What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a key practice within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that focuses on restoring balance and healthy energy flow throughout the body’s meridians (pathways). During treatment, thin, sterile needles are gently inserted at specific points to stimulate these pathways and support your body’s natural healing process.
How Can Acupuncture Help?
Acupuncture is widely recognized for its effectiveness in relieving both short- and long-term pain. It can also provide therapeutic support for:
- Pain Relief: neck, back, joint pain, and headaches
- Stress & Mental Health: anxiety, tension, and low mood
- Sleep & Energy: insomnia, fatigue, and overall balance
What to Expect at Your First Acupuncture Visit
Your first appointment will take about 60 minutes and begins with a detailed health assessment of up to 25 minutes. During this time, your Registered Acupuncturist will review your medical history, discuss your health concerns, and create a personalized treatment plan. Following the assessment, you will receive your first acupuncture treatment.
Follow-up visits are shorter and include a brief reassessment followed by treatment. Your Acupuncturist will insert very thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body to restore balance and promote healing. Needle insertion typically takes up to 15 minutes, with the needles remaining in place for 15 to 30 minutes.*
When appropriate, your Acupuncturist may also recommend complementary techniques such as Tui Na (therapeutic massage), Gua Sha (gentle scraping), or cupping to enhance your treatment.
*Please note: the times listed are maximum appointment lengths. Actual treatment times may be shorter depending on your individual needs and treatment plan.
Does Acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture is typically painless, but some clients describe feelings comparable to tingling sensation or a dull ache. The standard acupuncture needle is between 25mm to 50mm long and 0.25mm wide.
Acupuncture FAQ
Most people experience significant improvements in their health and well-being after Acupuncture treatments. However, it’s best to book an appointment with a Registered Acupuncturist who will help determine if Acupuncture is right for you.
Your Registered Acupuncturist will perform a health assessment, discuss your specific needs and health goals, then provide a customized, targeted treatment plan that offers the therapeutic benefits and solutions you need.
The meridian system, also called channels, is your body’s system of pathways through which energy and blood flow. It is a network that connects your nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic system and musculoskeletal system. Acupuncturists focus on the energy flow in the meridians to relieve obstruction which helps restore health to your mind and body.
Yes, in addition to the primary Acupuncture treatment, your Acupuncturist may recommend a combined treatment with one of the three additional techniques of Tui Na, Gua Sha or cupping.
Tui Na (pronounced tweena) – is designed to help promote circulation and relieve pain, this treatment includes acupressure, massage, stretching and manipulation. Techniques of pressing, rolling, grasping, rubbing and even gentle pounding are used to encourage the release of tension from myofascial tissue.
The purpose of Gua Sha is to help release excesses in the body and stimulate healing. Your Acupuncturist will use a specialized dull instrument made from plastic or metal and is moved down the muscles or meridians along the surface of the skin with repeated strokes. The treatment will cause redness to the skin and will disappear in 2-5 days.
Cups made of plastic or silicone and are placed over particular points on the body. A vacuum is created within the cup to draw the skin up. This treatment opens the skin’s pores, eliminating the blood stasis which helps to stimulate the flow of blood and helps release toxins from the body. The treatment will cause circular red marks on the skin and will disappear in 2-5 days.
Acupuncture is a recognized health care treatment covered by most extended plans. However, be sure to check with your insurance provider before your appointment to see how much is covered and if you require a doctor’s note in advance for reimbursement purposes.
In most cases, your insurance provider will offer direct billing. If they are not set up for direct billing with Massage Addict, please be prepared with an alternate form of payment. You may arrange for subsequent reimbursement with your insurance company.
Depending on the specific accreditation and regulatory requirements of your province, you may find that your Acupuncturist holds one of these three levels of certification.
- R. Ac. (Registered Acupuncturist)
- R. TCMP, R. Ac (A dual title designation and includes both Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Registered Acupuncturist)
- Dr. TCM (Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine – British Columbia only)
Rest assured, regardless of your location, all Massage Addict Acupuncturists will hold one of these protected titles.
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