Tag Archive for: Traditional Chinese Medicine

The Ins and Outs of Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a safe and gentle treatment suitable for all ages. It has been used for several thousand years as part of a complete system of medicine that originated in China, known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Treatments include: TCM examination, diagnosis, and acupuncture, and may also incorporate lifestyle counseling, fire cupping, Gua Sha, and Chinese massage techniques known as Tui Na. 

Afraid of Needles?

Acupressure can be used for patients who have a fear of needles or a tendency to faint.

How Acupunture Works and What It Treats

Acupuncture works on both mental/emotional and physical levels. It can help with a wide range of issues including, but not limited to, the following:   

  • Acute and chronic pain (osteoarthritis; injuries, including sprains and strains; headaches/migraines; body pain e.g. neck, frozen shoulder, back, knee sciatica; fibromyalgia; facial pain including TMJ; surgery preparation/recovery
  • Mental health (including depression, stress, grief, anxiety, and addiction)
  • Gynecological concerns (such as heavy bleeding, painful cycles, PMS, fertility, symptoms of menopause)
  • Skin conditions (rashes, hives, acne, eczema)
  • Neurological disorders (MS, neuralgias, stroke, palsy)
  • Respiratory disorders (asthma, bronchitis, allergies)
  • Digestive disorders
  • Sleep (insomnia, fatigue, lethargy)

Acupuncture can also be used on an ongoing basis to maintain health and well-being and enhance/support physical and mental performance. 

How Many Treatments Should I Expect to Have?

The number of acupuncture treatments required depends on the condition. Most acute issues will need a minimum of 3-4 treatments; whereas, chronic conditions will require more. It is recommended that you start with treatments once or twice a week until symptoms improve.  

Take the Next Step!

Our registered acupuncturists are here to answer any questions you might have. Initial appointments are 60 minutes and follow-up appointments are 45-60 minutes. Book your first acupuncture allergy treatment at Diversified Health Clinic today, or contact our clinic to learn more.

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Acupuncture Allergy Treatments: Natural Relief From Achoos! 

Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Are you searching for a natural alternative to antihistamines for treating your allergies? Whether you suffer from bouts of seasonal allergies, indoor allergies, or allergic reactions year-round, here’s how acupuncture allergy treatments help deliver relief.

Spring and summer are favourite seasons for many, but higher pollen counts can wreak havoc on seasonal allergy sufferers. At the onset or worsening of allergy symptoms, many allergy sufferers rely on antihistamines to get them through the season. Unfortunately, antihistamines can come with unwanted side effects, including drowsiness. Because of this, many allergy sufferers look for more natural, long-term allergy treatments. 

Regardless of what triggers your allergies, you deserve relief, and acupuncture allergy treatments are a natural option worth considering! Acupuncture allergy treatments can provide immediate and long-term relief from many allergy symptoms, including itching from eczema and urticaria. And, unlike medication, acupuncture doesn’t come with side effects–unless you consider relaxation one of them. 

How Acupuncture Allergy Treatments Work

If you’re new to acupuncture, it helps to know what acupuncture is. A practice that’s over twenty-five hundred years old, acupuncture’s ancient origins belong to a methodology known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Traditional Chinese Medicine has evolved over thousands of years and includes various treatments that address both the physical and psychological aspects of the body.

A key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the concept of life-energy referred to as qi (pronounced “chee”). According to TCM, our bodies contain energy channels referred to as meridians, which carry qi and connect our organs and tissues. When qi is out of balance or blocked, pain and ailments arise. Conversely, when qi is rebalanced, pain and ailments are relieved. 

The practice of acupuncture involves the strategic placement of thin needles at specific meridian points along the body to stimulate and restore the balanced flow of qi. Acupuncturists know which acupuncture points to stimulate according to your allergies and symptoms. Acupuncture also takes into account that two people may have the same ailment while experiencing different symptoms, therefore requiring tailored treatments for effective relief. 

What to Expect

The stainless steel needles used for acupuncture are extremely thin and are rarely felt when going in, placed at shallow depths at targeted meridian points. While many patients find acupuncture treatments relaxing, you may experience occasional discomfort when specific meridian points are stimulated, best described as a feeling of heaviness or pressure, which your practitioner will adjust to ensure your comfort throughout your treatment. 

Immediately following treatment, you may feel energized, extremely relaxed, or slightly sleepy. For this reason, It’s best to allow yourself a few minutes after treatment to relax and enjoy a glass of water or cup of tea before driving and resuming your usual activities.

There is no downtime required following acupuncture, but depending on your treatment plan and objectives, your practitioner may make personalized recommendations to ensure you receive the most benefit from each treatment. 

How Many Treatments are Required?

While a single acupuncture allergy treatment can help relieve allergy symptoms, the best results are often seen from multiple treatments to maintain results. 

Do Acupuncture Allergy Treatments Come With Any Risks? 

It is vital that you only pursue acupuncture treatments from registered acupuncturists to avoid infection or complications. 

Other rare but possible side effects include:

  • Potential bruising, temporary redness, or itching where a needle was inserted
  • Allergic reaction to needles
  • Muscle twitching or spasms

Your acupuncture practitioner will go over these risks with you. 

Take the Next Step

Get relief from allergies—book your first acupuncture allergy treatment at Diversified Health Clinic today, or contact our clinic to learn more.

Your first appointment will include a health assessment that will help your practitioner tailor your treatments to your specific needs and objectives and allow you to ask any questions you might have. 

When you call to book your appointment, let our front desk staff know if you are on a health benefits plan that covers naturopathic/acupuncture treatment. We offer direct billing and can help process your claim. 

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acupuncture With a history of 2000 to 3000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has formed a unique system to diagnose and cure illness. The TCM approach is fundamentally different from that of Western medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromess

The TCM approach treats Zang–fu organs as the core of the human body. Tissue and organs are connected through a network of channels and blood vessels inside human body. Qi (or Chi) acts as some kind of carrier of information that is expressed externally through Jing-Lou system. Pathologically, a dysfunction of the zang-fu organs may be reflected on the body surface through the network, and meanwhile, diseases of body surface tissues may also affect their related zang or fu organs. Affected zang or fu organs may also influence each other through internal connections. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment starts with the analysis of the entire system, and then focuses on the correction of pathological changes through readjusting the functions of the zang-fu organs.

Evaluation of a syndrome not only includes the cause, mechanism, location, and nature of the disease, but also the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of syndromes. Therefore, those with an identical disease may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different diseases may result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.

The clinical diagnosis and treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine are mainly based on the Yin-Yang and Five element theories. These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature to the study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its interrelationships. The typical TCM therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi-gong exercises. With acupuncture, treatment is accomplished by stimulating certain areas of the external body. Herbal medicine acts on zang-fu organs internally, while Qi-gong tries to restore the orderly information flow inside the network through the regulation of Qi. These therapies appear very different in approach yet they all share the same underlying sets of assumptions and insights in the nature of the human body and its place in the universe.

Article written by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners & Acupuncturists of British Columbia