In this article, we explore the why behind acupuncture:
Although Canadians generally seek acupuncture for chronic health conditions, it also works very well for acute issues.
For example, the very fine needles allow acupuncturists to directly stimulate the shoulder capsule in frozen shoulder or tiny muscles under large thick muscles near the spine. The needles can also be used near inflamed areas that would usually be too sore to manipulate immediately following an injury.
Acupuncture can provide long-lasting, drug-free relief.
Acupuncture is an effective way to get drug free relief from a large range of issues including allergies, headaches, digestive issues, hormone imbalances, repetitive strain disorders and mental-emotional disorders.
Dr. T.J. Gan of Duke University reviewed 30 high-quality studies and found that acupuncture can treat migraine and headache pain as effectively as (or even better than) using pain medication. As acupuncture has fewer side effects and more side benefits, it was deemed a good choice of treatment.
Acupuncture is recognized by most medical plans.
For lower income families, acupuncture is recognized by the Medical Services Plan of BC with coverage of $23 per visit for up to 10 visits. If you qualify, you will be eligible to claim reimbursement for covered services during the calendar year in which you qualify. (You are responsible for paying the full cost of treatment up front.)
Acupuncture is covered by most extended medical plans — and I offer direct billing to many of them. Contact your provider to verify your coverage before booking.
Acupuncture is only one aspect of overall treatment within Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes that a health condition is rarely just one symptom. For example, a migraine occurs in the head, but also can affect blood circulation in the whole body, digestion, neurological processing of light, sound and smells, and more.
During an acupuncture treatment, we examine your health history for patterns to relieve not only the main complaint, but also to reduce the chance of it recurring.
Other traditional therapies may include cupping, gently scraping the skin, herbal ointments, heat therapy, food choice modifications and sleep/exercise suggestions.
Mild electrical stimulation of the acupuncture points (similar to TENS machines at a physiotherapy office) are sometimes used to reduce muscle tension and more strongly activate points without pain.