Acupuncture in Victoria

Acupuncture, an ancient practice within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been employed for millennia. It utilizes fine, sterile needles inserted into specific points on the body to regulate Qi, the vital energy that flows through the body's meridians. The objective is to alleviate blockages or disruptions in Qi, addressing issues like pain and illness while promoting overall well-being.

In an acupuncture session, a licensed acupuncturist evaluates your health history and symptoms before strategically inserting needles into various points, such as the arms, legs, back, feet, hands, head and abdomen. These needles are typically left in place for 20 to 60 minutes, allowing Qi to circulate freely and fostering healing and balance.

Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for numerous conditions, including chronic pain, digestive problems, anxiety, depression, infertility, menstrual irregularities, and insomnia.

During treatment, the practitioner may use complimentary therapies such as cupping, Tui Na (Chinese massage), moxibustion and gua sha (scraping technique).

Multiple sessions of acupuncture are typically needed to see long term results, especially for chronic issues, and the practitioner will discuss the best course of treatment for each individual.  

Meet Avery

Registered Acupuncturist + Clinical Herbalist

Avery (she/her) is a Registered Acupuncturist in Victoria and a Clinical Herbalist, with a passion for holistic healthcare. Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Avery graduated with honours from Pacific Rim College, where she studied Western Herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture.

With a deep understanding of biomedical sciences, herbal energetics, and nutrition, Avery uses a combination of Western herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy, and holistic nutrition to assess and treat each person based on their constitution.

As a Registered Acupuncturist with the CTCMA and a professional member of the British Columbia Herbalist Association, Avery aims to make holistic healthcare accessible while providing a safe and inclusive space for healing. She is passionate about working with all types of health concerns, including digestive concerns, chronic stress, chronic pain, gynecological conditions and hormone imbalance, nervous system regulation, and mental-emotional conditions.

Avery has a special interest in treating addictions and trauma and takes a trauma-informed approach to acupuncture. She approaches each patient with empathy and compassion as part of a multifaceted approach to healing. Her studies have brought her all around the world - in 2012 and 2015, Avery studied Ayurveda under her teacher in Kerala, India. In 2023, she had the privilege of travelling to Poland to work on a project with Acupuncture Without Borders to offer treatments to refugees from Ukraine. And now you can work with her and book an acupuncture session in Victoria.

In addition to her professional work, Avery enjoys travelling, gardening, camping, volunteer harm reduction work, and getting into nature with her dog Elton John.

What is Cupping?

Get ‘marked’ by oriental bliss! Cupping is an excellent technique to draw out toxins from deep within the body. It is a non-evasive, therapeutic and deeply relaxing treatment, during which the practitioner takes a small glass cup and ignites a small flame inside the cup, creating a vacuum. The cup is then quickly applied to the body (this is a warm and soothing touch to the skin), drawing the skin up a few millimeters into the cup and then moved around for the ultimate massage. Perfectly round ‘hickie’ marks are common following treatment and usually go away after a week or two.

What is Gua Sha?

In TCM, gua sha is known as “scraping”. This fusion of gua sha and gentle massage incorporates a smooth “jade stick” (Gua Sha) tool shaped like a shoehorn to quickly stroke and massage lubricated skin. This therapy is also deeply relaxing and can be deeper pressure on the body. Using repeated pressured strokes, this ‘scraping’ technique will raise (sha) to remove blood stagnation and promote normal circulation. Scraping will cause the appearance of rosy skin and in rare cases small red ‘petechiae’ called 'sha', that will fade in 2 to 3 days. As jade stone naturally emits infrared rays, this therapy generates internal warmth which supports molecule activation in living tissues, promotes cell rejuvenation and anti-aging in the skin. Awaken the cells with this detoxifying treatment. Facial roller used for face.

What is Moxibustion?

Moxibustion is another traditional healing technique within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It involves the burning of dried mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) near specific acupuncture points on the body. The heat generated from the burning mugwort, commonly in the form of a cone or stick, is applied to stimulate these points, promoting the flow of Qi and blood.

Moxibustion is used to complement acupuncture and address conditions where cold or stagnation is believed to be a factor. The warming effect is thought to enhance circulation, alleviate pain, and support the body's natural healing processes. This technique is often employed to address conditions such as arthritis, digestive issues, menstrual pain, and breech presentations during pregnancy.

There are different forms of moxibustion, including direct and indirect methods. In direct moxibustion, a small amount of mugwort is placed directly on the skin and burned, while indirect moxibustion involves holding the burning moxa at a distance from the skin. The choice between these methods depends on the specific condition being treated and the preferences of the practitioner. Moxibustion, like other TCM modalities, aims to restore balance and harmony within the body.

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