Jenny Hu is a registered acupuncturist at the Royal City Natural Health Clinic in New Westminster (255–550 6th Street, 604-528-9869), and has been an elected board member of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia since 2005. She has worked in traditional Chinese medicine in Vancouver since 1992, after completing her training in Shanghai.

What areas do you specialize in within traditional Chinese medicine?
“I treat people for allergies, allergic reactions to all types of different issues like food, or hives, and pain like lower-back pain, and low energy, detox, and insomnia.”

How widely is acupuncture used in Vancouver?
“It’s started really blooming. People in the western society have accepted this treatment, and for the most [part] it is for reducing pain. For some people, they have very great pain, but after a couple of treatments the pain has disappeared. And also it is nonmedicational. People can focus on what they’re doing. It’s a very natural treatment.”

How long does a session last?
“Between 30 minutes to one hour.”

How long does a course of treatment last?
“That depends. For young people, for example, they hurt their backs, but very quickly with acupuncture, after one to six sessions, they are 50 percent better or 100 percent better. Obviously people’s bodies are all different.”

What does it feel like, as a patient, having needles put in you?
“Some people, when they feel the needle go in, say it doesn’t hurt, but it feels a bit heavier in the needle area, and they feel the energy go in.”

What can acupuncture do to help the body in general?
“Increase energy, reduce pain, and relax.”

And how does it help the mind?
“Usually it helps people focus doing things. After the treatment, they feel much clearer and more focused and able to do a lot of work.”

What are the benefits of acupuncture for allergies?
“Most people [who have allergies] have problems with sneezing, or itchy eyes—then we do the allergy points on the body. I highly recommend it also for quitting smoking and drugs, and detox. This is a really very good success area for me. I had one patient who used to smoke a pack and a half a day. I gave him five treatments, and then he totally quit, without any stress and without craving.”

Is acupuncture helpful for migraines?
“Hives normally come in a combination with migraine headaches. For example, people can be allergic to a food; they don’t know, so they continue to eat it. We usually ask what kind of food they have the most of before the treatment. If a patient says, ‘I really have a lot of coffee,’ I say maybe you stop the coffee, and let’s see how we go. So they stop, they have the acupuncture treatment, and the hives and migraines slowly, slowly go.”

What advice would you give people who are considering using acupuncture? “For those who are considering having an operation for lower-back pain or other injuries, I would say try acupuncture first. If it works, then you won’t need the operation and you will save money. And then they will laugh. And then they try it. And then it works! They’ll be very happy. All my patients talk to family and friends afterwards and tell them it works, and very well.”