Richmond Hill Acupuncture Treatment

What is Vital Energy?

Acupuncture presupposes the existence of a vital energy, or “Qi” (pronounced “chi”), that is essential to life and that flows throughout the body. This energy is transported by a system of energy channels called meridians. These meridians represent a large network of pathways, both superficial and deep, that enable a connection between the inner and outer aspects of our bodies.

Acupuncture stimulates and corrects imbalances in the flow of Qi through our meridians.

How Do Meridians Work?

Acupuncture points are found all over the surface of the body, and exist at very specific locations along the meridians. Mapped and documented for thousands of years by Asian societies (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, etc.), these points have their own characteristics and connections related to bodily functions and health.

Meridians are energy pathways that connect through all the organs in the body. Energy flows can become imbalanced and develop blockages over time. This disruption is manifested as physical pain, and can stem from a number of causes such as disease, pathogens, past injuries, over-medication, as well as lifestyle-related factors such as stress, a poor diet, overwork or lack of sleep

Because meridians help to regulate and coordinate physiological processes, imbalanced or blocked meridians can disrupt the natural balance in the body.

How Do Acupuncturists Choose Which Points to Stimulate?

Our Richmond Hill registered acupuncturists have many years of experience and training, and by selecting specific points on the body to insert the needles they can help rebalance energy flow and manage pain or discomfort.

The selection and method of stimulation of these points are determined by the acupuncturist and based on Traditional Chinese Medicine energy and pattern diagnosis. By selecting a combination of points, the treatment will have an effect on one or more bodily organs, areas or functions, and therefore act on a set of varied symptoms related to the initial cause of the imbalance.

What Happens During an Acupuncture Treatment?

Your acupuncture provider will usually give you an exam, and ask questions about your pain and how well you are functioning. He or she will also ask about your overall health. Then your provider will determine the acupuncture points best able to access and release any blocked chi. They do this by locating specific landmarks on your body, using the placement of your muscles and bones as a kind of map to best locate the appropriate points.

After the provider finds the points, he or she will quickly tap very thin needles into your skin. It is common to use several needles in this process. Some may be placed deeper than others, depending on what the provider believes is needed to restore the flow of chi.

Every provider is different, but in most cases treatment lasts for 15 minutes to an hour. You may have several visits to complete your treatment. Some people enjoy ongoing visits throughout the year.

What is Acupuncture Most Commonly Used to Treat?

Acupuncture can treat physical ailments such as neck or back pain, menstrual cramps, dental pain, headaches and more. But acupuncture can also provide relief from discomfort associated with chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well as respiratory disorders such as rhinitis.

At our Richmond Hill location, we design each treatment session to provide maximum effectiveness, all in a comfortable and calming environment.