• ​Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management.

What to wear to an acupuncture appointment?
Many acupuncture points are accessed via the abdomen, lower leg, arms, and ears (auricular acupuncture) so wearing loose clothing or shorts and a T-shirt make it possible to stay clothed during your appointment. However, the Acupuncturist may ask you to disrobe to your underwear if they feel they will need to access additional points, so plan for that. If this makes you uncomfortable don’t be afraid to speak up, because other options could be explored.

What can I expect at my Initial Acupuncture appointment?
Your acupuncturist is going to ask you many questions about your health and lifestyle.  These questions can be about your diet, exercise, what type of actions are involved in your work, the qualities of your digestion and elimination, your mood and emotions, the locations and qualities of your bodily aches and pains, menstrual details, and about substance intake (caffeinated beverages, smoking, medications, sugar).  The acupuncturist will examine the topography, colours, and shape of your tongue, will examine your complexion, eyes, fingernails, check your radial pulse (located on the inner wrists), and might palpate areas of the body.  The inspection of the tongue, body, pulse, and the details gathered from questioning will help her to gather these details/symptoms into patterns.  These patterns will then be used to determine the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) diagnosis which will then let her know how to treat and advise you.
Your treatment is a collaborative effort between you and your acupuncturist.  You have the ability and the right to consent to any and all aspects of the intake and treatment process.  This includes the right to refuse consent to any modality, to not be touched or treated in certain areas.  Your acupuncturist will check in with you throughout the treatment to make sure you are comfortable, feel safe, and heard, as well as, determine if a point is bothering you and if the the “Qi has arrived (de Qi).”
With the insertion and manipulation of acupuncture needles, some points might be “strong” and others might be “mild” or you might not really feel anything.  This is dependent on what is happening inside your mind and body, where the acupuncture point is located anatomically, and on what your acupuncturist is trying to affect.  Common “Arrival of Qi, de Qi” sensations experienced  at and around the acu-point range from a warm or cooling sensation, tingling, an electric zip or zing of varying strength, a heaviness, a tickle, the sensation of molasses moving, waves, of very subtle shifts.  It can also be common to experience an itchy sensation during or after treatment as Qi and blood move into and flow through the area.
Note: It is important to let your acupuncturist know if you have a bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia, or are on blood thinners such as aspirin or Coumarin (warfarin) to help prevent blood clots.

If I don’t want to have any needles, can I still get a treatment?
Absolutely!  With your consent, your acupuncturist can choose to do acupressure using her fingers and thumbs or can apply magnetic pellets (“seeds”) to stimulate acupuncture points.  In fact, you can also ask your acupuncturist to perform TuiNa, an ancient form of Traditional Chinese massage (or Shiatsu the Japanese version derived from the same root as TuiNa), Cupping, or Gua Sha.
Can children have acupuncture?
Yes, acupuncture is not contraindicated for children or infants.  Since children and infants can be quite mobile, needles are not retained for very long.  In fact, infants are simply pricked to stimulate the point and immediately removed.  Acupressure, Tui Na, and other modalities can be utilized in place of sub-dermal needles.  There is also the option to use tiny dermal needles that are applied and retained with an adhesive strip.  These dermal needles are more like a tiny tack on a bandaid.

Is acupuncture covered by my insurance?
Acupuncture is covered by an increasing number of insurance providers.  Please speak to our receptionist or to your insurance provider to find out if your provider covers all or part of your acupuncture treatment.

What is Cupping?
Cupping utilizes suction to break up connective tissue adhesions and scar tissue, it promotes  tissue perfusion, reduces inflammation, decreases tension and stiffness, and thus helps with blood circulation, sore, achey, and spasming muscles, and quickens the healing process.  From both a Western Medical and a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, cupping promotes circulation and thus breaks up stagnation (of Qi and Blood) and promotes relaxation.  The Flash Cupping method is also useful in the loosening of chest congestion and phlegm for removal from the body.  This loosening of chest congestion is thus immensely helpful for treating asthma, bronchitis, chest colds and flus and for bringing some relief for emphysema.  Cupping can also be applied to the abdomen to promote bowel movements and assist with digestion.
On average, most cupping marks and bruising will disappear in 3-4 days.

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• Cosmetic Acupuncture

Cosmetic acupuncture is a non-invasive treatment that involves using acupuncture to improve skin and fight the aging process. ... Proponents claim that cosmetic acupuncture can help reduce wrinkles, diminish fine lines, remove age spots, and lift droopy eyelids.

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How does cosmetic acupuncture work?

Cosmetic acupuncture works by increasing blood flow and stimulating the muscles beneath your face to improve their tone and conditioning. This improves your skin's elasticity, which helps smooth out wrinkles and lines

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How long does cosmetic acupuncture last?

The effects of Facial Acupuncture Rejuvenation are cumulative and last up to 3-5 years after a course of 10 treatments, with maintenance. Each patient will be different, but usually each patient will need maintenance treatments once per month or once per season.

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Is Facial Acupuncture Better Than Botox?

The short answer is yes, absolutely, and I encourage it. But it's important to understand that facial acupuncture and Botox work in opposite ways. Botox freezes the muscles around the injection site, which does relax the area and the skin around it resulting in fewer wrinkles and creasing.

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