Chinese herbal medicine is one of the oldest and most refined systems of medicine in the world, and it's a core part of how we treat at Loquat Health. We work with herbal tinctures — liquid extracts that are easy to take and absorb well — selecting the formula that best matches your pattern and adjusting it as your body changes over time. Herbs can be especially helpful for concerns that need consistent, daily support between treatments, and they work alongside acupuncture to extend and deepen the effects of your care.Item description

Cupping is primarily used to treat pain, specifically chronic or acute muscle tension. It works by releasing the superficial muscle layer known as the fascia; glass cups are suctioned onto the skin to create myofascial decompression, forming space between muscle layers that have become stuck and promoting smooth glide between the fascia and the muscles beneath it. When fascia gets restricted, it can pull on surrounding muscles and joints, creating tightness and pain that often shows up far from the original problem area.

A smooth stone is used to scrape along the muscles of the body, helping to release tension and increase blood circulation to the area. Gua directly translates to the word scraping, and sha refers to the color that comes up from the skin during treatment. The redness that shows is a sign that stagnant blood and heat are being drawn to the surface and released. Gua sha is used to treat pain and muscle tightness, and can also help release the beginnings of an illness coming on, like body aches, chills, or a sore throat. It leaves temporary red marks on the skin that typically fade within a few days, and most patients find the treatment relieving.

Moxibustion is a technique that involves burning a dried herb called mugwort near the skin to warm and stimulate specific points on the body. The gentle heat is used to boost circulation, ease pain, and support the body's energy. We use it alongside acupuncture to enhance treatment. It's typically used for cold conditions, helping to warm the body so that qi can flow freely.

A functional medicine visit with Loquat Health delves a little deeper with western testing. We look at blood work through a functional lens, run stool testing with the GI MAP, and saliva testing with the DUTCH test. With functional medicine, much like Chinese medicine, we are looking for the root of the issue, not just treating the symptoms.

These tests give us a much clearer picture of what's actually happening in your body — how your gut, hormones, and nervous system are functioning together — instead of guessing based on symptoms alone. From there, we combine what the testing shows with nutrition and lifestyle guidance to build a treatment plan that's specific to you.

This approach is especially helpful if you've already tried the standard route and still don't have answers. Our goal is always lasting change, not just short-term relief.