What is Acupuncture?Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning by stimulating the flow of “Qi” (pronounced chee). Qi can be influenced and balanced by stimulating specific points on the body. This is done by inserting needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points. “Traditional Chinese medicine plays an important and valuable role in the health and well-being of many Ontarians. This legislation ensures the public has the choice of regulated and qualified practitioners who are accountable to a regulatory body.” Deb Matthews- Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
What to Expect: A certified acupuncturist recognized by a provincial health regulatory body will arrive at your home or office with everything needed to perform an acupuncture treatment.
Words can not describe how amazing my acupunture treatments have been. Acupunture has been able to help me with a variety of my problems. Whether physical or emotional there is a acupunture spot to help. Through acupunture, I’ve received relief for back pain, headache, sinus congestion, and anxiety and stress. I never failed to be amazed at what acupunture can help with and the service from “in your home therapy” has been amazing.
– Bettina in Burlington
The World Health Organization has a list of conditions it feels acupuncture can treat that includes:
Starting April 1, 2013, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture practitioners are required to register with and accountable to the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario. The college will oversee and regulate the profession to ensure patients receive safe, high quality health care services. Due to the recent changes in Acupuncture regulation in Ontario and the lengthy registration process with the CTCMPAO not all of our certified Acupuncturists are presently recognized by the college. Please contact us to see if we have a CTCMPAO certified Acupuncturist in your area. Several other regulated health professions are permitted to perform acupuncture, including chiropody, chiropractic, dentistry, massage therapy, nursing, occupation therapy, physiotherapy and naturopathy.
The philosophies of how acupuncture actually works are many. There are scientific views and esoteric views. The modern scientific explanation is that needling the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system.
In Canada all acupuncture needles are disposable, typically made of stainless steel preventing them from rusting, breaking, and making them flexible. An Acupuncturist will only use a needle once and will dispose of the needle in a medially approved sharps container. Needles vary in length between 13 to 130 millimetres (0.51 to 5.1 in), with shorter needles used near the face and eyes, and longer needles in more fleshy areas i.e. Quads, gluteals and hamstrings. The needle diameters vary from 0.16 mm to 0.46 mm, with thicker needles used on more robust patients.
The skin is sterilized with alcohol, and the needles are inserted sometimes with a plastic guide tube. Needles may be manipulated in various ways, i.e. spun, flicked, twisted or moved up and down. Since most pain is felt in the superficial layers of the skin, a quick insertion of the needle is recommended and usually pain free depending on the area treated. Acupuncture can be painful a treatment, The style of the acupuncturist may influence how painful the needle insertion is, and a sufficiently skilled practitioner may be able to insert the needles without causing any pain.
