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Donica Schmidt Acupuncture




Traditional Chinese Medicine Services



Acupuncture is a modality of practice under Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  It is a medicine which considers whole body and lifestyle in its treatment.  Throughout life, the body gets used to living in disharmony, and it becomes normal for us to live with stress and pain.  By identifying physical and mental imbalances, and using acupuncture as a treatment, TCM can provide an alternative way to assist the body in using its own abilities to work more efficiently.  It is a reboot of the system to get back to balance and on a healing path.  Acupuncture is also used as preventative medicine to support healthy functioning bodies and to prevent sickness.  

In TCM, pain is considered a stagnation. Imagine a garden hose. When there is a kink in the hose, it creates a blockage and build up.  This is stagnation. Using meridian lines as guidelines, acupuncture is the use of very fine needles to smooth out those kinks.  This allows for free flow, and to feel good!  The needles are as thin as a piece of head hair, so mostly there is no sensation on the insertion of the needle.  After a needle is inserted, many people feel a dull ache or small sensation, some people feel nothing at all.  It is different for everyone, but most people feel some exchange and often times relaxed when done with treatment.



Cupping is the suctioning of skin typically with glass cups, to release blockages of muscle tissue, which are causing pain, tightness or discomfort.  


Moxa is a warming technique using the Chinese herb Ai Ye, or more commonly known as Mugwort Leaf.


Tuina is a TCM massage used in treatment to help stimulate or sedate organ systems of the body depending on diagnosis.    


Guasha is a technique using a tool (traditionally a jade stone) to massage and release stagnation and tension.


Some of the oldest books of TCM are the herbal formulations books dating back thousands of years.  Through these years of observation and trial, the formulas that TCM provide are safe and very effective when given proper diagnosis.  Herbal formulation should only be prescribed by a licensed acupuncturist or herbalist.

Nutritional counseling

Before medication and herbs, there is food.  Food should keep you healthy.  I offer dietary advice that follows the recommendations of TCM and the five elements.  For basic info on diet, I recommend this easy read, Asian Diet, by Jason Bussell.  

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation is a modern technique using low electrical currents on needles.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong is a practice of cultivation of Qi by visualization, breath, and slow movement exercise.  


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