Blog

Why Chinese Herbs

During your time at MCA your acupuncturist might have brought up adding Chinese Herbs to your treatments. Why? The simplest answer is, sometimes acupuncture isn’t the only or best way to address various health concerns.

Chinese herbs are the medicine that makes Traditional Chinese Medicine (or TCM as it is commonly referred to) a complete system of healthcare. It is the yin to the yang of acupuncture. There are thousands of traditional formulas of herbs, all of them based on a system of understanding that combines taste (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, & bland) and temperature (cold, warm, hot) of a plant material (leaves, twigs, bark, roots) to create a desired effect on the chemistry of the body. An easy analogy for Chinese herbs is food. We eat certain foods to have certain effects inside the body. For example, lemons are bitter and sour and create the pucker that helps to create saliva, while bone broths would be considered sweet and bland and help to repair tissue after illness. Chinese herbs are used to help the body to repair itself over time instead of masking the symptoms like an over the counter medication would.

Chinese herbs can be used to address a variety of symptoms and conditions. They are not recommended for everyone, especially those on certain medications like blood thinners, but in the right circumstance herbs can help improve conditions faster than acupuncture alone. At MCA we like to use acupuncture first and then add herbs as needed (or desired) on a patient by patient basis. All of our acupuncturists are board certified in Chinese Herbology, and during their training spent many hours studying Chinese herbs and formulas. All of the Chinese herbs at MCA are tested for safety and efficacy, and come as a pill similar to a supplement. We carry a wide array of formulas that address everything from constipation and menstrual issues to the common cold and sinus congestion. Chinese herbs range in price, and can cost anywhere from $10-15 for a two week supply.

So the next time you see your acupuncturist, ask how Chinese herbs could benefit you!

Milwaukee Community Acupuncture is pleased to announce that we will be expanding our treatment room area this summer! If you have been in on a busy evening or a Saturday lately, you have probably noticed that our room is filling up and chair options are limited. We recently had the opportunity to absorb another small room that is located right next to our small back room. Our plan is to bring down some of the walls in this area to make it more cohesive and offer a better flow throughout the treatment area. With more chairs in our space we will be able to continue to be flexible with time, letting each patient rest as long as they would like. We are also planning on adding an additional lift chair for patients who need a little assistance getting in and out of a recliner.

We plan on starting construction for this project this summer but don't worry, most of the work will take place around our regular hours so we don't anticipate much of an interruption to our schedule.

MCA is sustained by a high volume of low cost payments and we are hoping to raise a portion of the funds needed to complete our construction project and furnish our new area with the same idea, by our community! Please consider making a small (or large) tax deductible donation to help - we have several ways you can donate:

At the Reception desk
When you checkout consider adding an extra $1-5 that will go towards the project

On our Website
Our online store now has donation amounts between $5-$50. http://milwaukeecommunityacupuncture.org/gift-cards
Donate your Stuff
If you have extra recliners in good working condition or small tables or end tables please consider donating them to make the new space more cozy.

Buy Raffle Tickets
We are organizing a raffle with great prizes, stay tuned!

Clinic Updates!

Donate to MCA

Donations to MCA help fund our pay-it-forward program and are tax deductible. For every $20 donated to MCA, we will give 1 free acupuncture treatment to a community member.

New Patients

Please call to schedule your first visit. You will be able to schedule subsequent appointments online.

Acupuncture for Veterans

MCA is a Community Care Network provider through the VA. Veterans can request a referral from the VA and receive acupuncture treatments at no cost to them with an active referral.

COVID-19 Appointment Guidelines & Illness Guidelines

Masking is optional

We provide surgical and KN95 masks at the front desk free of charge

Patients can request that their acupuncturist wear a mask while treating them

Please reschedule if…

You feel ill or have any symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, or new loss of taste or smell. Even if you have tested negative, please wait until your symptoms have subsided to come in for an appointment.

You currently have allergies and can’t control coughing or sneezing.

At your appointment:

Check in with the receptionist.

If you are new to our clinic, please fill out our online paperwork before your appointment time or arrive early to fill it out in the office.

Pay for your appointment before heading back to the treatment room.

Sliding scale is $20-$50.

Enter treatment room, choose a chair with a Ready sign in the seat.

Blog

MCA Clinic Expansion Fundraiser

Milwaukee Community Acupuncture

Clinic Updates!

Donate to MCA

New Patients

Acupuncture for Veterans

COVID-19 Appointment Guidelines & Illness Guidelines

At your appointment:

Hours

Sign up for our mailing list:

Contact