The WHO (World Health Organization) recognizes that Acupuncture can safely and effectively treat 140 recognized medical conditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been a standardized form of medical treatment for over 3,000 years. The publication of the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine (Huángdì Nèijīng 黃帝內經) occurred about 2500 years ago.

Acupuncture shifts the physiological state of the body into a parasympathetic state (aka. Rest & digest or calm & connect). In today’s urgency culture where our bodies are constantly stressed, being able to shift into this state is powerful. This state shift will last 4 days, unless there is a strong trigger to shift the body back into sympathetic (fight, flight, freeze etc); recognizing state shifts is an important puzzle piece in the healing process. Acupuncture, akin to a Yoga or Qi Gong class will untangle any knots in the body’s systems and help pain free mobility.

It is important to wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothing during your appointment. I will be using table paper, not linens, and you will be draped in your own clothing and remain as clothed as you prefer. Loose clothing will make accessing certain points more comfortable for you and easier for me. It would be ideal to not scrape the tongue or ingest foods which would change the colour drastically (ex. Charcoal, artificially coloured candies). Please have a snack before the session, and use the washroom previously. You will be on the table for thirty minutes to an hour. Refrain from any illicit substances or alcohol prior, otherwise I may refuse you treatment and at the least you will feel nauseous and may vomit.

So for anything from physical pain to emotional distress, an old painful injury to digestive complications: Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can provide solutions. Some folks may feel nervous of needles, which is completely understandable. This is not the invasive ‘dry needling’ a physio does nor is it like getting a vaccine. Single-use stainless steel filiform needles are inserted into tissue and skin until a sensation is felt. This may feel like a surprise and is important for an effective treatment; it is literally the muscle grabbing the needle and could feel like a twitch or electrical zing.

After the initial surprise the needle should ‘settle’ and there will be no more surprises. One may feel a dull ache, warmth, heaviness or some gentle shifting during the treatment. Pain, after the insertion and ‘surprise’ is not a part of treatment, and I will move needles superficially so that you can rest while they are in for 15-30 minutes. After the treatment, there maybe soreness or bruises at the site, these complications are rare and I practice preventative methods to decrease the chances. After treatment you may feel energetic or tired, I invite you to honour whatever is alive and give your system what it needs. 

Fortunately I am available on weekends, so you are hopefully able to move at your own pace after treatment. Going for a walk in nature, partaking in a restorative yoga class and cooking a nourishing meal with friends are some after-treatment ideas to increase the benefits.

Generally, the more acute a complaint the more often and shorter the treatment duration is; for chronic conditions a once-a-week treatment for a few months is more appropriate. Seasonal tune-ups are important especially during spring and autumn and can help increase immunity[1], quality and duration of life (by 24%)[2]. The initial consultation includes enough time for me to ask all the questions about your complaints and be able to treat you most effectively. During follow-up treatments I will continue to check-in and adapt to your needs. I look forward to supporting you on your journey to optimal health!

[1]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1566070221000230

[2]https://www.nccaom.org/blog/2016/02/11/let-your-love last/#:~:text=Acupuncture%20has%20been%20used%20for,by%20a%20stunning%2024%20percent!