Not just for pain and injuries, acupuncture is one of my favorite tools for helping women balance their hormones, have happier periods, boost their fertility, calm digestion, and more. My go-to tool for helping busy women de-stress, improve their mood, and sleep better - if you haven't tried it, you're seriously missing out. 

What is acupuncture?

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is thousands of years old and is arguably the oldest form of medicine still in practice today. It has only been in the last ~50 years that acupuncture has gained popularity throughout the Western world and we are now seeing many different methods or styles of acupuncture in use today. I choose to practice, and am extensively trained in, specifically the eastern or traditional form of acupuncture, which is based in TCM principles. This is in contrast to western styles of acupuncture, such as dry needling.

What to EXPECT

The logistics

INITIAL APPOINTMENT

I prefer to offer acupuncture only to my existing patients, meaning I require an initial visit prior to recommending a series of acupuncture treatments. This is because I don't know how (nor do I want to) take off my naturopathic doctor "hat". I view this as an advantage of receiving acupuncture through the care of an ND: I ensure all of the bases of western medicine are covered before utilizing acupuncture to augment your individualized and comprehensive treatment plan. Together, we will decide if acupuncture treatments are right for you.

*However, on a case by case basis, I will take on 'acupuncture only' patients. In this scenario, you still require an initial naturopathic consult, however we do a shortened, focused intake, allowing enough time for an acupuncture treatment as part of the initial visit. This must be indicated upon time of booking.

Appointment frequency

When starting out, I recommend weekly acupuncture for 4-6 weeks. This can seem like a big commitment, however it is when best results are achieved. Afterwards, we begin to space towards maintenance visits with the goal of maintaining your original improvements. My regulars swear by their ~monthly acupuncture sessions, benefiting greatly by maintaining visits at least every 4-6 weeks throughout the year, although some can push it as far as 8 weeks without a regression. That being said, research has shown that patients can maintain their original improvements even months after completing a series of acupuncture sessions without the need for maintenance care.

Acupuncture is a treatment that involves the insertion of sterilized, disposable needles through the skin into the underlying tissues at specific points on the body. If you’ve never experienced acupuncture before, it can seem a little scary - especially if you have a fear of needles. But it’s not as bad as it looks - many people find the process extremely relaxing and some even drift off to sleep.  The needles are far smaller than a hypodermic needle, in fact not much thicker than a hair, so that many people find the experience is entirely painless.

All acupuncture visits are up to 30 minutes in duration - plan to arrive on time and allow a little extra time after your appointment to get dressed and checked out.

APPOINTMENT LENGTH