Frequently Asked questions

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For your first appointment, be sure to wear loose comfortable clothing and eat something at least one hour beforehand.  Your first appointment will last an hour and a half, with all other appointments lasting one hour.  

The first half of the appointment will be a thorough interview process as we discuss the main reasons for your visit and all else relating to your health, past and present.  I will then take your pulse and look at your tongue, two tools I use for diagnostic purposes.  

We will end the session with an integrative acupuncture session,  It can be very relaxing and many clients fall asleep for a restorative nap.

The benefits of acupuncture start immediately. Noticeable improvements may also be felt from the first session or it may take couple more sessions. 

I recommend giving acupuncture a 5 treatment window (esp. for long-term health concerns and 3 sessions for more acute conditions)) before deciding whether or not  its benefits you the way you had hoped.  

After your first treatment you could experience an excellent night of sleep, higher energy, more focus, less stress and a reduction in pain. 

Free visitor parking is available in the building.

Systemic balance is critical to one's health and wellness, in western medicine this is known as homeostasis.  Any imbalance can result in disorders such as pain, injury, insomnia, digestive issues, stress, gynecological disorders, allergies, depression, colds and a myriad of other complications.  

Acupuncture helps restore one's nature balance so organs and bodily systems can work together in harmony.  This sets the stage for the body to repair itself and maintain its own optimal health. 

From a Western medicine perspective, research has shown that acupuncture treatment triggers different physiological responses, such as:

- Stimulating the immune system and increasing white blood cells, which defend the body against infection.

- Regulating blood sugar metabolism, which helps the body use energy more efficiently.

- Increasing blood circulation and producing beneficial changes in blood pressure; 

- Decreasing cholesterol and triglycerides.

- Increasing stomach peristaltic activity and regulating digestive fluids, thereby improving digestion.

- Regulating and stimulating serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is directly related to sleep, appetite, and moods.

- Increasing the availability of receptors in the brain that process and weaken pain signals.

- Affecting both the brain’s short- and long-term ability to reduce pain sensation.

Upon insertion of the needles, various  sensations may or may arise  and last briefly  for a few seconds. 

 If for some reason,  the sensations seems  to be not well tolerated or does not decrease in intensity over time, adjustments will be made to the treatment plan  to ensure that you feel at ease and confident about the progress of the session. 

By the time all the needles are inserted, you generally do not feel any of them and are enveloped with a sense of calm relaxation.

It is important to note that you are ALWAYS in a position to withdraw consent to treatment at any point during the session.

Unlike hypodermic needles which are used for the delivery of liquids and have a hollow edge to cut the skin, acupuncture needles are solid and part the tissue rather than cut it.  Acupuncture needles are also much finer then hypodermic needles.  

About 40 acupuncture needles can fit into the tip of one standard 18 gauge hypodermic needle!  Due to the acupuncture needles being so fine and the swiftness of the insertion, the pain reflexes on the nerve endings are not even stimulated.  

There are some areas of the body that will always be more sensitive including the fingers, toes and palms, but it's generally nothing more than a quick fleeting sensation.

When first starting a course of treatment , clients may receive acupuncture treatments 1-3 times per week.  The exact  duration of treatment varies case to case but generally depends on

- the condition, 

- your basic level of health and 

- how well you respond to acupuncture. 

 Usually frequent treatments are done for the first few weeks; after that, the frequency of treatment may be reduced as wellness is restored.  

Acute condtions take around 5-6 treatments to resolve, while more long standing conditions can take 10+.

Chinese Medicine treatments works best within a series of consistent well-spaced sessions especially at the beginning to build a health momentum back in the direction of optimal wellbeing. 

The in-person sessions provided by Kandiss are integrative in nature and may include a combination of the following to promote the healing process (depending of appropriateness &  the comfort level and consent of the client): 

- Acupunture 

- Chi Nei Tsang 

- Medical Qi Gong 

- Body work (cupping & gua sha)

- Sound Therapy (tuning forks, singing bowls etc.)

- Mindfulness Meditation  

- Breath Work

- Floral Acupuncture 

- Stone Medicine 

After a session Kandiss may offer herbal, dietary and lifestyle recommendations as needed.