Submitted
Clearwater has a new acupuncture clinic, but the acupuncturist has been a long-time visitor of the North Thompson valley since 1994. That was the year when Laurina Norris and her husband, Rob, first came through on a bicycle tour and fell in love with Clearwater and the area. They have since spent many holidays here canoeing, hiking, skiing and camping.
“I spent part of my childhood growing up in a community smaller than Vavenby, where we now live, so this really feels like coming home,” said Norris. “It’s also great to get away from the noise and congestion of the Victoria area.”
She said to become a registered acupuncturist, one must complete three to five years of training after completing at least two years of post-secondary education. She chose to complete the four-year program at Pacific Rim College in Victoria after completing a Bachelor of General Studies.
“I love what I do because I can use my fascination with knowing how the body works from both an Eastern perspective as well a Western physiological perspective, in order to help my clients feel better,” said Norris.
She noted that in the six years that she has been practicing, the most often requested help is for muscle and joint problems, but acupuncture can be very useful for many other complaints ranging from nerve pain to acid reflux.
“I like to remind clients that it is always a good idea to check in with their primary care physician about a given concern, but acupuncture can be a great option when Western medicine has few or limited solutions,” Norris explained. “As a complementary healthcare provider, it is great when we can work together to help a client recover or lessen symptoms.”
For people who don’t like the idea of needles, Norris said she can utilize her other modalities such as microcurrent and auricular therapy to customize a needle-free treatment.
“Microcurrent and auricular therapy, not to mention herbs, are all stand-alone therapies in their own right and can bring about some wonderful results,” she said.
The Clearwater Acupuncture clinic is located at #1 - 98 Old North Thompson Highway West. The clinic is open by appointment only, and as the Covid-19 pandemic continues, special precautions such as client screening, extra cleaning, mask use and spacing between treatments is in effect.
For more information or to book an appointment, Norris can be reached at 250-213-3340. Or, you can visit her website, as well as online booking, at: clearwateracupuncture.ca.