Vancouver Acupuncture

Ruining Wang MD (China) is a Registered Acupuncturist in Richmond BC. Ruining Wang has over 30 years of experience practicing acupuncture.

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?
Acupuncture is a therapeutic method used to encourage natural healing, reduce or relieve pain and improve the function of affected areas of the body. Acupuncture is safe and effective and is often used successfully as an alternative to medication or even surgery. Through acupuncture, relief is often obtained where traditional western therapy methods have failed.

Acupuncture consists of the stimulation of specific points on the body, usually by the insertion of very fine, solid needles. The acupuncture points may also be stimulated by heat, cold, pressure, electricity, ultrasound or even lasers to achieve therapeutic results.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?
Acupuncture stimulates the body to produce its own relieving chemicals called “endorphins”. These chemicals mimic morphine by attaching to opiate receptor sites found throughout the nervous system. Endorphins help to block pathways that relay pain messages from the body to the brain, resulting in relief from pain, general relaxation and biochemical restoration of the body’s own internal regulation systems.

The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing abilities, reducing inflammation, and promoting physical and emotional well-being.
 
ARE THERE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS OR RISKS TO THE TREATMENT?
One of the most appealing aspects of acupuncture is the almost complete absence of adverse effects and complications from its use. Most patients find that the treatments are relaxing and cause minimal discomfort.
People with pacemakers should avoid electrical stimulation unless approved by their cardiologist. Women in the early stages of pregnancy as well as haemophiliacs should be treated with caution. Using only sterile, disposable needles, the risk of infection is non-existent. In particular, there is a zero percent chance of transmission of AIDS or hepatitis viruses.
 
WHAT CONDITIONS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ACUPUNCTURE?
The effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of acute and chronic pain in addition to certain other disorders is well documented. Symptoms of pain typically respond well to acupuncture including discomfort in the neck (whiplash), shoulder, leg, knee, and upper and lower back pain. Sciatica migraines and headaches, arthritis (particularly osteoarthritis), neuralgias (trigeminal neuralgia) and nerve injuries, bursitis, tennis elbow, skeletal muscle spasm, certain types of strains, sprains and other similar injuries also respond well to this method of treatment. There is evidence that acupuncture is also useful in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and nasal allergies as well as in the alleviation of female problems such as menstrual disorder, leucorrhea, uretitis, etc. In addition, when used in conjunction with the appropriate therapy, psychological problems as weight control, depression, nervousness, tension and insomnia can also be treated. Lastly, acupuncture has also been reported to be useful in treating the symptoms of withdrawal from cigarettes and drugs.
 
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED?
The number of treatments will vary with each individual and the condition being treated. For acute problems, only a few treatments may be required. In some cases, one treatment will be sufficient. For complex or longstanding conditions, one or two treatments a week for several weeks may be recommended with less frequent treatments as improvement occurs. Treatment sessions usually last between 15 and 30 minutes. Relief may be immediate or occur within a few hours, or after a few days.

In some conditions, several sessions may be required before improvement is noticed.
Eighty to ninety percent of patients respond well to acupuncture with noticeable improvement.


IS THERE COVERAGE?
The fee may be covered by MSP, ICBC, WCB and Extended Medical Plans when the patient receives an acupuncture treatment from a licensed acupuncturist in B.C.