Diana Alvarez

**(She/Her/Hers)**

Diana Alvarez, R.Ac., graduated in 2009 with Diploma of Acupuncture from the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Victoria, B.C. and is a licensed acupuncturist registered with the CTCMA of BC. Raised in Ottawa, Diana worked in the film industry in Toronto for 17 years before deciding holistic medicine was the right area of work for her. Her personal experience with acupuncture began in 1993 and she has been fascinated with it ever since.

Diana has had success in treating the following conditions: headaches, migraines, neck and shoulder pain, low back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder, insomnia, plantar fasciitis, hip pain, anxiety, depression, grief, quitting smoking, immunity boosting, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, menopausal symptoms, reproductive and hormonal issues, digestive problems such as colitis and diverticulitis, side effects from radiation and chemotherapy, seasonal allergies and colds, stress from trauma and abuse.

Although her practice is specifically based upon acupuncture, the following may be incorporated: acupressure (using the same acupuncture points but without needles), cupping, heat therapy lamp, mild forms of electrical stimulation for the needles, ear acupuncture, magnets, and moxibustion and, when appropriate, Gua Sha (to help open up the fascia), and nutritional advice based upon TCM.

Diana enjoys being an urban bicyclist, the out of doors with walks and hikes, practices yoga and meditation, partakes in art classes, enjoys cooking and sharing food, sings with a local Victoria choir and still loves watching movies in her spare time.

Areas of study that Diana brings to better your experience with acupuncture are use of Master Tung’s points, Dr. Tan’s approach, Qi Gong, Kiiko Matsumoto’s Hara Diagnosis. Please see full list of educational credits below.

Kiiko Matsumoto, Japanese Acupuncture, Hara Diagnosis, March 2018 and July 2015

Ann Cecil-Sterman Sinew Channel Theory, March 2018

Access Consciousness Bars Certification, October 2017

Acupuncture for Low Back Pain, April 2017

Elisabeth Rochat de Vallee, Classical Chinese Medicine. Understanding the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, the Brain and the Five Spirits, November 2016

Master Tung Essential Acupuncture, March 2016

Suzanne Robidoux, Scalp Acupuncture, March 2015

The Ancient Art of Cupping, February 2015

Clinical Record Keeping, February 2015

Spring Forest Qi Gong, January 2014

Dr. Tan Acupuncture 1,2,3, May 2013

Accunect, October and December 2012

COMS, Canadian Oriental Medicine Symposium, Vancouver, 2008, 2012, 2015