Acupuncture releases natural painkillers, promotes blood flow, stimulates hormonal balance, relaxes tight muscles, calms anxiety, lifts depression, and promotes digestion.

Naturopathic Doctors are trained in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

This ancient Chinese therapy effects every major system of the body, including the cardiac, gastrointestinal, circulatory, cerebral, genitourinary, endocrine and immune systems.

Get to the point…

Some people explain acupuncture in terms of energy and meridians. While this is not wrong, it would be equally right to explain that the energy is based on nerve conduction and proper firing of the nervous system.

Each acupuncture point is a small area about 1cm in diameter. Points are where groups of nerves meet below a small opening in the fascia. Needling these points, electronically stimulating or even applying vibrational therapy or direct pressure activates the points. This will help dissipate energy that has built up or, alternatively, stimulate the flow of energy to the area. 

Did you catch that? Needles are only one way to stimulate the point. If you don’t like needles and wish to try a needle free way of stimulating the points, there are alternatives like vibrational therapy, tapping, acu-seeds or pressure. Some of these can be done at home and can be helpful between treatment sessions. 

For example, naturopathic protocols to heal the gastro intestinal tract or aid in digestion could include diet and lifestyle adjustments, botanical medicines, nutraceuticals and or acupuncture to stimulate (help constipation) or calm (help diarrhea). Pain, gas, bloating may be an imbalance in flora and increased dampness in the body. There are points to reduce dampness, and drain lymphatics in addition to addressing the dysfunctional stool. 

Porcupine safe! Sterile single use stainless steel needles are used in acupuncture practice

Acupuncture:

1. Relieves pain.

2. Reduces inflammation.

3. Brings balance in the body.

What’s in it for me?

Acupuncture is a drug free way to address:

TMJ/ jaw clenchingsciatica
blood pressureanxiety
depressionconstipation
diarrheainflammation
joint painacute injuries
frozen shoulderPMS
bursitisarthritis
fatiguecommon cold
headachesinusitis
insomniamuscle tension
PCOStinnitus
ulcerative colitisvertigo
weak immune systemfertility

Usually pain relief is found after the first 30-minute treatment. It typically takes 4-8 treatments to restore balance and heal the body. Sessions can be daily, biweekly, weekly. For maintenance treatments are once a month.

Under Ontario regulation, Naturopathic Doctors are able to perform acupuncture. When claimed under your benefit plan, it will be considered as “naturopathic services”.

Dr. Laura M. Brown ND is a Naturopathic Doctor with a Functional Medicine approach. She is a Certified Gluten Free Practitioner, A HeartMath Certified Practitioner and is a graduate of Adapt Level 1 at Kresser Institute of Functional Medicine. Essentially, Dr. Brown helps people better digest their food and the word around them.