The Alberni Valley has gained a cooperative acupuncture clinic run by two local Registered Acupuncturists who felt there was a significant need for the service in the community.
Janette Cormier and Matt Kupnicki run the clinic on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Integrative Health Unit at 4711 Elizabeth St.
Cormier said offering a community acupuncture clinic is something she’s wanted to do since moving to Port Alberni four years ago. This year the timing was right for both her and Kupnicki—who both run additional care clinics in the Valley—to solidify their plans and establish an affordable acupuncture clinic.
“[Acupuncture] broadly regulates the body so in Chinese medicine terms it regulates what we call Chi, which is like the body’s energy or electricity,” Cormier said. “And then it’s also anti-inflammatory and promotes blood circulation but it has multiple affects on multiple body systems like hormones, pain reducing and nervous systems.”
Treatments typically take half an hour for new patients but Cormier said if the clinic isn’t busy they are welcome to stay longer.
Kupnicki, who has been practicing Chinese medicine on Vancouver Island for 13 years, said generally after an acupuncture session a patient will feel relief from whatever is affecting them for about three to four days.
“What’s awesome about community acupuncture is you can book in for three to four weeks at a time,” Kupnicki said.
He said often times people aren’t aware that they don’t have to have anything wrong with them to get acupuncture.
“I think it’s important for people to know you don’t have to be in pain to check it out,” he said. “With the amount of screen time, people are so much in their heads. [Acupuncture] gives you a chance to get into your body a bit more.”
Kupnicki added that acupuncture complements western medicine and is treatment-based.
When people aren’t getting the answers they need from western medicine, Cormier encourages them to try acupuncture.
“We don’t need the western diagnosis to treat something because we have our own system of diagnosis that’s been around for years and it’s based on the body and the individual,” Cormier said.
Treatment costs vary on a sliding scale of $20 to $40. Patients are encouraged to pay according to what they can afford personally. Patients with MSP premium assistance may be eligible for a $23 subsidy to help cover the costs of 10 treatments annually.
Patients are recommended to wear loose, comfortable clothing and to not have an empty stomach for an appointment.
To book an appointment, visit www.paacupuncture.org or visit the Port Alberni Community Acupuncture Facebook page.
