Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches that internal "disharmonies" within the body's organs and systems can create symptoms of ill health. As a TCM practitioner, I look for patterns* that describe the specific internal disharmony that the patient is suffering from and I focus on treating those patterns. The TCM diagnostic systems exist to help TCM practitioners discover the patterns of illness and the treatments we prescribe are created to affect those patterns.

Patient participation is considered to be a very important part of the healing process. TCM teaches that the healing process is "seven parts proper diet and lifestyle and three parts medicine" so education is an important part of my practice. I emphasize the importance of diet, exercise, and deep relaxation (TCM's "three free therapies") so that my patients will be able to take care of their own health.

My own health is greatly enhanced when I exercise regularly. I recommend to all my patients that they create a fun, daily, exercise practice (internal and external). A consistent daily exercise practice promotes longevity by strengthening the internal organs and the immune system.

* pattern (zheng): "a manifestation of human illness indicating the nature, location, or cause of sickness. A disease may take the form of different patterns." From A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine by Wiseman and Feng.