By Jen Norman RMT, BKin, CSCS

Contemporary Medical Acupuncture (CMA) is coming to Therapy Lounge in 2020. Developed by Alejandra Elorriaga Claraco, M.D. (Spain), Sports Medicine Specialist (Spain), this exciting new service can be extremely effective to promote healing from injuries and/or surgeries, improve function and firing for inactive muscles, increase blood flow and circulation throughout the body as well as reduce restrictions from built up scar tissue.

What is the Difference Between TCM and Medical Acupuncture?
Contemporary Medical Acupuncture, also described as Neurofunctional Acupuncture is different from Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is provided by a Registered Acupuncturist. Traditional Chinese Acupuncture is based on the belief that an energy, or ‘life force’, flows through the body in channels called meridians. Practitioners who adhere to ancient beliefs about acupuncture believe that when Qi cannot flow freely through the body, this can cause illness. Whereas, Contemporary Medical Acupuncture is provided by a manual therapist such as; registered massage therapists, chiropractors, physiotherapists and/or osteopaths, with additional training. This type of acupuncture, utilizes painless needling techniques to stimulate peripheral nerves in the body to then induce a physiological change on the nervous system and effectors for therapeutic purposes.