Author: Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)

Acupuncture 101

Posted on by Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)

Many people are aware of acupuncture’s success in treating pain. However, it isn’t just for treating ongoing issues. Acupuncture can be a key component in achieving exceptional health and wellness.

Acupuncture that is backed by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Theories have a powerful component in helping the body recover or reboot the functions of our organs and energy. Acupuncture has famously been known to help alleviate pain but the lesser known facts about acupuncture is that it can support the body to work optimally. What is optimal? Being able to sleep through the night without waking up, feeling refreshed in the morning, no bloating/nausea, foul or smelly flatulence or any digestion related issues, regular bowel movements every day, clear headed and ability to focus & concentrate. 

In TCM, organ(s) have special relationships to each other that when there is an imbalance certain signs and symptoms may arise. For example, there is a special relationship between the heart and the kidneys. In TCM, Heart is respectively considered a “fire element” and Kidneys are respectively considered a “water element”. If there is an imbalance in one of these organs, problems may arise such as anxiety, insomnia, night sweating, frequent palpitations and more. Balancing between what is lacking and clearing what is excess between the 2 organs may help with one or all these symptoms. Balancing is achieved by precisely acupuncturing points according to TCM practices. 

Every acupuncture point has similar functions in the body such as locally improving circulation to the area where acupuncture needles are inserted. However, some hold unique functions that can have a greater affect on the body. An example of this could be improving digestion, increasing the body’s ability to produce more blood and increasing energy.

This is just one relationship in the body and there are much more. Traditional Chinese medicine has been thriving for centuries and it is still thriving because it works!

Your health is an investment not an expense!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Explained through Traditional Chinese Medicine “TCM”

Posted on by Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)

For those that are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, it can be very costly with no proper treatments available. TCM looks at the body as a whole and believes the entire body system between organs is most likely imbalanced. What does it mean to be unbalanced?

Our bodies rely on food/water, sleep, and rest. There is a TCM saying if all 3 of these are well taken care of, then you may live a long-life disease-free.

With chronic fatigue syndrome, our organs are not functioning as optimally they possibly can. This means the foods that we are eating may not be 100% digested and waste materials may not be excreted as regularly as they should be. This becomes a vicious cycle of wearing down the spleen. If the spleen is weak it can create a number of issues such as weight gain, indigestion problems, constipation, prone to and easily catching colds, bruising easily, Irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, edema and even prolapse of the organs and further deficiency to other organs. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spleen and stomach is a paired organ. The stomach is responsible for digestion. Spleen receives all the digested food from the stomach and converts all the foods and fluids into energy, blood and body fluid. Hence weak stomach and spleen mean low energy, low blood, and body fluid production and poor recovery. When the spleen is weak, our body forms dampness in the body. This is turbid moisture that obstructs circulation and can cause excess heat to form in the body.

So, how can TCM and acupuncture help me?

With carefully selected acupuncture points, it can trigger the body to improve the functions of the organs reverting the dysfunction in the body. 

If you have any questions, you can book for free 15 min assessment online or call us at 519-415-2266

What’s The Difference Between a Registered Acupuncturist and other Acupuncture Providers?

Posted on by Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)

Acupuncture is more than just needling the point on the body. EACH acupuncture point shares some functions but also have unique functions that distinguish from other points. With proper Traditional Chinese Medicine, a diagnosis set of acupuncture points can be determined. 

Acupuncture Providers utilize Western Acupuncture, which mainly focuses on musculoskeletal issues, often utilizing points that are or near the proximity of pain. 

What is the difference between an Acupuncturist and a Registered Acupuncturist?

Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) is a designated and licensed title. To obtain this title, one must have to go through 2 to 3 years of education in the program of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture and over 2000 clinic hour experience. Also, Registered Acupuncturists also must fulfill 30 hours of continuing education courses every year to keep their license active. 
 
With all this in mind, there are many ways as to what the Registered Acupuncturist can do in treatment whether treating for the pain of any kind or treating for any internal complaints such as constipation, chronic diarrhea, chronic acid reflux, loss of appetite, edema, migraines, women’s health and much more. 
 
Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) treat using Eastern Acupuncture. 

Heechan Lee R.Ac, uses Eastern Acupuncture to treat, which is backed by fundamental theories and using appropriate acupuncture points respectively on a holistic level. For pain, Heechan focuses on distal areas, utilizing points that are far from the area of pain, that will have a connection to the pain. 

If you have any further questions about acupuncture please book a free tongue and pulse assessment with Heechan Lee R.Ac and find out how it can help you!

Have pain? Try Abdominal Acupuncture with Heechan (Hee-Chan), Registered Acupuncturist!

Posted on by Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)

Often enough I get patients who are very nervous about the needles. Hence, they don’t even give acupuncture a try. I have met with many patients who are nervous about needles and after the first one goes in, they ask me, “That’s it?” Pain medications are good temporarily but they do not focus on the root cause hence the pain is felt again until another dose of painkillers is taken or your body heal itself of the pain. Acupuncture needles that I will use has a thickness of 0.22mm, so they are very thin. Abdominal Acupuncture is really powerful and effective but very gentle! And it can treat pain of all kinds and pain that is anywhere on the body!

The Abdominal acupuncture is so powerful it can treat pain that are years old. The earlier you seek an abdominal acupuncture treatment for pain the less treatments it takes! Abdominal acupuncture is still being used mainstream in parts of China and has been used for many decades. The abdomen is considered the 2nd brain in the body because it has the highest number of neurons outside of the brain and spinal cord, it regulates numerous homeostatic systems through its actions on the nervous and endocrine systems. It also contains approximately 95% of Serotonin which is the happy hormone. This happy hormone plays an important role in many emotional, digestive and immune functions.

In the treatment, the most you would feel during treatment is a prick or you might not feel anything at all. There are different sensations that can be felt after needling and these are normal sensations. Sometimes burning is felt due to remnants of alcohol left on the skin after wiping. Sometimes dull, sore, ache or heavy, sharp, pressure is felt. All of these sensations go away within a matter of seconds. And on rare occasions when the pain intensity is high the needle is adjusted so that rest of your treatment will be relaxing and calming.

My goal is for you to have a comfortable, relaxing, and calming treatment all the while addressing your chief complaint.

Did you know there is a BIG difference between Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) vs. other ‘practitioners’ without the title R.Ac providing acupuncture service? R.Ac has a minimal of 2 years of studies of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine theories that explains diseases with relation to the organs, emotions, diet, pulse, tongue and much more. Hence Registered Acupuncturist are able to treat more than just pain! Not to mention, more than 1200 hours of clinical experience. Other ‘practitioners’ without Registered Acupuncture (R.Ac) title who is providing acupuncture service has more likely have taken a weekend course to get the certification to provide acupuncture service. They have clinical experiences ranging from 20 hours to 500 hours of clinical experience. This does not mean it’s not effective at all but the approach of treatment is limited.

Explore and discover what Abdominal Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can do for you! Book an appointment with Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist in Better Health Clinic today!

Weight Loss & Acupunctur​​e?!

Posted on by Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)

Did you know that Acupuncture can help with weight loss? Acupuncture is more than just pricking someone with a needle. Our bodies work in strange ways that cannot be explained through simple science. Depending on the site of acupuncture, it can bring many beneficial & therapeutic effects. 

For example, there are points on the body when triggered, releases heat beneficial for those with fevers or a point combination that can help with constipation or dysmenorrhea (aka painful menstruation). 

Our ears are used for more than just listening, you can also treat the entire body by stimulating specific points on the ear. The ear houses points that can stimulate the parts of the body, the nervous system and organs. 

A randomized study conducted in 2013 showed that a treatment regime that consisted using ear acupuncture points for 8 weeks showed reduction in body mass index. 

Heechan will also be using different kinds of diagnostic methods to identify the root of the problem and guide you through recommendations in the form of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

Book an appointment with our Registered Acupuncturist Heechan Lee and start the New Year on the first step to losing weight!

How can Acupuncture help manage your health/pain?

Posted on by Heechan Lee, Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac)

Acupuncture based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), focuses on bringing balance to the body. Therefore, optimal health is maintaining equilibrium within.

What does this mean? Our bodies are influenced by external factors such as food, lifestyle habits, exercise and developing good eating habits, one can achieve disease-free longevity and may recover quickly from injuries and illnesses.

Due to the demands of our work and lifestyle, it is inevitable that we have had imbalances in the body or will eventually have them. Stress causes imbalances in the body that affects our emotions which in turn affects our bodies. This may manifest as, but not limited to, bloating, headaches, reduced appetite, loose stools/ diarrhea, flatulence, acid regurgitation, neck pain and shoulder pain.

How acupuncture helps

Acupuncture based on TCM can help determine the imbalance by exploring signs and symptoms, pulse taking and tongue observations. Signs and symptoms are the bodes expression of telling you what is wrong with your body. Pulse has its own characteristics and quality that changes according to the body’s state. The tongue is another diagnostic tool used in TCM which indicates the internal state of the body. With the collection of information, specific acupuncture points are chosen to help bring back balance within. Acupuncture points are unique, some points are used to nourish the body and some points are used to clear the excess. Each acupuncture point has more than one function, therefore, points chosen will not only help treat your chief complaint but also improve additional signs and symptoms presented with prior to treatment such as better sleep quality, increase in appetite and better bowel movements.

Book an appointment with Heechan Lee here!

Improve your general wellbeing, health and tackle your complaints now!