Frequently Asked Questions

Unlike hypodermic needles, acupuncture uses needles only slightly thicker than a human hair. When performed by a skilled acupuncturist, most patients feel little to no pain.

No special preparation is needed. You may eat before your treatment — please don’t come on an empty stomach. It’s also a good idea to use the washroom beforehand so you won’t need to interrupt your session.

Acupuncture is a natural therapy with very few side effects. A very small number of people may feel dizzy or break into a cold sweat if treated on an empty stomach — eating beforehand prevents this.

After acupuncture, as the body self-regulates, a very small number of patients may experience a temporary worsening of symptoms or increased pain. In Chinese medicine this is known as a “Ming Xuan reaction” — a healing response and a sign that the body is restoring balance. It usually appears within a few hours after treatment, lasts up to about 72 hours at most, and gradually subsides.

The number of treatments depends on several factors: the severity of your condition, how quickly your body responds to acupuncture, and the interval between sessions. Newer concerns generally improve faster, while serious or chronic conditions need more sessions. Your practitioner will design a treatment plan based on your specific situation — some concerns improve within a few sessions, while others may require several courses of treatment or ongoing maintenance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has systematically reviewed the clinical indications for acupuncture, covering common concerns across multiple body systems. For details, please see our “What We Treat” page.

The broad effectiveness of acupuncture comes down to the following:

1. Pattern differentiation: Chinese medicine takes a holistic view — for any health concern, the practitioner looks for the root of the problem in terms of the yin-yang balance of the internal organs.
2. Acupoints: Acupoints exist all over the body. The heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys — as well as the sense organs and limbs — each have specific points that act on them. These points are distributed throughout the body, not necessarily near the organs they relate to — a treasure of accumulated experience from 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.
3. Point combinations: An experienced acupuncturist knows how to combine points to treat both the symptoms and the root cause, addressing the body as a whole.
4. Specialized techniques: Effectiveness also lies in the choice of technique. Whether umbilical, abdominal, scalp, eye, ear, fire needling, pi (sword-shaped) needling, or standard filiform needles — each method has its best indications. An experienced practitioner can blend these techniques and select the right points for your condition.

Our clinic uses sterile, single-use disposable needles — one set per patient, discarded after use. The risk of cross-infection is extremely low.

Each session typically lasts about 45–60 minutes, including needle retention time. The exact length depends on your individual condition.

After treatment, we recommend drinking warm water, avoiding strenuous exercise and exposure to cold on the same day, and getting enough rest. If you experience any discomfort, please contact the clinic promptly.

Many Extended Health Care Plans include acupuncture — our clinic provides official receipts. Motor vehicle accident (MVA) insurance claims are also accepted. For details, please call (416) 512-6754.

Generally there is no conflict, but please let us know about any medications you are taking and your medical history so we can design a safe treatment plan. If you are taking blood thinners (anticoagulants) or have a bleeding disorder, please be sure to tell us in advance.

Please be sure to let us know if you are pregnant. Your practitioner will avoid points that are not suitable during pregnancy and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.