By utilizing the 4 Basic Examinations (explained below) to determine an overall pattern of disharmony that is unique to the patient/client, taking into account emotional temperament, body and mind constitution and seasonal influences.

• Questioning: about the signs and symptoms, medical history, course of disease, family history etc. As a Doctor. or E. Asian Medicine, I will often look for patterns in unique and surprising ways in order to make a correct diagnosis and restore balance. Dr. Loop is also very intuitive and holistic in making connections.
• Inspection: visual inspection of face, body, abdomen, ears, tongue and coating, including physical and energetic.
• Listening: to voice, breathing, smelling odors, assessing aura or other color imbalances an a physical and energetic level. Noticing excretions and colors and odors etc.

Palpation: This is an important way that Dr. Loop assesses imbalances due to his background and experience as an intuitive bodyworker for over 20 years.

Examination of the pulse at both wrists and other key areas of the body is a detailed and complex diagnostic in which Dr. Loop has engaged extensive post-doctoral study. Furthermore, palpation of key diagnostic points, muscle and fascial planes, meridians or channelsk abdominal/hara diagnosis and functionality and movement capacity of body parts.

1. Acupuncture, electroacupuncture, Auricular and Scalp Acupuncture, Japanese Styles like Ishizaka Ryu Traditional Acupuncture (non – invasive and/or minimially invasive very thin needles for children, senstive or needle phobic patients)
2. Herbal Medcine: Prepared patents or custom formulation
3. Moxibustion: mugwort, herbal pastes, poutices of different type and quality to move qi and blood, tonify and restore.
4. Gua Sha or Scrapping the channels, tissues or points with crystal, stones or other materials to move qi, disperse, tonify or create balance and harmonize
5. Massage, Bodywork, Tui Na, Sotai or other Asian techniques to move qi, restore systemic balance.
6. Cupping: Fire cupping, Bleeding Cupping, Regular or Tonifying.
7. Dietary Therapy: utilization of cleansing and healing foods and energetics
8. Energetic, Movement Therapies like Tai Qi or Qi Gong for energy healing, breath modulation and culitvation of Spirit and promote the free flow of Qi.

Chinese Medical Herbalism is based on “Individualized Pattern Diagnosis” as well as a “Disease Diagnosis” according to the overall, principles, philosophy and theories within Chinese Medicine that have evolved over centuries. Indeed, these “pattern based” formulas are evidence-based and documented in a plethora of medical canons and physician lineage traditions passed down through the millennia.  This incredibly unique and complex method of prescribing and formulating herbs also uniquely takes into account the patient/client’s emotional temperament, mental proclivity and body constitution in addition to the actual signs and symptoms.  This affords a rich tradition of usage which is distinct, complex and widely applied in various ways.

Although Western folk herbalism is an incredible modality in its own right, Western herbs are often used only as single herbs or as groups of herbs to treat a universal complaint, symptom of disease, often according to a strict biomedical understanding, such as menstrual pain, headaches, or depression etc…Dr. Loop’s education also includes in depth study of Western and Ayurvedic herbalism; however, the clinical depth and effectiveness of Chinese herbalism is reason he employs this as the core of his practice.

This powerful and transformational treatment originally required the patient to boil up the bulk form of medicinal plants and other medicinal substances into a “tea” and drink the decoction for several days or months depending on the severity of the condition. Although this delivery method is still used today, Chinese Herbal Formulas are more commonly administered in the convenient form of powders or granules that can be dissolved in water, or in the form of pills. Herbal Medicine works powerfully to restore normal functioning of the internal organs and create balance by counteracting the effects of excessive cold, heat, dampness, dryness, wind, or summer heat (6 pathogenic qi).

Further, the taste of the herbal formula can vary depending on the nature of the patient’s condition and constitution, but is an integral aspect in prescribing the correct formula to help heal the patient. The combination of internal herbal treatment with acupuncture is a transformational blend to effectuate integrated health and wellness and restore the proper function of Qi in the body by regulating the opposing forces of energies called Yin and Yang.

Herbal Therapy can act on the body as powerfully as pharmaceutical drugs and should be treated with respect and knowledge from a qualified medical Practitioner. Dosage of current medications and prescriptions should not be altered without the knowledge and consent of one’s primary care physician.

The Chinese herbal formularies include ingredients from all three kingdoms: vegetable, animal and mineral. However, the majority are from vegetable sources. Examples are roots, stems, leaves, twigs, bark, tubers, flowers etc.

15-20% of the standard Chinese repertoire of come from outside China. The Chinese have incorporated herbs from all over the world into their materia medica, but it is the usage of herbs according to Chinese medical theory and TCM pattern diagnosis that make them “Chinese.”

Not if correctly prescribed by a practitioner or Doctor of Oriental or E. Asian Medicine (Chinese Medicine) according to an appropriate pattern diagnosis. Most of the herbs in the Chinese Materia Medica have a very low toxicity compared to common, over-the-counter Western drugs. Herbal medicine is a powerful mediator of beneficial cellular healing. If there are any minor discomforts while taking Chinese herbs, then modifications can easily be made to a formula unless it is necessary part of normal healing or detoxification reactions of the body. Communication is essential between the patient/client and the Doctor of E. Asian Medicine to insure correct and appropriate responses during a course of treatment.

Chinese medicine has worked for thousands of years on literally billions of people. The vast terrain and geography of China and the medicine’s continual and dynamic evolution has proven its clinical efficacy across a wide variety of ethnic groups in all sorts of climates and lifestyles. In fact, Chinese medicine is so universally effective that the World Health Organization (WHO) has selected it for worldwide propagation. Thousands of trained practitioners of this dynamic medicine exist all over the world demonstrating “miraculous” healing that proves this medicine is effective no matter the race or geographic location of a person.

Pregnant and lactating women can generally take Chinese herbs when prescribed by professional practitioner of E. Asian Medicine. Dosage and length of time are important considerations in customizing a formula.

Pediatrics is a specialty area within Chinese medicine and children are often given smaller does in liquid, powder or pill form. Chinese herbal medicine can treat colic, the fussiness of teething, earache, diarrhea, cough, and fever in babies and children.