on parking.

(finding parking according to mobility, time constraints, and money)

​

we are located inside of the Harmon, on the corner of South 21st Street & Pacific Avenue, in the heart of the University of Washington campus. street level parking on Pacific is sanctioned by the city. metered parking is $1/per hour with a 0.25 minimum, with a maximum time ranging from 90 minutes to 2 hours. on-street parking is FREE every sunday. more information can be found at: 

​​

​

​

• if mobility is an issue for you, the Harmon is completely ADA accessible, entering from the ground level on Pacific Avenue. take the elevators up to the 3rd floor, our suite is located just outside of the elevators.

• if time constraints are an issue for you, parking can be found behind the building in a public UW Cragle parking lot. their rates are a bit spendier: Monday to Saturday | 0 - 1 hour = $1.50 | 1 - 3 hours = $4.50 | Free parking on Sundays and Holidays. click on the VW van on the map for UW's parking rules. ***currently the UW Cragle lot only has a very small lot due to recent Milgard building addition***

• alternatively, there is also the Washington State History Museum's parking lot that is just across Pacific Avenue. 

• if finding change is an issue, parking is free in any of the alleyways between adjacent streets. when school is in session, it's difficult to find parking but sometimes there's luck in the alleyway of (big blue) 7 Seas Brewery, off of S 21st going west from the Harmon toward Jefferson street, on the south side of the street. it is a one-way, so you would have to drive in front of the hotel and access it over the railroad tracks. also, any of the streets parallel to Pacific such as Court D, Fawcett and Tacoma Avenue all are free, with 90 minute maximum FREE parking on 21st street. bring your walking shoes and on rainier months, your umbrella!

​

​

on acupuncture.

​

How does Acupuncture work?

​

​Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine wires (needles) into specific spots to stimulate the body to heal itself. Traditional explanations of acupuncture involve its effect on improving the flow of qi (‘vital air/energy’ and referred to as ki by the Japanese) and on balancing Yin and Yang, a paradigm of health and disease that maps very closely to the Western concept of homeostasis. By stimulating specific points on the body with heat, pressure, or very fine needles, acupuncture practitioners are able to restore healthy function, thus resolving symptoms and reversing disease. (acunow.org)

​

The Practice of Acupuncture.

​

From its ancient roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine, modern acupuncture now finds itself used in a diverse set of healthcare contexts. Acupuncture is now used by physiotherapists and chiropractors to treat musculoskeletal pain, by medical doctors to treat migraines and nausea, by midwives to assist with births, by the U.S. Military to aid in the safe transport of wounded soldiers and by drug and alcohol support workers to help treat addiction. Many different styles of practice and traditions exist, including TCM, Five Elements, Japanese acupuncture, Stems & Branches, Western Medical Acupuncture and many others. Because it is so safe when practiced by qualified practitioners and it uses the body’s own healing mechanisms, it lends itself to inclusion in a diverse array of healthcare contexts. (acunow.org)

​

What is Electro-Acupuncture?

​

Electro-acupuncture is the stimulation of acupuncture points with electric current, using needles.  The therapeutic goal is to promote the circulation of Qi and stimulate healing.

From a Western medicine perspective, electro-acupuncture works by stimulating muscles, nerves, circulation of essential substances, nutrient delivery to damaged tissues, and by removing inflammatory chemicals.

​

How is it different from manual acupuncture?

​

With manual acupuncture, stimulation is brief and intermittent, only low frequency is possible, and strong manipulation risks tissue damage.  Using electro-acupuncture, the patient can receive continuous stimulation for the duration of the treatment and the frequency of stimulation can be significantly higher (Van Laethem, 2018).

The effects of electro-acupuncture, in some situations, can be faster and greater than manual acupuncture, and electro-acupuncture can be used for conditions that are not responding to traditional treatment – both acute and chronic (Van Laethem, 2018). (TCM Academy)

​

When should electro-acupuncture be used?

​

While electro-acupuncture can be used for a wide variety of conditions, it is especially good in the treatment of neurological diseases, chronic pain, spasms, and paralysis (Dharmandanda, 2018). However, there are many variables to consider since the physiological response varies based on the EA device and the settings used. (TCM Academy)

 

When should electro-acupuncture be avoided?

​

There are some situations where electro-acupuncture is inappropriate, such as in patients with pace-makers, epilepsy, heart conditions, active hemorrhage, fever, infection, or in pregnancy (Van Laethem, 2018). (TCM Academy)

​

What to consider before using electro-acupuncture…

​

It is important to consider the depth and angle of insertion because muscle contraction can cause movement of the needle.  The current should also not pass across the chest, to avoid cardiac incidents (Cummings, 2011).

The intensity, frequency, mode of delivery and pulse width can create different physiological responses, so it is important to understand how to properly use this valuable tool. (TCM Academy)

​

What is Laser Acupuncture Therapy?

​

Laser Acupuncture is a form of Laser Therapy that has the added benefits of treating the whole body in addition to the site of injury and/or pain. The National Institiue of Health (NIH) defines Laser Acupuncture as the use of low-level laser beam instead of an acupuncture needle to stimulate an acupuncture point.

​

How Do Therapeutic Lasers Work?

​

Therapeutic medical lasers heal tissue ailments by "injecting" billions of photons of visible and/or invisible laser light deep into tissue structures. Tissue naturally contains protein strands called chromosphores and cytochromes located in the mitochondria of a cell, which have the unique ability to absorb laser light energy and transform it into chemical energy for the cell. This chemical energy is utilized by the tissue to significantly accelerate the healing process and reduce pain in the body naturally.

​

How Long Have Lasers Been In Clinical Use?

 

Medical Lasers have been in clinical use since 1960. What most people don’t know is that there are different types of lasers, and the lasers used for Laser Therapy/Laser Acupuncture are known as “Low Level Laser”, “Low Intensity Laser”, or “Photo-bio-stimulation laser”. The type of laser used for Laser Therapy/Laser Acupuncture is different than lasers used in surgery, dentistry or even hair removal.

 

Does Laser Therapy/Laser Acupuncture Hurt?

 

Laser Therapy/Laser Acupuncture is painless. It is non-thermal (does not heat up) and it does not pierce the skin like needle acupuncture.

 

What Are Some Of The Benefits of Laser Therapy?

 

Laser therapy may:

• Reduce Healing Time and Eliminate or Reduce Pain

• Restore Normal Range of Motion

• Enhance the Immune System

• Reduce the Need for Surgery

Laser therapy is:

• Non-Toxic and Non-Invasive

• No Side Effects or Pain

• Safe

 

What Are The Biological Effects Of Laser Therapy?

 

• Anti-Inflammatory - Laser light reduces swelling caused by bruising or inflammation of joints to give enhanced joint mobility.

• Increased Vascular Activity – Laser light induces temporary vasodilation (increasing blood flow to damaged areas).

• Stimulated Nerve Function – Slow recovery of nerve function in damaged tissue can result in “dead” limbs or numb areas. Laser light speeds the process of nerve call reconnection to bring the numb areas back to life.

• Faster Wound Healing – Laser light stimulates fibroblast development and accelerates collagen synthesis in damaged tissue.

• Increased Metabolic Activity – Higher outputs of specific enzymes; greater oxygen and food particle loads for blood cells and thus greater production of the basic food source for all cells, Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP).

• Rapid Cell Growth – Laser light accelerates cellular reproduction and growth.

• Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation – Laser light reduces the formation of scar tissue following tissue damage from cuts, scratches, burns or post-surgery.

​

on sound & vibration.

​

​

​

Sound has been used as a healing or calming tool for thousands of years. Tibetan singing bowls have been used throughout Asia for thousands of years in prayer and meditation, and are now used to promote relaxation and wellbeing. There are bowls that are also made out of quartz crystals that radiate a perfect tone by creating friction on the outer portion of the bowl, with a mallet. 

​

Tuning Forks are a gentle, non-invasive acoustic therapy. This sound and vibrational therapy uses solfeggio tuning to help balance the energy of your body. Solfeggio tuning is a vibrational frequency that aids in moving energy, removing energy blocks, and increasing energy flow. As a result, Tuning Forks may help reduce pain, increase circulation, balance emotions, and increase overall energy.

​

Sound therapy is said to help not only physical illness, but also help balance the emotions and quieten a busy mind. Most people feel calm and relaxed following treatment. For some, this feeling will last several days. The inaudible undertones and overtones create an acoustic vibration your body receives which promotes a corrective function within your body. By moving along specific energy centers, the tones can help smooth out the incoherent patterns to restore a more balanced harmonious state of being. It is helpful to find the resonant frequencies that create the strongest reaction, and to continue working with this frequency outside of the session.

​

We all have our own resonant frequency and sound signature that are unique to our constitution and was given to us at birth. In some cultures, it is believed that we are born with our own unique song. Part of the vibrational therapy is to piece these harmonies back together, especially if they have become discordant throughout time. 

​

​