Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on the philosophy that each person is a seamless unity of body, mind and spirit. This unity is a reflection of, and is dependent upon the natural world and external conditions in which it exists. We acknowledge this connection by conducting an evaluation and examination that go far beyond one's basic medical history. By doing so, we get to know and treat the whole person, not just the symptoms of the illness. At Heart & soul Institute, the patient's whole being is closely observed, allowing us to design a specific treatment program that is tailored to the patient's unique clinical profile.

At Heart & Soul Institute, one of the primary holistic modalities used is acupuncture. This involves the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific points. Acupuncture needles, unlike hypodermics, are ultra-thin and flexible, thereby permitting a nearly painless insertion. TCM views the body as an intricate system of organs connected by pathways known as meridians. These pathways carry life force energy, or qi. When the flow of qi is blocked or disrupted, pain and illness are the result.

Acupuncture restores the smooth flow of qi. As this flow of qi returns to normal, health and well-being are gradually restored.

At Heart & Soul Institute, herbal preparations and other supplements are often used as a treatment modality. For thousands of years, holistic practitioners have known of and employed a vast array of herbs with exceptional medicinal properties. Western pharmacology is now beginning to acknowledge these natural counterparts: aspirin from willow bark, penicillin from fungus, digitalis from foxglove. Herbal formulas are extremely effective in unblocking stagnations and in fortifying the internal organs, and, when used properly, act without the harmful side effects of many processed pharmaceuticals. Herbs may be prescribed in the form of teas, powders, capsules, pills, tinctures, creams, syrups or plasters.