Acupuncture

Ancient drawings have been found from as early as the Shang Dynasty, almost 5,000 years ago, of people getting acupuncture treatments. Can you believe that! It can be used to treat almost any condition and has been used successfully for thousands of years-literally-to help people heal!

When you get an acupuncture treatment, extremely thin needles are inserted into very specific points on your body. These needles are usually only inserted about as deep as your thumb is wide, so you won’t have to freak out over the idea.

Acupuncture rarely hurts. Some people feel a dull ache or a tingling sensation when the needles are put in, and occasionally points around fingers and toes are a little sharp, but the sensation passes quickly. Once they try it, most people love acupuncture as it is very relaxing and enjoyable.

With an acupuncture treatment, you get to lie down for about 30 minutes and let the needles do the work. We’ll go slow and make sure you feel safe and comfortable along the way, even if you’re scared of needles. Naturopathic doctors usually put in about ten needles in these precise acupuncture points, with each needle corresponding to what you’re being treated for.

By the time you’re done, you should feel much more aligned and balanced and your pain should be significantly lower!

There’s evidence that says that acupuncture works by stimulating nerves in the fascia, which is a connective tissue beneath your skin and surrounds your muscles, organs, and bones. Other evidence suggests that acupuncture helps activate your immune system and this has beneficial effects.

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, acupuncture works by directing the energy and information of your body, collectively known as Qi. Sometimes this means bringing more Qi to an area, and sometimes it means dispersing Qi and helping it flow more smoothly, helping you to get better!

In TCM, energetic meridians run throughout your body. These meridians are named after Western organs, like your heart and your liver. When we make a TCM diagnosis, it tells us which meridians or organ systems are out of balance. We then choose acupuncture points to help bring those meridians and your body back into balance.

Rest assured, licensed naturopathic doctors receive comprehensive training in acupuncture and we get more training than medical doctors and physiotherapists who do acupuncture! Naturopathic doctors go through hundreds of hours of combined classroom and clinical training, including TCM philosophy, diagnosis, and needling techniques to make sure we are making safe and effective decisions in your care.

As primary health care providers, naturopathic doctors have more than one tool in our toolkit. Every person is unique, and our holistic approach to treating you may or may not include acupuncture. Our holistic approach may incorporate things like diet and lifestyle modifications, botanical medicine, and homeopathy into a tailor-made program just for you.

Discover a holistic approach to your acupuncture! Call our clinic today to set up a consultation!