Acupuncture

There are many different styles of acupuncture, but the two styles I primarily practice are called Kiiko Matsumoto Style & Neoclassical Acupuncture (expert level).

Kiiko Matsumoto style (KMS) is a Japanese style of acupuncture taught by Kiiko Matsumoto, who was a student of Master Nagano and Master Manaka, among others. In this style, I usually begin with abdominal palpation, looking for areas that are tense or tender. I then search for spots elsewhere on the body that will release or loosen these spots on the abdomen. It may seem strange at first, needling areas that don’t appear to have any connection to the location of the pain, but the proof is in the pudding as they say - you will notice a difference when spots that were painful are no longer painful. Treating the body in this way works on the underlying reasons for whatever disharmony your body is displaying, relieving both the symptom and the reason the symptom showed up in the first place.

Neoclassical Acupuncture is a powerful one-needle treatment. This approach involves checking the abdomen and limbs for areas that feel tense or painful; these areas that are painful represent blockages of energy in the body, which lead to dysfunction(s) showing up as any and all health issues you experience: pain, digestive issues, headaches, disease, hormonal imbalances, etc. Once we find the perfect point, we needle that point alone. If you can imagine the blockages in your body like a string of dominoes, needling the point that represents the beginning sets off a cascade in your body with each blockage clearing. With one needle, we clear all the blockages in the body, which then allows your body to heal itself. This is a great option if you’re not fond of needles.

With both styles, a treatment will often provide immediate relief, and the amount of time that the relief lasts varies from person to person. With each subsequent treatment, the state of relief should be longer and more thorough. Some people may only require one or two treatments to deal with whatever issue they’ve come in for (especially if the issue is acute or has only been around a short time), while others may require 3-5 treatments for more long-standing issues, or 10+ treatments for long-standing, complex issues.

What is Cupping? 

Cupping draws out toxins from deep within the body. It is a non-invasive, therapeutic, and deeply relaxing treatment during which the practitioner takes a small glass cup and ignites a small flame inside the cup, creating a vacuum. The cup is then quickly placed on the body, which draws the skin up a few millimetres into the cup. The cups are either left in place or moved around, massaging the area. Perfectly round bruise marks are common following treatment and usually go away after a week or two.

Qi gong energy healing

Similar to reiki, qi gong energy healing is a form of energy work where the practitioner works to move stuck energy in the body. A skilled practitioner can “feel” where the energy has become blocked in the body and can help the energy to move and clear. This type of energy healing combines well with Neoclassical style acupuncture.

What are the risks of acupuncture?

The most common side effects of acupuncture are bleeding, soreness, or bruising at the site of needle insertion. Dizziness or fainting can rarely occur, especially if you haven’t eaten or drank enough water prior to treatment. If an acupuncture needle is inserted improperly into the body, there is a slight risk of internal bleeding or nerve damage; this is why it is important to never remove or insert needles yourself, and to not move while you’re on the table with needles inserted.

Questions?

Email info@modern-alchemy.ca for more information.