Photo Credit: Brookedidonato
Health Redefined.
Finding the balance between Mind & Body through Sustainability.
Photo Credit: DaoLabs
The Clinic — Our mission.
We are a family-operated home-based wellness clinic located right in Windermere - Edmonton South West (Upper Windermere/Langdale Area)!
Practicing for more than a combined 50+ years of experience, we’ve finally made the move to private practice where we can just focus on YOU. Your health and well-being are our priority. Working alongside you every step of the way to build the best version of you; building upon your journey of wellness.
Along with the privacy needed to make you feel comfortable, we strive to give you the best service-oriented results possible, with no obligations, no sales pitch, and no pressure. Everything we do here must be sustainable, striking a balance between results and a stress-free process making it easy for you to stay on track.
Acupuncture with Richard Shimada 7 days a week! | Massage with Sherena Lu (Now Available Sunday and Wednesdays!) - Available to book online!
IMPORTANT UPDATES
Microneedling Packages just dropped!
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Click on book now to explore!
Microneedling Packages just dropped! 〰️ Click on book now to explore!
We offer Direct Billing for Blue Cross & ASEPB!
We offer Direct Billing for Blue Cross & ASEPB!
COVID-19 & Sanitization Protocols
As Covid has become more prevalent, our Sanitization upkeep has to be at the forefront of our patient’s safety. Using hospital-grade sanitizers, we wipe everything down and give a 15-minute break in between patients so that everything gets the thorough cleaning it needs to ensure safety. Please only arrive at most - 5 minutes before your appointment time to allow for this process!
As mandated by our associations, we are required to ask whether you have any unsuspecting symptoms - (Flu-like, sore throat, fever, breathing difficulties, or if you have been in close contact with a confirmed COVID Positive individual in the last 7 days...etc), If you do answer yes to any of the questions listed, please self isolate and reschedule your appointment after quarantine~
Masks are only mandatory If you’ve tested negative for COVID, but have the symptoms listed above and are being treated for your Common Cold.
Our sincerest apologies as these protocols are stringent to keep every patient in and out of here safe. as Treatments are fairly close quarters, with patients who are immunocompromised, it’s our responsibility to make sure your health along with every patient that comes through our doors - our number one priority.
All our staff here is fully vaccinated and use 4ply surgical grade masks when necessary. If you’re planning to get vaccinated or getting a booster, please allow 48hrs before booking due to symptoms that may pop up~
Thank you for your patience and understanding!
Please note: We currently don’t offer direct billing at the moment (except for Blue Cross), but will have it in the near future!
We take many forms of payment (All major Credit Cards, debits) and a receipt would be issued for self-submission!
Cancellation Policy:
When you book your appointment, you are holding space on our calendar that is no longer available to our other patients. In order to be respectful of each other's time and livelihood, please contact us as soon as you know you cannot make your appointment. All appointments rescheduled within the cancellation period to a later time in the week, no charges will be implemented! A cancellation is considered late when the appointment is canceled less than 36 hours (the whole business day before) the appointed time. A no-show is when a patient misses an appointment without canceling. In which case, we will charge you a no-show fee for the full amount of service. Exceptions can be made, but please avoid doing so if not absolutely necessary; Thank you for your understanding!
Services
Naturally, holistically - without any byproducts.
Acupuncture isn’t just all about needling. There are so much more modalities to explore!
From electro-stimulation; Moxibustion (Moxa); IR Heat Treatment, Class 3B LLLT (Low-Level Laser Therapy); Cupping; GuaSha (Scraping); Bleeding via Lancets; and most important of all - Herbal formulas.
Please note! We currently don’t offer direct billing at the moment, but will have it in the near future!
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of Holistic Medicine that has been in practice for more than three millennia. In the most basic sense, how Acupuncture works is via stimulating a series of neural networks that’s collectively responsible for a specific function of the body. Each nerve could be responsible for Psychological, Emotional, Chemical, and physical attributes; like a blueprint. Over time, our body is subjected to copious amounts of stress (external or internal) and stimulants that throw the body out of rhythm, causing it to not function properly. Acupuncture is just stimulating those specific nerves to get back into the swing of things in completing its original tasks such as homeostasis and regulatory balance. In order to do so, we use a metal conductor to bridge the gap between neurons, and add a bit of electricity to create a close circuit stimulus, and directly stimulate the system. Even without the added electricity, the body registers the precise point of the needle insertion as a foreign object in the body, and mobilizes defense and healing factors in that exact area; Acupuncture basically directs the body where to start the healing!
It’s true that it may not work for everyone, because everyone’s system is built and nurtured differently over time. sometimes it takes quite a bit of stimulus to get it back on track. And yes, it’s not necessarily useful when it comes to aggressive forms of pathology such as viral, febrile diseases, and cancer. There’s no Miracle here. Acupuncture is effective at optimizing the body’s own healing function at each given age demographic. Although it may not be a match for aggressive diseases, it’s great at managing pain and symptoms.
Moxibustion
Commonly known as Moxa - burns at such a temperature that emits and radiates at a very specific wavelength resembling closely to Infrared Heat. It sits on a spectrum in which the body responds to as a stimulus, prompting it to draw fresh blood and oxygen, promoting circulation in the area that is being targeted. Nerves in general perceive this stimulus as a signal to send blood and nourishment, without emitting an extreme stimulus such as pain for an undesired outcome. This is usually combined together with IR Heat lamp - a newer form of TDP Heat Therapy to maximize and provide sustained results.
Laser
A great alternative to those who don’t respond well to Needles, or prefer not to be needled at all. Although Acupuncture is considered more effective, especially in deeper neural stimulation, this holds its own.
The body tells the brain where to send healing factors or where to focus its efforts with a signal in which we perceive as pain. Much like how Acupuncture directs the body where to go, this cold laser has Three unique functions: Regeneration, Analgesic, and Relax.
The Regeneration Function stimulates the body much like a needle would - drawing the body’s attention on where to focus its healing factors.
The Relaxation Function helps the neural junction from firing, causing contraction and tightness in the area, and in addition, helps stop the muscles from receiving the signal - allowing the muscles to ‘relax’. This typically helps draw some of the soreness away in the area.
The Analgesic Function is just as you’d imagine. It stops the area from firing off a Pain signal to the brain - crying for help, where to send its healing factors to. This function stops the transmission of that perceived sensation of pain, all the while garnering the exact location for where the body should send its resources to.
Photo Credit: Daolabs
Cupping
Used for a variety of reasons, and can be implemented for those experiencing muscle soreness or tightness and looking for faster recovery. Traditionally, we use cupping to extract cold, inflammation, and obstruction in the local area. This is typically used after needling to circulate the area while removing any old accumulations in the area ie. lactic acid, dead/eroded cells, damaged tissues. Tends to leave a circular bruise-like mark resembling the aftermath of battling an Octopus.
Gua Sha
Also known as Myofascia Scrapping. Typically used to release ‘Toxins’ (Lactic Acid, byproducts of cell deterioration..etc) that haven’t been broken down within your muscle and fascia, once released, new, fresh blood carrying nutrient-enriched oxygen takes the place of the old. Promotes healing, and alleviates any irritants that burden your body. With a harder Gua Sha method, it tends to leave Red Steaks along the trajectory of the workspace. Be it the back, muscles, neck and shoulders, these marks will break down and fade within the week.
Gua Sha in its most gentle form can be used for Facial Cosmetic Applications, promoting fresh blood to the inner layers of the skin, and giving it a fresh glow! Be sure to look into our Cosmetic Acupuncture Program to see what we can offer!
Photo Credit: DaoLabs
Herbal Formulas
Used to treat a variety of conditions, it’s best paired with Acupuncture. Herbs are used to supplement the body’s healing process, where the body is burdened, and unable to produce enough nourishment for the body to run optimally, herbal formulas help take a load off the system so it can be more efficient. Whereas Acupuncture is the guiding blueprint - used to tell the body what to do, what to stimulate, where to heal, Herbs are used as resources to facilitate a full healing effect in a shorter amount of time. Think of your body needing fuel, and produce its own at the same time. Sometimes, you use more fuel than what it could provide. You have to think about where you’d want to allocate those resources, and concentrate its strength for a far more effective, and potent recovery time.
Ready to start your journey?
DO SOMETHING TODAY THAT YOUR FUTURE SELF WILL THANK YOU FOR.
It all begins with a vision. Whether it’s a goal 5 years from now, or maybe something as soon as next week. You have to start somewhere. Health
takes time to build, and plenty of time and energy to maintain. Sometimes we fall off the bandwagon, and it’s okay. We just need to get back up and
keep pushing forward. Do something for yourself today, and let us work together to achieve that dream for you; Life with abundance in health is a
life worth living for.
So…Here’s the Million Dollar question(s).
What can Acupuncture treat?
How long would it take??
Is it even effective?
Is it painful??
No, Acupuncture is not a one and done, end all be all sort of deal. It’s not an overnight cure or miracle. It’s a natural approach that gets your body back on track. We aren’t doing invasive surgery here to get that immediate result that you’re looking for, even with surgery, your body still takes time to recover. We aren’t using Medication to cover up symptoms either. We are stimulating the body so that at its most optimal state, it can heal itself as it’s intended to over the years. The process and progression rate depends on your body’s healthy state, everyone is different, and everyone is at a different stage in their life. Some respond quicker to Acupuncture, while those severely burdened over the years, may take more time to get back on track. It’s the act of constantly stimulating the nerves in higher frequencies throughout the week (2-3 times a week) that your body will soon recognize as its new baseline ‘Normal’ combating the old daily negative stimulation - and that’s when everything will stick; We are literally just stimulating the nerves to get back to normal, much like a consistent workout'; consistency is key.
Again, Acupuncture can treat almost anything you can think of, but unfortunately not the most aggressive forms of pathology such as febrile (viral) diseases or Cancer. Although it can’t cure, or treat these categories with great efficacy, we can at least manage the symptoms and pain that you’re experiencing.
When it comes to sensations - Acupuncture isn’t necessarily as “painful” as you’d imagine it to be (think flu shot - stabbing sensation). It’s a different kind of “pain” - much like Aches and Soreness the day after an intense workout, but at that immediate instance during treatment. It’s not a Sharp, Stinging, nor Burning sensation - It shouldn’t be any of those, nor do we want them in our treatment process. It’s trading a different kind of pain for the betterment of your health. This is usually exceptionally weird for many, especially those who haven’t experienced Acupuncture before. Truth be told, the only time you’d experience a bit of pinchy sharpness is if we have to treat Plantar Fasciitis - where all your nerve receptors are on the surface!
Listed below are just a few examples of what Acupuncture can treat just to get your imagination working!
Peripheral Neuropathy & Pain Management
The whole body is made up of 72 thousand neural pathways, connecting you from head to toe. Over the years, some of these nerves gets worn out, abused, burdened and perhaps even suffering from a traumatic event that left some residual damage. If they are nourished properly, everything is bliss; like a garden of flowers. But when you’re in pain, there’s only so much medication you can take before it gets unbearable; this doesn’t have to be your ‘normal’.
If you’re experiencing shooting, sharp, burning sensations that radiates along any trajectory, that means the nerves are being suffocated, and all these signals are a big cry for help. This is usually indicative of starting of nerve damage - that, compounded to the length of time left untreated. Think: Suffocation and cutting off oxygen to the brain, and what that does.
Nerve pains can sometimes be difficult and slow to treat - the reason being is Nerves at it’s most optimal state grows 0.03mm a day given all the right nutrients, blood and oxygen concentration to repair itself. Acupuncture treatments are designed to maximize bloodflow and oxygen to any given area we choose.
This goes the same with pain management, we need to train the body to stop firing off the signal crying for help - as we know as ‘Pain’ - by having multiple close succession treatment sessions, we can definitely lessen the intensity of pain, and aim towards getting rid of it completely!
Neck, Shoulder& Back Pain.
You’d be surprised that majority of my patient comes in with stiff Neck and Shoulders that radiates into the upper back. Mainly due to our poor posture - whether it’s work induced, to lifestyle (ie. Text Neck - looking down at our phones or improper Computer Monitor ergonomics) - Majority of the time we trained our body to become this way. Coming here would be half the battle, pin pointing what’s the trigger, the root cause is where we’d need to start, if not you’ll just be coming back.
The next big one is Low Back Pain (Lumbargo), Hips and Mobility Issues or even varying degrees of Sciatica. Acupuncture is quick acting in these Musculoskeletal Disorders, and can get you back on track pretty quick!
Headaches & Migraines
Some of us deal with Migraines and Headaches on a daily basis, but that doesn’t mean you’ve exhausted all your options! Whether it’s hormonal based (female health induced), or as simple as Tension Headaches due to tight Neck and Shoulders, we can treat it. Due to constriction, the leading causes that triggers these events are usually due to dehydration, lack of blood flow, or even a lack of oxygen! By Stimulating specific nerve bundles, we can promote quite a bit of circulation and nourishment to the brain!
Mental Health
You’re not alone. Millions struggle everyday just to stay on track. Especially the past couple of years where we’ve been isolated, with very little direction as to who to turn to.
We all have our ups and downs, but sometimes we need a little bit of a boost to pick ourselves back up. Acupuncture can help stimulate parts of your brain, and help regulate hormones and neural transmitters so that you can find your balance. Be it Depression, Anxiety, Pensiveness, manic episodes or even Irritability, Acupuncture can treat that.
Let’s work together so that you can feel the comfort of being safe in your body again.
Gastrointestinal/Digestive Tract (GI)
We’ve all experienced it before. Stomaches, Indigestion, GERD (Acid Reflux), Constipation, Diarrhea, Poor metabolism, Diabetes; it’s a miracle the stomach can endure all that we’ve thrown at it over the years. From Poor diets, to Alochol, our stomach put up with a lot. And over the years you might notice it slipping. Upset stomach from the slightest change in diet, bloating, tiredness after meals (food coma), brain fog, to low energy, and even low metabolism - all of which Acupuncture can help regulate it all, with relative ease!
Woman’s Health - OBGYN
Although you might feel like you’re in the ring by yourself, you can fight back with heavy hitting gloves.
Be it Painful Menses (Dysmenorrhea), or Absence of menses (Amenorrhea), Heavy Bleeding (Menorrhagia), Irregular cycles, hormonal imbalance, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and even Fertility! Acupuncture can help! By stimulating specific neural bundles, we can effectively regulate your cycle to what ‘normal’ should be.
Breathing Issues got you down?
You might not know it, but there' are many who are suffering from breathing disorders in many shape or form. From reduced tidal volume, coughing up phlegm, congestion, allergies, inflammation, hacking, sighing, restricted rib cages, palpitations triggering panick attacks, or maybe even the feeling resembling drowning.
If this was a pre-existing conditions, give our Acupuncture Services a try!
Unfortunately, if these are COVID19 related, our associations mandates that we can’t treat these for the time being, as it’s a close contact practice, which can result in those who are immunocompromised be affected.
If it’s sore throat, coughing issues, please secure a rapid test, or PCR test prior to our initial consultation to secure our services!
Sore feet, legs or even Plantar Fasciitis?
It happens. All it takes is that one tweak, and the foot pain feels like it’s there forever. Constantly tearing, sharp stabbing, inflammation. We all underestimate how much we ask of our legs day in and day out, how much it put up with. Inevitably, we are much more proned to injuring the limbs that keeps us standing tall. Acupuncture can help, whether it’s strengthening your legs, to faster recovery! But if it’s pain - particularly Plantar Fasciitis, it’s not the most pleasant feeling in the world. Although Acupuncture is effective, in all honesty, it’s somewhat painful due to the nerve receptors that’s located in the area. Short term discomfort for long term pain free? You’d have to decide if it’s worth it!
Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture!
You’ve might have heard of it! Popular in Japan and Korea - The Cosmetic Facial skin care Capital of the world, using a hybrid technique combining Acupuncture to promote Anti-aging! Using Acupuncture to draw blood in the crevices of wrinkles, promoting your own collagen production and maintaining elasticity, then combined with Laser for fast healing - long lasting results, and on top of that, a Facial to keep everything nice and moisturized for days on end?!? It’s a WIN!
Used to combat Wrinkles, Crow's feet, dark/puffy eyes, smoker's line over the mouth, Acne, and inflammation reduction, and even blemishes! There’s many tiers for you to choose from, depending on the ‘severity’ of things.
The ACUFACIAL is our signature treatment combing everything you can think of to leave your skin glowing, soft and extra supple!
Find us on Instagram & Facebook! —
Check out our Social Media for posts that can help motivate, educate, and provide a bit more insight on all the good things we do here!
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Cosmetic Acupuncture of Edmonton
