Myocare offers acupuncture at two Toronto locations: our original Annex clinic at 1096 Bathurst Street and our Leaside clinic at 1517a Bayview Ave, East York. This article explains what acupuncture involves, what conditions it helps with, and what your first session at either of our Toronto locations looks like.
If you want a full overview of acupuncture and how it compares to massage therapy, see our comprehensive guide on acupuncture in Toronto. This article focuses specifically on what is available at our Annex and Leaside clinics and which presentations our practitioners see most often.
Acupuncture at Myocare Annex
Our Annex clinic at 1096 Bathurst Street has offered acupuncture since Myocare’s founding. It serves clients from across the Annex, Seaton Village, Palmerston, Christie Pits, and midtown Toronto. Our Annex acupuncture practitioners have experience treating a broad range of presentations including chronic pain, headaches, stress, hormonal complaints, and TMJ dysfunction.
The Annex location also offers cosmetic acupuncture and facial rejuvenation, which is available as a standalone service or combined with a whole-body treatment session.
Acupuncture at Myocare Leaside
Our Leaside clinic at 1517a Bayview Ave, East York brings the same standard of acupuncture care to clients in Leaside, Davisville, Moore Park, Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, and the broader Bayview corridor. Whether you are looking for acupuncture near Leaside specifically or prefer a clinic on the east side of Toronto, our Bayview Ave location provides full acupuncture services.
What Conditions Does Acupuncture Help With?
Chronic Pain
Acupuncture has one of its strongest evidence bases in the treatment of chronic pain. It is effective for lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain from osteoarthritis, and headaches and migraines. The mechanism involves activation of the nervous system’s pain modulation pathways and the release of endogenous opioids. Many clients at Myocare use acupuncture alongside massage therapy for chronic pain presentations where both the structural and neurological components require treatment.
Headaches and Migraines
Acupuncture has particularly strong evidence for reducing the frequency and intensity of both tension-type headaches and migraines. Multiple randomised controlled trials have found it at least as effective as prophylactic medication for migraine prevention, with a more favourable side effect profile. For clients in Leaside or the Annex who are managing chronic headaches, combining acupuncture with massage therapy for headaches often produces better outcomes than either alone.
Stress, Anxiety and Sleep
Acupuncture modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and produces a measurable shift toward parasympathetic activation. For clients whose primary complaint is stress, anxiety, insomnia, or burnout, this neurological effect is the primary mechanism of benefit. Many clients describe the acupuncture experience as profoundly settling in a way that is distinct from massage therapy.
TMJ Dysfunction and Jaw Pain
Acupuncture for TMJ dysfunction addresses both the peripheral muscular components and the central sensitisation that drives many chronic jaw pain presentations. It is frequently combined with massage therapy for jaw pain and TMJ dysfunction treatment at Myocare for clients whose presentation has both muscular and neurological components.
Hormonal and Reproductive Health
Acupuncture is widely used for menstrual irregularity, dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis symptoms, perimenopausal complaints, and fertility support. Our practitioners at both the Annex and Leaside locations are trained in reproductive acupuncture. For clients pursuing IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies, acupuncture is frequently recommended as a complementary support.
Cosmetic Acupuncture
Cosmetic acupuncture, also called facial acupuncture or facial rejuvenation acupuncture, improves skin tone, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and supports facial muscle tone. It stimulates local circulation, promotes collagen production, and addresses constitutional factors that affect skin quality from the inside out. Cosmetic acupuncture is available at both our Annex and Leaside locations. Read more on our cosmetic acupuncture and facial rejuvenation page.
Acupuncture and Massage Therapy Together
Many clients at Myocare use acupuncture and registered massage therapy as part of an integrated treatment plan. The two modalities complement each other well. Massage therapy addresses the structural and muscular components of a complaint. Acupuncture supports systemic regulation, pain modulation, and nervous system recovery. For complex presentations, coordinated care across both modalities often produces better outcomes than either alone. This integrated approach is available at both our Annex and Leaside locations.
What to Expect at Your First Acupuncture Appointment
The Intake
Your practitioner will begin with a thorough intake covering your presenting complaint, health history, sleep, digestion, energy levels, and emotional state. This intake is more detailed than a standard massage therapy intake because acupuncture treatment strategy is informed by the whole person, not just the local complaint. They may also observe the quality of your tongue and feel the quality of your pulse at multiple positions on the wrist.
The Treatment
Acupuncture needles are extremely fine. Most clients describe the sensation of insertion as minimal, a brief pressure or mild tingling at most. Once in place, the needles are typically retained for 15 to 30 minutes. Most clients find the experience deeply relaxing and many fall asleep. The number of needles used varies by presentation.
After Your Session
Some clients feel immediate lightness or relief. Others notice changes over the following 24 to 48 hours. Mild fatigue on the day of treatment is common. Drink water and rest if you can. Avoid intense exercise, alcohol, and highly stimulating activity for the remainder of the day.
Is Acupuncture Covered by Insurance in Ontario?
Many extended health benefit plans in Ontario include acupuncture coverage under paramedical services. Coverage amounts and practitioner credential requirements vary by plan. Myocare offers direct billing to most major insurers at both our Annex and Leaside locations. For more on how insurance coverage works for paramedical services, see our article on massage therapy covered by insurance.
Book Acupuncture at Myocare Annex or Leaside
Acupuncture is available at our Annex clinic at 1096 Bathurst Street and our Leaside clinic at 1517a Bayview Ave, East York. You can review our team of practitioners to find the right acupuncture provider for your specific presenting concern. Book online or call our Leaside clinic at (416) 265-9606.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does acupuncture hurt?
Most people are surprised by how little discomfort acupuncture involves. The needles are dramatically finer than those used for injections. Insertion at most points produces a brief pressure or dull aching sensation. The experience is generally relaxing rather than painful.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need?
Acute presentations often respond meaningfully in two to four sessions. Chronic conditions that have been present for months or years typically require a longer course, often six to twelve sessions with reassessment at regular intervals. Constitutional treatments aimed at overall wellbeing may be maintained as an ongoing monthly practice.
Can I have acupuncture and massage therapy in the same session?
Combining acupuncture and massage therapy within a single extended appointment is possible at Myocare for some presentations. This works well for TMJ complaints, headaches, and chronic pain presentations where both the structural and neurological components benefit from simultaneous treatment. Ask when booking and our admin team will confirm whether this format suits your presenting concern.
Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Acupuncture during pregnancy is widely practised and has a reasonable evidence base for complaints including nausea, lower back pain, and anxiety. However, certain acupuncture points are contraindicated in pregnancy and must be strictly avoided. Always inform your practitioner that you are pregnant before your session. For pregnancy-related care at Myocare, you may also be interested in our prenatal massage services.