Acupuncture + Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine in Vancouver
Traditional Chinese Medicine works with your body to ease symptoms, prevent illness and keep you well over the long term. At our Gastown clinic, our acupuncturists and TCM doctors offer acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, cupping and electro-acupuncture, and every treatment is planned around you.
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A whole-body medicine
What Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Can Help With
Many people know us for fertility care, but acupuncture helps with much more. It calms the nervous system, eases pain and helps the body regulate itself, so it can support a wide range of concerns, whether you are working through something specific or just want to feel more balanced:
- Pain & injuries: back, neck and shoulder pain, sciatica, arthritis, sports and repetitive-strain injuries, and jaw pain (TMJ)
- Stress & mental health: stress, anxiety, low mood, burnout and emotional well-being
- Sleep: insomnia and restless, poor-quality sleep
- Headaches: tension headaches and migraines
- Hormones & menstrual health: irregular or painful periods, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, perimenopause and menopause
- Fertility, pregnancy & postpartum: preconception and IVF/IUI support, pregnancy discomforts, birth preparation and postpartum recovery
- Digestion: bloating, IBS, reflux and general gut health
- Immunity & respiratory: frequent colds, seasonal allergies and sinus congestion
- Concussion recovery: lingering post-concussion symptoms
- Skin & cosmetic: cosmetic facial acupuncture, acne and a healthy glow
- Energy & whole-body wellness: fatigue, low energy and preventative, maintenance care
Not sure whether acupuncture can help with what you are experiencing? Reach out, we are always happy to talk it through.
Personalized treatment plans for every stage
Fertility Acupuncture
Using hair-thin needles at specific points, acupuncture can help balance hormones, regulate your cycle and support your overall reproductive health. We offer fertility care for every stage:
- Birth preparation: two treatments per week from 36 weeks until delivery to help prepare your body for birth.
- IVF support: weekly treatments starting at least three months before stimulation, two per week during stimulation, then weekly until 12 weeks pregnant.
- Embryo transfer: sessions immediately before and after transfer to support implantation.
- General fertility support: an initial consultation followed by two weekly sessions, then a plan built around your needs.
Acupuncture with gentle electrical stimulation
Electro-Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture adds a gentle, low-level electrical current to the needles, which strengthens the effect of the treatment. At our Gastown clinic we use it to:
- Ease chronic and acute pain
- Help prepare your body for birth
- Aid stroke recovery and rehabilitation
- Improve circulation and reduce inflammation
It is safe and non-invasive, and your practitioner can add it to your treatment plan when it will help.
Easy to take at home
Chinese Herbal Medicine
We make custom Chinese herbal formulas in a powdered form that is easy to absorb. You mix it with warm water and drink it as a tea. Each blend is made for you by your practitioner, whether you are supporting fertility, balancing hormones, improving digestion or strengthening your immunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
A few things people often ask before their first visit.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most people are surprised by how gentle it feels. The needles are hair-thin, much finer than the needles used for injections, and many patients feel little more than a light tingle or a dull, heavy sensation at the point. Most find the treatment deeply relaxing, and it is common to drift off during a session.
How many treatments will I need?
It depends on your concern. Acute issues may settle in a few sessions, while chronic conditions or fertility support usually take a longer series of weekly visits. After your initial consultation, your practitioner will recommend a plan and adjust it as you progress.
What happens during my first visit?
Your first appointment begins with a thorough health history and an assessment that may include looking at your tongue and taking your pulse, which are traditional diagnostic tools in Chinese medicine. Your practitioner then plans a treatment for you, which typically includes acupuncture and may include herbs, cupping or electro-acupuncture.
How should I prepare, and what should I do afterward?
Have a light meal beforehand so you are not treated on an empty stomach, and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Afterward, drink plenty of water, avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day, and give yourself time to rest. Many people feel calm and a little sleepy after a treatment.
Is acupuncture covered by insurance?
Yes. Treatment by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) is covered by many extended health plans, and we offer direct billing to many insurance companies. Coverage and direct billing vary by provider, so please check with us to confirm we can bill your plan directly. Either way, we will always give you a receipt you can submit yourself.
Can acupuncture help with fertility and pregnancy?
Yes. Acupuncture is widely used to support reproductive health, IVF cycles, pregnancy and birth preparation, and several of our practitioners have advanced training in fertility care. Your practitioner will plan your care around where you are in your journey.