Gwendelyn Caron – Acupuncturist | Shawinigan, QC

Gwendelyn Caron is a dedicated Acupuncteur (Ac.). Practicing at Acupuncture Gwen Caron in Shawinigan, QC, she is committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, adhering to the standards set by The Ordre des acupuncteurs du Québec. With a deep respect for the holistic nature of TCM, Gwendelyn strives to create a welcoming environment where patients feel heard and supported on their journey to health.

Gwendelyn's role involves providing skilled acupuncture treatments for a wide variety of common health concerns, including pain management (musculoskeletal pain, headaches), stress reduction, sleep issues, and general wellness support. Care is focused on using acupuncture to stimulate the body's natural healing abilities and restore energetic balance according to TCM principles. She serves patients of all ages, from infants to seniors, tailoring treatments to meet individual needs and life stages.

She completed her training in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, combining extensive clinical training with ongoing professional development. Gwendelyn is committed to upholding the highest standards of practice and has a particular interest in areas such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and integrative approaches. Her practice philosophy emphasizes a holistic view, considering the body as an interconnected system where physical, mental, and emotional aspects are inseparable (Holism); utilizing time-tested therapies like acupuncture and herbal medicine to support the body's innate healing capacity and restore natural balance (Yin-Yang Harmony). She offers consultations in French.

Gwendelyn Caron provides skilled Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine care for a variety of health concerns, including but not limited to:

Other Common

• Supportive Care During & After Cancer Treatments (Chemotherapy/Radiation Side Effects): Acupuncture, moxibustion, and gentle herbal therapies to help manage common side effects of conventional cancer treatments, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pain, neuropathy, dry mouth, insomnia, and anxiety, thereby improving quality of life and treatment tolerance. (Always in coordination with primary oncology care).
• Support for Autoimmune Conditions (e.g., Hashimoto's, Lupus, MS - Adjunctive Care): TCM therapies, including acupuncture and specific herbal formulas, used as an adjunctive approach to help regulate immune system function, reduce inflammation, manage symptoms, and improve quality of life for individuals with various autoimmune conditions. (Always in conjunction with specialist medical care).

Respiratory Allergy Immune

• Common Cold, Flu & Viral Infections (Prevention & Accelerated Recovery): Natural support for strengthening your immunity, reducing susceptibility to common infections, and helping you recover more quickly and completely when you do get sick.
• Allergies (Seasonal/Environmental, e.g., Hay Fever, Allergic Rhinitis) & Sinusitis: Natural and effective strategies for managing acute allergy symptoms and reducing the frequency and severity of chronic allergic rhinitis or sinusitis.

Pain Musculoskeletal

• Fibromyalgia & Myofascial Pain Syndrome: Personalized treatment plans aimed at reducing pain sensitivity, improving energy levels, enhancing sleep quality, and restoring a better quality of life for those with fibromyalgia or widespread myofascial pain.
• Neuropathic Pain & Peripheral Neuropathy (e.g., Diabetic Neuropathy Support, Post-Herpetic Neuralgia): Effective TCM management strategies for shooting, burning, or electric-shock like pain that follows nerve pathways, aiming to improve sensation and function.
• Arthritis & Joint Pain (Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis - Supportive Care): TCM approaches, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine, to reduce joint inflammation, alleviate pain, decrease stiffness, and improve function in individuals with various forms of arthritis.

This list offers examples of conditions commonly addressed. TCM diagnosis is based on individual patterns, so if your specific concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic. Gwendelyn can assess your needs.

• Moxibustion (Moxa Therapy): The therapeutic application of heat from burning processed mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) near or on the skin at specific acupuncture points or areas of the body. This warms meridians, stimulates Qi and Blood flow, dispels Cold and Dampness, strengthens Yang energy, and can alleviate conditions associated with cold, stagnation, or deficiency.
• Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture / Acupressure / Ear Seeds: Stimulation of specific reflex points on the ear (auricle) using fine needles, small seeds (e.g., vaccaria seeds), or beads affixed with tape to treat various health conditions throughout the body, based on the principle that the ear is a microsystem reflecting the entire body.
• Cupping Therapy (Fire Cupping, Sliding Cupping, Stationary Cupping): Utilizing cupping techniques to alleviate musculoskeletal pain (back, shoulder, neck), clear stagnation, support detoxification, and relieve symptoms of common colds or asthma.
• 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.
• Tui Na (Chinese Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork): Dynamic, hands-on bodywork based on TCM principles of meridians and acupoints to correct structural misalignments, improve circulation, alleviate chronic pain, and restore energetic harmony and balance.
• Gua Sha (Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization - TCM): A therapeutic technique involving the gentle but firm scraping of lubricated skin with a smooth-edged tool (e.g., jade, horn, ceramic spoon) to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue, which releases muscle tension, breaks down adhesions and scar tissue, reduces pain and inflammation, and promotes healing and detoxification by releasing 'Sha' (stagnant blood and metabolic waste).
• Electroacupuncture: A form of acupuncture where a small, gentle, and continuous electrical current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles to enhance stimulation of acupoints and therapeutic effects, particularly effective for chronic pain, neurological conditions, and muscle spasm.

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

All services are provided in accordance with the scope of practice for Registered Acupuncturists in QC and the standards set by The Ordre des acupuncteurs du Québec.

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

• Patients struggling with frequent colds, feeling like my immune system is weak, or taking a long time to recover from illness can find dedicated support from Gwendelyn. The therapeutic focus is on achieving effective alleviation of some common side effects associated with conventional medical treatments like chemotherapy, using a range of TCM modalities to facilitate a return to meaningful daily activities such as playing with children or grandchildren more comfortably and with sustained energy.
• Understanding that frequent headaches or intense migraines disrupting my life can be frustrating, Gwendelyn applies TCM wisdom to help patients achieve a profound sense of relaxation, calm, and overall well-being following treatments, making it possible to rediscover the joy in engaging in mindful practices with a calmer and more centered state of mind.
• Restoring harmony is key in TCM. For looking for a holistic approach to managing a chronic health condition or autoimmune issue, Gwendelyn crafts treatments to achieve noticeable improvement in digestive comfort, with significantly less bloating, gas, or abdominal pain, supporting a return to activities like managing their personal care routines independently with comfort and confidence.
• If curious about facial rejuvenation or cosmetic acupuncture for a natural anti-aging approach is affecting your ability to participate in playing a few sets of tennis without shoulder or elbow pain, Gwendelyn's TCM approach aims for gaining a deeper understanding of their body's unique energetic patterns and needs according to TCM principles, helping you to regain your stride.

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

Gwendelyn's practice at Acupuncture Gwen Caron is situated within a dedicated acupuncture and TCM clinic located in the central Shawinigan neighborhood. The clinic is conveniently positioned near local community centers and public parks, making it easily accessible for patients from various parts of the city. It can be reached via multiple public transit routes, ensuring ease of access for those relying on public transportation. Our clinic offers a tranquil environment conducive to healing and relaxation. Metered and paid parking lots are usually found in the vicinity, providing additional convenience for patients arriving by car.

What is Acupuncture and how can it help me?

Acupuncture is a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body called acupoints. According to TCM theory, this helps to stimulate and balance the flow of Qi (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. Acupuncture can help by reducing pain, alleviating stress and anxiety, improving sleep, regulating bodily functions (like digestion and hormones), boosting the immune system, and promoting overall well-being by encouraging the body's natural healing abilities.

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

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic approach to health and wellness based on ancient principles. A Registered Acupuncturist will assess your overall state of health, looking for patterns of imbalance according to TCM theory (often involving tongue and pulse diagnosis). Treatment may involve acupuncture, customized herbal formulas (if an R.TCMP), cupping, moxibustion, and specific dietary and lifestyle recommendations to help restore your body's natural balance and promote healing.

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 Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine services covered by Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) in QC?

Acupuncture and TCM services provided by a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) or Registered TCM Practitioner (R.TCMP) in a private clinic are generally not covered by provincial health plans like RAMQ in Quebec. Patients usually pay out-of-pocket. It is advisable to check your private or extended health insurance plans, as many do offer some coverage for services by registered practitioners, though coverage levels vary.

Do I need a doctor's referral to see a Registered Acupuncturist in QC?

In Quebec, patients can typically consult a Registered Acupuncturist or TCM Practitioner directly without a physician's referral (this is known as direct access). However, some private or extended health insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement purposes. It is recommended to verify your individual insurance policy requirements before your appointment.

Does acupuncture hurt? Are the needles safe?

Acupuncture needles are extremely fine, sterile, and single-use, often not much thicker than a human hair. Their insertion is usually painless or feels like a tiny prick, much less than an injection. Once inserted, patients might feel sensations such as a dull ache, warmth, tingling, or heaviness, which are signs that the treatment is stimulating Qi. Most find acupuncture to be very relaxing. Registered practitioners prioritize safety, using only sterile, disposable needles. Always communicate with your practitioner if you experience any discomfort during treatment.

Acupuncture Gwen Caron
444, Rue de Varsovie
Shawinigan, QC, G9N 6X2

Gwendelyn Caron is regulated by the Professional Code (Quebec) in QC and is a registered member of The Ordre des acupuncteurs du Québec.

Registration Number: A-047-21

Registration can typically be verified with The Ordre des acupuncteurs du Québec.

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.