What is treatment like?
When you arrive at the clinic I will greet you at the front door. I will give you the opportunity to wash your hands and use the washroom if necessary. Once we are settled in the treatment room I will begin the intake process. This will be inquiring more deeply about some of the questions you answered on your online intake as well as bringing up questions you may not have been asked. When appropriate and if you are comfortable, we will use this in person time to chat more deeply about any emotional barriers that may come up in treatment if this applies to your condition. Once I have an understanding of your presentation and pattern I will ask you to lay on the table so I can check your tongue and pulses. I will then quickly discuss what points we are going to be using today and why we will use them before giving you a run down of what you can expect in terms of sensations etc. We will discuss potential side effects like bleeding or bruising (this is rare) and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Once we get the needles in I will leave you alone. For your first visit I will typically check on you in about 5 minutes to make sure you are comfortable but once you know what to expect from treatment you will be left for about 20 minutes to sit with the needles or I may come back after 10 minutes to stimulate the needles, depending on the treatment we are performing.
Once I pull the needles out I will leave the room so you can get up and when I return we will chat quickly about what I found in treatment, what you can expect your treatment plan to look like and any dietary or lifestyle advice that I believe will help with your recovery.
Does it hurt?
The short answer is, not really. I use pediatric, silicone coated needles to minimize any discomfort you may feel. On many points you are unable to feel the needle being inserted and be unaware of the exact area being treated, other points are a little more tender but there are no nerve endings below the dermis. What this means is that once the needle is through the skin you will not be able to feel anything. We are trained in needling technique to minimise the sensation so at most you will feel a very slight poke which is over in a second. This is not the same as a blood pull or IMS. The arrival of qi is a sensation that some find uncomfortable but many observe it as pleasant, it can be perceived as a slight shock or twitch. If you are at all nervous about the process we will work together using less sensitive points to build your confidence and you can trust that your boundaries will always be respected, I won’t push anything on you that you are not 100% comfortable with.
How many treatments will I need?
This is very specific to the individual. I have had one patient with chronic pain issues from an injury 25 years ago who was 90% recovered after the first visit. I have also seen someone take 5 visits to treat what should have been a simple condition. Generally speaking acute issues are often quicker to resolve than chronic issues. If it takes 10 years to get to the level of disharmony that you are currently at, it will not usually completely go away after 1 visit. A general guideline for chronic conditions is 1 treatment per week for 4-6 weeks, one treatment every other week for 4 weeks and then usually once per month for maintenance. It is much easier to keep ahead of an issue than it is to try and resolve something that has taken hold so when possible I will encourage you to come in once per month. During our initial visit we will discuss your treatment plan, your take home therapy and what recovery will look like for you.
What does acupuncture treat?
See our conditions page or check out the WHO list of conditions acupuncture treats.
What should I do to prepare for treatment?
Firstly, ensure you have filled out the questionnaire that is emailed to you after you book your appointment. On the day of your visit eat a light snack an hour or two before coming and wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing. If the clothing can’t be loose you can lay under the blanket and we will use draping techniques to keep you covered. It is important not to show up to treatment under the influence of non prescription drugs or alcohol as it can potentially be harmful for you or myself and will negate the benefits of that visit.
What should I do after treatment?
Post treatment you will often feel incredibly relaxed. I offer many later appointments as most people want to go home and rest after treatment. Drinking lots of fluids is helpful to ensure easy flow of all the changes taking place in your body. Avoid alcohol, drugs, sugar and processed / heavy foods when possible for at least the rest of the day.
Why am I sore / my symptoms are worse the day after treatment?
This is a positive sign! When a person is sore after treatment we call it a “healing crisis” and it indicates the response to treatment was strong. When something has been stuck in the body for a long time we develop holding patterns to compensate. With the release of the blockage causing the pain, we find we are holding ourselves in different ways and that can cause discomfort. Additionally, if we are treating an internal disharmony the process of letting go of long held congestion can cause a flare up of symptoms. Think of a dam with too much water behind it causing some to spill over the top. This will cause some flooding down the river but if we were to remove the dam completely there would be severe flooding for a period before the water system fell back into natural order, this is similar to how moving a block causing pain can affect the body. If you are ever concerned about how you feel after treatment I want to hear from you and help you put your mind at ease. We may decide we need to see you sooner than a week to help resolve some of your symptoms or I may offer some advice for you to do at home until our next visit. Either way you are always encouraged to send me an email if there is anything unexpected coming up for you.
Do you offer direct billing?
Yes! I direct bill to Pacific Blue Cross and the variety of insurance companies that fall under the Telus Health umbrella. If you are not sure if you are with Telus Health, a list of insurance companies can be found here.
Please note: some plans that fall under the Telus Health umbrella do not allow for direct billing. If this is important to you please check with your provider before booking.