Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of thin needles into the skin at specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and promote healing.

Acupuncture can be used to treat a wide range of conditions such as pain, stress, anxiety, insomnia, digestive disorders, and more.

Acupuncture is considered a safe treatment when performed by a licensed and trained practitioner using sterile needles. It is important to disclose any medical conditions or medications you are taking to your practitioner before beginning treatment.

You might feel a small sensation as the needle goes into the skin but after that, the sensation reduces and should not be uncomfortable. In fact, most people find it to be very relaxing - some even fall asleep on the table. Please be sure to let me know if anything is feeling sharp so we can adjust. 

When provided by a Registered Acupuncturist, acupuncture is safe and is highly recommended throughout pregnancy, especially in preparation for birth.

For my pregnant patients I  usually recommend a series of sessions from 36 weeks onwards to help prepare for labour and delivery. I've also had several pregnant patients that really enjoy being able to take some time for themselves as well as help alleviate common issues and discomforts, such as constipation, back pain, nausea, headaches throughout their pregnancy - all without resorting to over the counter medications.

Acupuncture postpartum is also very beneficial for recovery and other issues that may arise like prolapse, depression, or lactation issues. 

Many insurance benefits plans offer coverage for acupuncture services provided by a Registered Acupuncturist. Contact your insurance company directly to find out what your plan covers, and any limits.  Following all visits, an official receipt is issued which contains all details necessary for insurance purposes. 

Tuina is an uplifting system of massage that aims to release blocked energy in the body and restore a balanced flow. The words tui and na literally mean 'push' and 'grasp'. It is pronounced "towee-na". 

Depending on a patient's chief complain and overall presentation and treatment goals, the pressure and techniques employed in a tuina massage treatment may be gentle or vigorous, focused or dispersed. The pressure is applied to acupuncture points and along the energy lines of the body known as meridians. 

Patients may notice feeling energized and relaxed following a tuina treatment. Tuina is an especially ideal option for those who prefer not to receive acupuncture. 

Pediatric tuina protocols provide a highly effective therapy for babies, toddlers and children younger than 12 years. Specialized pediatric tuina techniques are applicable for children under 5, and newborns.  Common ailments treated by pediatric tuina include common cold, cough, fever, abdominal pain, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bed-wetting, and night crying.    

In adults, tuina can be used to help treat neck, shoulder, back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulders, tennis elbows, migraines. I can speak first hand that it is amazing for reducing stress and tension in the body. In addition, internal conditions such as digestive issues, menstrual irregularities and respiratory ailments can respond well to tuina.  

Expect your first appointment to be an in-depth getting acquainted session between you and your Acupuncturist. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, all of the organ systems are interrelated and so it is important for your Acupuncturist to understand not only your focus of the session or “chief complaint” but also how your body is functioning in each of the organ systems regarding sleep, digestion, stress, energy, skin, sense organs and hormonal cycles.

Your initial appointment will look like this:

1. Review of your general health and medical history.
2. Understanding your goal/s for the treatment.
3. Diagnosis: Pulse reading, Tongue assessment, Palpation.
4. Discussion of pattern differentiation, diagnosis and treatment plan. Explanation of recommended TCM modalities: acupuncture, tuina, cupping, gua sha or a combination of these.
5. Opportunity for your questions and making sure you are comfortable to proceed. Informed and ongoing consent is an essential part of every acupuncture appointment.
6. The best part: Treatment time! Min. 20 mins retention time for the acupuncture needles. Take this opportunity to fully present in your body, sink into the table and let the treatment deeply relax and restore you!
7. Recommendations for follow up, diet, herbal prescription and guidance for next steps.

How to prepare for your appointment:

• Avoid consuming caffeine for at least 3 hours before treatment
• Eat a light meal or snack 1-2 hours prior to the appointment if possible. Try not to come in with an empty or full stomach.
• Avoid brushing or scraping your tongue on the day of your appointment as the coating on your tongue is important to the assessment. Try not to drink or eat something that can colour your tongue.
• Plan to arrive a few minutes early so that your heart and nervous system can calm down for an accurate assessment.
• Bring the names & dosages of your medications, herbs and supplements as well as relevant diagnosis and test results if possible.
• The treatment table will have clean sheets and towels for draping however you are welcome to wear or bring loose fitting clothes if you wish.

1. Relaxation: because acupuncture causes the nervous system to reset and flip to "Rest and Digest" mode, many people find acupuncture to be deeply relaxing - in fact, you may feel the calmest you've felt in a long time!

2. Tired: With all that relaxation, it's not unusual to feel a bit drowsy after a treatment and you might even feel like you need a nap. I often recommend scheduling appointments after work or on a day where you don't have any commitments immediately after.

3. Increased Energy: On the flipside, post-acupuncture some people feel more energized and mentally alert. If you are feeling up to it, it's perfectly fine to continue your regular daily activities though I recommend avoiding anything too strenuous.

4. Mild Soreness or Sensations: You may feel slight soreness at the needle sites or a tingling sensation. Occasionally, there may be a bruise at the needle site. These are normal and typically fade quickly.

TIP: Post treatment, I encourage you to hydrate, rest and avoid caffeine and alcohol.

This answer will vary person to person as it depends on their constitution, what symptoms and severity they have, combined with how long they’ve been experiencing the issues. A treatment plan will be prescribed following the Initial Assessment and discussed with you. 

Remember, acupuncture is cumulative. Each visit builds upon the progress made in prior treatment, so it’s important not to go too long in between visits to keep the momentum going and to avoid relapses. 

There are 3 phases of care: 

1. Relief, 
2. Corrective, and 
3. Maintenance

Relief Care - for acute

• Frequent visits over next few weeks or months 
• Aim is to resolve the issue as quick as possible so you can get back on with life! 
• Usually results in significant improvement of symptoms, reduction of pain etc  

Corrective Care - this phase is after Relief Care, ongoing regular acupuncture so that symptoms do not relapse. This might be appropriate for someone who has a chronic condition but is not currently experiencing a flare up. 

Issues that are congenital or have accumulated over a long time (years, decades) will likely require an ongoing (Corrective) care plan. This might also involve other therapies in the patient’s circle of care. For example, Osteopathy, Massage or Chiropractic care.

Maintenance Care

• Visits might be monthly, every other month or seasonal
• Like a regular tune up or whenever you need some extra nurturing and restoration.  

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the term "Herb" refers to any herb in the Materia Medica, which is an index of the hundreds of Chinese herbs. In this context, an herb could be flora (plant), fauna (animal, insect) or mineral origin.  

If you have a preference to exclude animal-based ingredients from your herbal formula, let your TCM practitioner know.  Your practitioner may be able to suggest a different formula or omit certain ingredients that meet your needs.  They will also be able to explain the benefit of including the ingredient and any potential disadvantage of excluding it so that your decision can be fully informed. 

Note that herb ingredients that are restricted or not legal for sale in Canada will be excluded from your prescription. 

Chinese herbal therapy may be highly beneficial to your health goals - talk to your practitioner today!  

The best format of herbal therapy when starting a prescription is usually a function of three things: 

1. Convenience/Ease of Intake: are you more of a raw herb cook at home type or do you prefer pills or granules? 
2. Efficacy: raw herbs when cooked properly have maximum efficacy; tea pills are typically milder and less effective
3. Cost: pills are usually cheapest, granules are more, pre-cooked decoctions shipped to your door tend to be most pricey 

"The best herbs you take are the ones you actually take!" 

We understand that not everyone has the inclination or time to cook their herbal decoction from scratch and based on your preferences, we will work with you to prescribe a herbal formula that fit your lifestyle and budget.