I have been dealing with the ongoing issue of lack of sleep. I have no trouble getting to sleep, it is just being able to stay asleep that is the challenge. I have tried pills and sprays and upon the urging of a few folks online, am now looking to acupuncture for help.
Metrotown Active Health is located across from the mall, with the skytrain in between. One of the many new businesses moved into these new set of high rise living units. A lovely area and a nice community, the only issue is limited curb side parking with a maximum of 2 hours at a time meters.
If you didn’t know Metrotown Active Health was here, you wouldn’t think to take the elevator to the sixth floor to find them. They offer all the healing arts from physiotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, cupping, and kinesiology.
I came in with my reoccurring sleep issues and was recommended a massage to start followed by some pin point acupuncture (intentional pun).
This is very much so set up like a healing space, clinical and sterile, with a less is more approach to decor. The entire clinic plays instrumentals of popular music. I spent my time in rest, guessing all the melodies.
We started in the massage room, face down on the doughnut pillow. The focus is on the neck and shoulders for sleep. And the massage therapist through in some time on my hands, wrists, and forearms in response to my recent and more continuous pain from over holding of my phone. I think I might have arthritis at this point. (But that is another treatment and post).
The massage was set to my desired pressure and involved kneading with forearms, fists, and fingers. Relaxing, but a tease at only 30minutes. I definitely recommend at least 60 because it takes 1/3 of that time just to relax and get into the slower pace.
I then got dressed and moved into the next treatment room for the next service and a new service provider.
Once again top off and face down with back exposed. I repeated my concerns and after a quick rub and poke to get the lay of the land, the acupuncturist was off.
She made quick work, unsheathing individual needles from their packs and pricking them into my back. She checked for pain points and asked where it felt the most sore. From lower back to shoulders and neck. Even behind the ears and over the scalp got serviced.
The redder the area around the needles, denoted the more blood being redirected to the area.
Acupuncture needles stimulate the body’s central nervous and immune system to help release naturally produced chemicals that heal and mend. This includes endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers; and neurotransmitters, chemicals that control nerve impulses.
After accessing the situation and reactivating each needle with a wiggle, the acupuncturist realized my concerns warranted more, and offered some cupping as well.
It is believed that the suction created by the cupping process encourages blood flow. Thus increasing circulation that may promote healing and reduce pain.
The process is said to draw out toxins, as seen through the dark bruises that often accompany the treatment. The darker, the bruises, the greater the toxins, and the more relief cupping provides. In my case they were dark purple, an awe-worthy discolouration that I wore with a badge of honour, but it did not last for more than half a week.
She used the traditional method with glass bowls and a live flame, working quickly to adhere and remove with a “poc” sound. It was satisfying to the years as well as my back.
After, she left the bowls on my back and gave me time alone with them to rest, much like she did with the acupuncture needles. She later returned to administer some massaging using the lip of the bowls to rub down knots and target pressure points. Manoeuvring the still suctioned cup in long strokes across affected areas.
she informed me that the darker the colour, the more “cold water” is being pulled out of the body, which inevitably is a good thing.
She then left me with a parting gift: “Ear needles”. These are micro small needles taped-on, placed behind my ears. With pressure from your own fingers, you can massage them into these points, yourself, and as often as you want. She advised keeping them on for at least three days, but they basically last so long as the glue sticks. Admittedly, I forgot they were there and didn’t fully utilize them.
I left the clinic, feeling rejuvenated and excited for the sleep to come. I was definitely a lot more relaxed. Sadly all this only slightly improved my sleep pattern. I learned that since I am waking between the hours of 1-3am, the issue is to do with my liver, and that is the culprit for my inconsistent sleep. I will continue to enlist massage, acupuncture, and cupping in my healing, as I found great overall relief from all three. However, I’m still looking for the elusive cure to gain peaceful rest more regularly.
Metrotown Active Health
6378 Silver Ave #609, Burnaby, BC V5H 0J2
(778) 742-5078
imtactivehealth.ca
