Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
What is Classical Chinese Medicine?


Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) represents one of humanity’s richest uninterrupted streams of traditional knowledge. It is a highly sophisticated clinical system that offers a real alternative for the serious health care needs of our time. Classical Chinese Medicine is rooted in an ancient tradition that has evolved over the past two thousand years, whereas Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was created in the mid-20th century in China. TCM has standardized therapies based on symptoms, which is beneficial for doing studies that show efficacy. However, Classical Chinese Medicine is much more useful in clinical practice since it respects the complex, individualized nature of each patient and seeks to identify the root cause of symptoms. Classical Chinese Medicine sees the body and mind as a fluid, ever-changing system with all its parts connected to one another. Although Americans generally perceive Chinese medicine as simply acupuncture, Classical Chinese Medicine uses a variety of modalities to treat patients; including the applications of Acupuncture, Qigong therapies, Asian Bodywork and Manual therapies (such as cupping, gua sha, and moxibustion), Chinese Herbology, plus Chinese Nutrition and Lifestyle counseling. The primary distinguishing feature of Classical Chinese Medicine is its way of thinking—why and when and how does one chose to apply a therapeutic modality, rather than insisting that the use of acupuncture alone defines a practitioner of the classical art of Chinese medicine.Chinese medicine is a complete system of medicine with its own forms of diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and therapies. Classical Chinese Medicine embraces the ancient spirit of utilizing time-honored modes of holistic thought in an ever changing space-time environment; thus honoring the whole person, their movement through life, and their connection with the greater evolution of all life.

Cupping Therapy
An ancient Chinese method of clearing local congestion, stagnation, and toxicity within the body. Cupping is a very effective form of physical and emotional release. The cups can impact the body’s processes deeply into the tissues, allowing the release of toxins, activating the lymphatic system, removing stagnation, and encouraging the flow of new blood and body fluids, as well as qi. Cupping is useful, safe, and can be added to any modality of treatment, for many indications, to enhance the results. Because of it’s unique use of negative pressure, cupping can often have an incredible impact in the healing process.
Gua Sha
Gua sha (Chinese: 刮痧; pinyin: guā shā), meaning “Raking Sand“, is a traditional Chinese medical treatment in which the superficial layers of tissue in an injured or blocked area of the body, are scraped with a porcelain spoon, to alleviate qi and fluid stagnation, open the pores, and eliminate harmful pathogenic factors from the body. This often produces sha, a raised red area of the skin. Gua sha ultimately releases unhealthy elements from injured areas and stimulates fresh qi and blood flow, producing a profound healing potential.


Qi Gong
Qi Gong classes incorporate the four basic branches of Taoist Qi Gong philosophy:
- Dao Yin – Movement meditation for storage and circulation of Qi within the body. Tai Ji Chuan is a well known form of Dao Yin Qi Gong, and taught regularly in Qi Gong.
- Tu Na – Focuses on breath-work to release turbid Qi from the body. This method refreshes the body with pure, clear Qi from the universe, by bringing awareness and intention to the breath.
- Nei Dan – The practice of internal alchemy. The microcosmic orbit is one powerful meditation form from this tradition. It often involves using the “imagination” to develop our “inner screen,” so that we might visualize and guide qi through all the layers of the body, for optimal health and awareness of our internal world. A practice greatly needed in today’s externally focused western culture.
- Chan – This is a sitting form of meditation where all is purified and nothing exists. This practice promotes stability and the ability to center within ones deepest self. It is equivalent to the Zen practices of Japan.
“Qi Gong is essentially a philosophy for living life with mindfulness, creating an awareness of the present that leads to better understanding of ourselves, others, and the world in which we live. It is the bridge that brings us back into harmony with nature and with practice, Qi Gong is as large as the universe and full of surprises.”
~Master Liu He
About Qi Gong
Sometimes, Qigong is referred to as Chinese Yoga; and, there are many similarities between the two. Qigong is a philosophy of life that fosters wisdom, well-being and harmonious living. The physical aspect of Qigong involves regular practice of one or more Qigong method, a combination of movement, breathing, and meditation, which brings focus and awareness to the energy systems and internal processes of the mind/body.
In Chinese philosophy, the word Qi loosely translates to energy. Qi is energetic potential, movement and manifestation. It is the vital force that helps sustain all life. Gong translates into cultivation or work via discipline. Qi Gong may be interpreted as energy cultivation, but this is still a simple understanding. Qi Gong practice facilitates both healing and the prevention of disease. The natural result of Qi cultivation, conservation and circulation is simply good physical and mental health. Qi Gong is a healing modality that helps to open the awareness of Qi flow in the body. It will help to stabilize not only the mental/emotional axis, but also the alignment of the spiritual and physical self. A consistent Qi Gong practice facilitates holistic balance within us and with the greater universe at large.
Qi Gong Class Forms and Meditation
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Basic Qi Gong
1,000 Hands Buddha
Jade Woman
Qi Gong
Dao Yin Wu Wei
Xi Xi Hu
(Walking Qi Gong)
Eight Treasures Qi Gong
(Ba Duan Jin)
Dai Mai Qi Gong
Liver Cleansing Qi Gong
Yuan Shen
Qi Gong
Nie Yang Gong (1&2)
Heart of Crane Qi Gong
Self Massage
Our Chinese Medicine Practitioners
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Elixir: A Wellness Collective
2146 NE 4th St #160
Bend, OR 97701
541.306.4471 phone
541.566.7493 fax
[email protected]
ElixirBend.com
Hours:
9am-6pm Monday-Thursday
9am-2pm Friday
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