How it works
Around for more than 2,500 years, acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapy wherein practitioners place thin, hair-like needles at certain points within the body to stimulate healing. Its popularity in Canada has been on a steady increase over the past four decades, and it is now recognized as a safe and helpful way to treat everything from migraines and back pain to arthritis and asthma.
According to Toronto-based naturopathic doctor Jennifer Baer, there are two ways of looking at how acupuncture works within the body. From an Eastern perspective, it follows the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, whereby fine needles inserted in the face, arms, torso and legs encourage the free flow of "qi" (or energy) through many channels running throughout the body. From the Western perspective, it has been suggested that acupuncture stimulates the production of elastin and collagen fibres, improves circulation and relaxes tension in the muscles.
Baer says that a typical facial rejuvenation treatment would involve the insertion of about 30 to 50 needles, with the majority on the face and head, and some on other parts of the body such as the lower legs, feet, arms and hands. Because it is delicate work, she says it can take between 15 to 30 minutes to get all the needles inserted, and once they are in, they are kept in place for another 20 minutes, followed by a brief face massage.
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