Guelph Community Acupuncture

Guelph Community Acupuncture We are Guelph's community acupuncture clinic.(www.gca.janeapp.com/ /1) Acupuncture does not have to be expensive in order to be effective.

We charge on a sliding scale of $25-$50. You choose what you want to pay, no questions asked.

According to Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, a physician, researcher and author, there are 7 different types of rest and all ar...
12/22/2025

According to Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, a physician, researcher and author, there are 7 different types of rest and all are necessary. They are:

* Physical rest, which can be passive (like a nap) or active (restorative activities like stretching or receiving a massage).
* Mental rest.
* Sensory rest: respite from the overstimulus that has become daily life, ie bright lights, screens, relentless noise.
* Creative rest … this one’s a bit more individual. Dr Dalton-Smith describes this as that which awakens a sense of awe and wonder. Some people would get this from getting out into the woods, others from taking in art or theatre. I imagine that space and time to be creative (whatever that looks like for you) would also feed the need for creative rest.
* Emotional rest, which means being able to freely express your feelings instead of people pleasing. Even and especially at times when you’re not OK.
* Social rest, which means having enough relationships that are supportive and nourishing, and not having too many draining relationships.
* Spiritual rest, which Dr Dalton-Smith describes as “the ability to connect beyond the physical and mental and feel a deep sense of belonging, love, acceptance and purpose.”

I appreciate how this framework gives nuance to modern fatigue, as well as some pathways out of fatigue. I also enjoy how community acupuncture potentially offers each of these types of rest – not for everyone! But for many people.

Photo by Dan Burton on Unsplash

We treat a lot of foot pain. We see people with stabbing bone spurs, old injuries that never fully healed, excruciating ...
12/17/2025

We treat a lot of foot pain. We see people with stabbing bone spurs, old injuries that never fully healed, excruciating plantar fascitis pain in the mornings, and shooting nerve pain. And we often see them after they’ve already tried orthotics, physiotherapy, rest, ice, rolling on a tennis ball, and various different types of shoes. (A friend of mine refers to community acupuncture as “the last stop on the try-anything train.”)

We don't just treat your feet. We treat the systems that support your feet—circulation, inflammation, nerve function, and the structural integrity of tendons and fascia. Many people notice improvement within the first few sessions. If you’re wincing with every step, call or text us at (519)829-3000 for a free 15-minute consultation, or book online through the link in our bio.

Anyone who’s worked shift work knows that it can be hard on the mind and the body. Whether you’re working nights long-te...
12/16/2025

Anyone who’s worked shift work knows that it can be hard on the mind and the body. Whether you’re working nights long-term, or doing a rotating schedule, having work hours that overlap with the typical sleep period can be disruptive. There’s even a name for the excessive sleepiness and insomnia that can result: “shift work sleep disorder” which is a type of “circadian rhythm sleep disorder”.

Acupuncture can help with some of the symptoms and adverse effects, and we treat folks working a wide variety of shift work: from those who serve food and drink into the late hours of the night, to truck & taxi drivers, to those who work late-night factory shifts. Some people come to us directly after finishing their shift, while others come for an acunap before starting an overnight.

It’s impossible to ignore that many jobs requiring shift work are also very stressful by nature, above and beyond the sleep-related issues. Stress and anxiety, along with lower back pain & foot pain and lowered immunity are some of the most common complaints we see among our shift-working patients at GCA. We treat nurses with sore feet, stressed-out shelter workers, and security guards with insomnia.

One of the beautiful things about our treatment model is that you’re welcome to a free nap with every treatment. Which is to say, we can and do treat physical/mental/emotional ailments and offer a nap at the same time.

If you want to know if we can help you get through your work week, call or text us at (519)829-3000 for a free 15-minute consultation, or book online through the link in our bio.

Photo by Haberdoedas on Unsplash

Tinnitus, aka ringing in the ears, can be unbearable. It can mess with concentration, mood and sleep.In Chinese Medicine...
12/16/2025

Tinnitus, aka ringing in the ears, can be unbearable. It can mess with concentration, mood and sleep.

In Chinese Medicine, the ears are governed by the Kidney system—which makes winter
(Kidney season) the time when ear issues often flare up or worsen. I’ve seen a few new tinnitus cases in here just since mid-November.

Tinnitus can show up as:

● High-pitched ringing
● Low humming or buzzing
● Clicking or pulsing sounds
● Fullness or pressure in the ears
● Hearing loss or muffled sound

We treat tinnitus by:

● Nourishing the Kidney system (which "opens to the ears")
● Improving circulation to the inner ear
● Clearing any inflammation or stagnation
● Calming the nervous system (stress makes it worse)

It doesn’t work for everyone. Long-term tinnitus is particularly difficult to treat. But I’ve still seen significant improvement in many patients, especially when their tinnitus is related to stress, depletion, or circulation issues.

If the ringing is stealing your peace, let's work on it. Call or text (519)829-3000 to book a conversation or a treatment or book online through the link in our bio.

Photo by Dylann Hendricks on Unsplash.

“Do people really sleep?” We hear this a lot, and yes, many people do sleep here, for three main reasons:1) Most of us r...
12/15/2025

“Do people really sleep?” We hear this a lot, and yes, many people do sleep here, for three main reasons:

1) Most of us really need the rest, because we don’t sleep enough. You already knew that.

2) Acupuncture is relaxing. We put people to sleep who never nap, who arrive so stressed out that they’re near tears. Many of us have nervous systems that are out of balance – we spend too much time in fight or flight mode, and not enough time in rest + digest mode. Acupuncture is remarkably effective at helping the body shift into a more regulated nervous system state. And our recliners are very comfortable.

3) You can take the time you need here. One of the nice things about the community acupuncture model is that your practitioner won’t wake you up after only 20 minutes; you get at least 45 minutes, often longer. For many of us, it can take 10 or more minutes to fully relax with the needles. We think it would be a shame to turf you out shortly after you settle in, and we’ve noticed that the more people are sleeping in a room, the more people will sleep in the room. Acunaps are contagious that way.

Written by Stef Cordes & Lisa Baird

Here’s your yearly reminder that Seasonal Affective Disorder is real! This time of year we see a lot of people with: ● H...
12/11/2025

Here’s your yearly reminder that Seasonal Affective Disorder is real! This time of year we see a lot of people with:

● Heavy fatigue that doesn't lift, no matter how much they sleep
● Loss of interest in things that are usually fun
● Social withdrawal
● Difficulty concentrating & making decisions
● A pervasive feeling like they’re moving through mud

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, this is often a combination of Kidney Yang deficiency (lack of inner warmth and drive) and Spleen Qi deficiency (struggle to generate energy from food and rest). Winter makes both worse.

Acupuncture can help by:

● Gently restoring warmth and circulation
● Tonifying the systems that generate energy
● Regulating mood and supporting the nervous system
● Working alongside light therapy, movement, and medication as needed.

What if you didn’t just have to survive winter?

If you’d like support, call or text (519)829-3000 to book a conversation or a treatment.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

If you are: ● Constantly running to the bathroom● Waking up multiple times a night to p*e● Experiencing a weak stream● H...
12/09/2025

If you are:

● Constantly running to the bathroom
● Waking up multiple times a night to p*e
● Experiencing a weak stream
● Having bladder infections that keep coming back
● Struggling with incontinence that you laugh, cough or sneeze

please know that these are all signs that your Bladder and Kidney systems need support.

In Chinese Medicine, the Bladder and Kidneys work together to regulate water metabolism and urinary function. When the Kidney energy is weak (which is particularly common in winter), bladder issues flare up.

Acupuncture helps by:

● Strengthening the Kidney and Bladder systems
● Reducing inflammation and urgency
● Supporting pelvic floor function
● Addressing chronic infections at the root

Planning your life around toilet access is hard. Acupuncture can help. Call or text us at (519)829-3000 for a free 15-minute consultation, or book online through the link in our bio.

Photo by John Medlicott on Unsplash.

“But do I have to sit still?” is a common question from new patients. The good news is that you do not have to remain mo...
12/09/2025

“But do I have to sit still?” is a common question from new patients. The good news is that you do not have to remain motionless. You can’t walk around the room with needles in—if you need to use the washroom, it’s time to end the session. But it’s ok to shift in your seat, adjust a blanket, etc. In fact, some folks prefer to have one or both of their hands free of needles so they can knit, turn the page of their book, etc. If you’d like that, feel free to ask :)

In Chinese Medicine, fear is the emotion of the Kidney system, and winter is when it tendsto surface most.You might be f...
12/04/2025

In Chinese Medicine, fear is the emotion of the Kidney system, and winter is when it tends
to surface most.

You might be feeling:

● Generalized anxiety with no clear trigger
● Panic attacks or heart palpitations
● Fear of failure, inadequacy, or the unknown
● A sense of being ungrounded or unsafe
● Difficulty making decisions (frozen by worry)
● Wordless dread

The darkness and cold of winter amplify all of this. When the Kidney system is taxed, fear can take over. It's not "all in your head", it's a sign that your body's foundational energy needs support.

Acupuncture helps calm the nervous system, strengthen the Kidneys, and restore a sense of
inner safety and groundedness in the darkest season.

If you’d like support, call or text (519)829-3000 to book a conversation or a treatment.

Photo by Daniel Martinez on Unsplash.

Post-viral fatigue is real, can be debilitating, and it's more common than most doctorsacknowledge. I’ve seen these symp...
12/03/2025

Post-viral fatigue is real, can be debilitating, and it's more common than most doctors
acknowledge. I’ve seen these symptoms more and more frequently in clinic since 2020:

● Extreme fatigue that rest doesn't fix
● Brain fog and memory issues
● Shortness of breath or exercise intolerance
● Muscle aches and joint pain
● Anxiety or depression that began with the virus

In Chinese Medicine, post-viral illness often indicates depleted Lung Qi, Spleen Qi, and Kidney essence—the foundational systems that generate and sustain your energy. Winter is hard on depleted systems. The cold, the darkness, and the increased demands on your
body all worsen fatigue. But, this is exactly the season to rebuild. Winter is when we restore
deep reserves. We’re not promising to cure long COVID. But we do frequently see people getting real relief from their symptoms. If you start now, you just might emerge in spring feeling a lot better.

Acupuncture works by:

● Tonifying the organs that generate energy
● Supporting immune recovery
● Clearing residual inflammation
● Restoring stamina and mental clarity

If you’d like to start rebuilding now, call/text (519)829-3000 or book through the link in the bio.

If your body is exhausted while your brain won’t let you sleep (the “tired but wired” flavour of insomnia) there’s a TCM...
12/02/2025

If your body is exhausted while your brain won’t let you sleep (the “tired but wired” flavour of insomnia) there’s a TCM explanation for that. It’s often due to the Heart and Kidney not communicating. When the Heart is overactive and the Kidneys are depleted, your mind races while your body aches for sleep.

Acupuncture helps by:

● Calming the Heart and settling the mind
● Nourishing the Kidneys to support deep rest
● Regulating the nervous system so your body remembers how to downshift
● Addressing the anxiety or stress that's fueling the racing thoughts

Sleep is foundational! If you need help with insomnia, call/text (519)829-3000, or book through the link in our bio.

Photo by Megan te Boekhort on Unsplash.

If you’re googling:● “Why do I look 6 months pregnant after eating?”● “Pain or pressure under my ribs after meals”● “Con...
11/26/2025

If you’re googling:

● “Why do I look 6 months pregnant after eating?”
● “Pain or pressure under my ribs after meals”
● “Constant bloating and gas”
● “Diarrhea and constipation alternating”

then you’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep living like this. These are classic signs of SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth) and while it is a digestive issue, it impacts your energy, sleep, mood, and even hormone balance.

Acupuncture can help calm the inflammation, regulate motility, reduce bloating and digestive pain, and help your gut start functioning like it’s supposed to.

Call or text (519)829-3000 or click the link in our bio to schedule your session and start getting your gut back on your team.

Address

85 Norfolk Street, Suite 103
Guelph, ON
N1H4J4

Opening Hours

Monday 2pm - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 2pm
Wednesday 9am - 2pm
Thursday 2pm - 7pm
Friday 9am - 2pm

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Acupuncture does not have to be expensive in order to be effective. We charge on a sliding scale of $20-$40. You choose what you want to pay, no questions asked.