Everyone experiences acupuncture differently; the majority of people do not find acupuncture painful, as the needles are very thin. Many describe it as relaxing and some people even fall asleep during treatment. Most individuals feel the initial insertion describes as a slight pinch similar to a mosquito bite without the itch. After the needles are inserted you may feel various sensations ranging from: nothing at all, a vague numbness, heaviness, dull ache, or slight tingling.

We always use sterilized, single-use disposable, surgical –grade stainless steel needles. These needles come in a pre-sterilized sealed package and are discarded after every use.

The number of treatments varies from person to person. Acute problems usually respond quickly with treatment and can often be resolved in a single session. With chronic conditions, significant results can be seen within 6-8 treatments. The total number of treatments depends on:

• Severity of person’s condition
• How long the condition has existed
• The overall health, energy & motivation of the patient

For Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture Sessions it is recommended to have 6-10 sessions within 8-12 weeks for best results. Followed by a maintenance session every 1-2 months afterwards to maintain results.

For Microneedling Sessions, best results are achieved with 3-6 sessions booked 4-6 weeks apart. Results can last up to 5 years.

In order to complete a thorough health history consultation and receive a treatment, typically the initial visit is the longest and can last approximately 90 minutes.  Follow-up sessions are shorter, usually 75 minutes.  After a complete diagnosis has been taken, other therapies, such as moxibustion, acupressure, gua sha, energy healing, and complimentary exercises may be incorporated with the acupuncture treatment.

5 Element Transformational Healing Sessions are commonly used for fertility, preventing disease, strengthening the immune system, controlling pain, alleviating anxiety and depression, reducing stress, regulating endocrine and digestive function, optimizing women’s health and treating childhood illness. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions regarding your individual health concerns.

Absolutely, prenatal acupuncture is a great drug-free way to provide relief from many of the discomforts associated with pregnancy, such as nausea, severe vomiting, fatigue, anxiety, stress, insomnia, bleeding, heartburn, hemorrhoids, pain (back, joint and pelvic girdle), edema/ swelling, sciatica, elevated blood pressure, gestational diabetes, urinary incontinence, headaches/migraines, constipation, and itching. Acupuncture is an excellent way to prepare the mother and baby for labour and can be used to correct breech position (up to 34 weeks).

*Cosmetic acupuncture is not recommended during pregnancy. Please speak to Ashley to discuss alternatives.

Acupuncture is safe and effective, free from adverse or addictive side effects. For a small number of patients, Drowsiness, minor bleeding or bruising can occur from acupuncture; in less than 3% of patients, symptoms may become worse before they improve for 1-2 days following treatment. This is usually a good sign. Please advise you acupuncturist if worsening of symptoms continues for more than 2 days. Quite often, a sense of relaxation and calm occurs during the after treatments. While undergoing therapy for one ailment, other problems may resolve concurrently. This is a common side benefit that demonstrates the value of balancing quality and quantity of “vital energy” within the entire body

Herbal formulas are carefully designed to meet your specific needs and realign your individual imbalances. Side effects from the herbal remedies are rare as each body part receives a particular and desired effect through gentle influences on the body systems. The most common side effect from using herbal therapy is stomach upset, which is easily remedied by taking the herbal formula with meals or reducing the dosage for a short period of time until the body has had time to adapt to the formula.

Many people describe the feeling as being deeply relaxed. The majority of people feel relaxed and a bit sleepy after a treatment; some people may feel an energy surge. Similar to a course of exercise, some people experience an achy feeling for up to 24 hours after the first acupuncture session. It is important to note that everyone may not experience this feeling, but it is completely normal and nothing to be concerned about.

No special clothing is required for your treatment. Many patients prefer to dress comfortably, wearing loose clothing so that their arms and legs are accessible. If it is required to access your back or other areas that require the removal of clothing, we will drape you appropriately with a sheet.