When your mind will not switch off, the advice to simply relax can feel useless. If that same bracing pattern tends to settle in your head instead, our page on acupuncture for migraines covers how we approach stress-related head pain specifically.Acupuncture works at that physical level, which is part of why many people find a session unexpectedly calming.
How acupuncture is used for stress and anxiety
When disturbed sleep is the main way your stress shows up, our page on acupuncture for insomnia covers how we approach that side of things specifically.
What the evidence shows
The evidence supports acupuncture as an adjunct that can help manage situational stress and temporarily reduce the severity of generalized anxiety symptoms. It is a supportive tool, not a standalone treatment for an acute mental health crisis, and it does not replace counselling, psychotherapy, or psychiatric care.
What to expect
Your first visit is a 75 minute assessment in a calm, quiet setting. Needles are placed at points selected to help settle the nervous system, and most people find the session itself deeply relaxing. Treatment usually involves a course of weekly sessions, reassessed as you go.
A note on your care
Acupuncture is intended to complement, not replace, mental health care. Please do not stop prescribed medication without consulting your doctor, and if you are in crisis, contact your physician or a crisis line.
Cost and coverage
A first visit is a 75 minute initial treatment at $150, with 60 minute standard treatments at $125 after that. Acupuncture from a registered acupuncturist is not covered by OHIP, but to claim under your plan's acupuncture benefit, most insurers require a CTCMPAO-registered R.Ac or R.TCMP, as all of ours are. We direct bill most major insurers through TELUS Health eClaims, so where your plan allows it, you pay only your share at the visit.
Meet Your Practitioners
Herbs Meta is staffed by registered TCM practitioners serving Richmond Hill.
Andrew Zheng, R. TCMP, R. Ac
Acupuncture, Herbal Prescription, Meridian Diagnostic
Andrew has dedicated over twenty years to study and practice of medicine. He holds an MD from UMC, Southwest Free Medical University (Sichuan) and completed TCM training at the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He also serves as a TCM college instructor teaching Meridian, Acupuncture, Acupuncture Therapeutics, and Clinical Internship. Fluent in Chinese, English, and Russian.
Melody Tian, R.TCMP, R.Ac
Acupuncture, Herbal Prescription, TCM Diagnostics
Melody is a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Registered Acupuncturist in Ontario, and an instructor at the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (OCTCM). For nearly five years she has taught TCM diagnosis and supervised clinical internships. She excels in tongue diagnosis and holistic, root-cause approaches to care.
Yang Wang, R.Ac, R.TCMP
Chronic Pain, Internal Medicine, Urological Conditions, Acupuncture
Yang Wang is a highly skilled, dual-trained medical professional and fifth-generation TCM practitioner. He holds a Master of Surgery from Peking University and served as a Urologist at Beijing Renhe Hospital for 13 years. He completed an intensive two-year Western Medicine to TCM program at Beijing Xiyuan Hospital and graduated from the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (OCTCM).
Wenhao Yang, R.TCMP, R.Ac
Acupuncture, Herbal Prescription
Eric is a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Registered Acupuncturist in Ontario. He graduated from the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and brings a thorough, patient-centred approach to assessment and treatment, with a focus on individualized care plans for both acute and long-standing health concerns.
Book a Chinese Herbal Medicine Consultation
At Herbs Meta, our CTCMPAO-registered practitioners provide personalized herbal prescriptions and acupuncture treatment plans tailored to your health goals.
- Sleep and stress support
- Digestive health
- Women's health and fertility
- Chronic fatigue
- TELUS Health direct billing available
What happens next:
- Book your appointment online and tell us your main concern.
- At your first visit, your registered practitioner takes a full history and assessment.
- You receive your treatment and a clear plan, with direct billing handled at the desk where your plan allows.
- You leave knowing your next step.
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