As a naturopath, I approach the human body with a holistic understanding—looking at all its functions as interrelated. Based on the intake done during the Comprehensive Health Assessment, I may recommend acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal protocols as part of the individualized treatment plan. I use acupuncture to correct and help heal existing problems like acute pain, while working towards your body’s ability to restore itself. If you’re interested in simply coming in for acupuncture treatments, those can also be booked separately.
What exactly is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture comes from Ancient China, where it’s been practiced for over 2,000 years. It uses sterile, ultra-thin, stainless steel needles to relieve pain, increase energy, improve immune function and restore overall balance. Stimulating your body’s natural healing mechanism, the needles are inserted into different acupuncture points and meridians that correspond to specific organs and processes. Each one targets a place where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be excited. This excitement increases blood flow, while at the same time triggering the activity of your body’s natural painkillers.
What does Acupuncture do?
Acupuncture benefits your mind, body and soul. Influenced by ancient Chinese philosophy, culture, science and technology, Chinese medicine uses the concept of yin and yang, as well as the theory of Wu Xing, to explain exactly how the function of the body is balanced. From a neurophysical perspective, the stimulation of the meridians and acupuncture points increases blood flow and contributes to healthy nervous system functions. The needles stimulate the muscles, enabling them to both fire and relax. During the acupuncture session, your flow of qi becomes regulated, which restores health to the mind and body.
Who benefits most from Acupuncture?
Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. For patients that manage chronic pain stemming from various musculoskeletal ailments – such as previous injuries, osteoarthritis and active or sedentary lifestyles, acupuncture can make all the difference. It’s also quite helpful as a local treatment for helping to reduce the effect that a scar has on the fascia. Other therapeutic effects include increasing energy, improving mood and improving overall body function.
This ancient Chinese practice nurtures the parasympathetic nervous system—your body’s resting, digesting and healing centre. It gives your body the time and space it needs to heal and repair itself, prioritizing health and well-being above everything else. From a mental health perspective, acupuncture has been shown to be a valuable addition to the many treatment modalities that individuals use to overcome their mental health challenges.
Acupuncture is also beneficial for patients undergoing fertility support. Many studies have shown that using acupuncture as part of fertility and perinatal care can increase the chances of achieving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. It’s affordable and beneficial, and when used in conjunction with Western fertility treatments, acupuncture can help increase conception rates by. By helping to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine system, it can increase the chances of becoming pregnant, staying pregnant and having a healthy baby. Acupuncture can also help lower stress levels and can be done at anytime during fertility treatments. When you’re under stress, cortisol is released in the brain, which changes hormone levels and disrupts the pituitary balance, which is an important part of the reproductive cycle. In comparison to more modern medicine, acupuncture produces few or no side effects.
What is Cosmetic Acupuncture?
“Facial Rejuvenation” or “Cosmetic” acupuncture involves the insertion of needles at specific points in and around the face, neck and scalp. Benefits of cosmetic acupuncture include:
- Improved skin texture
- Improved skin elasticity
- Reduction of skin wrinkles
- Reduction of “double chin”
- Reduction of “drooping” of eyelids
- Minimization of pore size
- Reduction of acne
- Increased “brightness” of eyes
Reach out today to get started on your acupuncture journey!
