By Anna Yoder | Columnist

Have you ever been treated by an OMP for a health issue? If you are like me, you may not know what an OMP is.

“OMP” is the abbreviation for an Oriental Medicine Practitioner who has an advanced degree in acupuncture and oriental (Chinese) medicine. This advanced degree allows the practitioner not only to perform acupuncture but also adjunct therapy like “cupping” or “moxibustion therapy.” It further qualifies the practitioner to prescribe Chinese herbs to address the body’s health needs.

To give you a bit of background, “cupping” is a traditional Chinese technique that uses suction cups intended to improve circulation and promote healing to relieve aching muscles and release joint stiffness. “Moxibustion therapy” aka “moxa” is also a form of therapy derived from Chinese medicine that entails the burning of Chinese mugwort leaves (“ai ye”), which is believed to enhance the potential healing achieved through acupuncture. These therapies are considered traditional Chinese medicine and are now available at Modern Moon Acupuncture, owned and operated by Corinne Brown, OMP.

Following an undergraduate degree in Biology, Brown spent four years completing her doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and said she is passionate about this field of medicine “because it works and naturally allows your body to work for you.”

Being a self-proclaimed “people person,” Brown “loves being able to connect with people and watch them blossom and have a life completely transformed” by Chinese medicine. According to Brown, acupuncture has a “massive lineage” and text about this therapy has been found “written on tortoise shells found in caves thousands of years old.”

After my initial chat with Brown and a quick lesson on how Chinese medicine can possibly benefit oneself (combined with a bit of curiosity and uncertainty), I scheduled my first ever acupuncture session with her. Even though acupuncture uses very slender needles inserted into the skin at specific points, Brown described acupuncture to me as being “blissful.” I laughed to myself and thought, “I’ll be the judge of that!”

As a “doubting Thomas” with respect to acupuncture, clearly, I was not fully prepared for what was to come. First, Brown did an incredibly thorough health consultation to tailor the acupuncture session specifically for my body. The series of questions during consultation helped to determine the pattern for the cause of my body’s imbalanced or blocked “chi” or Qi (pronounced “chee”), the circulating vital energy or life force of one’s body in the practice of acupuncture or other forms of ancient Chinese medicine.

Next, I undressed to my comfort level and settled onto a super comfy massage-type table with blankets and circulating heat to warm my feet. The area of focus was my arthritic fingers. Brown identified the “channel” or meridian (a conceptual network within the body connected to various organs and systems in the body which play a vital role in the flow of chi) that connected to my arthritic fingers. Then Brown determined the various points along that channel’s pathway on my body for the needle insertions. The needle insertions or “needling” is intended to stimulate the acupuncture points — each of which, in the alternative medicine practice, has a specific healing function — restoring the balance of the body’s chi to alleviate health conditions.

Brown stands by her display of self-care products, many locally produced. Photo by Anna Yoder

Because I had my eyes closed (and I wanted to prepare myself for the shock of the needle), I asked Brown to let me know when she would insert the first needle. To my utter disbelief, she replied that she had already inserted several needles. The needles were placed on my fingers and several other parts of my body that were part of the “channel” to my fingers including my stomach. Brown explained that once the needling was completed, the needles would stay in my body for about a half hour while I relaxed on the examination table. When Brown left the room, I snuck a quick peek of my fingers to see what the needles looked like in my body. Yes, my hand looked like a human pin cushion but surprisingly I could not feel any of them! I closed my eyes again and completely relaxed. Shortly, I felt a gentle warm sensation known as a “chi” response envelope my body. It was like a nice, warm, and soft hug. It is exactly what Brown explained that often happens during an acupuncture session. According to Brown, some individuals can also experience a deep twilight Zen sleep. The half hour flew by and Brown returned to pull out each needle. Again, I hardly noticed that they were all removed until she told me that we were done. I can honestly say that my fingers have significantly improved after my first session.

Each session at Modern Moon Acupuncture concludes with a complimentary cup of traditional Chinese “tea of the day.” To my delight, the tea on the day of my visit was High Climate Tea Company’s Milk Oolong tea, out of Asheville, North Carolina. This tea is a creamy, floral, buttery tea that is sourced directly from traditional farmers and producers and is utterly soothing.

And that’s not the end of the story. At the front of Modern Moon Acupuncture, you’ll find a “self-care boutique” that offers: “clean, plant-based skin care products” and different cooking salts and rubs from Pittsburgh based companies; “clean, vegan” candles; handmade jewelry; and of course, their array of authentic, traditional Chinese teas.

Regardless if you have an acute condition or a chronic one, Brown can evaluate and offer the combination of Traditional Chinese medicine which may best suit your individual needs. As for me, I am no longer a doubting Thomas, but a believer.

Modern Moon Acupuncture is located at 424 Suismon St. Visit them online at modernmoonacupuncture.com/ or contact them at (412) 778-9756.