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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Acupuncture 101

JoAnn Alafriz, BSc, Dipl ST, Dipl Ac
Acupuncture is a Chinese healing modality with over 5,000 years of history. It is a holistic style of treatment whereby fine needles are used to balance and improve well being. Many contemporary scientific studies demonstrate Acupuncture’s positive effect on many disorders.

The premise of Acupuncture is that Qi (vital energy) flows through channels of the body. When Qi is blocked or deficient, discomfort is felt. The goal: to rebalance the body and ensure the smooth flow of Qi.

Acupuncture needles are very thin and are inserted with a quick, light motion, with little discomfort. The needles are retained anywhere from 20 – 45 minutes. You can expect to feel a sense of relaxation and ease that will last for some time after treatment.

During the initial intake, various aspects of your health and habits are reviewed. A tongue and pulse diagnosis is taken (they reflect the health of the different organ systems). Based on the diagnosis, specific acupuncture points are selected to treat the condition at hand.

Clean needle technique in Acupuncture is a practiced and follows western medical standards of care. Single-use, pre-sterilized, needles are used.

The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturists of Ontario is forming. This College will fully regulate the practice of Acupuncture in the public interest.

Insurance coverage for Acupuncture is included in many extended health care plans.

I look forward to meeting with you.