Hadijah Vanada, Licensed Acupuncturist
Services & Rates
Acupuncture Initial
Acupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used forms of medicine in the world. Originating in China more than 2,500 years ago, acupuncture is currently one of the most thoroughly researched, practiced, and respected forms of traditional medicine available anywhere.
According to the understanding of health in Traditional Chinese Medicine, your overall health is determined by the quality of the Qi (energy) and blood flow (circulation) throughout your body. Acupuncture uses a variety of techniques, including placing very thin sterile needles into specific points on the body, to stimulate and improve your Qi flow. The classic texts of Chinese medicine theory teach that Blood follows Qi and Qi is the commander of blood. This means that the Qi enhances the flow of blood and directs its flow, thus nourishiing all the tissues in the body. It is therefore a nurturing type of medicine that supports the functions of the whole body and the mind. The purpose of acupuncture is to harmonize the yin and yang energywithin you. Here is a visual representation of them:
ULTIMATE YIN 
ULTIMATE YANG
The Many benefits of ACUPUNCTURE include:
- Pain reduction
- Recovery from injuries & surgery
- Stress and tension relief
- Improves energy levels
- Stronger digestion and better elimination
- Relief from addictions
- Supports Women's health over the lifespanL regulating all gynecological functions
- Greater sense of overall health, vitality and well-being
- Rediscovery of sense of purpose and destiny
- Enhances performance in academics, sports, the arts: including singers, actors, dancers, musicians, and all careers requiring endurance, stamina, alertness and mental focus
- Resolution of depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders,and post trauma stress syndrome
- Health maintenance, prevention of disease states, and recovery of original vitality
- Serenity & sense of peace, feeling centered
- Natural healing from common ailments
- Strengthens immunity
- Corrects temperature imbalances, endocrine problems, thyroid, etc.
*Digital art images by Harun Eggleton www.duplicit.com
Chinese Herbology
Chinese herbal medicine is a 2,000 year old tradition using naturally occurring substances — including plant herbs, minerals and animal elements — to enhance one's health and vitality. As opposed to Western medicine, the foundation of this approach is to support the body's natural self-healing mechanisms and abilities.
Are Herbs the right modality for your healinig?
The selection of herbal prescriptions require a more in depth assessment than acupuncture alone, and includes a careful review of any herbs, supplements or medications you are taking. This is to ascertain that herbal medicine is the right modality to introduce into your health plan. At this time I determine if you are vegetarian and honor your refusal of any animal products in the formula. I also identify any subtances contraindicated for your medical condition, such as high blood pressure, etc.
Are you dehydrated? Do you need water?
I carefully assess you for signs of dehydration to determine if your water balance is off, and my first recommendations are for adjustment of your daily intake of water, followed by a review of your food habits. Water and food are the first line of correction before I prescribe herbal medicine.
Generally I do not prescribe nutritional supplements. If you want an extensive nutritional supplement program, I would refer you to a naturopathic physician.
My speciality is Chinese herbal medicine:
I prescribe high-quality, professional-grade herbal medicines that are available only to qualified licensed professionals. I offer tablet style standard formula combinations and in some instances a custom blended granule formula which is prepared by a certified herbal distributor in the USA, not in my office. If you wish to have raw herbs that are boiled in a pot, the traditional Chinese herbalist style, I refer you to a highly qualified Chinese herbalist with a recommended prescription.
Acupressure
Acupressure is based on one the most ancient principles of healing — that simply touching specific points on the body will release stress and improve health in the body. In an acupressure session, I apply firm pressure directly to these "points" on your body, which relieves your muscle tension, improves your circulation and begins the process of balancing your energy. This simple and powerful technique has been shown to very effective in treating various pain problems such as headaches, backaches, arm pain, etc as well as states of anxiety and even insomnia. It can be utilized to reduce the number of needles for those anxious about the use of needles. It induces deep states of relaxation. I use a system based on Jin Shin Do acupressure theory.
Cupping
Cupping has been a part of Chinese Medicine for over 2,500 years. It relieves aches and pains, improves circulation, and also helps with respiratory and digestive issues. I simply place a specialized plastic "cup" onto specific points on your body, and then use suction to draw your skin up into the cups. It doesn't hurt, and it is a common folk remedy throughout Asia and the Middle East. It is very useful in releasing early symptoms of cold and flu. It literally can drive the cold or heat invasion from your upper body and relieve the feeling of heaviness, soreness and pain. It also is useful in the treatment of pain from injuries. If you have it once, it is likely you will return for more. I used to work in a Vietnamese clinic in Honolulu and people would often come specifically for treatment with the cups and the aromatic oils that are used on the surface of the skin. The beautiful quilt on the table was made by a 99 year old Okinawan mother of one of my patients in Hawaii. It is a tribute to longevity.
Gua Sha
Although Gua Sha, or scraping the skin,is an ancient healing technique used by Chinese Medicine practitioners for thousands of years, it is relatively unknown in the West. It is recognized throughout Asia as a highly effective treatment for chronic pain conditions, stress, fatigue, and a host of other common ailments including cold, flu, asthma and allergies. It is practiced in various forms in China, Japan, Korea, SE Asia, Tibet,Nepal and India. Its effects are similar to cupping, but I have found it to be more specific than cupping.
First, Gua Sha oil or another appropriate oil is applied to a specific area of the body, usually the back, never on the abdomen. For example I may coat the area with an appropriate aromatic oil even Vicks Vapor Rub can be used or any other such oil as olive oil, sesame oil, black seed oil, Yee Tin oil, etc. I use a smooth round-edged object (such as a ceramic spoon, a round piece of jade, even a coin, as well as the specially prepared gua sha tools, made of bone or plastic or stone) to apply short brisk strokes to that area. I also use my knuckles to create a similar effect with less discomfort. This creates red patches of skin (called "Sha"), releasing cold or heat trapped in the muscle layers, opening the surface circulation, detoxing you and restoring the healthy flow if Qi (energy) to the area. There is minimal discomfort involved, and the Sha or mild bruising stripes will usually fade in 2 to 3 days. I apply a recovery topical linament at the end of any gua sha session to shorten the recovery time of the skin surface.
I always obtain your consent to do this procedure and exclude it if you have any reason for not wanting to have residual marks on your skin at a particular time or ever. Its benefits, however, include a rapid relief from cold and flu symptoms in the earliest stages, and relief from leftover cold, cough symptoms that hang in the body for a long time after an acute battle with these common ailments. When the invasion of the cold or heat is new the Sha is bright red, but when it has been retained for a long time the color is dark burgandy to almost purple. This can also be used to identify areas of chronic pain and to release the surface so that the circulation rapidly improves and old pain vanishes. I received training in this ancient technique from Vietnames Chinese doctors in Honolulu and my Gua Sha was sought out by many local Asian immigrants.
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb called in Latin: artemesis vulgaris. Moxibustion has been used for healing purposes throughout Asia for thousands of years. Studies have shown that no other substance has the penetrating heating quality of this herb. The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is to strengthen the circulation, stimulate the flow of Qi (energy), and enhance overall vitality and health.
"Moxa" is considered the Yang aspect of treatment while the acupuncture needles are considered the Yin aspect of the treatment." Moxa "alone actually adds energy to the body, relaxes the mind and removes stagnation in the Qi and the Blood. It is used to counter cold conditions, to warm regions where there is slow healing, for pain relief, to alleviate menstrual disorders, and for the dissolution of masses such as fibroids. Its use is contra-indicated, not advised, over areas of acute injury where there is acute inflammation, but is indicated for areas of chronic injury. It is usually administered with a cigar like stick which is held above the body and is directed to specific points or regions. It can also be applied directly to the needle in small chunks and or can be placed on the skin with a substance such as ginger in between. It can only be applied in its original form in a room with good ventilation. Smokeless "moxa" is also available. it is widely used in very cold climates.
Among its benefits noted in a landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 found that 75.4% of women suffering from breech presentations before childbirth had fetuses that rotated to the normal position after receiving moxibustion at an acupuncture point on the bladder meridian. Studies in Japan in the 1980's also showed changes in red and white blood cell counts as a result of moxa treatment applied consistently to a set of acupuncture points on a daily basis. Both smoke and smokeless moxa treatments can be administered.
Pulse Diagnosis
One of the most common questions that patients ask about Chinese Medicine is: "Why does my practitioner check my pulse?"
Pulse diagnosis is actually one of the most complex and important diagnostic techniques we use in Chinese Medicine. Through feeling the pulse in 12 positions on both wrists, which I prefer to call listeninig to the pulse, and evaluating it strengths, weaknesses, rate and pace, I obtain an accurate impression of your general condition, Qi (energy) flow, the vitality of your circulation & blood volume, and the functional strength of your internal organs among other things. I integrate this into an individualized treatment plan for your specific needs. The pulse guides me in the selection of the best acupuncture points for you on each day that you are treated, and I check the pulse before, during and after each treatment to observe the effects of the points prescription and any modalities that I have applied.
Tui Na
Tui Na is an ancient form of bodywork that is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I use a variety of pressures and strokes along the meridians (energy pathways) of your body to both relax your muscles and also stimulate the flow of energy throughout your body.
There are two types of Tuina which means literally Push-Pull:
Yang Tuina depends on active push and pull pressure, pinching, rolling, tapping technique carried out with intense focus on specific areas.
Yin Tuina depends on completely relaxed gentle holding of an affected part of your body for anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes with no pressure or activity and with the focus of the acupuncturist away from the body towards the sky or the ocean or a lake or distant mountain or open field.
The Tuina technique chosen depends on the presenting condition and the intuition of the acupuncturist. By treating both the physical (musculature) and energetic (Qi) levels of your body at the same time, I can achieve results far beyond what you’d receive from a conventional massage therapy session.
Tongue Diagnosis
Tongue Diagnosis: The most important of the Two Pillars (Pulse & Tonque) of Chinese medicine diagnosis.
If the pulse diagnosis does not agree with the tongue diagnosis, it is the tongue diagnosis which is relied upon. This is very important for the prescription of herbal medicines. It is the final step in the process of diagnosis, and changes in the tongue are the best indicator for progress towards normalizing internal imbalances. The tonque changes more slowly than the pulse, but shows the progress on a long term basis. Without significant changes in the tongue there can be no shift in the internal conditions I also teach you how to monitor your own tongue changes. Please do not brush your tongue prior to treatment!
Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture is a very useful treatment for pain, nausea, iinfertility, and chronic ailments. Using the same system of selection of acupuncture points, I insert very thin sterile needles into specific points and attach them to a device that delivers gentle electrical pulses between two points. This helps restore the healthy flow of Qi (energy) through your body, removing any blockages through creating a magnified sensation of the energy. Typically 2 to 4 pairs of points may be selected for the electrical stimulation treatment. Sometimes only electrical pads are used in place of needles in some body locations
Medical Qi Gong
Medical Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese Medical practice that combines slow movements, conscious breathing, and focused mental attention to strengthen the flow of Qi (energy) throughout your body. Rather than addressing your specific symptoms, Medical Qi Gong addresses your ailment at its very source by healing your entire being — mentally, emotionally and physically. It is usually performed off the body utilizing the energy that flows through the hands, the breath and the eyes of the acupuncture physician.
Infrared TDP lamp heat therapy
Heat therapy which often replaces the use of moxabustion in clinics where ventilation is inadequate for the use of traditional moxabustion.
Comprehensive assessment and treatment plan
Your initial appointment will offer a comprehensive assessment and a recommended treatment plan to best support your health goals and needs made apparent by the assessment beyond the treatment of symptoms. The purpose of this assessment is to deal with the root of the problem or problems. This achieves the best result over the long term for your health and happiness.
Special rates: family plans, long-term treatment programs
To make my services accessible and affordable at the frequency required for the best results for your health, I offer a sliding scale fee for completion of a recommended course of treatment, for instance 6 to 15 sessions depending on the presenting conditions. This is negotiated with you after the initial intake assessment. This is for the uninsured and those who are economically disadvantaged or enduring considerable challenging circumstances. I also offer family plans to couples, parents, children and grandparents, and even cousins, aunts and uncles.
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University Student Survival Program
A special program geared to support university students to better meet demands of their academic studies improving their ability to focus, concentrate, improve their energy, regulate their lifestyle, enhance performance on exams, reduce stress, reduce reliance on substance abuse, alleviate common ailments such as allergies, cold, flu, viruses, fatigue, loss of motivation, procrastination, headaches, other pain syndromes, emotional crises, anxiety & depression and to align with their sense of purpose and find their destined path for work and life. This is designed as a maintenance program which seeks to be preventative in nature, therefore I recommend 2 treatments per month, with an increase of frequency as needed as students endure high stress or have low grade illnesses compromising their ability to function.
The aim is to help students to be healthy, happy, strong and productive throughout their years at the University.
Health insurance coverage for acupuncture
If your health insurance provides coverage for acupuncture, I can assist as an out of network provider. I also accept worker's compensation cases.
Peak performance program
A program for athletes, martial artists and dancers or related physical arts.
Florida Services
Home care services for people of all ages located in Broward county. Please contact me by email: jadehealer@gmail.com to request services.