Acupuncture: We offer Chinese and Japanese style acupuncture to treat a variety of conditions. The needles are very fine, sterile stainless steel, inserted on specific points to enhance your body's natural healing response. Don't like needles? Michele has specialized in non-insertive japanese acupuncture techniques utilizing a teishin (a silver tool pressed to an acupuncture point as shown on the baby's foot below) or magnets taped to the acupuncture points. Yes you can have the benefits of acupuncture without being needled!
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Cosmetic Acupuncture: Cosmetic acupuncture utilizes traditional acupuncture techniques with a special focus on the face. Specialized tiny facial needles are used to release muscle tension that may be contributing to wrinkles and fine lines, increase collagen production, and bring qi and blood to the face. By improving blood flow and boosting collagen production, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is diminished. Skin texture, age spots and blemishes can also be improved. Your session will include acupuncture, facial gua sha and cupping. Contraindications to cosmetic acupuncture include migraines, hypertension, and pregnancy. However, these conditions can be addressed with traditional acupuncture sessions!
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Shiatsu: Japanese for "finger pressure", shiatsu uses finger and palm pressure as well as gentle stretching along the same meridians used in acupuncture to harmonize energy flow in the body, loosen tight muscles, and promote well being. Studies show clients receiving shiatsu reported improvements in symptom severity and changes in their health-related behaviour that they attributed to their treatment, click here to read the study. Shiatsu is performed on a mat, fully clothed and is suitable for children and adults.
Cupping: We practice traditional fire cupping as a part of acupuncture sessions when appropriate. The fire heats up the air in the cup, creating suction as the cup is placed on the skin. It does not burn, but it does create reddish or purple marks as circulation is promoted in the area underneath the cup. It feels great and is a wonderful treatment for pain, colds, and congestion. Cupping helps to break the pain-spasm-ischemia cycle that is common in chronic muscle tension and pain conditions and helps to stimulate an immune response. Click here to read more.
Pediatric Acupuncture: Japanese style pediatric acupuncture, shonihari, is used on children from newborn to about 12 years old, and is a non-insertive technique. Children receive light touch diagnosis, and special non-insertive tools are used to gently massage the skin or touch points. Children find this treatment quite pleasant, and the shoni-hari method is highly regarded in Japan as effective treatment and preventative medicine
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Herbal Consultations: We are now offering herbal consultations independent of acupuncture! Michele will use pulse and tongue diagnosis along with a thorough intake to determine the best course of action for your condition. We can compound your herbal prescription using raw or granulated powdered extract herbs or encapusulate it for you.
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Chinese Herbal Medicine: Chinese herbal medicine has been used in China for thousands of years, and is an important component of Traditional Chinese medicine as practiced today in China. We have a well stocked chinese herbal pharmacy that includes almost 200 raw and granulated powdered extract herbs. Our pharmacist Karen compounds your custom herbal prescription with raw herbs to be cooked into tea, granulated powdered extracts or capsules. We also stock popular asian patent medicines including cough syrup, weight loss tea, and herbal pain patches. An herbal consultation is included in any hour long acupuncture session with Michele , which will include a thorough intake and discussion of your health goals. The cost of your prescription depends on the dosage and type of herbs you choose. Michele is the recipient of the 2013 Mayway master's scholarship, read her essay about the efficacy and availability of chinese herbs here.
Thai Massage: Traditional Thai massage is a combination of acupressure and yoga-like stretching techniques that uses the therapist’s fingers, thumbs, elbows, arms and feet on the body’s muscles, pressure points and energy lines (“Sen”) to clear energy blockages and balance the body’s energy. Aubrey has completed a 4 day intensive in traditional thai massage with Mukti, and travelled to Chiang Mai to further his studies. Thai massage is performed on a mat, please wear comfortable clothing that allows for movement.