Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of treatment that involves inserting very thin needles through a person’s skin at specific points on the body, to various depths.

Traditional Chinese medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of “yin” and “yang” of the life force known as “qi”. Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. Qi is said to flow through meridians, or pathways, in the human body. These meridiens and energy flows are accessible through 350 acupuncture points in the body. Inserting needles into these points with appropriate combinations is said to bring the energy flow back into proper balance.

Acupuncture is most commonly used to:

• Reduce chronic pain
• Reduce the risk of arthritis
• Relieve migraine headaches
• Prevent nausea and vomiting
• Manage anxiety
• Reduce insomnia
• Minimize heartburn and indigestion

Other potential physiological effects and health benefits of acupuncture include:

• Increasing peripheral circulation
• Augmenting skin and muscle blood flow
• Decreasing heart rate and reducing elevated blood pressure
• Regulating autonomic nervous system
• Normalizing gastro-intestinal motility
• Boosting immune function
• Balancing reproductive hormones

All these therapeutic effects can lead to relaxation, pain reduction, reduced muscle fatigue recovery time, improved mood and concentration, restful sleep, decreased IBS related symptoms such as bloating and constipation, and shortened duration of cold or flu.  As well, acupuncture has been known to lighten depression and anxiety in those who suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS); it can also ease overactive bladder symptoms.  Studies have also shown that acupuncture can be effective in correcting breech presentation and can help induce labor.

Naturopathic Doctors are trained in acupuncture from a physiotherapy perspective and do intramuscular stimulation in order to provide alleviation of symptoms while treating the symptoms from a different perspective than TCM.