Can acupuncture help in giving up drugs, alcohol, or tobacco?

Acupuncture treatment for patients addicted to opiates was started in Hong Kong in the 1960s. Surprisingly, these patients had no withdrawal symotoms in the acute phase. Acupuncture treatment in drug and alcohol addictions, aside from discontinuing withdrawal symptoms, also have a psychologically stabilizing effect. Acupuncture can be extremely effective at reducing the intensity of  chemical dependence. Much clinical and research work has been carried out on this modern use of acupuncture  throughout the world. Acupuncture aimed at treating the whole person can also be highly effective in reducing the psychological dependency of certain substances. Nevertheless, the success of the treatment is dependent on the therapeutic circumstances, the attendant psychotherapeutic measures, and social conditions. Acupuncture treatment is also very effective in patients who wish to discontinue smoking. The withdrawal symptoms, such as agitation, nervousness, excessive appetite, desire for cigarettes, sweating and palpitations, are relieved by acupuncture. As in all drug addictions patient motivation is important for the success of treatment. Back to Top

Can acupuncture help with weight lose ?

If the case of  excess weight is due to over-eating, acupuncture may  enable you to reduce the psychological dependency. Many people, however, put on weight despite eating very little. This may be due to lack of physical exercise but it may also be due to a failure of the metabolism to utilize efficiently the food that it receives. Acupuncture is often effective in making the metabolism more efficient and many patients lose weight during the course of treatment if they are over-weight, just as many patients put on weight if their bodies are too thin. Acupuncture reduces excessive appetite. According to traditional criteria overweight patients are characterized by deficiency type disturbances, most frequently of the stomach-spleen system but in some cases even of the kidney. Back to Top

Is acupuncture safe?

Acupuncture is a very safe medical procedure when administered by a qualified practitioner.  "An advantage of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same condition"   The pre-sterilized, disposable needles are used. Practitioners are certified by the Acupuncture Association Of Quebec. Back to Top

Why do people choose acupuncture?

     1) When conventional medicine is not working, people choose alternative medicine and acupuncture is frequently first chosen.

      2) People are concerned of the side effects of chemically synthesized drugs, particularly from the long-term use for chronic conditions. In contrast, acupuncture basically has no side effect.

      3) Cost effectiveness. Acupuncture treatment results in avoidance of surgery, fewer hospital visits, and greater return to employment.

      4) The principle of Chinese medicine is to enhance your own body's defence to overcome the pathogenic factors and to treat the root or cause, not just the symptoms. Therefore, some multiple conditions may be treated by single acupuncture prescription. Back to Top

How effective is acupuncture for headaches, neck and back pain?

Acupuncture is well known for its effectiveness in reducing pain of all types including headache, neck and back pain. Headaches are a very common problem today. There are several different types of headache, but most are related to increased stress levels. Acupuncture can help in several ways. First, it works to relax the muscles which become tense in times of stress blocking the normal blood flow. Acupuncture also acts to restore the proper balance of chemicals when these abnormal levels contribute to the development of a headache. Even migraine sufferers can get significant relief with acupuncture, often reducing their dependence on medications and trips to the emergency room. Neck and back pain are another prevalent health problem. Much of this results from improper posture when standing, sitting and lifting, causing the muscles to become weak, rigid and inflexible. These poor habits in and of themselves can cause pain, but more importantly, they leave the person susceptible to a neck or back injury such as a sprain or strain with accompanying muscle spasms and sometimes inflammation of the nerves or discs. Acupuncture has had proven success with many types of neck and back pain, and can speed the recovery process as well. Back to Top