As 2010 comes to an abrupt halt, and a brand New Year is about to begin-- a time for new resolutions, promises for positive change usually happen right around this time.
What is your New Year's Resolution? Incorporating more exercise into a daily routine, eating less, eating better, less stress, and enjoying life more? Typically, resolutions are made to alter how we will treat our minds and bodies in the up-coming year. What better way to approach (and stick to) a New Year's resolution than with the help of a natural alternative? Let acupuncture help you to bring balance into your life by; aiding digestion, improving energy, regulating hormones and reducing stress. Acupuncture treatments also have a long term effect of boosting the immune system, relaxing the mind, and by helping improve will-power and motivation-- to help keep resolutions all year! Start 2011 on a healthy note, make this year an incredible one by exercising regularly, eating more organic fruit and vegetables, and adding acupuncture to your health routine.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Christmas Gift Certificates!
Stumped with what to get that special someone who has everything? Tired of giving more stuff? Give the gift of health this holiday season!
With every Acupuncture gift certificate, recieve a 20 mL bottle of Hagina Japanese Mint oil --FREE!
Japanese Mint Oil is a great stocking stuffer that has a multitude of uses. From easing headache pain to muscle cramp relief, it's a great natural liniment that smells good too.
Come into Klinik to finish your Christmas shopping today!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Stay Healthy this Winter with 5 Easy Tips!
Winter tends to be the time for cold and flu season. With colder temperatures and more rain-- our bodies are more suseptible to lingering pathogens, compounded by busy holiday schedules, unhealthy habits and stress, that can make your body feel worse. Try the following tips for a healthier holiday season and find more time and energy to spend with family and friends instead of sick in bed!
1. Avoid colds and flus by washing hands thoroughly. This alone will combat so many viruses and prevent transmission of unwanted germs.
2. Drink plenty of fluids-- Ginger root tea helps to warm the body and flush out toxins. Grate a thumb's size amount of ginger into 2 cups of boiling water and drink. Not only will this help with colds and flu, it's also great to help nausea.
3. Get plenty of sleep -- adequate and undisturbed rest will help promote a healthy immune system, and help fight off lingering pathogens that much faster.
4. Practice healthy stress prevention techniques --even though the holidays can be a busy time of year, it is important to manage stress properly with regular relaxation techniques. Trying meditation, yoga, or breathing techniques are so much better for your system than reaching for that sugar cookie or the last beer, as refined sugar can weaken the immune system. Regular exercise will also help strengthen the immune system.
5. Visit your Registered Acupuncturist BEFORE symptoms appear. Acupuncture works very well to help boost the immune system and diminish stress even before pathogens have a chance to strike, boosting one's energy to combat germs naturally with no side-effects. Visiting your acupuncturist once the cold or flu has already set in, will help reduce symptoms and speed up recovery time.
*Remember! Colds are caused by viruses, there is no medication available for the 300+ viruses that can cause a cold. Therefore, it doesn't make sense to go to the Doctor to be given a prescription for antibiotics that can cause harmful side-effects. Antibiotics treat bacteria. With adequate rest and liquids, diminished stress, it will eventually go away on it's own. A visit to your acupuncturist will speed this process along so you can get out of bed and enjoy the Winter season!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Protecting the 'least among us'
By Brian Lindstrom and published by the Oregonian, 11/9/2010
I was recently in Germany and Denmark documenting innovative uses of acupuncture in the treatment of mental illness and drug addiction. What I encountered brought into sharp focus what would be available to us if we as a society prioritized the well-being of children and people suffering from mental illness and addiction.
About an hour outside of Hamburg, a man by the name of Wolfgang gave me a tour of the residential drug treatment center he runs. It resembles a quaint boarding school, possessing none of the institutional drabness I've come to expect after filming in Oregon, Washington, Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. Wolfgang's clinic uses only acupuncture-no medications- in treating drug withdrawl. Through an interpreter, a 35-year-old female crack addict told me this approach "calms and focuses me, greatly reduces my symptoms and cravings, and makes me think the answer to healing my addiction is within me, and is accessed through acupuncture."
I asked Wolfgang how long addicts typically had to wait for admission into his clinic. He didn't understand my question, so I asked again. As I was about to ask a third time, it dawned on me the confusion wasn't due to language, but to Wolfgang's inability as a physician to comprehend why any patient should have to wait for treatment.
I explained to him that in Portland, people sleep outside every night of the year in hopes of being admitted to Hooper Detox the following morning. Because of space limitations, many are turned away. It's common for an addict to try five or six times before getting admitted. Wolfgang looked at me in stunned silence, then sadly shook his head.
In Copenhagen, I filmed Mette, a psychiatric nurse and acupuncturist as she visited "social psychiatric" organizations - neighbourhood homes turned into drop-in centers - using acupuncture to treat mental illness. The acupuncture, often done in small groups, and the homey atmosphere help create a sense of warmth and community. At one of the homes, a woman was in the kitchen making a cake to celebrate her first bridge crossing in four years -- an important victory over one of her phobias. Later, she shared the cake with another woman who, after giving birth to her third child, suffered such severe post-partem depression that she couldn't adequately care for her newborn. Now, after the benefits of social psychiatry, she is able to mother her baby.
The next morning, Mette and I drove her 13-year-old son, Jakob, to school. The school started like any other, with all the students (ranging in age from 5-15) and the teachers in the gym for morning assembly. "Smoking is Crap," a song written by one of the classes, was sung by the entire assembly. Next the principal, a vibrant woman in her 60s, called a 13-year-old boy to the front of the gym. She warmly put her arm around him and extolled a detailed list of his virtues and accomplishments. Then everyone sang him "Happy Birthday". He smiled deeply, hugged the principal and sat down. Next, a five-year-old girl stood up and explained that she had lost a ninja turtle toy and would like it returned in case any one found it. You could tell it was hers, she explained, because she wrote her name on the toy turtle's foot.
I was struck by the focus and calm of the assembled students, who numbered about 75. There was no name-calling, no texting or disciplinary problems, and the maturity of the older students was demonstrated by the 5-year-old girl's complete confidence that her missing toy alert would be taken seriously. And it was.
The classes at the school have no more than 20 students, and music, art and P.E. are required daily. In summer, there is a six-week vacation. I asked Mette what it costs to send Jakob to the school, bracing myself for Catlin Gabel-like numbers. "Two hundred dollars a month, " she answered. I resisted the urge to inquire about Denmark's immigration policy.
My wife and I are self-employed. We paid more than $14,000 last year in health insurance and medical bills. One of our two children sees an occupational therapist for one hour a week. Our insurance company just informed us that it will no longer cover any such visits for the rest of this year. Paying out of pocket, our bill will be $425 a week, but the visits have helped our child make great strides in both fine and gross motor skills.
The relevant question here isn't: "What should my wife and I do?" or "What should you do?" The question that must be asked is why are any of us content with health care and educational systems that make a mockery of what seems to me to be the purpose of any worthwhile government or society: to protect the "least among us," in this case of our children and people suffering from mental illness and addiction.
I'm reminded of the old Talmudic saying: "If I am not for me, who will be for myself? If I am for myself only, what am I? If not now, when?"
Brian Lindstrom is a Portland filmmaker and director of the upcoming documentary: Alien Boy: The death and life of James Chasse.
In Vancouver, we do have social programs available for addicts and those who suffer with severe mental illness. The sad fact is that typically the wait-list is so long, many people can't access the help they need. There are a few community-based acupuncture clinics in and around Vancouver that offer accessible treatments within an open space. This type of acupuncture utilizes distal points in a community environment at a fraction of the price. Quite often the NADA five-needle protocol is used along with other supplementation points. NADA has had very good results with treating addictions, helping calm the mind and allowing the patient to focus better. Treatment involves five points on the surface of the ear (shenmen, sympathetic nerve, kidney, lung and liver), administered by a NADA "acudetox specialist". Klinik is not set-up for community acupuncture but the NADA protocol is offered to those patients who are looking for an alternative -- and treatments are available on a sliding scale to those who can't afford to pay for full treatments.
I was recently in Germany and Denmark documenting innovative uses of acupuncture in the treatment of mental illness and drug addiction. What I encountered brought into sharp focus what would be available to us if we as a society prioritized the well-being of children and people suffering from mental illness and addiction.
About an hour outside of Hamburg, a man by the name of Wolfgang gave me a tour of the residential drug treatment center he runs. It resembles a quaint boarding school, possessing none of the institutional drabness I've come to expect after filming in Oregon, Washington, Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. Wolfgang's clinic uses only acupuncture-no medications- in treating drug withdrawl. Through an interpreter, a 35-year-old female crack addict told me this approach "calms and focuses me, greatly reduces my symptoms and cravings, and makes me think the answer to healing my addiction is within me, and is accessed through acupuncture."
I asked Wolfgang how long addicts typically had to wait for admission into his clinic. He didn't understand my question, so I asked again. As I was about to ask a third time, it dawned on me the confusion wasn't due to language, but to Wolfgang's inability as a physician to comprehend why any patient should have to wait for treatment.
I explained to him that in Portland, people sleep outside every night of the year in hopes of being admitted to Hooper Detox the following morning. Because of space limitations, many are turned away. It's common for an addict to try five or six times before getting admitted. Wolfgang looked at me in stunned silence, then sadly shook his head.
In Copenhagen, I filmed Mette, a psychiatric nurse and acupuncturist as she visited "social psychiatric" organizations - neighbourhood homes turned into drop-in centers - using acupuncture to treat mental illness. The acupuncture, often done in small groups, and the homey atmosphere help create a sense of warmth and community. At one of the homes, a woman was in the kitchen making a cake to celebrate her first bridge crossing in four years -- an important victory over one of her phobias. Later, she shared the cake with another woman who, after giving birth to her third child, suffered such severe post-partem depression that she couldn't adequately care for her newborn. Now, after the benefits of social psychiatry, she is able to mother her baby.
The next morning, Mette and I drove her 13-year-old son, Jakob, to school. The school started like any other, with all the students (ranging in age from 5-15) and the teachers in the gym for morning assembly. "Smoking is Crap," a song written by one of the classes, was sung by the entire assembly. Next the principal, a vibrant woman in her 60s, called a 13-year-old boy to the front of the gym. She warmly put her arm around him and extolled a detailed list of his virtues and accomplishments. Then everyone sang him "Happy Birthday". He smiled deeply, hugged the principal and sat down. Next, a five-year-old girl stood up and explained that she had lost a ninja turtle toy and would like it returned in case any one found it. You could tell it was hers, she explained, because she wrote her name on the toy turtle's foot.
I was struck by the focus and calm of the assembled students, who numbered about 75. There was no name-calling, no texting or disciplinary problems, and the maturity of the older students was demonstrated by the 5-year-old girl's complete confidence that her missing toy alert would be taken seriously. And it was.
The classes at the school have no more than 20 students, and music, art and P.E. are required daily. In summer, there is a six-week vacation. I asked Mette what it costs to send Jakob to the school, bracing myself for Catlin Gabel-like numbers. "Two hundred dollars a month, " she answered. I resisted the urge to inquire about Denmark's immigration policy.
My wife and I are self-employed. We paid more than $14,000 last year in health insurance and medical bills. One of our two children sees an occupational therapist for one hour a week. Our insurance company just informed us that it will no longer cover any such visits for the rest of this year. Paying out of pocket, our bill will be $425 a week, but the visits have helped our child make great strides in both fine and gross motor skills.
The relevant question here isn't: "What should my wife and I do?" or "What should you do?" The question that must be asked is why are any of us content with health care and educational systems that make a mockery of what seems to me to be the purpose of any worthwhile government or society: to protect the "least among us," in this case of our children and people suffering from mental illness and addiction.
I'm reminded of the old Talmudic saying: "If I am not for me, who will be for myself? If I am for myself only, what am I? If not now, when?"
Brian Lindstrom is a Portland filmmaker and director of the upcoming documentary: Alien Boy: The death and life of James Chasse.
In Vancouver, we do have social programs available for addicts and those who suffer with severe mental illness. The sad fact is that typically the wait-list is so long, many people can't access the help they need. There are a few community-based acupuncture clinics in and around Vancouver that offer accessible treatments within an open space. This type of acupuncture utilizes distal points in a community environment at a fraction of the price. Quite often the NADA five-needle protocol is used along with other supplementation points. NADA has had very good results with treating addictions, helping calm the mind and allowing the patient to focus better. Treatment involves five points on the surface of the ear (shenmen, sympathetic nerve, kidney, lung and liver), administered by a NADA "acudetox specialist". Klinik is not set-up for community acupuncture but the NADA protocol is offered to those patients who are looking for an alternative -- and treatments are available on a sliding scale to those who can't afford to pay for full treatments.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Acupuncture-- A Natural Choice for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Do you find that as the days get shorter in the Fall months, lack of sunshine, colder temperatures, bring you down? Experience symptoms such as; anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, high blood pressure, decreased libido and excessive sweating? You may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D, but acupuncture can help!
S.A.D. effects approximately 2-3% of Canadians, and people with S.A.D make up 10% of all depression cases. Women are 8 times more likely to be effected than men, and typically those who are under 50.
Your family Doctor can provide a diagnosis to rule out thyroid dysfunction or other forms of depression. Light therapy and antidepressants are often prescribed, but often with dangerous side-effects.
Acupuncture is one natural treatment option that works by releasing noradrenaline and serotonin in the body with a series of treatments. Acupuncture is also safe enough to use in conjunction with medications to help decrease side-effects. It works by stimulating specific points along the meridians to help balance energy, regulate hormones, and to help address the underlying problem with no side-effects! It is also important to factor in proper dietary measures, ensure that you are getting a minimum of 20 minutes of outdoor activity daily, and to try going to bed and awaking early to maximize time spent in natural day light.
If you or someone you know is feeling depressed there are many types of treatment and many resources for natural treatment options. If you looking for a natural alternative, try acupuncture and start enjoying winter again!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Acupuncture can Ease Shoulder & Neck Tension
It seems like this is the time of year when muscles are more prone to contract, pain in the upper back and neck region sets in. Whether it's due to colder temperatures causing us to bring our shoulders up around our ears, or forgetting to close windows at night allowing muscles to contract when the body temperature lowers as we sleep, or stress that compounds in that area-- neck and shoulder tension sets in!
Acupuncture is a great tool along with a lot of different modalities for easing musculo-skeletal pain in the upper body.
*Acupuncture itself helps to release local Qi (energy) and blood stagnation which can manifest as neck rigidity and tension, compromising movement.
*Cupping techniques allow for more oxygen to flow through the area and improve circulation of the tissues to release tension.
*Moxabustion aids by warming the needle and bringing more energy into the tissues to also help release tight muscles.
*"Tuina" is a form of massage that manipulates soft tissue in the area, increasing blood flow, easing tension and allowing for more movement.
All of these techniques help ease pain and also work as a preventative measure, especially when used in combination with regular stretching, breathing techniques and exercise.
Contact your Registered Acupuncturist to help ease neck soreness and muscle tension.
,
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Massage Steal of a Deal!
Klinik welcomes our new Registered Massage Therapist, Amy Schultz. Amy specializes in deep tissue massage. Come into Klinik and book a session with Amy and recieve $10 off your initial treatment! A perfect way to ease tension and stress, and save a few dollars!!!
http://www.klinikvancouver.com/
http://www.klinikvancouver.com/
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Are you ready for Cold & Flu Season?
Fall is a great time of year, the leaves change color, the sun sets earlier and the air gets a little cooler. Fall is a time when our bodies become more introverted or 'Yin' in nature--as we tend to spend more time indoors, making soups and stews, preparing for a cold (or wet!) winter. It is typically in Fall, that are bodies may be more susceptible to illness and our immune systems weaken as we adapt to colder temperatures. In chinese medicine, external pathogenic factors are responsible for invading the body when the immune system is down and make us more susceptible to viruses and influenza.
This is a perfect time to come in for an acupuncture treatment. A treatment can help build up the body's natural defense mechanisms, expel pathogens and help relieve that 'run-down' feeling. In chinese medicine, the Common cold is often seen as 'Wind- Cold invasion'. Symptoms of fever and/or chills, sneezing, white sputum, aches and pains usually arise. When this developes further to influenza -- this is often catagorized as 'Wind-Heat invasion' accompanied by symptoms of fever, sweating, flu, yellow sputum, sore throat and cough. Not only is it beneficial to come in prior to illness setting in but by coming in as soon as symptoms set in can also help expel it out of your system, alot faster.
Acupuncture, moxabustion, guasha and cupping are all techniques used to make one feel healthier, as well as Chinese herbs like; Yin Chiao (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Clean Toxin Pill) or Blue Poppy's 'Cold Quell' both are well-known cold formulas to help people get back on their feet. For more questions, ask your Registered Acupuncturist.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Klinik's (first ever) Open House!
Everyone Welcome!
To: Klinik, A Health Collective's Open House
Sunday, October 3rd 1-4 pm
#101 225 East 17th Avenue (Main St. & 17th)
604.876.8764
Please visit the website for details.
http://www.klinikvancouver.com/
Refreshments will be served!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Menopause & Alternative Solutions
Menopause is a naturally occurring phenomenon that will affect all women at some stage in life (typically around 45-63), and is a natural part of aging. But the transition doesn't have to be a dreaded process, symptoms of menopause can be managed with acupuncture and traditional chinese herbal medicine. Hormone imbalances can be maintained often with as little as a few treatments.
Menopause occurs when there is a decrease in the amounts of estrogen and/or progesterone being produced in the body. This can result in symptoms as varied as; hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, memory loss, headaches, joint aches/pain, insomnia, decreased libido, increased urination, and weight gain.
Physicians usually prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to aid in the symptoms, however there are often serious side-effects that go along with this. HRT can increase the risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Women may also experience; bloating, cramping, spotting and breast tenderness. Synthetic hormones can never replace natural ones.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Institute of Health (NIH), Acupuncture is a viable treatment option for menopause. It is a natural, alternative without side-effects that aids in rebalancing the body's reaction to a depletion of hormones. A Registered Acupuncturist will conduct a detailed assessment and form a diagnosis based on a specific pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine. By point selection, the use of herbs, moxabustion and/or auricular therapy- the treatment of menopause can be very successful when combined with a diet low in dairy, red meat, alcohol, sugar, and caffeine.
Contact your local Registered Acupuncturist for more information!
"I was experiencing menopause with such intense hot flashes, my face would light up instantly! My Doctor prescribed HRT- but I had a horrible time with the side-effects-- I wanted to try another method. That's when I decided to try acupuncture in combination with Chinese Medicine and found the combination worked really well for me." -- Heather J.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
PanAfrican Acupuncture Project
It is the beauty and versatility of this medicine that enables its use in any environment!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Acupuncture & Depression
The term 'Depression' can be used to cover a multitude of diagnoses; anything from Stress Disorders to Bipolar Disorder, Post-partum Depression to Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D).
These conditions vary with each individual but may include symptoms of: mood changes (often grief or irritability), changes in appetite, fatigue/lethargy, body aches and/or pains, disinterest in activities that were once enjoyable, and thoughts of suicide.
Western medications such as Prozac, Celexa, or Zoloft can be effective, but often these only manage the symptoms and can cause other serious side effects.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective alternative that helps to balance out the body and the mind together. By stimulating acu-points along the meridian or energy pathways, helps the body to relax, improve moods, increase energy levels and increase Serotonin levels (the neurotransmitter that effects mood). Acupuncture is also safe to use with western medications to help manage side-effects and can be used with psychotherapy to improve the over-all effect.
The term 'Depression' can be used to cover a multitude of diagnoses; anything from Stress Disorders to Bipolar Disorder, Post-partum Depression to Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D).
These conditions vary with each individual but may include symptoms of: mood changes (often grief or irritability), changes in appetite, fatigue/lethargy, body aches and/or pains, disinterest in activities that were once enjoyable, and thoughts of suicide.
Western medications such as Prozac, Celexa, or Zoloft can be effective, but often these only manage the symptoms and can cause other serious side effects.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective alternative that helps to balance out the body and the mind together. By stimulating acu-points along the meridian or energy pathways, helps the body to relax, improve moods, increase energy levels and increase Serotonin levels (the neurotransmitter that effects mood). Acupuncture is also safe to use with western medications to help manage side-effects and can be used with psychotherapy to improve the over-all effect.
Recently, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Stanford University, conducted a study using acupuncture on pregnant women with depression and found acupuncture to aid symptoms of depression and to be a viable treatment option.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Healthy Diet = Healthy Digestion!
Many Canadians suffer from a multitude of digestive disorders; Food Intolerance/Allergies, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Gastritis, and Acid Reflux, are only to name a few. If you are experiencing pain after eating, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, acupuncture can help. Acupuncture treatments along with a healthy diet -- one that is low in refined sugars, refined flour and overly-processed foods can provide relief, help with weight loss, and drastically improve energy. Come in to Klinik and meet Julia, our registered holistic nutritionist and receive a free mini-nutritional consultation with any acupuncture treatment. 
A study from the Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine concluded that acupuncture was effective in the treatment of chronic gastritis, resulting in a 95% effective rate. --JCM
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Ready to Kick the Habit? Acupuncture can Help!
Coffee, cigarettes, food, alcohol ... addictions are never easy to quit, especially when you're trying to do it alone. Many people try to find a replacement that often leads them back to the same place where they started. One recognized form of treatment is acupuncture. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture can effectively treat various addictions, often with just a few treatments. Acupuncture can curb cravings and help kick the habit by helping the mind relax and the body detoxify. Acupuncture has been used in government-funded addiction programs across North America and is part of the Vancouver Daytox program, right here in Vancouver. Acupuncture proves to be a, cost-effective, viable alternative that won't leave you craving for more.
"Jennifer was my massage therapist 'extraordinaire' for 4 years while working in Edmonton. During this time, apart from my regular massage, she had given me a couple acupuncture treatments to clear up some pain I was experiencing in my rotator cuff. The acupuncture worked very well for me; the pain has not reoccurred since the treatments. More recently, I had gone through an unsuccessful attempt to quit my smoking habit of 28 years. Jennifer suggested acupuncture with electro-stimulation; I agreed, and that was the last day that I had a cigarette! I just celebrated 15 months as a non-smoker on July 2nd." -- Sheryl Y.
Check out the National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA) at www.acudetox.com/ for more information.
"Jennifer was my massage therapist 'extraordinaire' for 4 years while working in Edmonton. During this time, apart from my regular massage, she had given me a couple acupuncture treatments to clear up some pain I was experiencing in my rotator cuff. The acupuncture worked very well for me; the pain has not reoccurred since the treatments. More recently, I had gone through an unsuccessful attempt to quit my smoking habit of 28 years. Jennifer suggested acupuncture with electro-stimulation; I agreed, and that was the last day that I had a cigarette! I just celebrated 15 months as a non-smoker on July 2nd." -- Sheryl Y.
Check out the National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA) at www.acudetox.com/ for more information.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Acupuncture for the Needle Phobic? It doesn't have to be a terrifying experience
What is it that makes most people a little shy of acupuncture? Is it the thought of a foreign object penetrating the skin? The idea of pain or injury caused by the needle? Ask anyone who hasn't experienced a treatment, and those are legitimate concerns.
But acupuncture doesn't have to be a scary process. The actual acupuncture needle is 1/10 the size of a regular hypodermic needle, essentially the same diameter as a few human hairs. The reason why an acupuncture needle doesn't cause bleeding is that is that the edge of the needle is rounded or polished, this tends to push the cells aside, where as a hypodermic needle has a sharp point, like a knife blade that can slice through. Acupuncture points are usually situated away from major blood vessels, therefore bleeding does not typically occur. Most people feel a little 'prick' once the needle goes in, a similar sensation to a mosquito bite, that dissipates after a few seconds. Common sensations are a feeling of pressure, or electricity once the needle taps into the energy or 'Qi'.
Still not convinced? There are many modalities that a Registered Acupuncturist can use instead of needling and still be very effective; Cupping - to help relieve muscle tension and relieve cold symptoms; Guasha - a technique using tiger balm, effective for sinusitis; Tuina (or massage) using acupressure points to relieve muscle tension and bring about relaxation; and Moxabustion used for warming cold conditions and improving circulation and energy flow. Acupuncture doesn't have to be scary, the more people know about this wonderful medicine, the less uncertainties remain.
"I was nervous about the needles, and could feel my skin getting clammy. But after a few treatments, I welcomed the needles, I knew they would be so soothing." -- Paul Buck
Monday, June 28, 2010
New to Acupuncture? Why you should choose a Registered Acupuncturist
Acupuncture has been utlitized in Eastern cultures for more than 3000 years, in the West we are just beginning to explore the benefits of this wonderful medicine and apply it to mainstream medical care! This healing modality is gaining in popularity with more medical practitioners practicing acupuncture than ever! In B.C. acupuncture techniques are practiced by physiotherapists, medical doctors, and naturopathic physicians; training hours vary from 50 to 250 hours. Registered Acupuncturists have a minimum of 1900 hours with a mandatory 50 hours of continuing education every two years to keep up with registration standards. A registered acupuncturist must graduate from an accredited three year acupuncture program, pass written and practical provincial exams- based on; diagnosis, point-location, and needling techniques in order to offer safe and effective treatment plans for patients. Are you wanting to maximize your healing potential in a natural, safe, drug-free way? Choose a Registered Acupuncturist!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Get $10 off your first visit
We are in the process of sending postcards to friends of Klinik. Here's a copy of what we are sending out. If you are interested in receiving, let me know and I would love to send you one!
First post!
Hi there!
Welcome to my blog! I'm excited to be sharing information about acupuncture with you. As I'm just starting, I hope you will be patient if I make any mistakes :)
I am passionate about acupuncture and the impacts it can make on your overall health. Please drop by Klinik just off Main St in Vancouver if you have any questions about acupuncture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)