Traditional Chinese medicine is rooted in five thousand years of practice and experience. Naturopathic doctors diagnose imbalances in the body by observing symptoms and physical signs, examining the tongue and pulses to create and individualized treatment plan, and balance the flow of the body's internal energy (described in traditional texts as "qi"), resulting in improved physical, psychological and emotional health.
Modern medical research has verified the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of a number of conditions, including osteoarthritis, postoperative dental pain, and postoperative and chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. Traditionally, the benefits and uses of acupuncture are far more wide ranging, including infertility, pain conditions, menstrual symptoms and insomnia.
Chinese herbal medicines, diet therapy and acupuncture are the tools of Traditional Chinese medicine. A typical acupuncture (using only sterile, disposable needles) treatment is 30 minutes long. Discomfort is limited to a quick “prick” felt as needles are inserted, and possibly a mild ache (a sign acupuncture needles are inserted to the appropriate depth) over the course of the treatment. Relaxation techniques may be used to increase comfort during treatments.
Du La, ND, in addition to acupuncture training received in the course of completing her naturopathic medicine education, has completed an acupuncture internship at Mackay memorial Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, and has earned a Diploma in Traditional a Chinese Herbal Medicine from the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Toronto. Acupuncture treatments provided at Toronto-Centre Naturopathic Medicine are covered by most extended healthcare plans.