Frequently Asked Questions

Please provide at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

If you do not provide at least 24 hours notice, or if you do not show up for your appointment, you will be charged the full amount of your scheduled treatment.

I value your business and appreciate your cooperation in adhering to this policy. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

I resonate strongly with both of my names, and use them interchangeably.

T’agyol is my Dharma name, which I received when I took Buddhist Precepts in the Korean Zen tradition. It means “Harmonizing of Opposites and Conflict Resolution”.

This is ultimately up to you, though please do not wear jeans during your treatment.

Some people like to wear loose-fitting clothing, like track pants or shorts and a t-shirt. Others strip to their underwear and choose to be draped with a sheet.

Masks are no longer required while you receive treatment. However, as Covid-19 and other airborne diseases are a reality, please evaluate yourself carefully before coming to treatment. If you do have a fever, chills, sore throat, sudden unexplained stuffy nose, respiratory difficulty, or other unexplained acute symptons, please cancel your appointment and stay home to get better.

Payment is accepted by Interac e-Transfer, cash, or cheque.

For e-Transfer, please send your payment to tagyoladler04@gmail.com.

No, not at this time. However, I do provide receipts that you can submit to your extended benefits provider.

It depends on the specific extended health benefits plan that you have. Some extended health benefits plans cover traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, while others do not. Some plans cover all of my services, others cover only some, for example acupuncture but not herbal medicine.

It is your responsibility to check with your insurance provider to find out what is covered under your specific plan.

Appointment times are scheduled for 1 hour, with longer 75-minute initial sessions for acupuncture and herbal consultations.

You can find full details on the Rates page.

If we are working with a specific situation I will recommend a course of treatment and inform you when to rebook. If you are not experiencing a change after three sessions, we need to reassess and perhaps consider other approaches and/or practitioners.

If you are coming for health maintenance / vitality promotion the key is regularity, not frequency. In other words, it is better to come once a month than erratically. This allows us to develop a therapeutic regimen and relationship. If you wish to come more frequently (weekly, every two weeks) that is even better, but it must make sense to you.

With that said, I will always work with you where you are at, whether that means on a regular weekly schedule or once every few months or even years.

There is street parking along Dupont St, as well as on Shaw St (perpendicular to Dupont) and also Melville Ave (just south of Dupont).

You can find a map on the Clinic Location page.

The closest subway stations are Dupont, Christie, and Ossington.

It is a 10-15 minute walk from each of these stations to the clinic, and there are frequent buses you can catch.

Bodywork to me means working with the human body in a deeply connected manner, using the methods of Zen Shiatsu, acupuncture, and herbs in order to correct imbalances and bring about positive change.

Practitioners of traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM) view the body as a unified and connected whole, utilizing different world views that include Ki / Qi, Yin and Yang, and meridians.

TEAM practitioners, like myself, acknowledge and understand that a) there are other approaches to health and healing that developed prior to modern/Western medical understanding, and b) that these approaches were and are still effective and relevant.

The concept of meridians is a way of viewing pathways in the body that link various areas into an integrated whole and through which vital energy (Qi or Ki) flows. Meridians form a core foundation of traditional East Asian medicine (TEAM).

Meridian pathways correspond with muscle chains and fascia, as well as the nervous system, but have a broader application and they do not fully overlap. A lot of excellent work is being done to show how this old system does match modern Western medical understanding of the human body.

Meridians are considered in Zen Shiatsu and acupuncture treatments for both diagnosis and treatment, such as through acupoints during acupuncture treatment. Kampo herbal medicine consultations consider the traditional East Asian medicine theory of the internal organs (which link to the meridians) but does not treat the meridians.

For more information, please see my article on meridian systems.

Herbal consultations involve many questions plus tongue, pulse, and abdominal assessment to arrive at a remedy. Your initial consultation lasts 75 minutes, and follow-up sessions are 1 hour.

You can learn more by reading my article, What to Expect: Daniel’s Herbal Medicine Process.

No. Once a formula is determined, your granulated herbs will arrive by mail, typically within 3-5 days of your consultation.

Expect your herbs to arrive by mail within 3-5 days after your initial consultation.

They may be bitter, sour, woody, or rooty. Sometimes they don’t taste great, but they are by no means terrible!

The herbs used in my Kampo practice cost approximately $40-50 per two-week dosage.

No. Your herbs will be delivered in granule form, much like instant coffee. They are very easy to take and only require adding hot water.

The most common side effect is digestive. Allergic reactions are rare.

Digestive side effects may include some distention, bloating, or loosing of stool. These side effects usually pass as your body adjusts to the new substance you are taking.

Your herbs are taken three times per day, every day, for the duration of your prescribed regimen.

I strongly discourage exploring herbal medicine without professional input.

In order to determine which herbs are best for your needs, I will inquire about your ailment and your lifestyle to better understand your body as a whole.

The formulas and herbs discussed in our sessions are part of a much larger system. They may be appropriate for certain individuals who suffer from the conditions described, but are not necessarily the best choice for everyone in that situation.

Yes, except when explicitly understood not to. Then absolutely not. This is another reason to never explore herbal medicine on your own.

To learn about the differences between Kampo, Japanese herbal medicine, and traditional Chinese herbal medicine, please read my comparison article.

Sometimes, but not always. Some trial and error is to be anticipated in the initial prescription. Matching a formula to your situation is akin to a “lock and key”. The perfect formula opens up the solution for your problem.

Yes. Often there may be more than one formula that can be chosen for your condition. Depending on your constitution, one of these may be effective while others may not.

Generally “hitting the target” happens after the initial consultation and you will feel some positive improvement. To “hit the bullseye” may take a second or third try. Once the correct formula is arrived at, we won’t change it until the condition is resolved.

In general I prefer to only prescribe a single formula. In that way I can know exactly what has been taken into your body and can understand what to expect.

However, If your situation is complicated or you have numerous complaints, I may choose to prescribe more than one formula. For example, one formula for your basic underlying constitution and another formula to address your presenting symptoms.

Yes! When working with women with menstrual concerns, fertility, and other gynaecological issues, it is not uncommon to prescribe three or four formulas to be taken at different stages of your cycle.

See more information about herbal medicine and menstruation here.

Yes! All of your dietary needs will be discussed and considered during our assessment, however these herbs are safe for all dietary restrictions.

No. Zen Shiatsu treatments are a gentle pressure treatment, rather than an intense massage technique.

The pressure used in Zen Shiatsu should not make the client “brace” against it. They should be able to relax around it and accept it into their tissues. When stronger or more intense pressure is required, it is deep and gentle rather than grinding and painful.

Every Zen Shiatsu session differs depending on the needs and issues of the client I am working with.

However, there are common phases that occur, which you can learn about by reading my article, “What to Expect During a Zen Shiatsu Treatment”.

No. You will be asked questions about your condition during your assessment, before the treatment begins. Talking is kept to a minimum during treatment, unless you have something to discuss, or if I need more information and clarification.

It is important to note, however, that when working with the physical body during a Zen Shiatsu treatment, it is not uncommon for a client to feel emotions arise during a session. By using gentle, sensitive, and aware touch, I am also connecting with the energetic, mental, and emotional aspects of your being, which can be affected.

Generally, no. I will occasionally apply liniments to acute strains, sparing, and fractures. However my best work comes directly through my hands, elbows, knees, and feet.

Zen Shiatsu treatments involve the use of the practitioner’s fingers, thumbs, palms, elbows, feet, and knees. Zen Shiatsu also considers the “energetic” aspect of the human being (as developed in traditional East Asian medicine) in integration with the modern medical understanding of the body.

There are many styles of shiatsu. Some use the thumb only, others focus only on the modern anatomical and musculoskeletal aspect of the body.

It all depends on you. I often get good results after one session, however, it usually takes a series of three to see a strong shift in condition.

It is important to remember though that as some conditions take a long time to develop, equally so it can take a corresponding amount of time to undo.

I have some clients that have been seeing me for years to maintain their zone level and enjoy a full quality of life, no matter their age or ailments.

Ideally you would choose to receive Zen Shiatsu treatment regularly, whether it be every week, every second week, or once a month. This sort of preventative approach maintains health and vitality (maintains the green zone) and stops problems from creeping into the orange zone or becoming red.

Read more about the coloured zones.

Yes. In fact, most of my clients seek treatment when they are in the “red zone”. This happens either when a problem has just occurred or they have been living with and enduring it until it has become overwhelmingly difficult.

Ideally, however, when there is a specific problem you should book treatment when you are in the “early orange zone”. This will make it easier to return to the green zone.

Read more about the coloured pain zones.

No. While Zen Shiatsu is wonderful for offering relief to physical ailments, I have helped many clients with depression, nervousness and anxiety, insomnia, anger and frustration, worry, and grief.

Yes. If appropriate I recommend dietary changes, exercise, and breathing practices.

Yes. At Daniel Adler Clinic I always combine acupuncture with Zen Shiatsu bodywork for a more holistic and beneficial experience.

The bodywork I administer facilitates the healing process, giving you a more comprehensive treatment during your session.

Acupuncture is generally not considered to be a painful treatment, and I practice a very gentle style of acupuncture.

Some clients may feel a slight prick or sensation when the needles are inserted, but this sensation is usually brief and fades quickly. It’s not nearly like giving blood or stubbing your toe!

Yes. My gentle approach does not compromise the quality or effectiveness of acupuncture treatment, and actually enhances it.

By focusing on gentleness and a “less is more” philosophy, I can create a more comfortable and relaxing experience for my client. This reduces the potential for discomfort during the treatment, making it easier for the client to remain relaxed and receptive to the therapeutic effects. A gentler approach often allows the body to respond more naturally and positively, promoting a smoother flow of energy, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the treatment.

The frequency of your acupuncture treatments will be directly related to the severity of the issue we are addressing.

For example, if your problem is acute and severe, treatments might be as frequent as every two days until resolved.

I generally recommend acupuncture when you have an issue in an acute (sudden onset) or “flare-up” stage.

For example, if you have a history of headaches I would suggest you see me in-between headaches so we can work on the root causes of the issue. These sessions will also help to lessen the frequency of occurrence.

Of course, you can also choose to come see me while you are experiencing a headache (or before one is just about to start). In this case, I will offer acupuncture along with bodywork in order to effectively reduce and resolve the problem.

I more frequently administer acupuncture to treat specific ailments as opposed to general health maintenance, however this is not a hard and fast rule.

Many of my clients keep monthly or bi-monthly acupuncture appointments as a component of proactively managing their health.

Acupuncture needles are very thin, and rarely cause any discomfort. The needles used at Daniel Adler Clinic are made of stainless steel, and are single-use/disposable.

Absolutely. I use only high quality Japanese needles which come straight from the factory and are opened in front of you. Points are sterilized with alcohol. Needles are disposed of in a biohazard box and are never reused.

Soreness and slight bleeding or bruises at the needle insertion points are occasional side effects. However, if you receive acupuncture from a qualified, licensed practitioner who uses sterile needles, the risks of acupuncture are minimal.

Yes, I offer Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation treatment, which is different to cosmetic acupuncture. Ask me for more if you are interested!