Pauline Sok Yin Hwang R.TCMP
Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Herbalist
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the world’s oldest systems of medicine. Its practice is thousands of years old, and its popularity continues to rise as more and more people seek out treatments that are safe, effective and carry few side effects. TCM practitioners consider the body as a whole, with interrelated parts united by the vital force, Qi, which is essential for wellbeing.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at The Marsden Centre in Vaughan
TCM treatments at the Marsden Centre can include Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as well as a number of other modalities such as dietary therapy, massage, and movement to bring balance to the body.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the painless insertion of very fine single-use disposable needles into specific points (acupuncture points) on the body to balance the flow of Qi and activate the body’s own natural healing mechanisms. Acupuncture is often described as a very relaxing treatment.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is widely prescribed in modern-day hospitals around the world. It uses centuries-old well documented and effective combinations of herbs (mainly plants and fungi) to bring balance to the body, with custom prescriptions supporting immunity, digestion, hormone health, energy levels, and more. Chinese herbal medicine is well researched in supportive cancer care, easing symptoms of conventional cancer therapy as well as helping the body to recover fully once conventional treatment has ceased.
TCM Treatments During COVID
At the Marsden Centre, we use a variety of needling and non-needle techniques according to each patient’s specific situation. Chinese herbal medicine consultations are available via telehealth for your comfort and safety.
Is Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulated?
In Ontario, Registered Acupuncturists and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners are regulated by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO) and must have at least 3 years, or 2000 hours of training.
The Top 5 Reasons TCM Practitioners use Acupuncture
Acupuncture can bolster the body and brain in a number of ways, improving energy levels and promoting blood flow, nerve function, digestion, and healing. The goal of treatment is to uncover and address the underlying imbalance that is at the root of the troublesome symptoms. These are the top 5 reasons patients tend to seek out acupuncture:
1. Chronic Pain Relief
One of the most popular and well-known uses of acupuncture is pain relief, specifically chronic pain such as back problems, headaches/migraines, muscle spasms, osteoarthritis, and joint pain.
A 2017 meta-analysis of 39 studies and over 20,000 patients was conducted to ascertain whether there was a placebo effect at play, comparing the results of sham acupuncture to real acupuncture. The results confirmed that the effects of acupuncture on chronic pain are clinically significant and appear to persist over at least a 12 month period.
2. Autoimmune Conditions
Autoimmune conditions arise when the body’s immune system starts to attack the body’s own cells. This can happen for a variety of reasons, and finding a successful treatment for each unique case can be frustrating. Clinical research has shown that acupuncture can help to support immune function and potentially alleviate autoimmune symptoms by causing physical responses in the brain.
A study conducted in 2015 by the Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Turin found that stimulating acupressure points significantly improved the symptoms of patients with a multi-system autoimmune disease, Sjögren’s syndrome. The benefits were found to last for months following treatment.
3. Integrative Cancer Care
At the Marsden Centre, our clinical experience and extensive literature research indicate that patients who use TCM often experience significant improvements in energy, appetite, mood, sleep, and physical comfort. While it’s challenging to evaluate acupuncture using conventional research, numerous studies suggest acupuncture can help reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, cancer-related fatigue, leucopenia, pain, neuropathy, xerostomia (dry mouth), dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), shortness of breath, hot flashes, lymphedema, anxiety, insomnia, and digestive problems.
A 2015 review showed therapeutic effects from acupuncture in the management of cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and leukopenia in cancer patients. Another systematic review found evidence that acupuncture was effective for hot flashes, fatigue, pain, and nausea/vomiting in breast cancer patients.
“Regardless of the specific molecular basis of the effects, acupuncture for nausea/vomiting is a safe and inexpensive treatment that can relieve considerable suffering and may be an especially important option for patients who do not get good symptom control with pharmaceuticals.” Journal of Clinical Oncology
4. Infertility
Acupuncture has become one of the more popular integrative treatments used to support couples experiencing infertility. Through bringing balance to the body as a whole, and the endocrine system, in particular, acupuncture may nudge a woman’s cycle into balance making it more predictable. It can also improve blood circulation, over time improving ovary function and the quality of sperm and eggs.
In 2002, German researchers found that adding acupuncture to conventional IVF treatment protocols substantially increased pregnancy success.
5. Sleep
Insomnia is an increasingly common condition in modern society, however, most conventional sleep medications carry a risk of becoming less effective over time as well as having unwanted side effects. In China, acupuncture is regularly used to treat insomnia without any side effects. There are many possible causes of insomnia. The acupuncturist’s role is to assess where the insomnia stems from and treat the underlying imbalance to achieve longer-lasting relief.
There have been a number of studies comparing acupuncture and medication for insomnia. In a 2013 study, researchers found that not only did acupuncture improve sleep quality more effectively than medication, it also improved daytime functioning.
We see acupuncture patients at the Marsden Centre in Vaughan for a wide range of symptoms that do not fall under the list above as well, from headaches to digestive trouble, anxiety, and other mood issues as well as a general pursuit of wellbeing. Acupuncture can be an extremely useful tool to bring balance back to your body and help you to feel better immediately and in the long term, without any fear of side effects or negative interaction with medications.
If you’re curious to learn more about how acupuncture can help you, give the Marsden Centre a call – 905.508.4498
Resources
Acupuncture and Chronic Pain: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5927830/
Acupuncture and Stress: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6625224/
Acupuncture and Autoimmunity https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24820476/
Acupuncture and Cancer https://www.nature.com/articles/srep16776 , https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3925001/
Acupuncture and Fertility https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11937123/
Acupuncture and sleep https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3789397/