What is acupuncture?

• Based on the principles of oriental medicine, acupuncture works by stimulating and promoting the body’s inherent healing abilities. Acupuncture is effective in treating many common ailments.

• Modern science is beginning to verify what acupuncturists have known for thousands of years, that acupuncture regulates the nervous system, the hormonal (endocrine) system as well as boosting the immune system and bringing them back into balance. Increasingly, acupuncture is recognized as a complementary therapy to augment Western medical practices.

• Hair thin needles are used on different parts of the body to re-establish the flow of energy, relieve emotional and physical stagnation, and stimulate the immune and endocrine systems.

• All Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (R.TCMP) have taken, at minimum, a 4-year program as well as successfully completed the Canadian licensing exam.

 

Does acupuncture hurt?

No, acupuncture rarely hurts. You might feel a momentary prick when the needle goes in, which soon turns into a dull pressure or tingling around the area during the treatment. Most people are amazed by how relaxed they feel during and after the treatment. This can only occur if the treatment is comfortable and gentle.

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Is acupuncture safe?

As long as it is performed by a competent practitioner, acupuncture is extremely safe. Acupuncturists are required to use disposable needles that are discarded after one use.

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What conditions are treated with acupuncture?

The World Health Organization lists more than 40 conditions for which acupuncture is appropriate therapy:

• Digestive Conditions: abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, hyperacidity and indigestion

• Emotional Conditions: anxiety, depression, insomnia, nervousness and neurosis

• Eye-Ear-Nose-Throat Conditions: cataracts, gingivitis, poor vision, tinnitus and toothache

• Gynecological Conditions: infertility, menopausal symptoms and premenstrual syndrome

• Musculoskeletal Conditions: arthritis, back pain, muscle cramping, muscle pain/weakness, neck pain, sciatica

• Neurological Conditions: headaches, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, Parkinsonís disease, postoperative pain and stroke

• Respiratory Conditions: asthma, bronchitis, common cold, sinusitis, smoking cessation and tonsilitis

• Miscellaneous Conditions: addiction control, athletic performance, blood pressure regulation, chronic fatigue, immune system tonification and stress reduction

      

Does insurance cover acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a recognized health care treatment covered by most extended plans. You can get it added if not.

Please check with your insurance provider before your appointment to see if the treatment is covered.

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How many treatments will I need?

This is unique to the individual. For most chronic conditions, 5-7 once-weekly treatments tend to offer the best outcome. Some people notice an immediate improvement in their health, while for others acupuncture tends to have a cumulative effect over several visits.

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I don’t really have anything ‘wrong’ with me, can I still benefit from acupuncture?

Yes. There is a difference between optimal health and just being free from disease. Chinese Medicine helps bring the body into balance allowing you to function at your optimal state. Boosting immune during cold and flu season, improving quality of sleep and helping relieve stress are just a few of the many benefits that come with acupuncture.

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Western Medicine can’t find anything wrong with me but I still have symptoms. Can acupuncture help?

Sometimes people can have symptoms that are at the “sub-clinical” level – meaning they are very real to the patient but do not yet show up on Western lab tests like blood work or ultrasounds. This is no problem for Chinese Medicine, since one’s subjective experience of the problem is a very important diagnostic tool. After all, Western lab tests didn’t exist thousands of years ago when Chinese Medicine was first practiced.

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What does a typical acupuncture treatment consist of?

Your first treatment will take approximately 90 minutes and will begin with a detailed health assessment of up to 20 minutes. Alex (R.Ac, R.TCMP) will inquire about your medical history and formulate a treatment plan that meets your specific needs. After your assessment, you will receive your first treatment.

Follow-up visits will consist of a short assessment and an acupuncture treatment. We will stimulate specific points on your body by inserting very thin, sterile needles into the skin at various depths to promote and restore the body’s balance of energy. This can take up to 5 minutes. After the needles are inserted, they will stay in place for 15 to 30 minutes.*

As part of your treatment, we may recommend a combined treatment with one of three additional techniques of Tui-Na Massage, Gua Sha, Scraping or Cupping.