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.

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.

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.