Ross is a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP) and Shiatsu Therapist. Ross graduated with the award for academic excellence for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner program at Humber College in Mississauga. Ross also holds a Diploma of Shiatsu Therapy (Japanese Acupressure Massage) from the Shiatsu School of Canada, and a BA in psychology from Queen’s University.
While living in Japan, Ross became fascinated by the holistic approach of Traditional East Asian Medicine. After years of study and practice, he now enjoys combining traditional practices like acupuncture, massage, cupping, Guasha (tool-assisted massage), and Chinese herbal medicines to create customized and effective treatments for his patients. Ross is equally enthusiastic about applying his skills to treat muscle and joint issues like neck, back, or knee pain; frozen shoulder, arthritis, and tendonitis, as well as internal issues such as headaches, insomnia, digestive & reproductive issues, and fibromyalgia.
Ross is a dedicated healthcare professional, enthusiastic about applying the therapeutic healing art of Traditional Chinese Medicine to helping you!
Services:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice that involves inserting sterile, single-use, hair-thin needles into specific points on the body to alleviate pain and treat various medical conditions. Acupuncture isn’t painful and most patients experience deep relaxation due to acupuncture’s ability to stimulate the parasympathetic (“Rest & Digest”) nervous system. Traditionally, acupuncture is said to restore balance by unblocking and restoring the flow the of Qi & Blood. Modern research has shown acupuncture can release neurotransmitters, modulates hormones, stimulates nerves & connective tissues, improve circulation, and regulate immune function. Essentially acupuncture relieves pain and assists the body in restoring homeostasis or balance.
Acupuncture - New Patient, 60-90 min.
At your first appointment your practitioner will ask about your chief concern, symptoms, and general health, then feel your pulse, and observe your tongue. This information will be used to design a unique acupuncture treatment protocol specifically for you. You will be asked to lie on a treatment table while roughly 8-20 needles will be gently inserted into defined acupuncture points, usually on the arms, legs, abdomen, back, or head. An infrared heat lamp will be applied to gently warm the treatment area while you are left to rest comfortably for about 30 min. Loose, comfortable clothing is advised. Full disrobing isn’t necessary but in the case of restrictive clothing you ma be provided with a hospital gown.
Acupuncture - Follow-up (Returning Patient), 45 min.
You practitioner will reassess your condition and continue with your acupuncture treatment protocol, making modifications as needed. Treatment will involve needling roughly 8-20 points on the body, and you will be left to rest comfortable on the treatment table for 20-30 min. while an infrared heat-lamp warms and stimulates the treatment area.
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicines have been carefully cultivated and combined for thousands of years to help treat a wide variety of health issues including reproductive, gynecological, and digestive issues, as well as headaches, insomnia, nausea, allergies, fatigue, and much more. Modern scientific research has demonstrated that many herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) display a variety of medicinal properties such as being anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, adaptogenic, neuro-protective, and immune-modulating, among others. Instead of using single herbs, TCM combines several herbs into formulas to achieve a synergistic and balancing effect. There are a variety of ways to consume herbal formulas but the easiest is typically in the form of granules (i.e. powder) similar to freeze-dried coffee.
Herbal Consultation - New Patient, 60 min
At your first appointment your practitioner will ask about your chief concern, symptoms, general health, and current prescription medications and supplements (please bring a list), then feel your pulse, and observe your tongue. This information will be used to choose a herbal formula specifically for you. The herbal formula is generally taken twice per day in the form of granules (i.e. powder), usually for several weeks or months until the desired effect is achieved.
Herbal Consultation - Follow-up, 30 min
You practitioner will reassess your condition and how you are responding to the herbal formula, then make any necessary adjustments to your herbal prescription before it is re-prescribed.
Acupressure Massage
Shiatsu, 指圧
Shiatsu therapy is a Japanese form of acupressure massage heavily influenced by the channels and acu-points of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shi means “thumb” or “finger” and atsu means “pressure.” Thumbs, fingers, palms, and elbows are used to massage the body’s 14 meridians or channels and many acu-points and that cover the body. Pressure is adjusted to the needs of the receiver, covering the full spectrum from satisfying deep-tissue massage to a gentle relaxing energy balancing treatment. Stretches are also incorporated to help open and relax the body.
Tuina, 推拿
Tuina is a form of acupressure massage that comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). While Shiatsu provides mostly static pressure and holding of acu-points, Tuina is more dynamic and movement based providing pressure via moving and rolling techniques. It is especially useful for relaxing tissues before doing deeper work.
What to Expect
Acupressure massage is a holistic system used to help restore homeostasis, induce relaxation, and relieve pain. Pressure can be adjusted from deep tissue to gentle and relaxing based on your preference. Disrobing and oil are not necessary since the massage can be preformed over a thin layer of clothing. In the case of cupping or Guasha, only the required area need be uncovered (e.g. neck, back, or shoulders). Please come with, or change into loose comfortable clothing before your appointment.
Acupressure Massage, 60 min
A 60 minute acupressure massage will allow time for addressing 1-2 chief complaints as well as basic full body balancing. Disrobing and oil are usually not necessary. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Acupressure Massage, 90 min
A 90 min acupressure massage will allow time to address 1-2 chief complaints and allow for additional modalities such as Gua-sha (tool-assisted massage), infrared moxibustion, or to provide a complete head to toe balancing.
Cupping，拔罐 (Báguàn)
Cupping is a traditional healing practice found all over the world including Asian, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Fire cupping involves heating the air inside a glass cup with a flame then applying the cup to the skin. As the air inside the cup cools, a vacuum is created, drawing blood through the tissues towards the cup. The effect is a dramatic local increase in the circulation of blood and lymph. In TCM terminology, it’s described as moving Qi & Blood to resolve Stagnation. Simply put, cupping decreases muscle pain by increasing circulation.
Benefits of cupping
Increased circulation
Mobilization of tissues
Decreased muscle pain
Gua sha, 刮痧 (Guāshā, pronounced gwa-sha)
Gua sha is the therapy from Traditional Chinese Medicine that involves applying a small amount of oil and press-stroking the skin of the back, neck, or limbs with a round-edged massage tool to increase circulation and break up adhesions between the muscle and fascial layers. Gua means “to rub” and sha refers to the little reddish-purple dots, i.e. petechiae, that appear over areas with adhesions. This painless micro-trauma help to reorder the tissues as they heal. The temporary pattern of petechiae or dots produced in the skin can take several days to resolve. After several treatments, less and less sha will appear until eventually little to no sha appears because the adhesions are gone leaving the area with better circulation and healthier tissues.
Benefits of Guasha
Improves muscle pain, stiffness, and spams
Promotes circulation
Reduces coughing and wheezing
Evidence-based effects of Guasha:
4x increase in microcirculation of surface tissues (Nielsen et al. 2007)
Reduces inflammation (Braun et al. 2011)
Stimulates immune response (Chan et al. 2011)
Upregulates heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which can reduce internal organ inflammation (Kwong et al. 2009)