Avenue Acupuncture FAQs

Most workplace Extended Health Benefits do cover the cost of acupuncture, and Avenue Acupuncture direct-bills most insurance companies. Bring your insurance information with you to your first appointment and we’ll take care of the rest. Currently, OHIP does not cover acupuncture treatments.

Selection of acupuncture points is done on a case-by-case basis, thus making it necessary to do a thorough medical examination before treatment is performed.

Due to the unique nature of the acupuncture style employed at Avenue Acupuncture, all of the needling is performed below the elbows and knees, making it unnecessary to remove any clothing. This style of acupuncture employs the use of acupoints distal to the area being treated. For patients experiencing pain, the needles are never inserted where the pain is felt, but rather on associated channels of the pain. This method of acupuncture is very different to most clinics, but has shown much greater effects than typical local needling. For example, a patient with back pain would receive needles on specific points in the arms and hands only, and feel a great relief of pain almost instantly.

No. For many degenerative eye conditions there is no cure. Natural Eye Regeneration is a form of management that can slow or halt degeneration and help retain whatever eyesight remains. A number of patients report an increase in vision following treatment, though how long any improvement lasts depends on factors like lifestyle, nutrition, frequency of treatment, and the eye condition itself.

We have successfully treated Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Glaucoma (open angle), Macular Degeneration (wet and dry, AMD/ARMD), Diabetic Retinopathy, Optic Nerve Atrophy, Dry Eyes, Stargardt Disease, Usher’s Syndrome, and more.

This form of treatment has been used with over 10,000 patients for varying eye conditions, and over 80% notice an improvement in their vision, whether that’s seeing more lines on an eye chart, colours and objects becoming clearer, or an increase in visual field as monitored by an analyzer. How long any improvement lasts depends on factors like lifestyle, nutrition, frequency of treatment, and the eye condition itself.

We review your specific eye condition and overall health to determine any lifestyle factors that need to change, proper nutrition, vitamin and mineral recommendations, your acupuncture treatment frequency and duration, and what to expect going forward.

Ryan Tze-Wai Longenecker has studied extensively in the field of Chinese Medicine Ophthalmology, learning several different systems and treatment strategies from many of the leading practitioners in this field around the world.

Laser acupuncture is an alternative to traditional needle acupuncture. This non-invasive technique, delivered with the RJ Lightneedle, uses laser stimulation to excite the same precise points on the body used in traditional acupuncture, activating their functions and affecting deep tissue layers. The small laser lights are attached to the body with medical grade tape and stay in place for the duration of the treatment, transferring modulated energy into the meridian system.

No. Laser acupuncture is completely painless and you feel absolutely nothing during treatment, though some patients may feel a sensation of energy shifting in their body. There are no adverse side effects.

No. Laser acupuncture uses a “cold laser,” or low-level laser, which does not produce heat the way lasers used in surgery to burn or cut do. Low-level lasers can instead help regenerate cells, decrease pain, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation.