Acupuncture

Acupuncture in Nanaimo

Experience holistic health and deep well-being through personalized Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Nanaimo.

Your care is supported by highly trained professionals, ensuring you receive comprehensive and personalized treatment. Our team includes Registered Acupuncturists, as well as Licensed Naturopathic Physicians, certified in both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture, providing an integrative approach to your health. We also offer specialized services like Acusculpting and Mei Zen Facial Rejuvenation from our certified Acupuncturist.

We invite you to explore how our certified team can help you find balance, manage pain, and achieve your wellness goals.

Our team of Acupuncture and TCM experts

Meet our team of certified Acupuncture and TCM experts in Nanaimo, here to partner with you on your health journey. Their guidance will help if you’re seeking drug-free pain management, relief from stress, or specialized care like fertility support or Mei Zen Facial Rejuvenation. We’re dedicated to helping you achieve deep wellness and restore your body’s natural harmony.

Dr. Clare Craig

A Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Craig uses her Acupuncture and TCM certification to specialize in women’s health and family care. She focuses on areas like perimenopause, infertility, and stress syndromes, utilizing a comprehensive, patient-centered approach. Her ability to combine traditional Chinese medicine with modern prescribing authority ensures thorough, effective wellness plans.

Dr. Jiselle Griffith

A Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Griffith excels in combining evidence-informed medicine with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She specializes in digestive, hormonal, and nervous system health, with a focus on issues like menopause, stress, and burnout. Using a trauma-informed and seasonally based approach, she provides comprehensive care that supports her patients’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Brianna MacInnis

Brianna is passionate about holistic health, using her background in nutrition and Asian culture to guide her practice. She is committed to listening deeply to find the root cause of your discomfort and creating a customized wellness plan. Brianna’s expertise lies in Womxn’s health, digestive support, pain relief, and emotional stress, utilizing specialized techniques like cupping, gua sha, tui na massage, and facial rejuvenation acupuncture.

Integrative pain relief solutions

Our approach often goes beyond just needles. As part of our commitment to being an alternative pain relief clinic in Nanaimo, your personalized treatment plan may include:

Cupping and Gua Sha to release muscle tension and improve circulation.
Moxibustion to warm and activate specific points for deep, long-lasting relief.
Targeted Tui Na Massage (Chinese Medical Massage) to complement acupuncture treatments.

We offer safe, effective, and collaborative pain management, making us the perfect choice for those looking for an alternative to conventional medicine.

How acupuncture & TCM can help

Pregnancy Support

Acupuncture is a safe and gentle way to manage many common pregnancy symptoms. We can help alleviate issues like nausea and vomiting, heartburn, constipation, anxiety, and stress, as well as common back and pelvic pain. Treatment is also effective for helping your body prepare for a smoother birth and labor.

Hormones & Fertility

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture are highly effective in supporting your body’s endocrine system. We work to help improve hormone balance and promote natural fertility, offering comprehensive support whether you are trying to conceive or managing hormonal changes.

Natural Healing & Pain Relief

Acupuncture is your natural path to pain management. By stimulating specific points, we encourage the release of endorphins and serotonin—your body’s powerful, natural pain-killing and mood-impacting hormones. This increased blood flow helps trigger your body’s inherent healing response, leading to lasting relief.

Relaxation & Stress Relief

Need a deeper sense of calm? Acupuncture can promote profound relaxation and relieve stress by stimulating the release of oxytocin, often known as the “love and calmness hormone.” This treatment is excellent for promoting better sleep and significantly decreasing anxiety.

Does acupuncture hurt?

We understand that the thought or fear of needles can cause hesitation – it’s the biggest reason people delay treatment! The good news is, acupuncture is completely different from receiving an injection or getting a shot.

The needles are hair-thin (unlike an injection), and most people feel nothing at all upon insertion. You might experience a brief pinch followed by a unique sensation (a dull ache or warmth), which is simply a sign that the treatment is activating your body’s healing response.

Most patients actually find the experience profoundly relaxing, often falling asleep during treatment.

We encourage you to try one session; you might be surprised by how peaceful it is!

Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques

Cupping Therapy

Uses suction cups to draw blood to the surface, releasing deep muscle tension and boosting circulation. Excellent for treating stubborn pain and body aches.

Gua Sha

A smooth tool gently strokes the skin to improve microcirculation and break up stagnation. Highly effective for relieving chronic stiffness and neck/upper back pain.

Tui Na Massage (Chinese Medical Massage)

A hands-on, therapeutic massage that uses rhythmic compression and stretching along meridians to harmonize energy (Qi), loosen joints, and alleviate musculoskeletal pain.

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture

A specialized cosmetic treatment using fine needles on the face and neck to stimulate collagen and improve circulation. A natural, non-surgical way to reduce fine lines and promote a radiant glow.

*This service is only offered by our Registered Acupuncturist, Brianna

"Had my first time ever Acupuncture treatment from Dr. Clare and she is so good.
She listens in to first understand what you need and is so precise with her treatment sessions. She targets exactly what I needed and left me feeling so much at ease and relaxed."

Google Review

Benefits of Acupuncture & TCM Care

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offer profound benefits by helping your body return to its natural state of balance. It’s a powerful, drug-free way to address a wide range of issues and improve your overall quality of life.

Natural Healing & Pain Relief

Acupuncture & TCM can help with:

Pain & Musculoskeletal: chronic back pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines, arthritis, and sports injuries.
Hormonal & Women’s Health: Improving hormone balance, fertility support, managing menstrual issues, and easing perinatal discomfort (nausea, pain).
Emotional & Mental Health: Reducing stress and anxiety, lifting symptoms of depression, and promoting restful sleep.
Digestive Health: Addressing issues like IBS, bloating, constipation, and heartburn.
Recovery & Immunity: Strengthening the immune system, improving circulation, and supporting general recovery from illness or surgery.

Book your appointment

Don’t wait to address chronic pain or specialized concerns like fertility and hormonal balance. Our Acupuncturists are here to offer you safe, effective, and evidence-based care, including specialized Facial Rejuvenation.

Please follow the link to book online with one of our practitioners. If you have questions prior to your service, please contact us at your earliest convenience.

Pain Relief

Hormonal Balance

Fertility Support

Headache/Migraine Relief

Menstrual Relief

Reduce Stress

IBS Relief

Nanaimo Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Frequently Asked Questions

Does Acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture is generally not painful. The needles are hair-thin, and while you might feel a brief, tiny pinch upon insertion, the sensation that follows is usually a dull ache, warmth, or pressure—a sign the treatment is working. Many people find the experience profoundly relaxing and even fall asleep during the session.

What is the difference between an Acupuncturist and a Naturopathic Physician doing Acupuncture?

At 3 Cedars Wellness, all our practitioners are highly trained. Our Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.) focuses purely on TCM modalities, including advanced specialties like Facial Rejuvenation. Our Licensed Naturopathic Physicians integrate Acupuncture and TCM into a broader scope of practice, which includes diagnosis, laboratory testing, and prescribing authority, offering a comprehensive Western and Eastern approach.

Is direct billing available for Acupuncture and TCM?

Yes, we offer direct billing for most major extended health insurance providers. Please bring your policy information with you, and we will process the claim for you at 3 Cedars Wellness Centre.

What should I wear to my appointment?

Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Treatments often require access to areas like the knees, elbows, back, and abdomen, so easily movable fabric is best.

What is Cupping, and what does it help with?

Cupping involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. It is a highly effective technique used to release deep muscle tension, increase blood circulation to specific areas, and promote pain relief.

How many sessions will I need?

The number of sessions required depends entirely on your specific condition and how long you've had it. For acute issues, relief can often be found in 2-4 sessions. For chronic conditions (like pain or fertility support), a series of 6-12 treatments is often recommended to achieve lasting results.

Is Acupuncture safe during pregnancy?

Yes, Acupuncture is a very safe and effective treatment during pregnancy. It is commonly used to alleviate symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, stress, and pelvic pain, and can also be used for natural birth preparation.

What is Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture?

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture is a natural, non-surgical cosmetic technique. It uses very fine needles on the face and neck to boost circulation and stimulate collagen production, helping to reduce fine lines, improve muscle tone, and give your skin a natural, healthy glow.