I've been practicing holistic medicine since 2001 as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In Alberta, Canada, I am a Registered Doctor of Acupuncture through the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta and a Certified Functional Medicine practitioner through The Institute for Functional Medicine.
Acupuncture is one of the exceptional tools within the Chinese medicine framework, and it's one I use with most of my patients to help them Heal by Design.
If you'd like to schedule an Acupuncture session today, just click the link below otherwise read on to learn more about Acupuncture.
Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine involving the insertion of solid acupuncture implements (today we use needles) into the skin at specific points on the body to achieve a therapeutic effect by shifting qi (pronounced “chee”) (aka biochemistry and energy). Nothing is injected; he needles alone stimulate the beneficial effects of acupuncture.
Acupuncture needles are solid, usually stainless steel, generally measure from 13-70 mm in length, and have variable diameters. The needles are very fine, flexible and rounded but sharp at the tip which minimizes insertion discomfort. They are ‘atraumatic’, meaning that they do not have a cutting edge like a hypodermic needle. Their design allows them to slide smoothly through tissues and makes them unlikely to cause bleeding or damage to underlying structures. They cause minor micro trauma that is quickly healed by the body after needle removal.
Acupuncture use is based on a holistic view of the human body. It is used to encourage natural healing, improve mood and energy, reduce or relieve pain and improve the energy movement and biochemical function of affected areas of the body. It is safe and effective and is often successfully used as an alternative to medications and even surgery.
Acupuncture points (aka acupoints) are places on the skin that have a lower resistance to the passage of electro-magnetics than the surrounding skin and are part of a network of points that were mapped well over 2000 years ago by ancient Chinese people. Most acupoints are found along ‘meridians’ that are believed to be the pathways by which energy or qi – including your biochemistry – flows through our bodies.
Typically, the needles are left in place anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes depending on both what is being treated and the nature of the patient. Patients are usually very relaxed once the needles are in place, and nearly always fall asleep during a treatment!
Most illnesses present with a core set of recognizable signs and symptoms, but the actual presentation of a particular illness will vary from person to person. For this reason, people with similar health conditions may receive quite different acupuncture treatments. From a selection of about 2000 acupoints, I choose acupoints in patterns to treat patients’ underlying system dysfunctions. In this way, every patient can be treated based on their YOUnique, particular illness presentation. And as a patient’s condition changes and improves with treatment, the acupuncture point selection is adjusted and modified until the desired health outcome is achieved.
In my practice, I most frequently use acupuncture to help manage nearly any kind of chronic and acute pain issues; such as headaches, back and neck pain, knee and hip issues, etc, plus helping couples improve fertility outcomes, and helping to manage symptoms associated with challenging autoimmune conditions; such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis/hypothyroidism (my specialty), Celiac, Lupus, Diabetes, and many others. I can combine acupuncture with a laser, electro-acupuncture with TENS machine, cupping and moxibustion, as well.
If you're ready to have an expert help you Heal by Design using Acupuncture as one of the tools of therapy, you can either call the clinic for appointments at 403-942-7070 or schedule online using the link below.
