Chinese Medicine > Acupuncture
Acupuncture: OS Updates from Ancient Times
Reweaving the Body’s Intelligence: What Is Acupuncture?
Not magic. Not mystery. Just a voiceless conversation with your body.
Acupuncture may seem mysterious—and sometimes it truly feels like magic.
But at its core, it’s a conversation with your body in a language beyond words.
Acupuncture is much more than just a needle in your body. It’s like a nervous system software update, releasing old code and rebooting the flow of energy, or Qi. At Tsumugi Healing Arts, we support you restore your body’s natural rhythm, balance emotions, and alleviate physical discomfort, whether it's stress, menstrual pain, or chronic conditions through Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) based acupuncture.
Acupuncture: A Nervous System Software Update
To help you better understand this subtle, powerful medicine, here’s a guide to what we’ll explore below.
Feel free to scroll intuitively or click a topic that speaks to you.
Meridians: The Pathways of Connection
We see the body as a living fabric—woven with threads of energy, memory, emotion, and experience. Every sensation, symptom, and shift tells part of your story.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), meridians (or channels) are pathways that carry Qi (functions), blood, and other vital substances throughout the body—like electric wiring.
They link:
Skin to organ
Emotion to symptom
Inner world to outer world
When these threads are flowing, we feel vibrant.
When they’re blocked, frayed, or tangled, imbalance shows up.
There are 12 Primary Meridians, each linked to a major organ. But they’re more than energy highways—they reflect:
Physical functions
Emotional themes
Symbolic patterns when out of balance
Even small or old scars—from surgery, childbirth, dental work, or injury—can interrupt this flow, like a snag in the weave.
And beyond the primary channels, the meridian system holds five interwoven layers—each playing a role in how we respond, adapt, and heal.
The Five Layers of the Meridian System
Just like traditional cloth is crafted in layers, your body’s energetic system unfolds across multiple dimensions of depth and intricacy.
Sinew (12): The Protective Layer
Run along the surface—skin and muscle
Reflect tension, posture, holding patterns
immediate stress
Activated in “fight or flight” mode
Manifest as mood
This is the part of you that braces, reacts, and defends.
Luo (16): The Emotional Overflow
Hold emotional residue and unprocessed experience
Associated with blood and emotional memory
Can show up as skin issues: spider veins, lipomas, discolouration
Can show up as digestive or other issues: regurgitation, nausea, diarrhea, nose bleeding etc..
Luos hold what couldn’t be held in the moment—but is still asking to be released.
For example, self-harm marks may align with the meridian that protect the Heart—the emotional centre.
This is not an endorsement, but a compassionate reminder that every symptom tells a story, and healing is available.
Primary (12): The Everyday Flow
Directly connect to organs (Liver, Lungs, Kidneys, etc.)
Govern digestion, menstruation, sleep, mood, and immunity
Reflect what’s happening in your body right now
This is the most treated meridians by acupuncturists - the present moment.
Divergent (12): Deep Adaptation
Activate when the body can no longer expel an issue due to depletion
Store hidden or unresolved conditions
Relate to polarity imbalances: right/left, front/back, upper/lower body
Often associated with autoimmune patterns, chronic pain, or deep fatigue, tumours or masses
They reflect the quiet sacrifices your body made to keep you going.
Extraordinary (8): Life’s Deepest Currents
Govern development, identity, fertility, and transformation
Influence major life transitions: birth, puberty, grief, aging
Store ancestral memory, early attachments, and existential themes
Shape how you relate to meaning, connection, and purpose
Healing at this level is subtle but powerful—like resetting the deep waters of your inner life.
Fun fact: There are “Tsumugi meridians” on this level: Yin Wei Mai (the fabric of life) and Yang Wei Mai (the act of weaving)!
Beyond the Map: Microsystems
In some cases, we also work with microsystems and intuitive tools such as:
Ear acupuncture
Scalp or facial acupuncture
Hand and foot systems
Ashi points (points discovered by touch, not charts)
Sometimes, your body leads us to exactly what it needs.
Acupoints: Command Threads in the Network
There are 361 classical acupuncture points (Acupoints) on the Primary Meridians, with many more shared across systems. Each one acts like a keystroke or command in your body’s operating system.
While global standards assign numerical codes to acupuncture points, however, each one also holds a traditional name, a distinct function, and a story. Selecting points is like assembling a thoughtful team—each chosen for its unique contribution, yet working together to send a clear, cohesive message your body can understand. This is how we speak fluently in the language of your system.
Also, acupoints often reveal themselves through:
Tenderness, warmth, or swelling
Skin tone shifts or spider veins
Emotional sensitivity etc.
Programming the Command: Point Prescriptions
Effective acupuncture is about clarity, not a quantity of points selected.
We consider:
Which systems are depleted? What needs nourishment?
What’s excessive? What needs clearing or release?
Where is misalignment? What needs harmony?
Technique also matters:
Needle angle, depth, and timing
Type of stimulation (tonify, disperse, harmonize)
Supporting methods like heat therapy or moxa
Acupuncture is like a nervous system software update—releasing old code and rebooting flow.
Most sessions involve 30–45 minutes of rest with needles, depending on the layers being accessed.
What Conditions Can Acupuncture Support?
-
PMS, PMDD
Irregular or heavy menstrual cycles
Endometriosis, fibroids
Fertility support (including IUI/IVF)
Recurrent miscarriages
Pregnancy support: morning sickness, breech presentation, labour preparation
Postpartum recovery
Low or high milk supply, plugged ducts, mastitis
Weaning support
(Peri)menopause, hot flashes, night sweats etc..
-
Breast tenderness or cyclical pain
Dense/fibrocystic breasts
Breast cancer support
Post-mastectomy recovery
-
Anxiety, depression, mood fluctuations
ADHD / AuDHD
Addiction, disordered eating
Self-image & identity concerns
Grief, sadness, fear, anger
Trauma recovery & dissociation
Loneliness or isolation
Lack of meaning or direction
Suicidal ideation or self-harming urges*
(please also seek immediate support through crisis lines or mental health professionals)
-
Digestive discomfort (e.g., bloating, nausea, reflux, constipation)
Sleep issues (difficulty falling/staying asleep, unrestful sleep)
Fatigue or low energy
Immune system regulation
Headaches or migraines
Chronic pain (e.g., jaw, neck, back)
Temperature regulation (e.g., cold hands/feet, night sweats)
Support during life transitions or burnout recovery etc.
Acupuncture can support many aspects of pelvic, breast, and emotional health.
Below are just a few examples—this list isn’t exhaustive.
At Tsumugi, we always consider the whole of you—not just a diagnosis or condition.
We're working on a dedicated conditions page. Have something you'd like us to include? Feel free to submit Anonymous Website Content Request or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on new resources!
At-Home Meridian Care
You can support your meridians and extend the effects of treatment between sessions through gentle practices like:
Acupressure
Moxa or warm packs
Gua sha or cupping
Qi gong, Tai chi, breathwork, or visualizations
Essential oils on acupoints and more.
Like brushing your teeth everyday, these rituals keep your energy clear and your health aligned.
They’re also powerful tools for addressing flare-ups—from nausea to anxiety—wherever you are.
How empowering!
TCM Acupuncture vs. Dry Needling
Dry needling targets tight muscles and trigger points, often used by physiotherapists, massage therapists, or chiropractors.
But it does not use pattern differentiation or the layered diagnostic lens of TCM.
At Tsumugi, we may integrate these methods when appropriate, but always within a holistic and individualized framework.
In Ontario, only R.TCMPs and R.Acs are legally authorized to provide TCM-based diagnosis and treatment (Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006).
When Acupuncture Needs Support
Acupuncture helps guide Qi—but if your system is deeply depleted, it may still respond, just not as fully or sustainably. A river can move, but it flows better when it’s fed. Nourishment alongside treatment supports deeper, more lasting change.
Likewise, if something in your daily life keeps stirring the mud, we can’t just keep clearing it—we need to address what’s disrupting the stillness.
In these cases, we may recommend gentle, supportive additions:
Herbal medicine to replenish what’s been drained and ease what’s been taxing your system
Dietary therapy to fuel your body’s healing process or remove what’s preventing it
Lifestyle adjustment to reduce what’s pulling you out of balance
Tip: Receiving acupuncture on an empty stomach can lead to symptoms like dizziness or fainting. We recommend having something— even a small snack—before your session to help your body feel grounded and ready to receive treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Absolutely. You're not alone in feeling this way, and there are gentle, effective options available:
Metal seeds or press pellets taped to acupoints
Tiny micro-needles (shorter than 1mm), applied under a small adhesive patch
Essential oils applied to specific points
Acupressure techniques you can use at home—we'll guide you
Many people who are needle-sensitive at first become more comfortable over time as their system strengthens.
-
At Tsumugi, we use a variety of needles and acupressure pellets to accommodate sensitivities:
Needles:
Stainless steel with silicone coating
Stainless steel without coating
Stainless steel with low levels of nickel
Pellets (used for non-needle stimulation):
Stainless steel
Titanium
Gold-coated pellets
If you have a known metal allergy or sensitivity, please be sure to indicate it on your health history form under the allergy section. We’ll tailor your treatment using the most suitable materials to ensure your comfort and safety.
-
We hope that won’t happen—but we understand it can be a concern. Some people, especially those who are very depleted or have a sensitive nervous system, may feel faint during treatment.
If you have a history of fainting with needles, please let us know on your health history form. We’ll adapt your treatment plan to suit your needs, or explore non-needle options such as herbal therapy and lifestyle strategies.
If fainting does occur, we’re trained to respond promptly and professionally. We’ll remove all needles immediately and follow appropriate first aid protocols—such as elevating your legs or placing you in a recovery position. In the rare event of a more serious or life-threatening situation, we will call emergency services right away.
Your safety is always our top priority.
Which meridian layer resonates most with you?
Curious how acupuncture or holistic care can support your pelvic health, breast health, or emotional wellbeing?