each session includes an assessment of how your symptoms are today and a brief follow-up on secondary issues. Your RMT or R.Ac will then leave the room for you to undress if needed and get on the table.

Consent is always requested for treatments and you are aaskes for feedback as the treatment moves along.

Each acupuncture session aims to cover two treatments whether you are refilling a herbal prescription, front or back treatment, adding relaxation massage or cupping and gua sha; an acupuncture session is tailored to your current and evolving needs.

Acupuncture pins are hair thin and most often gently inserted into the spaces between the muscles, tendons and bones. They guide the body’s natural healing response by honing on specific areas of pain, discomfort and tension.

A mild sensation on insertion or afterwards does not mean anything is wrong. It indicates that your Qi is at the surface of your body on this point and that this point was likely a good point choice. Notice that the sensation shifts within 2-3 breaths as Qi travels and disperses through the body. If you are uncomfortable, I can always adjust or remove the needles and choose another point

We want to feel Qi around the points to ensure the treatment it properly initiated. It’s common to feel warmth, travelling sensations, slight pulsing at the points, if not at first then as the points on the limbs begin to take hold, throughout your body it is common to feel relaxed and even fall asleep. When the treatment has moved qi through your channels, it’s common for people to wake up and feel lifted, rested and a bit of effortless energy.

This depends on the severity of your condition and your body’s ability to adapt to the treatments. Generally, a course of treatments begins with weekly or twice weekly.

Then we will gain a better understanding of the trajectory of your progress. Weekly sessions may continue for 1-6 months or more. Once you have stabilized to a ‘new normal’ we can reduce treatment frequency, and as long as your symptoms don’t return, we can progress to monthly or seasonal treatments.

Acupucnture is traditionally used to maintain good health and prevent disease before it occurs. Many patients visit the clinic momthly or seasonally for a ‘tune up’. This can be to adjust to the fatigue of autumn or the cold of winter or to ease menstrual cycle frustration and pain. It can also be used at the onset of lingering pain from an injury before it flares up.

Herbs are roots, branches, twics, leaves, seeds and occasionaly shells, follisized bones and dried bugs. As such, they come from the earth and they taste like dirt. They are means to be drunk in one or two gulps and followed with water as needed. They are not meant to be a slowly sipped savoury tea.

Some herbs are more bitter than others but these herbs are usualy to treat an acute flare up or severe pain.

Many formulas contain common kitches spices such at cinnamon twig, dried ginger, licorice root, red dates, barley malt, peppermint and tangerine peels. Some of these flavours you may recognize.

Many medicinal herns have active components (berberine, gingerols, tocopherols, ginsenosides, coumarins) that have been studied in the herbs or as an extraction.

Overall, when the formula is the right fit for you at the right time, the flavour will become more pallatable. The body will recognize that these are helpful for you and that familiarity actually changes the way you experience the flavour over time.

Yes, children can receive acupuncture adn registered massage therayp, at a shorter duration. Often children prefer suction cupping and tui na massage to acupucnture pins and we can adapt to that.

Amanda’s youngest patient past babyhood was 4 years old.

Evan’s youngest patient for massage therapy was 8 years old.

Yes, acupuncutre is safe during pregnancy. There are no pins on the abdomen, and inner ankle during pregnancy to ensure safety of the baby. There are treatment protpcols to assist with pre-birth acupuncture, breach position and labour induction when warranted.

Acupucnture during pregancny has been well documented by Debra Betts in New Zealand who wors closely with midwives and maternity patients. She modernized several point prescriptions for acupuncutre during pregnancy, from first trimester nausea to third trimester back pain.

Yes, at this time, Amanda accepts open ICBC claims with direct billing.

Depending on the duration of your claim, you may be asked to complete progress assessments and follow up visits to your medical doctor to ensure acupuncture is the right fit for your recovery.