Acupuncture in North York – Finch West

Acupuncture at Finch West

Come and see Li Su. She is our registered acupuncturist at 1275 Finch Avenue West, Suite 206, between Keele and Dufferin and a few minutes from Finch West station, and she is also a Registered Massage Therapist, which changes what an appointment here can be. Acupuncture runs mainly on Mondays and Wednesdays, in the same suite as our physiotherapists, two chiropractors and an osteopath, so it is easy to fit alongside whatever else you are doing to get better.

New to this treatment? Acupuncture treatment, safety and insurance.

Two skills in one room

Most acupuncturists treat with needles alone. Li Su can assess a stiff, painful neck, treat the tight muscle with her hands and then needle the points that keep it from tightening again, in a single session and under one insurance category if that suits your plan better. For the people who come here, that combination fits: York University students and staff carrying laptops and phones, shift workers from the Keele and Finch industrial streets, and residents of Downsview and Bathurst Manor who have had the same sore shoulder for years.

What we treat

Acupuncture here follows traditional Chinese medicine, which means it is not only for aching muscles. Li Su sees people for:

• Neck, shoulder and low back pain, including sciatica and disc-related pain that has settled into a long-term pattern
• Headaches and migraine, as a preventive course rather than a rescue
• Knee, hip and hand pain from osteoarthritis
• Tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis and other tendon problems that are slow to heal
• Stress, poor sleep and the fatigue that comes with both
• Digestive complaints, nausea and appetite changes
• Menstrual pain, menopause symptoms and support during fertility treatment
• Seasonal allergies, sinus congestion and lingering post-viral tiredness
• Recovery after a car accident, treated under auto insurance accident benefits, and work injuries under the WSIB program of care

The evidence is stronger for some of these than others. It is good for chronic pain, headaches and knee osteoarthritis, fair for nausea and some sleep and stress complaints, and thinner elsewhere. Li Su will tell you where your problem sits on that scale before you commit to a course.

What to expect

The first visit takes about an hour: your history, including things that may seem unrelated such as sleep, digestion and energy, then an examination, then treatment. Very fine sterile needles, single-use and disposed of after you, go into a handful of points and stay for 20 to 30 minutes while you rest. Cupping or gentle electrical stimulation through the needles is added when it helps. You should feel a dull ache or warmth at the points, not sharp pain, and most people leave relaxed rather than sore. A course is usually four to eight sessions, once or twice a week, with an honest review partway through.

Coverage

Acupuncture from a registered acupuncturist is covered by most workplace benefit plans, sometimes under its own category and sometimes shared with massage, and we bill the insurer directly where the plan allows. OHIP does not cover it. Accident benefits and WSIB cover it when it is part of an approved treatment plan with our physiotherapists.

Questions we hear at Finch West

What are your hours? Monday 11am to 7pm, Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 7pm, Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm. Acupuncture is mostly Mondays and Wednesdays; ask when you book.

Can I have massage and acupuncture in the same appointment? Yes, with Li Su, and it is one of the reasons people choose this clinic. Say so when you book so enough time is set aside.

Is it safe alongside physiotherapy or chiropractic? Yes. The practitioners share notes and plan around each other. Tell us about any blood thinners, a pacemaker or pregnancy so points can be chosen accordingly.

Does it hurt? Rarely. The needles are about the width of a hair. If any point feels sharp it is adjusted straight away.

Do I need a referral? No. A few insurers want a doctor’s note for reimbursement; check your plan.

How do I get there? Finch West station is a short walk, the 36 Finch West bus stops outside, and there is free parking at the building. We are Suite 206, up one floor.