Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a core modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is used to support balance and regulation throughout the body. In TCM, treatment focuses on harmonizing Qi, Blood, and Essence to restore homeostasis and promote optimal function across organ systems.
From a biomedical perspective, acupuncture influences the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. Research shows it can help reduce inflammation, modulate pain pathways, support immune response, and regulate stress hormones—encouraging a shift from sympathetic “fight or flight” into parasympathetic “rest and digest.” Acupuncture is commonly used to address pain, stress, digestive concerns, hormonal balance, sleep issues, and overall wellness.
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Dry Needling
Dry needling is a specialized form of orthopedic acupuncture focused on the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, injury, and movement dysfunction. Brenda Hatley, DTCM, LAc is a Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist and Dry Needler (CMTPT/DN), with advanced training through Myopain Seminars.
This approach targets myofascial trigger points, motor end plates, and neurofascial structures using precise needle techniques. Dry needling works by modulating the nervous system, improving local blood flow, reducing inflammation, and decreasing pain through endogenous opioid and endorphin release. It is commonly used for sports injuries, repetitive strain injuries, chronic pain, and postural or movement-related conditions.
Dry needling may be used on its own or integrated with acupuncture, cupping, and tuina bodywork to support efficient healing and long-term functional improvement.
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Tui Na Orthopedic Massage
Tui Na 推拿 (pronounced tway nah), translated as “push and grasp,” is a traditional Chinese orthopedic bodywork modality with strong parallels to modern manual therapies such as Active Release Techniques. It is a dynamic, hands-on treatment that incorporates targeted acupressure, assisted stretching, and joint mobilization.
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Tui Na works on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue to improve circulation, reduce restriction, support tissue repair, and restore healthy movement patterns. It is commonly used for tendonitis, muscle strains, arthritis, sprains, post-operative recovery, back pain, cramping, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Tui Na may be used as a standalone treatment or integrated with acupuncture and dry needling for comprehensive orthopedic care.
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Cupping
Cupping therapy is a myofascial decompression technique increasingly used in sports medicine and rehabilitative care. Small cups are applied to the skin to create gentle negative pressure, which lifts and separates soft tissue layers rather than compressing them.
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This decompression helps increase local circulation, reduce muscle tension, improve fascial mobility, and support the body’s natural healing response. Cupping is often used for muscle tightness, pain, restricted movement, and recovery from injury or overuse.
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Temporary red or purple marks may appear at the treatment site. These marks are a normal response to increased circulation and metabolic byproduct release and typically fade within a few days to a week.
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Corrective Exercises
Corrective exercise is used to identify and address muscle imbalances that contribute to faulty movement patterns, pain, and injury. As a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), Brenda Hatley, DTCM, LAc integrates targeted stretching and strengthening strategies to support efficient movement and long-term recovery.
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Programs are designed to complement in-office treatments by improving mobility, stability, and neuromuscular control. Knowing when to stretch, how to stretch, and which muscles to strengthen can significantly reduce the risk of re-injury and help patients return to daily activity, sport, and exercise with greater confidence and resilience.
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Herbal Medicine & Supplements
Chinese herbal medicine is often used to extend and support the effects of acupuncture treatment and, in some cases, to act as a primary therapeutic tool. Prescriptions are selected based on individual presentation and may include classical or modern formulas in pill or powder form.
Brenda Hatley, DTCM, LAc is a trained herbalist and may also recommend targeted supplements such as vitamins, minerals, or nutrients when appropriate. All products are sourced from high-quality, reputable manufacturers to ensure safety, potency, and consistency. Refills can be conveniently arranged, including direct shipment when available.
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Functional Medicine-Informed Care
Brenda Hatley, DTCM, LAc has completed advanced training through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) and incorporates functional medicine principles into her clinical thinking and treatment planning. This training supports a deeper understanding of how systems such as digestion, inflammation, stress physiology, and metabolism influence pain, healing, and recovery.
Rather than existing as a separate service, functional medicine provides an additional clinical framework that informs acupuncture, dry needling, herbal prescriptions, and corrective exercise when appropriate. This systems-based approach helps connect symptoms with underlying patterns and supports more precise, individualized care.
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