TORONTO, March 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toronto chiropractor Dr. Brian Dower announced that his practice now offers medical acupuncture for natural pain management. According to Dr. Dower, medical acupuncture is a holistic care technique for managing back pain, neck pain, headaches and migraines. Dr. Dower completed his studies in medical acupuncture at McMaster University Medical Acupuncture Program, which teaches an evidence-based approach to traditional Chinese medicine. Major insurance companies, along with the Acupuncture Council of Ontario, American Board of Medical Acupuncture, British Medical Acupuncture Society, Canadian Academy of Medical Acupuncture, and the College of Chiropractors of Ontario, recognize the program.
Toronto chiropractor Dr. Brian Dower announced that in addition to chiropractic adjustments, he is now offering medical acupuncture treatments to help patients better manage chronic pain, headaches and migraines.
"Numerous studies support acupuncture as an effective treatment for low back pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and menstrual cramps," said Dr. Dower. "It is a therapy that effectively addresses a wide range of health problems."
Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of therapy and is deeply rooted in eastern medicine. According to this philosophy, a blockage in the body's energy forces can trigger illness and pain. Acupuncture treatments restore balance to the body's yin and yang forces.
This philosophy echoes Dr. Dower's chiropractic philosophy. Like acupuncture, chiropractic care also identifies imbalances in the body, looking for signs of a nervous system or musculoskeletal imbalance.
"Medical acupuncture naturally complements chiropractic treatments," said Dr. Dower. "These holistic care techniques offer numerous benefits to patients who struggle with chronic pain or need support healing following an injury."
During a treatment session, single-use stainless steel needles are inserted into specific acupressure points along the body. Patients may feel a warm, tingling or numb sensation at the acupuncture point.
"This sensation of warmth or tingling is the activation of the body's energy fields, known as the chi," said Dr. Dower. "Today, we also recognize this energy field as part of the central nervous system. Stimulating the central nervous system helps bring balance back to the body and naturally manage pain."
Scientific research suggests that acupuncture works using the Gate Control Theory of Pain. According to this theory, one type of sensory input (e.g., low back pain) is inhibited in the nervous system by another type of input (e.g., an acupuncture needle).
"It's clear that acupuncture treatments make a significant difference for a patient's well-being and overall health. Patients are surprised with how comfortable and relaxing the acupuncture sessions are and we are happy to be able to offer them this alternative healing technique," said Dr. Dower. "I strongly recommend them as a complement to chiropractic adjustments."
Since 1997, the U.S. National Institute of Health has supported the use of acupuncture as a holistic care treatment for managing back pain, headaches and migraines.
Prospective patients may learn more about acupuncture at http://www.drdower.ca/