Acupuncture

Acupuncture in Vancouver

What it is and How it Works

Acupuncture is one of the two major forms of treatment used by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. It works by inserting fine needles into specific sites to influence physiological activity of the body. Needles may be stimulated either manually or electrically to enhance the treatment.

Acupuncture is administered using the TCM theory based on Qi or vital energy that flows through the body and is influenced by the complementary opposites of yin and yang.

This concept forms the basis for all TCM disease processes, diagnoses and treatments. When the flow of Qi is disrupted, the imbalance can result in disease or illness. The correct diagnosis of the disease or illness is then distinguished within a framework known as “pattern differentiation” and “differential diagnosis.”

Diagnoses and Treating the Root Cause

Pattern differentiation is the primary principle used in order to identify and treat the root cause of each condition.

The acupuncturist begins with an in-depth consultation to assess a patient’s overall health, diet, lifestyle choices and emotional state.

After identifying the disease pattern, the appropriate acupuncture points are stimulated.

Conditions Treated by Acupuncture

Acupuncture has successfully treated hundreds of diseases for thousands of years.

In 2003, the World Health Organization published a study of clinical trials on acupuncture and found acupuncture to be a proven effective treatment for the following conditions:

Adverse reactions to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
Allergic rhinitis including hay fever
Biliary colic
Depression including depressive neurosis and depression following stroke
Dysentery, acute bacillary
Dysmenorrhoea, primary
Epigastralgia, acute in peptic ulcer, acute and chronic gastritis, and gastrospasm
Facial pain including craniomandibular disorders
Headache
Hypertension, essential
Hypotension, primary
Induction of labour
Knee pain
Leukopenia
Low back pain
Malposition of fetus, correction of
Morning sickness
Nausea and vomiting
Neck pain
Pain in dentistry including dental pain and temporomandibular dysfunction
Periarthritis of shoulder
Postoperative pain
Renal colic
Rheumatoid arthritis
Sciatica
Sprain
Stroke
Tennis elbow

The World Health Organization also noted 64 additional conditions for which the “therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed”. Of these conditions, our practitioners have special expertise in treating:

Cancer Pain
Diabetes Mellitus
Insomnia
Obesity
Osteoarthritis
Premenstrual Syndrome (and a host of other Women’s Health issues)
Schizophrenia
Tobacco Dependency

A few of the most common conditions treated with acupuncture at IMeG Health™ include:

Pain Management	Women's Health
Arthritis Migraine Headache Lower Back Pain Sciatica	PMS Dysmenorrhea Amenorrhea Menopause
Emotional Wellbeing	Other Benefits
Stress Relief Anxiety Depression Insomnia	IBS Stroke Recovery Quit Smoking Weight Loss

Regulation

In 1996 the Government of British Columbia established the College of Acupuncturists of BC, now named the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC (CTCMA) whose mandate is protection of the public through the regulation and licensing of practitioners of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. All practitioners at IMeG Health™ are fully licensed by the CTCMA.