South Edmonton Location
Acupuncture in Edmonton
Acupuncture places fine needles at points from the traditional Chinese medicine system, usually left in for fifteen to thirty minutes, and is offered at our southeast Edmonton clinic as part of a wider plan rather than on its own. It differs from dry needling.
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What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture places very fine needles at defined points on the body. It comes from traditional Chinese medicine, where those points sit along described channels, and it is practised today both within that framework and alongside conventional care. It is most commonly used for pain, and it is offered here as part of a wider plan rather than as a stand-alone course of treatment.
How it differs from dry needling
The needles look almost identical, which is why the two get confused constantly. The difference is the reasoning behind where the needle goes.
Dry needling works from anatomy: the needle goes into a taut band of the muscle producing your symptoms, identified by examination on the day. Acupuncture works from the traditional system of points and channels, and the point selection may include places well away from where it hurts.
They are also regulated differently. In Alberta, acupuncture delivered by a registered acupuncturist is its own regulated profession with its own college; a physiotherapist who uses needling does so under the physiotherapy college with additional training. Ask which you are booking, because insurance plans often treat them as separate benefits.
What a session involves
Most people find it relaxing, and some feel drowsy afterwards. Tell the practitioner if anything is sharp or uncomfortable rather than waiting for the needles to come out.
- A history first — what the problem is, how it behaves, your general health and medications
- Needles inserted at the selected points, usually barely felt going in
- A dull, heavy or spreading sensation around a needle, which is expected rather than a problem
- Needles left in place, commonly for fifteen to thirty minutes, while you rest
- Occasionally added warmth, or gentle electrical stimulation between needles
What the evidence does and does not say
The research picture is mixed and it is worth being straight about that. For several persistent pain presentations, acupuncture has separated from no treatment in trials, while the difference against a convincing sham is smaller and more contested. For other conditions the evidence is thin.
What that means in practice: it is a reasonable thing to try for pain alongside your other treatment, and it is not a reason to stop the parts of the plan that build capacity. If a course of it is producing nothing, that is worth saying rather than continuing out of politeness.
When it is not appropriate
Raise any of these before treatment. Some rule it out; most just change where needles are placed.
- You take blood thinners, or have a bleeding or clotting disorder
- You are pregnant — several points are avoided
- You have a pacemaker or implanted electrical device, if electrical stimulation is being considered
- There is infection, an open wound or a rash over the area
- You have lymphedema in the limb, or a compromised immune system
- You have fainted with needles before, or have a needle phobia
Questions people ask
Does it hurt?
The insertion is usually barely noticeable. What people do feel is a dull, heavy or spreading ache around the needle, which settles within a few moments and is the expected response rather than a sign anything is wrong.
Is it the same as dry needling?
Same style of needle, different reasoning and different regulation. Dry needling targets the muscle identified on examination; acupuncture follows the traditional point system. Many insurance plans cover them under separate categories, so check which yours pays for.
How many sessions will I need?
It should not be open-ended. A short course is usually enough to tell whether it is doing anything for you; if nothing has shifted by then, continuing is unlikely to be the right call.
Are the needles clean?
Single-use, sterile and disposed of after one insertion. They are never reused.
Is it covered by insurance?
Often, though plans vary and some cover acupuncture and physiotherapy separately. Bring your plan details and the clinic can confirm before treatment rather than after.
Who provides acupuncture at Vertex?
Xiaohan (Han) Xie, a Registered Acupuncturist with the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta, trained at the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Book directly at (825) 525-2852.
How many sessions are usual?
An initial course of four to six sessions is typical, with a review at that point. Some conditions respond quickly; others need maintenance. Han will tell you at the first visit what to expect and what to look for.
Is acupuncture covered by my benefits?
Many extended health plans have a separate acupuncture allowance. Check your plan, or ask the front desk to confirm whether direct billing is available for your insurer.
Book an acupuncture appointment
Vertex Physiotherapy is at 6958 76 Ave NW #205, Edmonton, AB T6B 2R2. Call (825) 525-2852 or book online. Say at booking that you want acupuncture, so you are seen by the right practitioner.