The 5,000-year-old Chinese art of acupuncture involves the stimulation of specific points on the body by a variety of techniques, usually hair-thin metallic needles, to treat or prevent illness. It’s relatively new to this country, but it’s rapidly gaining acceptance for many ailments. In 1997, after looking at thousands of studies and interviewing leading researchers, a panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health of USA concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, surgery in adults and post-operative dental pain. Getting needled, the panel said, can also be helpful in combination with other therapies in the treatment of addictions, stroke rehabilitation, headaches, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma and much more.

No. A very gentle needling technique is used. The sensation experienced from an acupuncture needle is nothing like that of a hypodermic needle. In fact, acupuncture needles are 1/10 the thickness of a hypodermic needle. These tiny instruments are individually packaged at the manufactures and, of course, completely sterile. Used only once, they are discarded after each treatment.

Practitioners of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine believe that good health depends on the proper flow of a vital energy called qi that moves through our bodies along invisible meridians, or pathways and through all the organs of the body. Inserting needles into particular points along these meridians can move this life force back into proper balance. Western researchers have their own theories: One is that acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. This idea hasn’t been proven, and conventional medicine still cannot explain this ancient theory, but a number of studies show that acupuncture does bring about real physiological changes, sometimes using acupuncture points that are far from the point of pain or other tissue.

In one study, for example, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center used advanced imaging equipment to view the brains of nine patients — four pain sufferers and five healthy people — while they underwent acupuncture. In every case, the researchers saw blood flow increase in the thalamus, a kind of relay station for pain messages in the brain, along with other changes in the brain stem and cortex.

Acupuncture is an extremely safe therapeutic procedure. Our experience, training and remaining current in the profession ensure you are being given the best care possible.

Your safety and well-being is our primary concern. We use the highest-quality disposable equipment available. We encourage our patients to continue all current treatments, therapies and medications as advised by their physician.

We understand why most of our patients seek help from The Acupuncture and Massage Healing Centre.

Typically, they are using acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to enhance the health care they are receiving or because standard therapies, medications and treatments have been ineffective. Others are seeking a more natural treatment as a way to regain control of their own health. Whatever your reason might be we will treat you the way we like to be treated ourselves. Your case will be approached in a sensible and practical way. We will start with a treatment-trial to determine if acupuncture will work for you. As the treatments progress a cumulative response should be realized, with subsequent treatments scheduled accordingly.

Today more people than ever seek help from acupuncture because it:

• Relieves pain
• Regulates and strengthens the activity of the internal organs
• Helps normalize functional disorders
• Boosts immune system
• Calms the mind, relieve anxiety and nervousness
• Relaxes and strengthens the muscular skeletal system
• Reduces nicotine and drug addiction
• Integrates well with traditional medical care

The world Health Organization has stated “Generally speaking, acupuncture treatment is safe if it is performed properly by a well trained practitioner. Unlike many drugs, it is non-toxic, and adverse reactions are minimal.” Accordingly, those considering acupuncture treatment should ensure that they select a practitioner who has adequate medical training and experience. Patients should ask about where the practitioner trained, how long the training was, how long the doctor has been in practice, doctor’s academic degree, and what experience the doctor has had in treating patient’s specific disease.

An initial visit typically lasts for about 60 minutes. Each treatment after that lasts for about 45 minutes. We try to stay on time because your time is as valuable as ours.

The number of treatments that you will need will vary according to your condition. One or two treatments may be sufficient for some acute conditions. Chronic problems usually require a longer treatment period with results not evident until after a few treatments. Acupuncture treatments produce a cumulative effect with time, so you will be able to increase the duration of time between visits as the results build.

Nutritional, herbal and other therapies are often recommended as a way of enhancing the treatment.

We will often recommend adjunctive therapies to enhance your care that include therapeutic massage, cupping or acupressure with one of our experienced therapists, nutritional support or Chinese herbal formulas.

Of course. The best practice among acupuncturists in Canada today is to use sterilized, individually package, disposable needles. Needles should not be saved and reused for later treatments. This eliminates the possibility of transmitting some kind of communicable diseases by contaminated needles.

We will recommend a schedule of treatments that will provide the fastest response. The frequency varies by the case. As our patients are feeling better, they are expected to increase the time between visits. This process is continued until there is no longer a need for treatment, or until maximum improvement is.

We accept Cash, Visa, Mastercard or Debit.

While some insurance carriers recognize acupuncture, others still do not. We encourage patients to check with their individual policy first.

Yes, Acupuncture, Massage, Shiatsu, Reflexology are frequently covered by employee benefits.

If you have employee benefits, we may be able to bill your insurance company directly for your treatments .

In case your insurance company does not allow direct billing, you can send your receipts to the insurance company and obtain reimbursement. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any assistance.

Herbs are an essential part of Chinese medicine. Often, herbal formulas are recommended to facilitate the results of treatment. We use the safest and the highest-quality formulas available. All of our products have been tested and meet the strictest biological, ecological and environmental standards.

Western Herbal Medicine tends to use one or two herbs to treat just a specific symptom. A Chinese Herbal formula has as many as 12 different herbs. The herbs are selected to work synergistically to treat the whole person. In Chinese medicine, due to our diagnostic system, we are able to assess a persons whole constitution (the health of their whole body) and treat the root (or cause) of a health concern along with a branch (or the symptoms) of a health concern. It is in this way that we are able to treat a person’s whole body and mind, rather than just a symptom.

Cosmetic Acupuncture is a risk-free way to see immediate results in your skin’s appearance. Best of all it is a non-surgical procedure requiring no drugs or injections and produces minimal unwanted side effects.

Just as automobiles need tuning up to prevent break down, and also as you teeth need cleaning every six months, people need Tune-Ups to find and correct small problems before they become big ones.

A Human Tune-Up can correct a wide range of health problems and early stage of diseases which include: headache, neck, and shoulder stiffness and pain. asthma, emphysema, chronic coughing, upper back, lower back, legs or feet pain, improving memory, helping you look and feel younger, achieving your ideal body weight.

Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture are very effective for preventing problems, to ward off early signs of illness, as well as promoting healing of more advanced disease. Scheduling a Human Tune-Up every six months will keep your body in peak health, much as regular dental check-ups result in a healthy set of teeth.

Our doctor will quickly check out your problems by touching your pulse and reading your tongue. No instruments are involved. When a problem is detected. A combination of acupuncture, herbs, massage, and some special adjustment techniques are used to treat the problems appropriately.