Diana Rose Bridges

Located at Bridges to Wellness in the vibrant Downtown Niagara Falls (Queen St area) neighborhood, Diana’s practice is conveniently situated near the Skylon Tower and easily accessible via Niagara Region Transit (NRT). The clinic provides a serene environment designed to promote healing and relaxation. Our clinic is accessible and offers a peaceful setting for your wellness journey. Convenient parking options are typically available to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible.

• TCM Lifestyle & Wellness Coaching (Yang Sheng): Holistic guidance on lifestyle adjustments based on TCM principles of Yang Sheng (Nourishing Life), including recommendations for appropriate exercise (e.g., Tai Chi, Qigong), sleep hygiene, stress management techniques (e.g., meditation, breathwork), emotional cultivation, and attunement to natural and seasonal rhythms to promote optimal health, prevent illness, and enhance longevity.
• Scalp Acupuncture (Neuroacupuncture): Specialized scalp needling techniques drawing from both traditional TCM and modern neurology to modulate brain activity and address challenging neurological and pain-related health issues.
• Classical & Patent Chinese Herbal Formulas: Recommendation and dispensing of pre-made, standardized, classical Chinese herbal formulas in pill, tablet, capsule, or liquid form for common conditions and TCM patterns, offering convenience, consistent dosing, and proven efficacy. (May be recommended by R.Ac within certain guidelines or more comprehensively by R.TCMP).
• Acupuncture Treatment (Body Acupuncture): Customized acupuncture sessions designed to address your specific symptoms and underlying TCM pattern diagnosis, encouraging the body's powerful self-healing mechanisms and promoting overall well-being.
• Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture / Acupressure / Ear Seeds: A specialized microsystem technique focusing on the ear's numerous reflexology points to influence overall health, manage cravings, and support emotional well-being, often used as a standalone or adjunctive therapy.
• Motor Point Acupuncture / Dry Needling (TCM Context): Acupuncture techniques focused on deactivating muscle knots and relieving musculoskeletal pain by stimulating specific reactive points in muscles and fascia.
• Qigong & Tai Chi Exercise Recommendations: Guidance on or referral to Qigong or Tai Chi practices, which are gentle, mindful movement exercises combining breathwork and meditation to cultivate Qi, improve balance, reduce stress, enhance flexibility, and promote overall physical and mental health.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Diana, or to discuss your specific needs, please contact the clinic.

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Registered TCM Practitioners in ON and the standards set by The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario.

At Bridges to Wellness, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health, well-being, and daily activities. Diana frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Struggling with frequent headaches or intense migraines disrupting my life? Diana develops individualized TCM treatment plans aimed at achieving enjoying consistently more restful, deeper, and restorative sleep patterns, waking up refreshed, key to helping you get back to doing swimming laps at the pool for fitness and relaxation with improved well-being and energy.
• By addressing the root energetic imbalances related to TMJ, jaw pain, or teeth grinding that causes discomfort and headaches, Diana helps patients work towards a stronger, more robust, and resilient immune system, leading to fewer colds, flu, or other infections, facilitating a return to cherished activities like playing actively and roughhousing with their young kids or grandkids with joy and energy.
• Diana frequently assists patients in overcoming general muscle tension, stiffness, and aches throughout my body using TCM principles. A carefully designed treatment plan, targeting significant and lasting reduction in acute or chronic pain levels, supports your enthusiastic engagement in desired activities like feeling more energetic, focused, and productive throughout the workday without energy slumps.
• Patients struggling with circulatory problems, feeling cold often, or having cold hands and feet can find dedicated support from Diana. The therapeutic focus is on achieving experiencing markedly fewer and less severe menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes, using a range of TCM modalities to facilitate a return to meaningful daily activities such as walking, hiking, or cycling with less joint pain, improved endurance, and better recovery.

Your personalized TCM treatment plan, developed with Diana, will be designed to help you reach your specific functional and wellness objectives using a holistic and time-tested approach.

Located at Bridges to Wellness in the vibrant Downtown Niagara Falls (Queen St area) neighborhood, Diana’s practice is conveniently situated near the Skylon Tower and easily accessible via Niagara Region Transit (NRT). The clinic provides a serene environment designed to promote healing and relaxation. Our clinic is accessible and offers a peaceful setting for your wellness journey. Convenient parking options are typically available to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible.

What are Qi and Meridians in TCM?

**Qi** is a core concept in TCM, representing the vital energy or life force that animates the body and drives its functions. When Qi flows smoothly and abundantly, health is maintained. **Meridians** are like a network of rivers or channels that carry Qi and Blood throughout the body, connecting different organs and tissues. Illness or pain can arise if the flow of Qi in these meridians becomes blocked, deficient, or excessive. Acupuncture and other TCM therapies aim to restore the proper flow of Qi within these meridians.

Are Chinese Herbal Medicines safe? (If prescribed by an R.TCMP or Dr.TCM)

When prescribed by a qualified and Registered TCM Practitioner (R.TCMP) or Doctor of TCM (Dr.TCM), who has extensive training in herbal pharmacology, Chinese herbal formulas are generally safe and effective. R.TCMPs are trained to identify herb quality, potential herb-drug interactions, and contraindications for specific health conditions or during pregnancy. It is important to inform your practitioner about all medications you are taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements. Self-prescribing herbs or purchasing from unreliable sources is strongly discouraged due to risks of incorrect diagnosis, contamination, or adverse interactions. R.TCMPs often source herbs from trusted suppliers that perform quality testing to ensure safety and efficacy.

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a Registered TCM Practitioner in ON?

Patients in Ontario can typically see a Registered TCM Practitioner directly without a referral, as direct access is allowed. However, some private or extended health insurance plans may require a physician's referral for reimbursement purposes. It is advisable to check your individual insurance policy to confirm specific requirements.

What is Acupuncture and how can it help me?

Acupuncture involves inserting fine, sterile needles into specific points called acupoints to stimulate and balance the flow of Qi along meridians. This can help reduce pain, alleviate stress, improve sleep, regulate bodily functions such as digestion and hormones, boost the immune system, and promote overall well-being by encouraging the body's natural healing mechanisms.

What is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and how can a Registered TCM Practitioner help?

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic system that assesses overall health patterns using methods such as tongue and pulse diagnosis. Treatment may include acupuncture, herbal formulas, cupping, moxibustion, and lifestyle advice aimed at restoring balance and supporting the body's natural healing ability.

Are Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine services covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in ON?

Generally, acupuncture and TCM services provided by registered practitioners are not covered by OHIP in Ontario. Patients usually pay out-of-pocket. However, many private insurance plans offer coverage for these services, so it is recommended to check with your provider for specific details.

Does acupuncture hurt? Are the needles safe?

Acupuncture needles are very fine, sterile, and single-use. Insertion typically causes little or no discomfort, often described as a tiny prick. Once in place, you may feel sensations such as dull ache, warmth, tingling, or heaviness, which indicate Qi movement. The treatment is generally relaxing, and safety is ensured by using sterile, disposable needles. Always communicate with your practitioner if you experience any discomfort.

Bridges to Wellness
6473 Monroe Street
Niagara Falls, ON, L2G 2G9

Phone: (905) 931-9642

Diana Rose Bridges is regulated by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006 in ON and is a registered member of The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario.

Verify registration with The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario: https://www.ctcmpao.on.ca/member-profile/?contactid=2ddef62b-c376-e611-80c3-005056a97495

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are holistic therapies. It is recommended to also consult with your medical doctor for diagnosis of serious conditions and for emergency medical care. TCM can often complement conventional treatments effectively.