Acupuncture in Richmond Hill

Acupuncture in Richmond Hill

Welcome to Major Mackenzie and Bathurst. Babak Parsad is the registered acupuncturist at our Richmond Hill clinic, 955 Major Mackenzie Drive West, Unit 106, the largest and most complete clinic in the group: physiotherapy, two chiropractors, five massage therapists, an osteopath, a chiropodist, a naturopath and acupuncture, all in one building and one file. Acupuncture here is mostly used for pain that has plateaued with other treatment, and it fits into whatever plan you already have with us.

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

What we treat with acupuncture in Richmond Hill

Older adults are the largest group at this clinic, and persistent pain in later life is a big part of the acupuncture caseload: knee and hip osteoarthritis, long-standing low back and neck pain, and the muscle tension that comes with a stiffening spine. Then come people from Richmond Hill, Maple, Oak Ridges and Thornhill with tension headaches, migraine and the neck and shoulder tightness of screen work, and a steady number of collision injuries referred from the physiotherapists once early treatment has settled.

• Knee, hip and shoulder pain, including osteoarthritis
• Chronic low back and neck pain where tension keeps returning
• Headaches and migraine, as a way of reducing how often they come
• Muscle tension that limits progress in physiotherapy or massage
• Recovery after a collision, within a plan led by our physiotherapists
• Stress, poor sleep and fatigue alongside a pain problem

Beyond pain, Babak practises the full scope of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture, and a good share of his week is people who came for something other than a sore joint:

• Menopause symptoms, painful or irregular periods, and support alongside fertility care, a large part of his practice here
• Insomnia, anxiety and stress that has settled into the body
• Digestive trouble: bloating, reflux and irritable bowel symptoms
• Nausea, back pain and discomfort during pregnancy, with points adapted to each trimester
• Seasonal allergies and sinus congestion
• Persistent tiredness
• Jaw pain and clenching
• Numbness and tingling, once serious causes have been ruled out
• Recovery after illness or surgery

He is candid about the evidence: strong for some of these, thinner for others, and a course ends when it has done its job.

Acupuncture inside a plan, not instead of one

Babak works from the same notes as the rest of the building. If you are already seeing a physiotherapist here, acupuncture is added when it will move things along and dropped when it has done its job. If you come for acupuncture first and the assessment points to a joint, a foot problem or something that needs a doctor, the referral happens the same day: chiropractic, chiropody and physiotherapy are all down the hall.

What a session is like

Fine, sterile, single-use needles at points chosen for your problem, left in for twenty to thirty minutes while you rest. Most people feel a brief prick then a dull ache or warmth at the point; many find it relaxing, and small bruises at needle sites are common and harmless. The first visit is longer, forty-five minutes to an hour, and starts with a full history that includes sleep, digestion and stress. Wear loose clothing and eat something light beforehand.

Coverage

Most extended health plans cover acupuncture from a registered acupuncturist, usually to an annual limit; Babak is registered with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario. We bill most major insurers directly. Acupuncture from a registered practitioner is exempt from HST and is not covered by OHIP. After a collision it can be funded through your auto insurance accident benefits when it is part of an approved treatment plan.

Questions we hear in Richmond Hill

What are your hours? Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 8pm, Wednesday 9am to 7pm, Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm. Acupuncture runs on Babak’s days; ask when you book.

Is the clinic in Richmond Hill or Maple? Richmond Hill, at 955 Major Mackenzie Drive West. Maple is the neighbouring community a few blocks west and Maple GO is a few minutes away.

I am in my seventies with arthritic knees. Is acupuncture suitable? Often, yes; knee osteoarthritis is one of the conditions with the better evidence. Babak reviews your medications and health history first, and it sits alongside the exercise plan your physiotherapist sets.

How many sessions? Usually four to eight, once or twice a week, then a review. If nothing has changed after a fair trial, the plan changes.

Do I need a referral? No. Some insurers want a doctor’s note; check your plan.

Where do I park? Free parking at the plaza; the clinic is Unit 106. York Region Transit’s Major Mackenzie and Bathurst routes stop at the corner.