Because your nervous system finally got the memo to stop acting like it’s being chased by a bear. That post-acupuncture drowsiness? The treatment shifts your body from fight-or-flight to repair-and-rebuild mode. We just improved your circulation, started flushing out metabolic waste, and gave your parasympathetic system a warm hug. It’s not a side effect—it’s a sign your system is recalibrating. A success indicator. Translation: Your body’s been overworked. Now it’s rebooting. Everyone reacts differently—and that’s normal. Some people feel calm, grounded, and zen’d out. Others feel energized, clear, and alert. Some feel little at all… until they sleep better that night, or realize their pain is gone the next morning. Pay attention over the next few days. The effects often unfold gradually. Take note of changes in sleep, digestion, energy, mood, and symptoms. This helps us refine your treatment strategy moving forward. After treatment • Hydrate well—your body’s flushing waste. • Avoid heavy exercise or alcohol the day of treatment. • Get a full night’s sleep to lock in the benefits. • If you feel drowsy, that’s a positive reaction—your system is shifting. Rest, and it’ll pass.

Short answer? Almost everything Long answer? Acupuncture doesn’t just chase symptoms—it rewires how your body responds to pain, stress, hormones, and inflammation. It taps into your nervous system, boosts circulation, regulates organ function, and reminds your body how to heal like it used to before it was burned out, inflamed, and full of caffeine. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of what I see most. Chronic pain that laughs at painkillers Hormonal meltdowns (PMS, perimenopause, PCOS, heavy periods) Digestive disasters (IBS, bloating, reflux, guts that riot after salad) Stress-related collapse: anxiety, burnout, panic, exhaustion masked as "high functioning" Insomnia that doesn't care how many sleep apps you've downloaded Nervous system overload (you're tired and wired? Welcome.) TMJ, jaw tension, migraines, and other symptoms that don't show up on labs Weird syndromes Western medicine gave up on Translation: If your body's throwing tantrums and nobody's figured it out, you're probably in the right place.

Yeah - like breathing better, sleeping harder, and finally pooping like a functional human. But seriously—most people walk feeling calmer, clearer and slightly high on their own parasympathetic nervous system. Some feel tired (because rest is rare), a little emotional (because stuff moves), or a little sore where the body has been holding tension. Occasionally: You might get a tiny bruise. It heals. Feel a bit lightheaded - if you skipped a meal. You might feel something shift. That's the point.

Yes—Absolutely. I have other tools. Acupuncture is the headline act, but it's not the whole show. If needles make you squeamish, or you're just not ready for it, I've got options. Cupping - pulls stagnation and tension out like a vacuum for your fascia. Gua Sha (scraping) melts down tight tissue, inflammation, and stress-induced rage. The point is: Those tiny hair-thin needles are powerful but I'll work with you. And if you’re just needle-curious? We can start slow, one teeny-tiny painless needle at a time—you’ll barely feel it, but your nervous system will throw a party.

Short answer? It rewires your nervous system, improves blood flow, and gets your body to stop acting like it’s under siege. Longer answer? It’s not magic. It’s mechanics. Acupuncture stimulates specific points on the body that trigger neurological, circulatory, and metabolic responses. When I insert a needle, I’m not “releasing energy” into the cosmos—I’m creating a localized micro-injury that tells your body to wake up, send blood, reduce inflammation, and reroute how it’s processing pain or dysfunction. Here’s what’s actually happening: • Nervous system reset: Acupuncture downshifts you from fight-or-flight into rest-and-repair. That’s when healing happens. • Blood flow & circulation: It increases perfusion to damaged or sluggish tissues—more oxygen, nutrients, and waste removal = faster recovery. • Neurochemical regulation: Your body releases natural painkillers (endorphins), anti-inflammatories, serotonin, and dopamine. • Pattern disruption: It interrupts dysfunctional feedback loops—whether it’s chronic pain, hormonal imbalance, gut dysfunction, or anxiety. • Mechanical and Electrical balance: It affects fascia and the flow of electrical signaling across systems—yes, you are basically a high-functioning circuit board. Translation? It tells your body, very specifically: “Hey. Fix this.” And when you do it right (which I do), the body listens. Acupuncture works because your body wants to heal. It just forgot how. I remind it—strategically, clinically, and with needles that know where to go.

Depends on what you're dragging into the clinic. If it's new or acute, you'll most likely feel a big difference right away. If it's chronic, tangled, and been dismissed for years? We'll need a few sessions to unpack the mess. Most people notice some shift - much less pain , better sleep, calmer, better digestion - within 3 to 5 treatments. Great acupuncture works fast. Great medicine works deep. I aim for both.

Nope. Not even close to what you think. Most people are surprised by how not scary it actually feels. They're nothing like the ones used for shots or blood work. The needles are hair-thin. Most insertions you won’t feel at all. A few might create a mild pinch, but it’s more like someone flicked a single hair on your arm—not what most people imagine. A good acupuncturist knows how to get results without triggering pain. That said, you will feel things shift—sometimes immediately. Warmth. Release. Heaviness. Calm. That’s your body responding.

That depends. Do you have a good plan, or did HR pick the cheapest option available? Most extended health benefits in Canada cover acupuncture under paramedical services—often lumped in with massage, chiro, or physio. You’ll usually get $300–$500 a year, sometimes more if you got great benefits • If your plan covers acupuncture by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.), you’re good to go.

Nope. But your body might start responding better to both. Acupuncture doesn't override your medications - it supports your system so it can actually function with them. Think of it like upgrading the engine while the meds keep the wheels turning.

Ah, the age-old turf war: traditional acupuncturist vs. weekend warrior with a weekend course. Here’s the truth: Dry needling is basically acupuncture with an identity crisis. It uses acupuncture needles (yes, literally the same needles) to treat muscle knots and trigger points—usually by stabbing the area until it twitches. Traditional acupuncture? It’s deeper. Smarter. Root-focused. It doesn’t just chase the symptom—it tracks the source like a bloodhound with a PhD. We treat the whole body: nervous system, blood flow, organ function, emotional regulation, structural balance, pain relief—you know, healing.

Yes—unless you’re planning to do it on yourself with a shot glass and a candle. Then no. In the hands of a trained professional (hi, that’s me), cupping is extremely safe. It’s been used for thousands of years to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, detox tissue, and calm the nervous system. Side effects? Usually just some temporary marks that look like your back lost a fight with an octopus. They fade in a few days. No big deal. You won’t get burned. You won’t lose blood. You will feel like a new person with better circulation and less tension. That said, cupping isn’t for everyone: • If you’re on blood thinners • If you have open wounds or fragile skin • Or if you hate circles (aesthetic or otherwise) …I’ll use another method. I’ve got plenty of tools. Safe, effective, and strangely satisfying. Like a deep-tissue massage that sucks—on purpose.

Not unless you count “hurts so good” as pain. Here’s the truth: cupping creates negative pressure—it lifts tissue, draws blood to the surface, and gives your fascia a long-overdue wake-up call. Some people describe it as tight, suction-y, or weirdly satisfying. Others fall asleep mid-session because their nervous system finally shuts up. You might feel: • A deep pull • A dull ache (especially over tight muscles) • Warmth or tingling What you shouldn’t feel: sharp pain, burning, or panic. If you do? I adjust it. I’m not here to win a suction contest—I’m here to get results without making you hate life. Bottom line: Cupping is sensation-rich, not sadistic. And if you’re still nervous? I’ll start light and prove it’s more “aaaah” than “ow.”

Ah yes, the infamous “did-you-get-attacked-by-an-octopus” marks. Those circles are not bruises. They’re petechial eruptions—tiny blood vessels brought to the surface as your body flushes out stagnation, toxins, and trapped tension. It’s your body’s way of saying, “Thanks for the upgrade.” The darker the mark, the more stagnation was hanging out in that area. • Dark purple or red? Old tension, inflammation, or trauma. • Light pink? Healthier circulation, not much junk to move. • No mark at all? Either you’re hydrated and healthy, or you’ve got the blood flow of a sloth in winter. They’re painless. They fade in a few days. And to some patients, they’re basically badge-of-honor therapy receipts. So yes, you’ll look like you lost a battle with suction cups—but you’ll feel like you won the war on pain.

Anywhere from a couple days to a week—unless you’re a vampire or chronically dehydrated, in which case they might linger a little longer. Here’s the breakdown: • Light pink or red marks: Gone in 1–3 days. • Darker purple or brown: 5–7 days, sometimes longer if your circulation is sluggish or you’ve got Olympic-level tension. They’re not bruises. They don’t hurt. And no, they’re not permanent Pro tip: Drink water. Move your body. Don’t follow the treatment with a triple espresso and an all-day Netflix coma. That’ll help your body flush everything out faster.

Because your body doesn’t lie. Darker marks = more stagnation. That could mean: • Old injuries • Inflammation • Muscle knots • Stress you’ve been marinating in since 2016 • Or just poor circulation in that area The cups pull stagnant blood, lymph, and metabolic waste to the surface—like dredging a swamp, but for your fascia. If the area’s congested, the mark will look like it. If it’s healthy and happy? The mark will be lighter—or barely visible. It’s not a “good vs. bad” thing—it’s diagnostic. It tells me where your body’s been hoarding junk and which areas need more work. Like a visual report card for your circulation. Darker = more gunk. Lighter = less gunk. Either way, we’re clearing it.

Let’s get this out of the way: cupping isn’t just trendy bruises and Instagram flex. It’s therapy that actually does something—without needing a prescription or a six-week recovery plan. Here’s what cupping delivers: • Relieves muscle tension (because your shoulders shouldn’t live in your ears) • Improves blood flow and tissue oxygenation • Reduces inflammation by flushing out cellular junk • Detoxifies by moving stagnant lymph and metabolic waste • Boosts immune function (yes, it can actually help you fight colds) • Calms the nervous system and helps you actually relax • Speeds recovery from workouts, injuries, or your latest life meltdown • Opens fascia so your body stops moving like it’s made of drywall It’s like a deep-tissue massage, lymph drainage, nervous system reset, and stress purge—all in one treatment. And you don’t even have to take your pants off.

Short answer: Almost everyone with a body. Long answer? If you’ve got muscles, tension, stress, pain, inflammation, stagnation, trauma, or a nervous system that’s one group text away from snapping—you’re a perfect candidate. Cupping is especially helpful for: 1. Desk Slouchers & Tech-Neck Warriors That shoulder tension and tight neck from staring into the void (aka your laptop)? Cupping melts it. 2. Athletes & Weekend Warriors Sore muscles, delayed recovery, old injuries flaring up—cupping helps flush out metabolic waste and speeds up healing like a lymphatic reboot. 3. Chronic Pain Sufferers Fibromyalgia, migraines, back pain, TMJ, trapped nerves—if you’ve been hurting for years, cupping can help clear stagnation and retrain tissue function. 4. Stress-Soaked Humans Cupping activates the parasympathetic nervous system, aka the part of you that forgot how to relax. You’ll feel like your shoulders finally dropped below ear level. 5. People Who “Hold It All In” Emotionally, physically, energetically. Cupping moves what’s stuck—because if your body’s holding onto trauma or tension, it needs an exit strategy. 6. Poor Circulators Cold hands and feet, slow healing, fatigue? Cupping improves blood flow and tissue oxygenation. Your sluggish lymph finally gets a wake-up call. If you’re tense, tired, inflamed, or stuck—cupping has your back. Literally.

It’s ancient medicine’s version of “let’s scrape the crap out of this tight, angry muscle until it remembers how to function.” Gua Sha (literally “scraping sand”) is a therapeutic technique that involves dragging a smooth-edged tool across your skin to: • Break up fascial adhesions • Increase circulation • Flush out metabolic waste • Kickstart the immune system • And release muscle tension so intense it’s practically holding a grudge The “sand” refers to the tiny red specks—petechiae—that rise to the surface when stagnation is flushed out. It’s not bruising. It’s micro-trauma with a purpose.

Ah, Blood Stasis—TCM’s version of “your circulation sucks and your body’s holding a grudge.” In simple terms, blood stasis means that your blood isn’t flowing the way it should. It’s stuck, stagnant, or pooling in places it shouldn’t. And just like a traffic jam, that causes pain, tension, inflammation, or worse—chronic dysfunction. Signs you might be the proud owner of some blood stasis: • Sharp, stabbing, fixed pain • Dark purple tongue or clots in your period • Cold hands and feet • Old injuries that never quite healed • Varicose veins, bruising easily, post-surgical scarring • Emotional stuckness that feels like rage bottled up in your rib cage What causes it? • Trauma (physical or emotional—your fascia doesn’t care) • Chronic stress (surprise!) • Poor circulation • Cold invasion (TCM’s polite way of saying “you live on iced coffee and stubbornness”) • Overwork, stagnation, and inflammation that never got the memo to move on Why do we care? Because where there’s blood stasis, there’s pain. And when we treat it—through acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, herbs, and movement—you get better circulation, faster healing, and a body that doesn’t feel like it’s plotting revenge.

Only if you’re allergic to relief. Look—Gua Sha isn’t exactly spa-like. It’s not going to feel like rose petals and warm oil. It’s a scraping technique. It gets into the tight, angry layers of your fascia and coaxes out the junk your body’s been hoarding since your last existential crisis. What it might feel like: • Deep pressure but oddly satisfying • Slight discomfort during or after (especially over tension bombs) • Tingling, warmth, or just the sensation of blood flowing in your body again. Side effects? • Petechiae—those little red specks or purple marks that show up where stagnation was lurking. Totally normal. Totally harmless. Gone in a few days. • You might feel a little sore—like post-massage soreness with a bit more honesty. • Occasionally, people feel a bit tired or emotional—because Gua Sha doesn’t just move muscles, it moves stuck energy. What you won’t get: • Skin damage • Permanent marks • Regret (unless you ignore the aftercare advice and do squats the next day) It’s not painful. It’s productive. The kind of discomfort that actually gets you somewhere.