Does acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture needles are significantly thinner than a hypodermic needle. Most people feel minimal discomfort during insertion - some report a brief dull ache, tingling, or warmth at the needle site. This sensation, called de qi in TCM, is considered normal and typically passes within seconds. Many patients fall asleep during treatment.

How many acupuncture sessions will I need?

It depends on the condition and how long it has been present. Acute conditions often respond within 4-6 sessions. Chronic conditions typically require a longer course of treatment. Your acupuncturist will discuss a recommended treatment plan at the initial visit and reassess as you progress.

Is TCM acupuncture the same as dry needling?

No. Dry needling is a technique used by some physiotherapists that targets myofascial trigger points in muscle tissue. TCM acupuncture uses a full diagnostic system - including pulse and tongue assessment - to identify underlying patterns and place needles at specific acupuncture points throughout the body. Registered Acupuncturists in BC complete a distinct, regulated training program and hold a separate professional designation.

Is acupuncture covered by extended health insurance?

Most extended health benefit plans in BC include an acupuncture benefit when treatment is performed by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac). Tania Aleo, R.Ac directly bills Pacific Blue Cross. For other plans, patients typically pay at time of service and submit for reimbursement. Contact your insurer to confirm your coverage amount and annual limit.

What conditions does acupuncture treat?

Acupuncture is used clinically for musculoskeletal pain (back, neck, shoulders, knees), headaches and migraines, anxiety, stress, insomnia, digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, menstrual irregularity, fertility support, and immune health, among others. See the full condition list on this page or speak with your acupuncturist about your specific concern.

What is the difference between acupuncture and facial acupuncture?

Traditional body acupuncture places needles at points throughout the body to address systemic and musculoskeletal conditions. Facial acupuncture uses fine needles on the face and scalp - typically combined with a body treatment - to address facial circulation, muscle tone, and underlying health patterns that manifest in the face. It is not a cosmetic-only treatment.

Can acupuncture be combined with other treatments?

Yes. Acupuncture is commonly used alongside naturopathic medicine, registered massage therapy, osteopathy, and other modalities. The Healing Oak operates as a multidisciplinary clinic in Chilliwack and Abbotsford - patients can book with multiple practitioners and practitioners can coordinate care as appropriate.

Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine technique using fine needles to restore balance and promote healing.

Acupuncture Practitioners at The Healing Oak

Tania Aleo, R.Ac Acupuncture Chilliwack, BC Specializes in: Anxiety, Blood Flow Circulation, Facial Acupuncture, Insomnia
Tania is a Registered Acupuncturist practicing at The Healing Oak in Chilliwack.Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, her acupuncture approach supports the body's innate ability to heal and restore …
Kristina Mokhir, ND Naturopathic Medicine Chilliwack, BC
Dr. Kristina Mokhir is a licensed naturopathic physician and a CAND member (Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors). Dr. Mokhir, ND, spent more than ten years in the nutritional supplements indu…
Stella Hu, DTCM, R. AC Acupuncture Abbotsford, BC Specializes in: Allergies, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma
Stella Yali Hu is a highly skilled practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She holds licenses as a Registered Acupuncturist, Registered Herbalist, and Doctor of TCM. She has a Bachelor's d…

Frequently Asked Questions

Does acupuncture hurt?: Acupuncture needles are significantly thinner than a hypodermic needle. Most people feel minimal discomfort during insertion - some report a brief dull ache, tingling, or warmth at the needle site. This sensation, called de qi in TCM, is considered normal and typically passes within seconds. Many patients fall asleep during treatment.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need?: It depends on the condition and how long it has been present. Acute conditions often respond within 4-6 sessions. Chronic conditions typically require a longer course of treatment. Your acupuncturist will discuss a recommended treatment plan at the initial visit and reassess as you progress.
Is TCM acupuncture the same as dry needling?: No. Dry needling is a technique used by some physiotherapists that targets myofascial trigger points in muscle tissue. TCM acupuncture uses a full diagnostic system - including pulse and tongue assessment - to identify underlying patterns and place needles at specific acupuncture points throughout the body. Registered Acupuncturists in BC complete a distinct, regulated training program and hold a separate professional designation.
Is acupuncture covered by extended health insurance?: Most extended health benefit plans in BC include an acupuncture benefit when treatment is performed by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac). Tania Aleo, R.Ac directly bills Pacific Blue Cross. For other plans, patients typically pay at time of service and submit for reimbursement. Contact your insurer to confirm your coverage amount and annual limit.
Does ICBC cover acupuncture after a car accident?: Yes. Acupuncture is an approved treatment under ICBC for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. The clinic accepts ICBC-covered acupuncture. Patients pay at the time of service and submit receipts to ICBC for reimbursement - the clinic does not direct-bill ICBC.
What conditions does acupuncture treat?: Acupuncture is used clinically for musculoskeletal pain (back, neck, shoulders, knees), headaches and migraines, anxiety, stress, insomnia, digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, menstrual irregularity, fertility support, and immune health, among others. See the full condition list on this page or speak with your acupuncturist about your specific concern.
What is the difference between acupuncture and facial acupuncture?: Traditional body acupuncture places needles at points throughout the body to address systemic and musculoskeletal conditions. Facial acupuncture uses fine needles on the face and scalp - typically combined with a body treatment - to address facial circulation, muscle tone, and underlying health patterns that manifest in the face. It is not a cosmetic-only treatment.
Can acupuncture be combined with other treatments?: Yes. Acupuncture is commonly used alongside naturopathic medicine, registered massage therapy, osteopathy, and other modalities. The Healing Oak operates as a multidisciplinary clinic in Chilliwack and Abbotsford - patients can book with multiple practitioners and practitioners can coordinate care as appropriate.

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Duration: 45-60 minutes

How Acupuncture Works

Acupuncture is a core modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with a documented clinical history spanning thousands of years. The practice involves inserting fine, sterile, single-use needles into specific anatomical points on the body.

From a biomedical perspective, needle insertion stimulates sensory nerves and connective tissue, triggering local and systemic responses. These include the release of endorphins and other neuropeptides, modulation of the autonomic nervous system, and changes in blood flow to targeted tissues. Research has documented acupuncture's effects on pain signaling pathways, inflammatory markers, and stress hormone regulation.

TCM acupuncture differs from dry needling performed by physiotherapists. Dry needling targets myofascial trigger points and is typically limited in scope to musculoskeletal conditions. TCM acupuncture uses a full diagnostic framework - pulse diagnosis, tongue observation, and intake - to address the underlying pattern driving symptoms, not just the symptom itself. A Registered Acupuncturist in BC holds a distinct professional designation regulated by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC (CTCMA).

What Acupuncture Treats

Acupuncture has a broad evidence base and is used clinically for conditions across multiple body systems.

Musculoskeletal and Pain Conditions

Neck pain, back pain, and sciatica
Shoulder, knee, and hip pain
Headaches and migraines
Jaw pain and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction (see TMJ treatment)
Post-injury recovery and soft tissue pain

Nervous System and Mental Health

Anxiety and stress
Insomnia and sleep disturbance
Nervous system dysregulation
Burnout and fatigue

Hormonal and Reproductive Health

Menstrual irregularity and PMS
Hormonal imbalance
Fertility support
Perimenopause and menopause symptoms

Digestive Health

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Bloating, constipation, and nausea
Acid reflux
Poor appetite or sluggish digestion

Immune and General Health

Frequent illness and low immunity
Allergy symptoms
Chronic fatigue

Acupuncture is often used alongside naturopathic medicine for hormonal and digestive concerns - the practitioners at this clinic work within the same facility and can coordinate care where appropriate.

Acupuncture for Pain and Anxiety

Pain and anxiety are the two highest-volume reasons patients seek acupuncture, and they're often connected. Chronic pain elevates cortisol, disrupts sleep, and sensitizes the nervous system. Anxiety creates muscle guarding, jaw clenching, shallow breathing, and postural tension. Treating one without addressing the other often produces incomplete results.

For pain: Acupuncture interrupts the pain signaling cycle at the peripheral nerve, spinal cord, and brain levels. Local needling increases blood flow to injured or inflamed tissue, releases myofascial trigger points, and reduces the neuroinflammation that keeps pain signals firing after tissue damage has healed. For motor vehicle accident injuries and workplace injuries, acupuncture is a recognized treatment under both ICBC and WorkSafeBC.

For anxiety: Acupuncture activates the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Patients typically notice a shift during the treatment itself: heart rate slows, breathing deepens, muscle tension releases, and the mental chatter quiets. Over a series of sessions, the nervous system's baseline setpoint recalibrates. Patients who have been in chronic fight-or-flight mode often describe the cumulative effect as "feeling like myself again." Tania Aleo, R.Ac, practices at the Chilliwack clinic with a clinical focus on nervous system regulation - this is a central part of her practice, not a side benefit. Stella Hu, DTCM, R.Ac, practices at the Abbotsford clinic and holds a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine designation, making acupuncture available at both clinic locations.

For patients whose anxiety has a strong cognitive component (rumination, catastrophic thinking, avoidance patterns), acupuncture works well alongside counselling or psychology. The acupuncture addresses the physiological arousal while therapy addresses the thought patterns.

Facial Acupuncture, Cupping, and Adjunct Therapies

In addition to traditional body acupuncture, the following adjunct modalities are available through Tania Aleo, R.Ac:

Facial Acupuncture: A specialized technique using fine needles on the face and scalp. Used to address facial tension, skin tone, and circulation, and often combined with a full body acupuncture treatment to address underlying patterns.
Fire Cupping: A traditional technique using glass cups and heat to create suction on the skin. Commonly applied to the back and shoulders and used to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and support recovery. Can leave temporary marks on the skin that typically resolve within a few days.
Gua Sha: A tool-based technique using a smooth-edged instrument to apply firm strokes to the skin. Commonly used for muscle tightness, neck and shoulder pain, and lymphatic support.
Heat Therapy (Moxibustion/TDP Lamp): Infrared heat or moxa (dried herb) applied near acupuncture points to warm tissue, support circulation, and reinforce treatment effects. Particularly common in treatments for cold-type pain patterns, digestive issues, and immune support.

Insurance and Coverage

Acupuncture performed by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) is covered under most extended health benefit plans in BC. Coverage amounts and annual limits vary by plan.

Pacific Blue Cross: Tania Aleo, R.Ac directly bills Pacific Blue Cross. Patients with this plan do not need to pay out of pocket at the time of treatment.

Other extended health plans: Accepted. Direct billing availability varies. Patients with other insurers typically pay at time of service and submit for reimbursement.

ICBC (motor vehicle accident claims): Acupuncture is covered under ICBC pre-approved treatment plans. The clinic accepts ICBC-covered acupuncture. Patients pay at time of service and submit to ICBC for reimbursement.

WorkSafeBC: Acupuncture is a recognized treatment under WorkSafeBC. Accepted at this clinic.

What to Expect at Your Acupuncture Appointment

Initial visit (typically 60-75 minutes): The first appointment begins with a health history intake. Your acupuncturist will ask about your primary concern, overall health history, sleep, digestion, stress levels, and other factors relevant to TCM pattern diagnosis. A tongue and pulse assessment is standard. The treatment itself follows the intake. Needles are retained for approximately 20-30 minutes. Patients are encouraged to rest quietly during this time. Most find the experience relaxing.

Follow-up visits (typically 45-60 minutes): Subsequent visits include a brief check-in and updated assessment before treatment. Treatment frequency is recommended based on the condition being treated - acute presentations may benefit from more frequent sessions initially, while maintenance or preventive care is often monthly.

What to wear: Loose, comfortable clothing that allows access to the arms, legs, and lower back is recommended.

After treatment: Some patients feel energized; others feel deeply relaxed or mildly fatigued. It is common to notice effects in the hours following treatment. Staying hydrated and avoiding intense physical activity immediately after a session is generally advised.

For patients with a needle sensitivity or phobia, discuss this with your acupuncturist before the session. Treatment can often be modified.

Related Services

Naturopathic Medicine - integrated care for hormonal, digestive, and immune concerns
Registered Massage Therapy - soft tissue and musculoskeletal treatment
Manual Osteopathic Therapy - manual therapy for structural and systemic complaints
TMJ Treatment - jaw pain, bite dysfunction, and related headaches

Offered at The Healing Oak - Multidisciplinary Health & Wellness Clinic in Chilliwack & Abbotsford, BC. No referral required. Direct billing available.