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MY APPROACH TO
YOUR TREATMENT
MY PHILOSOPHY
I believe in your body. I believe in its wondrous ability to restore and maintain physical, mental, and emotional wellness. But, we could all use a helping hand from time to time. Using acupuncture, bodywork, and Chinese herbal medicine, we give your body support and guidance to initiate its innate healing process. The guiding philosophy for my practice is to provide a safe, inclusive, compassionate, and empowering space for individuals to be seen and heard, to decompress, and to blossom into their greatest vision for themselves. It is my hearts joy and honour to be a holder of space, a relentless cheerleader, and a gentle guide, but ultimately a witness to your personal journey. The Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh said it best: "The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers."
MY PRACTICE
In my practice, we collaborate to achieve your health goals. Ultimately, the purpose of our time together is to empower you. This looks different for each person, and often looks different with each session. Chinese medicine is highly individualized and treats the person where they are in the present moment. Because nothing is static, and we seek transformation, our treatments together will also transform.
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I have a general practice which tends to focus on digestive health, mental and emotional wellbeing, gynecological health, stress, fatigue, pain, and the maintenance of good health. If you are curious if Chinese medicine can be helpful for you too, please contact me!
YOUR VISIT
BeforE:
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After booking your treatment, you will be emailed an intake form to complete before our session via a secure, online charting platform.
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Before your visit it is best to eat a small meal or snack, and arrive well hydrated.
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Please avoid the consumption of caffeine and alcohol prior to your appointment.
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If you intend on exercising this day, try to do it in the morning before your appointment.
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If possible, it is best to wear comfortable and loose-fitting clothing. If this is not possible, not to worry, we will use draping techniques.
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DurIng:
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Our first session together is 90-minutes. We will get to know how you are doing, what your current concerns are, and what your goals for treatment are. We will discuss your lifestyle habits, how you are sleeping, what your emotional state is, how your bowel movements are, and more. Seemingly unrelated information is often intimately connected to your chief concern in Chinese medicine. This means if you come in for reoccurring headaches, I may also inquire about your digestion or your menstrual cycle.
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Then Chinese medical diagnostic procedures will occur such as feeling your pulse, palpating your abdomen, and palpating your acupuncture channels.
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We will discuss your current state of health under the lens of Chinese medicine, and outline a treatment plan. This includes what we will do together such as acupuncture, massage, cupping, and/or gua sha. It also includes what you may do on your own, such as taking a prescribed Chinese herbal formula, or adopting dietary and lifestyle suggestions.
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This is followed by an acupuncture treatment. You will rest and relax for approximately 30-minutes once the needles are in. Most people find this time very relaxing, and often have a little sleep.
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60-minute follow-up visits are similar with a briefer check-in about any changes, and then an acupuncture treatment.
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After:
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Because an acupuncture treatment will take place during our first visit together, it is ideal to schedule some time for yourself after the treatment, if possible. This allows you to integrate the treatment, and elongates the feelings of deep relaxation one typically feels after an acupuncture treatment.
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Drink plenty of warm fluids, take a gentle walk if the weather permits, and be mindful of any mental stimuli you engage with.
WHAT CHINESE MEDICINE TREATS
Chinese medicine addresses a wide range of concerns. Some examples of areas where it may support you include:
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DigestION:
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Constipation
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Loose stools
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Bloating and pain
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Nausea and vomiting
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Acid reflux
Mental-emotIonal:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Emotional pain
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Stress
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Irritability
GYNEColOgy:
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Menstrual issues
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Premenstrual tension
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Morning sickness
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Fertility support
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Perimenopausal support
Pain:
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Headaches
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Joint pain
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Muscle tension or injury
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Numbness or tingling
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Sciatica
ResPIRATion:
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Common cold
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Seasonal allergies
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Sinusitis
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Asthma
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Shortness of breath
General + OTHER:
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Insomnia and fatigue
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Circulation issues
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Urinary issues
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Male impotence or infertility
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Dermatological conditions
HOW MANY TREATMENTS
How many treatments an individual requires varies according to what we are working on, how long it has been present, and an individuals constitution. Generally, we can say the following:
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Acute conditions: 3 - 5 treatments is ideal.
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Chronic conditions: 6 - 8 treatments is ideal.
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Because some chronic conditions cannot be cured, the goal of treatment is to help support one's condition with ongoing treatment.
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The benefits of acupuncture treatments are cumulative, therefore it is ideal to begin by seeing each other twice per week to gain momentum for one to two weeks. As we see improvements, we space the treatments out to once per week, then once every two weeks, until we get to once per month for maintenance. The goal is to gain forward momentum instead of having the appointments spaced too far apart, resulting in a regression of progress. Part of our treatment plan will include what you can do between treatments to support your bodies healing process. Part of this includes trusting your bodies innate healing wisdom, and it's own timing for healing.
ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES
My practice aims to be as environmentally conscious as possible, so we can focus on increasing our personal health without having detrimental effects on the health of the planet. While I am always looking for ways to improve, this is what I am currently implementing:​
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All paperless booking, charting, and billing.
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Use of acupuncture needles which use biodegradable packaging, recyclable plastic pouches and less plastic overall, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions during production.
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Avoiding over prescription of Chinese herbs, especially endangered or hard to grow herbs, avoiding the use of animal based herbs, and using biodegradable packaging where possible.
