Zhiliang Xu

Zhiliang practices at Niagara Health & Rehab Centre, a reputable acupuncture and TCM clinic situated in the St. Catharines neighborhood of St. Catharines. The clinic is conveniently located near the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and is easily accessible via Niagara Region Transit (NRT). Our clinic offers a serene environment for healing, designed to promote comfort and relaxation. Street parking is often available nearby, making your visit as convenient as possible.

• TCM Observation & Palpation Diagnosis: Careful observation of your complexion, eyes, hair, nails, posture, and demeanor, combined with palpation of specific body areas or meridians to detect tenderness, temperature changes, or energetic blockages.
• Herbal Medicine Preparation & Counseling: Providing guidance on the preparation and proper usage of prescribed herbal formulas, including decoction instructions for raw herbs, dosage for granules or pills, and advice on potential dietary interactions or lifestyle adjustments to enhance herbal efficacy.
• Customized Chinese Herbal Medicine Prescription (R.TCMP Scope): Utilizing the synergistic therapeutic properties of traditional Chinese herbs, often in complex combinations, to restore organ function (Zang-Fu), balance Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood, and promote profound healing from within by addressing the root cause of illness.
• TCM Tongue Diagnosis: Detailed observation of the tongue's color, shape, size, coating, cracks, and moisture to gain crucial insights into the state of your internal organs, fluid balance, and overall energetic balance.
• Comprehensive TCM Health Assessment & Pattern Diagnosis: A detailed initial consultation involving an in-depth discussion of your health history, symptoms, lifestyle, emotional state, and a traditional TCM diagnostic assessment (palpation, observation, listening/smelling, pulse, and tongue diagnosis) to identify your unique TCM pattern of disharmony.
• TCM Pulse Diagnosis (Sphygmology): A subtle and sophisticated TCM diagnostic technique requiring extensive training, used to understand the energetic state of your Zang-Fu organs and overall constitution.
• Classical & Patent Chinese Herbal Formulas: Using established and time-tested patent herbal remedies (Cheng Yao) that have been trusted for generations to address specific symptoms or support overall health and organ system balance.

Note: This list highlights some key services. For a full list of therapies offered by Zhiliang, 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 Niagara Health & Rehab Centre, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are focused on helping individuals like you achieve significant improvements in health, well-being, and daily activities. Zhiliang frequently helps patients work towards goals such as:

• When my child having frequent illnesses, digestive issues, or skin problems is limiting your lifestyle, acupuncture and TCM with Zhiliang can help you work towards reduced inflammation throughout the body, as indicated by symptoms or markers, aiming to restore harmony and optimal function so you can comfortably and safely enjoy playing a few sets of tennis without shoulder or elbow pain.
• Through the gentle yet powerful methods of TCM, Zhiliang assists patients with pain, numbness, or tingling running down my leg (like sciatica) in reaching visible improvement in chronic skin conditions like eczema, acne, or psoriasis, with healthier-looking skin, fostering a return to beloved activities like keeping up with their team during our weekly soccer match without pain limiting them.
• The path to overcoming asthma or breathing difficulties needing supportive, natural care and achieving improved mental focus, concentration, and cognitive clarity as overall health and energy improve is often clearer with TCM. Zhiliang guides patients toward reclaiming activities such as engaging in detailed crafting, sewing, or knitting hobbies for hours with clear focus with improved health.
• Rediscover your ability to reaching for items on high shelves or in cupboards without shoulder strain without the burden of uncomfortable menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, or mood changes. Zhiliang focuses on TCM treatment plans that lead to a holistic sense of feeling more 'in balance' and harmonized physically, mentally, and energetically, integrating various therapeutic techniques to support your body's healing.

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

Zhiliang practices at Niagara Health & Rehab Centre, a reputable acupuncture and TCM clinic situated in the St. Catharines neighborhood of St. Catharines. The clinic is conveniently located near the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and is easily accessible via Niagara Region Transit (NRT). Our clinic offers a serene environment for healing, designed to promote comfort and relaxation. Street parking is often available nearby, making your visit as convenient as possible.

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

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a holistic approach to health and wellness based on ancient principles. A Registered TCM Practitioner 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?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi (pronounced 'chee') is often translated as 'vital energy' or 'life force.' It's considered the fundamental energy that flows throughout the body, responsible for all physiological processes, movement, warmth, and protection against illness. Meridians (or channels) are specific pathways through which Qi and Blood circulate. These pathways connect the internal organs with the exterior parts of the body, including muscles, skin, and sensory organs. Acupuncture points are specific locations along these meridians where the flow of Qi can be accessed and influenced to restore balance and health.

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 (such as a Registered Acupuncturist or Registered TCM Practitioner) directly without a physician's referral. Although a referral is not legally required, some private or extended health insurance plans may require one for reimbursement. Patients are advised to check their individual insurance policies for specific requirements.

Does acupuncture hurt? Are the needles safe?

Acupuncture needles are extremely fine, sterile, and single-use, often not much thicker than a human hair, so their insertion is usually painless or feels like a tiny prick, much less intense than an injection. Once the needles are in place, you might feel a sensation such as a dull ache, warmth, tingling, or a feeling of heaviness, which indicates Qi movement. Most find acupuncture to be relaxing and calming. Registered practitioners use only sterile, disposable needles to ensure safety. Always communicate with your practitioner if you experience any discomfort during treatment.

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

Services provided by a Registered Acupuncturist or R.TCMP in private clinics are generally not covered by OHIP. Patients usually pay out-of-pocket, though many private or extended health insurance plans may provide some coverage. Patients should verify their insurance policies for specifics.

What is Acupuncture and how can it help me?

Acupuncture involves inserting thin, sterile needles at specific points on the body to restore the flow of Qi according to TCM principles. It can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, improve digestion, support women's health, and promote overall well-being by activating the body's natural healing mechanisms.

Niagara Health & Rehab Centre
23 Hannover Drive, Unit 3A
St. Catharines, ON, L2W 1A3

Phone: (289) 273-5247

Zhiliang Xu 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=a707055a-ce07-ee11-8131-005056a97495

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.