What is Acupuncture?
 Acupuncture is a safe and effective healing art backed by more than two thousand years of practice and research. By inserting very thin, sterile needles into the body at specific acupuncture points, your practitioner aims to rebalance the body’s Qi (Energy). Qi is made up of two balancing parts, Yin and Yang, and flows through the body in pathways called meridians. If the flow through the meridians is blocked, the body becomes unbalanced. This imbalance is believed to be the cause of illness. Acupuncture will activate the body’s Qi and correct this imbalance. It is a safe, painless, and effective means of treating a wide range of conditions.
What Conditions Can Acupuncture Help?
This holistic medicine is used worldwide both as a primary and adjunctive treatment for a wide range of conditions:
Musculo-Skeletal
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Sciatica
Knee pain
Low back pain
Neck pain & stiffness
Sprain
Tennis elbow
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
Gastro-Intestinal
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Constipation
Dysentery
Ulcerative colitis, chronic
Nausea and Vomiting
Hiccups
Respiratory
Common Cold
Sore throat (including tonsillitis)
Allergic rhinitis (including hay fever)
Bronchial Asthma
Smoking Cessation
Gynecology
Dysmenorrhea
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Infertility
Morning sickness
Malposition of fetus
Induction of labour
Labour pain
Lactation, deficiency
Menopausal Symptoms
Neurological
Headache
Depression
Bell’s palsy
Insomnia
Stroke
Aphasia
Ménière’s disease
Miscellaneous
High/Low Blood Pressure
Addictions Therapy
Acne vulgaris
Facial Rejuvenation
Chronic Fatigue
Stress Reduction
What to Expect During Your First Visit
When you arrive at the clinic, you will be asked to fill out a detailed intake form which asks questions about all aspects of your health and lifestyle. These details are a very important basis for determining a diagnosis. The Acupuncturist will talk with you about these details, take your pulses and look at your tongue.
At this point, your acupuncturist will make an assessment using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques, and create an individualized treatment plan for you including acupuncture, and possibly adjunctive treatments such as Cupping, Gua Sha, or Massage. This individualization of the treatments is one of the strong points of Chinese Medicine. It is why people may experience broad changes within themselves after receiving acupuncture for a specific complaint. It also means that the treatments can be modified over time.
The points your acupuncturist selects will be swabbed with isopropyl alcohol, and then she will insert fine, sterile, one use needles into the selected points. The needles are left in for 20 to 30 minutes. There is no pain or bleeding during that time. Many people feel a positive effect, physically or mentally, from the first treatment. Others will need more treatments to achieve results.
Your acupuncturist will likely describe the treatment and her intent with the points. She is also likely to offer various beneficial lifestyle changes which will help to improve your overall condition. This may include dietary changes, exercise, meditation, etc.
Preparing for Your Treatment
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Avoid coffee/stimulants before and after your treatment
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Wear loose, comfortable clothing
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Avoid planning any strenuous activity right after your treatment
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Come to your appointment neither too full or too hungry
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Refrain from wearing any perfume/cologne or heavily scented body products
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Feel free to ask questions and discuss any concerns you may have before and during treatments
Is Acupuncture Covered by Medical Insurance?
Many extended health insurance plans cover up to $500 of acupuncture each year. Check with your insurance provider for details.
Active Health and Wellness Clinic
Now offers Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture!
What is Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture?
This type of Acupuncture increases collagen production and muscle tone in the skin, tightens pores, can help balance hormones, thus having an effect on acne, decreases wrinkles, bags under the eyes, jowls, double chins and puffiness. It also moisturizes the skin by improving blood and lymph circulation to the face. Most importantly, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture improves the overall health of the individual to create beautiful skin from within.
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture commonly takes 5 to 15 years of age off a persons face after a series of 12 treatments. You will see results after the first session, but more dramatic and lasting results will be evident at the 7th or 8th session. A treatment course is 12 sessions. Each session typically lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. For the best results, it is suggested to do 2 sessions per week, and once your treatment course of 12 sessions is finished, it is advisable to have a maintenance session once per month or once per season to protect your initial investment.
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture is contraindicated for individuals with High Blood Pressure, Migraines, Diabetes, Cancer, Hepatitis, AIDS, and some other serious health concerns.
Please feel free to call or email Kristy with any questions about this treatment and if it is right for you.
Kristy Garry is a Registered Acupuncturist in Victoria BC. After starting her TCM training in 2000, she completed a four year, full time program at the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in April of 2005. She is trained in all modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She is certified in Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture as taught by Virginia Doran. Kristy has also received special training for Acupuncture during pregnancy and labor, as well as training in Auricular Acupuncture as taught by NADA.
Kristy’s goal as a health practitioner is to inspire each of her patients to take an active role in the maintenance of their health and well being. She encourages preventative medicine, diet and lifestyle changes for her patients as a means of staying in balance, both physically and mentally.
To Book an appointment Call 382-7246
#102-1625 Oak Bay Ave. Victoria, BC V8R 1B1
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