Kathleen Frances Allan

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

Other Common

• Bell's Palsy & Facial Paralysis Recovery: Supporting nerve healing and restoring facial muscle control through targeted acupuncture and TCM therapies.
• Support for Autoimmune Conditions (e.g., Hashimoto's, Lupus, MS - Adjunctive Care): Focusing on harmonizing Yin and Yang, clearing pathogenic factors (like Heat or Damp), nourishing deficient substances (Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang), and resolving stagnation to support overall systemic balance.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) & Adrenal Fatigue Support (TCM): Restoring vitality and improving overall stamina by addressing underlying deficiencies and energetic blockages from a TCM perspective, often focusing on adrenal and mitochondrial support through TCM principles.

Pain & Musculoskeletal

• Sports Injuries (e.g., Sprains, Strains, Tendinitis) & Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI): Reducing inflammation and swelling, promoting efficient tissue repair, alleviating pain, and restoring optimal function to injured areas to facilitate a quicker and safer return to athletic activity or work.
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ/TMD) Dysfunction & Jaw Pain: Acupuncture and local soft tissue techniques to alleviate jaw pain, clicking, locking, and muscle tension associated with TMJ disorders by relaxing masticatory muscles, reducing inflammation, and improving local Qi and Blood flow.
• Neuropathic Pain & Peripheral Neuropathy (e.g., Diabetic Neuropathy Support, Post-Herpetic Neuralgia): Addressing neuropathic pain by invigorating Qi and Blood flow along affected meridians, nourishing Yin and Blood to repair damaged nerves, and resolving blockages or stagnation.
• 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. Kathleen can assess your needs.

• 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.
• 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.
• Electroacupuncture: Combining traditional acupuncture with modern microcurrent technology to amplify pain relief, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue healing and nerve regeneration.
• Cupping Therapy (Fire Cupping, Sliding Cupping, Stationary Cupping): Application of glass, bamboo, or silicone cups to the skin to create suction (often via heat/fire for glass cups, or a pump for others). This technique helps to relieve muscle tension, improve blood and Qi flow, reduce local inflammation, release toxins, open pores, and treat respiratory conditions or musculoskeletal pain.
• Acupressure & Meridian Therapy: Targeting key energy points on the body with precise pressure to alleviate symptoms, support organ function, and enhance overall well-being.
• Moxibustion (Moxa Therapy): A warming therapy using various forms of moxa (e.g., moxa sticks, cones, moxa boxes) to promote circulation, relieve pain (especially cold-type pain like arthritis), boost immunity, and enhance the effects of acupuncture treatment.
• 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.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Kathleen, 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 ON and the standards set by The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario.

At Kathleen Frances Allan's practice, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health, well-being, and daily activities. Kathleen frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• Experiencing frequent colds, feeling like my immune system is weak, or taking a long time to recover from illness can be draining. Kathleen utilizes acupuncture and other TCM methods to aim for experiencing fewer and less intense headaches or migraines, leading to more pain-free days, so patients can re-engage with handling their job that involves frequent standing, walking, or bending with better ease feeling revitalized.
• If uncomfortable menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, or mood changes is preventing you from fully enjoying playing a few sets of tennis without shoulder or elbow pain, Kathleen offers skilled acupuncture and TCM care. Treatment focuses on improved mental focus, concentration, and cognitive clarity as overall health and energy improve, often utilizing acupuncture, herbal remedies (if R.TCMP), and lifestyle advice to help you regain balance and function.
• Through personalized acupuncture and TCM with Kathleen, common concerns like my child having frequent illnesses, digestive issues, or skin problems are assessed from a holistic perspective to achieve better regulation of body temperature, feeling less prone to being overly cold or hot, helping people to once again enjoy having more regular and comfortable menstrual cycles, allowing for uninterrupted daily life and activities.
• When trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling tired and unrefreshed is limiting your lifestyle, acupuncture and TCM with Kathleen can help you work towards experiencing more regular, balanced, and manageable menstrual cycles with substantially reduced PMS or PMDD symptoms, aiming to restore harmony and optimal function so you can comfortably and safely enjoy planning and participating in future events with confidence in their health and well-being.

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

Kathleen's practice is located at an acupuncture and TCM clinic in Peterborough, situated in the South End, Otonabee neighborhood. The clinic is conveniently close to Trent University Symons Campus and is easily accessible via Peterborough Transit. Our clinic offers a serene environment for healing, with accessible facilities and typically available parking options to ensure a comfortable visit for all patients.

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.

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 types of conditions do Registered Acupuncturists at our clinic treat?

Our Registered Acupuncturists treat a wide range of health concerns using Traditional Chinese Medicine principles. This includes, but is not limited to, chronic & acute pain such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, and sciatica; support for addiction recovery, including smoking cessation and substance cravings using protocols like NADA; sleep issues; women’s health concerns such as PMS and menopausal symptoms; and overall wellness support. Treatments often involve scalp acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, moxibustion, or dietary advice based on your specific TCM diagnosis.

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

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive medical system developed over thousands of years to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. It includes therapies such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tui Na massage, cupping, moxibustion, and lifestyle and dietary advice. A Registered Acupuncturist uses these tools to identify and correct imbalances in the body's Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang, addressing root causes of health issues. TCM aims to restore harmony and promote long-term health and vitality.

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

Patients in Ontario can typically see a Registered Acupuncturist or Registered TCM Practitioner directly without a physician's referral (known as direct access). However, it is recommended to check with your private or extended health insurance provider, as some plans may require a referral for reimbursement. Always verify your individual policy requirements.

Are Acupuncture and TCM services covered by Ontario health plans?

In Ontario, services provided by a Registered Acupuncturist or Registered TCM Practitioner in private clinics are generally not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). Patients usually pay out-of-pocket for these therapies. It is advisable to review your private or extended health insurance plans, as many offer partial coverage for registered practitioners, though coverage levels vary widely.

Does acupuncture hurt? Are the needles safe?

For most people, acupuncture is not painful. The needles used are extremely thin, and many individuals feel little or no sensation during insertion. Some may experience a slight pinch or a feeling of warmth, tingling, or fullness, which indicates effective stimulation of Qi. Many patients find the experience relaxing and even fall asleep during treatment. Practitioners are trained in safe needling techniques, using sterile, single-use needles to ensure safety and prevent infection. If you experience any discomfort, inform your practitioner immediately.

780 Armour Road
Peterborough, ON, K9H 2A1

Phone: (705) 760-2979

Kathleen Frances Allan 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=c24b17df-2ee4-eb11-8116-005056a97495

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.