapy (nausea/vomiting), and in complementary therapy for patients trying to conceive.
Does acupuncture treatment cause pain?
During acupuncture treatment, you may feel a slight tingling sensation after the brief insertion of the needle, which gradually diminishes and eventually disappears. Many patients then report a pleasant feeling of heaviness and relaxation. Some even feel the urge to fall asleep during the resting phase – such is the relaxing effect of the needles.
If you still feel anxious about needles before your first treatment, we can start with only 1–2 needles to help you become familiar with the sensation, or begin with a Tui Na session instead. As a rule, the needles remain in place for about 20 to 30 minutes in adults. For children, they are used only for a few seconds to minutes. For babies and young children, we can also work with Vaccaria seeds, which are applied to the skin. At home, these seeds can be gently stimulated repeatedly by the children themselves or by their parents.
Areas of Application
TCM has a very broad spectrum of treatments and covers both acute and chronic conditions. An important aspect, however, is the prevention of illness and the maintenance of mental and physical health. In 2019, the WHO decided to include TCM in the ICD-11 catalog, which came into effect in January 2022. TCM is considered a complementary form of therapy alongside conventional medicine. Below you will find a selection of the most important areas of application:
01.
Respiratory conditions
Sinusitis, asthma, rhinitis, cough, post-COVID
02.
Allergies and
skin conditions
Hay fever, atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis,
shingles (non-acute and as a complementary treatment
to conventional medicine), acne, vitiligo, rosacea, lichen sclerosus
03.
Ophthalmology
Age-related and genetic macular degeneration (AMD and Best’s disease),
dry eyes (sicca syndrome), allergic conjunctivitis, styes, watery eyes, myopia
04.
Digestive system
disorders
Gastritis, heartburn, flatulence, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease,
Colitis ulcerosa, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, constipation,
celiac disease, hemorrhoids, loss of appetite
05.
Musculoskeletal
conditions
Shoulder, back and neck pain, lumbago, osteoarthritis, arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gout, rheumatic complaints, tendinitis, neuralgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, impingement syndrome, hip osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis, pain in fingers and hands in Raynaud’s syndrome, fibromyalgia
06.
Heart and
circulation
Circulatory disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension,
hypotension, dizziness, risk of stroke
07.
Hormonal system
Support for diabetes, support for thyroid issues,
PCOS (see also Gynecology)
08.
Gynecology and
pregnancy
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), painful or irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, adenomyosis, menopausal symptoms, mastopathy, fertility support (for IVF/ICSI treatment), prenatal care (hyperemesis gravidarum, birth preparation), postpartum care
09.
Neurological
conditions
Headaches, migraines, sciatica, tinnitus, dizziness, carpal tunnel syndrome, post-whiplash symptoms, trigeminal neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, peripheral neuropathy, post-stroke symptoms, restless leg syndrome (RLS), complementary therapy for multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, early treatment of facial paralysis
10.
Urogenital
conditions
Bladder infections, prostatitis, urinary incontinence,
urge incontinence, irritable bladder
11.
Other treatment areas
Nervousness, inner restlessness, irritability, depressive moods (short-term), sleep disorders, exhaustion, fertility disorders, support in chronic illness, support during chemotherapy (nausea/vomiting), support for high-performance athletes, rehabilitation after surgery/injury, support for addiction issues such as smoking cessation
Treatment costs & health insurance
Initial consultation (90 min)
CHF 225
Follow-up consultation (60 min)
CHF 150
Facial acupuncture (60 min)
Body acupuncture rate (follow-up consultation) + CHF 40
Short initial consultation for Facial acupuncture with treatment plan (approx. 15 min) by phone / video call / in practice
Free of charge
Appointments must be canceled at least 24 hours in advance so they can be reassigned. Missed appointments may be charged.
Please allow at least 90 minutes for your first TCM appointment to ensure a comprehensive consultation, diagnosis, and treatment. Based on the diagnosis, treatment may consist of a combination of different methods (Tui Na, moxibustion, Gua Sha). As a rule, 5–9 treatments may be required for acute conditions, while chronic conditions often require more sessions.
As a registered therapist with the EMR (Experiential Medicine Register), treatment costs are partially covered by supplementary health insurance for complementary medicine. As reimbursement varies between insurers, it is recommended to clarify coverage with your health insurance provider before starting treatment.
You are also welcome to book an appointment directly as a self-paying patient without a medical prescription.