ANCIENT PRACTICES, MADE MODERN

Acupuncture has a long history. According to research, acupuncture therapy originated in the Neolithic Age from 7000-8000 to 4000 years ago.

Acupuncture originated in China. After thousands of years of development, there are currently more than 300 diseases that can be treated with acupuncture.

Including internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, facial features, and dermatology. Among them, it has a good or very good curative effect on about 100 kinds of diseases.

In the early 19th century, European and American countries began to use acupuncture. Traditional Chinese medicine, which is characterized by a holistic concept, syndrome differentiation and treatment, and natural methods, is gradually being widely used.

Acupuncture is used by more and more people as a complementary therapy to treat arthritis, back pain, indigestion, rhinitis, headache, insomnia and other sub-health problems due to its minimally invasive, safe, and minimal side effects.

In Ontario, most Extended Health Care Insurers are covering acupuncture. You can consider acupuncture as an auxiliary therapy to use your insurance benefits for your own health.

Research has found that acupuncture can promote the secretion of serotonin, endorphins and other analgesic chemicals in the nervous system. The main mechanism of its analgesic effect is that acupuncture can dredge stasis, regulate qi and blood, make the meridians qi and blood unobstructed, and relieve pain.

Acupuncture can treat internal and external diseases of women, children, facial features and other diseases.

The therapeutic effects are also different: for example, acupuncture has a sedative and tranquilizing effect, so it can treat insomnia; acupuncture has an analgesic effect, so it can treat various types of pain; acupuncture has the effect of relieving cough and asthma, so acupuncture can treat cough and asthma.

Acupuncture has an anti-allergic effect, so it can treat allergic diseases; acupuncture has an anti-inflammatory effect and can treat inflammations such as mastitis and bronchitis.

In summary, many of the therapeutic effects of acupuncture are achieved by dredging meridians, harmonizing Qi and blood, and harmonizing Yin and Yang.

Preparing yourself properly before the first acupuncture appointment will help you receive the treatment better. 

• Set aside time before and afterment the appointment 

The initial acupuncture appointment will last about 75 minutes. Arrive 10-15 minutes earlier to settle yourself down, fill out the intake form, use the washroom, have some water etc. 

Bring all your current medicines and supplements

Your acupuncturist & TCM practitioner might prescribe you some herb medicines. It is important to tell your acupuncturist the medicines and supplements you are currently taking to avoid drug-herb interactions that can have harmful effects. 

• Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing

You might be requested to lie in different positions during the treatment. A loose-fitting clothing allows the acupuncturist to easily access the acupuncture points that need to be treated. 

• Come to your appointment with your appetite satisfied, we advise you arrive with an empty stomach.

Eat an appropriate amount of food, –not a big meal, before your appointment to maintain a suitable blood sugar level to prevent discomfort from overeating or light dizziness from hunger. 

The acupuncturist will ask some questions regarding the medical history, your diet, exercise routine, lifestyle and work to get a better understanding of your current condition. 

Based on the severity of the condition, the number of the needles used is between three to twenty. 

 Age, gender, body locations, and ethnicity etc. are factors that affect the depth of the needles. 

Acupuncture is a little to no pain procedure.

The acupuncturist will prepare the locations by draping it properly, and sterilizing the treatment points with alcohol.

Then we enter the newly opened one-time use stainless steel needles.

The needles will stay in your body for about 20 to 30 minutes.

During this time, the acupuncturist will twist the needles a couple times in order to get the qi and blood flow. All you need to do is stay still and relax. 

After the treatment is completed, all the needles will be removed and you can return to the normal activities.

Acupuncture is a minimal invasive, safe procedure with little to no side-effects. 

Some people might experience mild pain when the needles puncture the sensitive areas of skin, such as the face and fingers. 

There might be bleeding or bruising when the needles puncture the skin.

Some people might feel faint or dizzy.