Karen McLellan graduated from the Canadian College of
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) where she
completed four years of study in Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM). She has been in practice as a licensed Registered
Acupuncturist (R.Ac.) since then, and has over 10 years of
experience in TCM.
Chinese Medicine and
Acupuncture
Her training is in all modalities of TCM. Her areas of special
interest are in Men’s Health, Pediatrics, and Gynecology. She is
also highly skilled in Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture and has a
wealth of knowledge in Diet Therapy.
Karen is one of only a few highly trained and certified Facial
Rejuvenation Acupuncture Practitioners in Victoria! This form
of acupuncture is a specialty protocol developed by Virginia
Doran, a well known Practitioner of TCM and Facial
Rejuvenation from the United States. Karen’s skill level allowed
her the opportunity to act as Virginia’s teaching assistant in
Victoria for three years.
Karen’s practice involves treatment of a variety of health
disorders and she welcomes everyone to her clinic. Her goal as a
health care provider is to ensure that her patients are getting the
best, most comprehensive quality of care possible – Karen is
therefore continually furthering her education in Traditional
Chinese Medicine and Holistic Health Care. She looks forward
to getting to know you and helping you in your goals towards a
healthy lifestyle.
Karen McLellan R.Ac.
Market Square Massage Therapy and Acupuncture
308 – 560 Johnson St.
Victoria BC V8W 3C6
Phone: 250-388-9810 or Cell: 250-858-4325
What is Acupuncture?
How does it work?
The Chinese have, over a period of thousands of years, mapped out
a series of points along the body in which the insertion of fine
needles into the skin at these sights promotes effective treatments of
specific health problems. Acupuncture is used to help restore the
balance of health within the body. Modern electromagnetic
research has recently confirmed the location of these points.
Traditional acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories that Qi
(energy) and Xue (blood) flow freely throughout the body just as
nerves and blood vessels do and that free movement of these
promotes health. Acupuncture is thought to encourage and aid in
this physiological process.
What Health problems can Acupuncture Treat?
According to the World Health Organization, Acupuncture is useful in
treating the following health Conditions:
Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders such as sinus problems, earaches and
toothaches
Respiratory Disorders such as bronchitis and asthma
Gastrointestinal Disorders such as bowel problems like diarrhea,
constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and abdominal pain
Nervous System and Muscular Disorders such as headaches, migraines,
low back pain, osteoarthritis and frozen shoulder
Gynecological disorders – PMS, menstrual cramps & irregularity,
pregnancy including discomfort, miscarriage, infertility and pediatrics
Among many others, Acupuncture also helps with:
Stress
Energy
Arthritis
Weight Loss
Brain Functioning
Facial Rejuvenation
Emotional disturbances
Pain
Insomnia
Sciatica
Hair Loss
Children’s Health
Skin disorders
Low Libido, Sexual Functioning, Impotence
How deep do the needles go and does it hurt?
The nature of the problem, the points selected, the style of the acupuncture
being used, the patient’s size, age and well being at the time of treatment all
play a role in the depth of the needles. Needles are inserted from ¼ to 1 inch
in depth on average. Acupuncture is not meant to be painless. However,
with correct stimulation of the needles, patients often feel a variety of
different sensations including tingling, heaviness, distension, heat, or
numbness around the needle site or traveling up or down the affected
meridian (in the body). If you experience any discomfort it is usually mild
and quickly subsides. It is important for you to communicate well with your
practitioner any of the sensations you are experiencing.
What can I expect during my visit?
A typical visit to the clinic will range from 45 minutes to 1 hour.
The initial consultation is 1 to 1.5 hours to allow quality time for
your practitioner to get to know as much about you and your health
as possible. An in-dept look into your health history and current
conditions(s) is done in order to best assess and address your health
concerns. Once a diagnosis is determined and treatment plan is set
up, you are ready for your treatment. Fine hair-width, sterile
needles are inserted at specific points throughout the body. These
are designed to address your health condition and either are
inserted, then immediately removed or are left in the body for up to
40 minutes – 30 minutes is the average. Some treatments are longer
depending on the needs of the patient and the goal of the treatment.
Other modalities such as dietary counselling and lifestyle
recommendations, cupping, moxibustion and or Tui Na massage
may be done depending on the need.
How many treatments will I need and how
often will I have to visit the clinic?
It is difficult to assess without consultation exactly how many
treatments will be needed to achieve your goal. It is common for an
acute condition such as a headache to be successfully treated in only
one treatment, whereas a series ranging from 5-15 treatments would
be common for chronic conditions. Severe conditions may require
many treatments. Depending on the condition, treatments are done
ranging from two to three days apart for acute issues, and weekly or
bi-weekly for chronic conditions. This varies and is discussed and
determined by the practitioner and patient based on the best
treatment plan for the individual.
What do I do while receiving my treatment?
Relax and enjoy your treatment while focusing on the experience
you are having. There is no need to be concerned or frightened in
any way as you are in control at all times. If at any point you feel
uncomfortable or feel ready to end the treatment, speak with your
practitioner and the necessary adjustments will be made. In order to
get the most benefit and understanding from your treatments be sure
to ask your practitioner any questions you may have during the
course of your treatments. The experience is often described as
relaxing while rejuvenating and is enjoyed by most.