Not All Vancouver Acupuncture is Created Equally – Education, Training, and Registration
When searching for someone suitable to practice this ancient healing modality, it is wise to ensure that they are registered with the official provincial licensing authority. The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA) operates under the auspices of the provincial government and through the Health Professions Act to regulate the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture in Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia. Registrants of the CTCMA have completed at least 1900 academic hours of training before they are allowed to practice Chinese medicine, including at least 450 hours of supervised practicum. This is, by far, the most number of hours required to become certified to practice acupuncture in the province of British Columbia, and it is why only CTCMA registrants can provide acupuncture services under the provincial MSP Premium Assistance program. Your Vancouver acupuncturist should use one of the following titles:
R.Ac – Registered Acupuncturist (at least 1900 hours of training)
R. TCM. P – Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (at least 2600 hours of training)
Dr. TCM – Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (at least 3250 hours of training)
Acupuncture Style – Whole Body vs. Localized Area
There are many different styles of acupuncture. The ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japanese styles of acupuncture (as well as martial arts such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong) use Meridian Theory, a theory which is not present in the biomedical model of the human body. Essentially, this theory states that the internal organs of the body are connected to the outside of the body through channels (“meridians”) along which the energy or Qi (“chi”) of the body is considered to flow. In this style of acupuncture, the functioning of internal organ systems such as the reproductive or digestive system, the respiratory system or the neurological system, can be influenced with properly placed needles. IMS, or “dry needling”, is a different style of needling which is practiced by some physiotherapists and chiropractors. In this style, needles are placed according to anatomical neuro-muscular junctions. While IMS may be effective for relieving soft tissue pain, it is not capable of influencing internal organ systems. The Traditional Chinese Medicine form of acupuncture strives to treat the entire person, not just the part that hurts.
Vancouver Acupuncture – Culture and Language
Registrants of the CTCMA reflect a wide variety of cultural and language backgrounds. Understandably, many registrants are originally from Asia, and their first language may be Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or another Asian dialect. There are also Vancouver acupuncturists who speak as a first or second language Spanish, French, Russian, Persian, or Ukrainian, to name just a few. In order to get the most out of any treatment plan, communication is a key factor. It is a good idea if your practitioner speaks the same language and understands your culture in order to provide the best care.
Vancouver BC Acupuncture – Who are the Specialists?
In the province of British Columbia, there are no recognized “specialties” of acupuncture practice. In other words, CTCMA registrants are not allowed to say that they specialize in orthopedic injuries, or that they specialize in fertility and reproductive health, or that they specialize in addictions management – to “specialize” implies a certain level of training and a proof of competency. In British Columbia there is no infrastructure set up to establish the criteria for being a Chinese Medicine “specialist”. That being said, some Vancouver acupuncturists prefer to have a general practice, treating the variety of ailments and conditions that acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been shown to benefit. Others prefer to focus their practice in a specific area, and often take advanced training from respected practitioners in order to fine tune their skill set in a particular area.
So – Who is the Right Acupuncturist for You?
You can find out if your acupuncturist is registered with the CTCMA by clicking here. Those who practice acupuncture in Vancouver will often have a page on their website that provides a history of their education and particular interests, their languages and cultural background, any advanced training in specific areas they might have taken, and the location of their clinic. This can be a good way to gauge if a particular Vancouver acupuncturist is right for you.
If you would like to book an appointment or ask a question about Vancouver acupuncturists or Erin Flynn (Dr. TCM), please send your message through this form, and she will email you back. This contact form helps prevent her inbox from being spammed. She believes in email privacy for everyone, including you, and promises to keep your email safe and secure from third parties.
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