Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dallas, TX

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete system of medicine that has been refined over thousands of years. At Hawken Acupuncture, Dr. Elijah Hawken, DACM, LAc, has offered Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dallas since 2005, helping patients with pain, fertility, stress, digestion, sleep and much more. It is the Traditional Chinese Medicine Dallas patients have trusted for two decades.

The heart of Chinese medicine is simple: we treat the person, not just the disease. Two people with the same diagnosis may receive very different treatments, because the plan is built around what is happening in your body right now.

What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

Chinese medicine sees health as a state of dynamic balance. When the flow of qi (pronounced “chee”) and blood through the body is smooth and balanced, we feel well. When that balance is disturbed by injury, stress, poor sleep, diet, illness or the change of seasons, symptoms appear.

Many patients are surprised to learn how their health concerns connect. Headaches, poor sleep and digestive trouble may look unrelated, but in Chinese medicine they often share a common root. Treating that root can ease your main complaint along with the smaller discomforts that come with it.

How Diagnosis Works

Before your first visit, you will fill out a detailed health history. During the visit, Dr. Hawken will ask about your main concern and your overall health, and do any relevant physical exams. She will also use two classic Chinese medicine tools:

• Tongue diagnosis: the color, shape and coating of the tongue reveal a great deal about your overall health.
• Pulse diagnosis: there are more than 26 subtle pulse qualities, felt at six positions on each wrist.

Together, these give a clear picture of what is out of balance and guide your treatment plan.

Therapies We Use

• Acupuncture: fine, sterile, single-use needles at carefully chosen points
• Chinese herbal medicine: customized formulas of two to twenty herbs
• Moxibustion: warming therapy using the herb mugwort to speed healing
• Cupping: gentle suction to increase warmth and circulation
• Gua sha: gentle scraping of the skin to move circulation
• Far-infrared heat therapy: soothing heat that supports tissue healing
• Electrical stimulation: a gentle current through the needles that feels like light tapping
• Chinese massage, herbal liniments, and diet and lifestyle guidance

What Chinese Medicine Can Help With

Chinese medicine in Dallas, TX at Hawken Acupuncture is commonly used for:

• Pain, including back pain, headaches and arthritis
• Fertility and menstrual and menopausal health
• Numbness, tingling and nerve pain
• Sports injuries and recovery after surgery
• Stroke and brain injury recovery
• Stress, anxiety, insomnia and grief
• Digestive problems, allergies and sinus trouble
• Support during cancer treatment, in coordination with your medical team

Prevention and Seasonal Tune-Ups

Prevention is at the heart of Chinese medicine. An old Chinese saying advises, “Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to dig a well.” You do not need to feel sick to benefit. Many patients come in four times a year, at the change of seasons, to help the body adjust to new weather and to stay well.

Chinese Medicine Alongside Western Medicine

Chinese medicine works well with conventional care. Dr. Hawken has worked alongside medical doctors, psychiatrists, pharmacologists, social workers and nurses. She helped establish acupuncture at Parkland Hospital’s Integrated Pain Healing Center and consulted on UT Southwestern Medical Center’s first acupuncture service, at the Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center. Bring a list of your medications, and she will make sure your treatment fits safely with the rest of your care.

Is Chinese Medicine Right for You?

Chinese medicine is a good fit if you want care that looks at the whole picture, if conventional treatment has not given you the relief you hoped for, or if you would like to reduce your reliance on medication. It is also a good choice if you simply want to stay healthy. Treatments are cumulative, so each one builds on the last. Many people notice better sleep, more energy and less stress along the way, in addition to relief from their main complaint. If you are unsure, a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation is a good place to start.

Your Practitioner

Dr. Elijah Hawken earned her master’s degree from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego in 2004 and her Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM) from Pacific College of Health and Science in 2023. She is an NCCAOM Diplomate in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology and Oriental Medicine, and is licensed in Texas.

Find Traditional Chinese Medicine in Dallas

Hawken Acupuncture is in White Rock Tower, 6510 Abrams Road, Suite 401, Dallas, with free parking on site. Call (972) 804-9113, book online, or ask for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to find out how Chinese medicine Dallas, TX patients rely on can help you.