We rarely question it, but Western medicine has its limitations.  Acupuncture Vancouver represents a holistic health practice that relies on a personalized health approach utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Each of our patients has a unique history and set of experiences, which is why we are dedicated to providing you with a treatment plan that works specifically for you.  But, if you’re new to Acupuncture Vancouver or you’re just getting introduced to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, you’re likely to have a lot of questions.  Now, we certainly can’t read your mind, but we can endeavour to address some of the most common questions about our practice.

Today, let’s take a moment to look at the history of and some of the most common conditions that can be managed by acupuncture.

In the late 1970s, the World Health Organization already recognized a wide variety of ailments that respond to acupuncture.  Indeed, they listed a myriad mental and physical health conditions that had already been shown to respond to acupuncture (to name a few):

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Acute sinusitis
  • Acute rhinitis
  • Acute tonsillitis
  • Acute bronchitis
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Juvenile myopia
  • Chronic pain
  • Acute and chronic gastritis
  • Constipation and diarrhea
  • Headaches/migraines
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Sciatica
  • Osteoarthritis
Acupuncture Vancouver

In the years since, research has shown that acupuncture can be used effectively in many more conditions from allergies and infertility to sexual dysfunction and even rheumatoid arthritis.

Acupuncture Vancouver has particularly seen success using this treatment for pain, stress management, and immune functioning as well as many of the conditions already listed (an many that are not).  But how does it work?

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture helps to balance your life force.  Known as chi, your life force is thought to flow through specific meridians (or pathways) in your body.  Using acupuncture needles at specific points on these pathways, acupuncture restores balance by improving energy flow.  Of course, there are also ways to interpret acupuncture from a Western medical model.  A Western acupuncture practitioner may explain that these points on meridians actually stimulate nerves, muscles, connective tissue, and blood flow to stimulate healing, release your body’s natural analgesics, and even improve immune functioning.

No matter how you interpret the mechanisms of acupuncture, it is a health intervention that has been practiced for more than 2000 years (and some evidence suggests the practice dates to more than 5000 years ago).  Many patrons of Acupuncture Vancouver have found relief through this safe and respected practice for a wide range of health concerns.