Acupuncture is a technique in which tiny needles are inserted into specific points on the body.  When these points are stimulated, they have an affect on the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is a safe practice when performed by a trained professional.

There are different types of acupuncture.  Jennifer performs acupuncture in accordance with Traditional Chinese Medicine Theories.  Chinese Medicine has been used for thousands of years and is one of the oldest forms of medicine. It is based on the theory that there is a vital force, called Qi, that is circulating throughout the body. It flows through channels and organs.  These channels flow throughout the body and act as gateways that connect our inner organs and tissues to the outer layers of our bodies. By utilizing acupuncture points along the outer channels of the body, we can influence the vital energy and restore balance to organs and tissues.

Acupuncture needles are extremely thin and cause very little discomfort. Often times, people don’t feel them being inserted at all. Other times, you may feel a slight pinching sensation upon insertion of the needle.  Once the needles are inserted, you may experience various sensations such as tingling, pressure, heaviness or warmth, or you may not feel anything at all.  Most people feel very relaxed once the needles are in place.

Acupuncture supports the body’s ability to heal itself. It helps to restore normal functions of the body, and in this way, it helps to alleviate pain or other symptoms you may be experiencing.

Your acupuncturist will work to treat the root cause of your problem(s) by looking at the full presentation throughout your entire body. Any symptom that you are experiencing is showing up because of an underlying imbalance.  By pulling all of the pieces together, this imbalance can be addressed and proper functions within the body can be restored.

The time is dependent on the nature of the condition(s).  Short term or acute conditions will tend to require only a handful of treatments whereas chronic or long standing issues will typically require more time.

A good rule of thumb for chronic issues is to commit  to  6 - 10 acupuncture sessions,  allowing  the acupuncture treatments to build upon each other and support the body while it heals and restores.

Needles are typically retained for about 30 minutes.  A few specialized treatments will require 45 minutes. If indicated, other treatment modalities (i.e., cupping, Gua Sha or Tui Na massage) may be used in addition to acupuncture to support healing and circulation or blood and Qi (vital energy force).

Registered Acupuncturists require 6 years of post-secondary education to obtain a Masters of Science in Acupuncture.  This education includes two years of undergraduate studies and 4 years of full-time graduate studies at an approved College for Acupuncture.

Not all acupuncture professionals require an intensive 4 year training program. Many other professions can perform acupuncture after completing a weekend acupuncture workshop.  These professionals are trained using different theories and do not utilize the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach of energy meridians and TCM diagnostic techniques.

Yes.  Acupuncturists are governed under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA). This same legislation regulates 25 other health professions, some of which include chiropractors, naturopaths, dentists, and medical doctors.

No. At this time, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) does not cover acupuncture. However, acupuncture services may be covered by your extended health care plan and can be claimed as a medical expense deduction on income taxes.

The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO) has a registry that lists all of the Registered Acupuncturists in Ontario. This registry can be found at https://www.ctcmpao.on.ca