In Chinese medicine theory, there is a 5th season called Late Summer and corresponds to the Earth element. The earth element corresponds to the spleen and stomach, both in their physiological function and their energetic and spiritual sense. As we transition from one season to the next, it can put pressure on our bodies to… Continue Reading
In our climate, we can hardly wait for summer to arrive – it always feels too short – and because of this briefness, we may not have enough time to acclimate to the higher temperature. By eating and drinking for the seasons, this transition becomes smooth and effortless. Foods that are in season help our… Continue Reading
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is the transitional season of the Liver and its partner the Gallbladder. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of blood, Qi (energy) and emotions throughout the body. It is a time of creating, cleansing, activity, movement, growth and renewal. Spring is the perfect season to release emotions… Continue Reading
Winter is the darkest time of the year. Life grows cold and still. Trees stand bare before the season’s harshness. Nature rests, animals hibernate, and we too want to sleep more. We contract socially and energetically. Winter is the most internal and contemplative time of the year. Wisdom grows in the depth of its quiet… Continue Reading
Growing season is over, and the light is fading – there will be no new growth now. All of nature is descending into its death phase. Grief emerges as the predominate emotion of the season. The nature of grief calls us to seek spiritual answers to life’s biggest questions. The clear air of autumn supports… Continue Reading
I am often asked how I got into acupuncture, but recently, I was asked why I got into the field of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I began to give the “stock” answer that I have been reciting over the past 6 years which goes something like this…I have always been interested in natural healing and… Continue Reading
Unless you suffer from chronic allergies, you might not think you have sinus issues. This is a common misconception that I see all the time in my practice. However, any time you get stuffed up, have a runny nose, post nasal drip, sniffling, sneezing, itchiness, runny eyes and red eyes, chances are there is an internal… Continue Reading
The practice of facial rejuvenation therapies enjoys a long and rich history in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Beginning as far back as 1121 B.C. where practitioners began to develop special modalities to treat a variety of skin conditions including dietary adjustments and herbal prescriptions. Building on these foundations, new concepts were introduced such as acupuncture… Continue Reading
Group treatments are one of my favorite ways to share acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It may be because as a new graduate, I was exposed to group treatments in an emergency situation after the floods of 2013 and they have made a significant impact in my life and the way that I treat people.… Continue Reading
The words stress and anxiety are commonplace these days. A human body is meant to experience stress in certain instances as a trigger to deal with that situation immediately, and then ideally, recover and carry on with their day. More and more frequently we experience stress as soon as we wake up (or worse, when… Continue Reading
This time of year we are blessed with an abundance of fresh ingredients to get creative in our kitchens. In Chinese Medicine, this time of year is associated with the Earth element which is no coincidence since she has literally provided everything that we use for each ingredient, not to mention all of every single… Continue Reading
At this time of year I always feel full. Full of energy, sunlight, warmth, amazingly fresh food, company, music, movement, love. This is the meaty part of summer. The part where we know it will be wrapping up in a flash and savouring every meal and activity. We are expanding ourselves and making space for… Continue Reading
I was recently listening to a podcast and the host mentioned that she thought that there is an overabundance of “How To” in our vocabularies and not enough “What If”. This concept really resonated with me. In the following few days I would catch myself in a “how to” moment and then slightly alter my… Continue Reading
The Mind and being Mindful are very hot topics these days. I have recently joined a group of like-minded practitioners and this is something that we discuss as part of our diagnosis and treatment protocol. There is more and more discussion around treating a person as a whole unit rather than a bit or piece.… Continue Reading
This month we bid winter farewell and welcome spring back into the seasonal rotation. The days become brighter and warmer for longer; nature stretches as it begins to brush off the dark, cold, hibernation of the past four months and lets out an audible sigh as the warm westerly winds thaw the frozen surroundings. Spring… Continue Reading
February 16th marks the first day of this years’ Chinese New Year, but much like the Western New Year on January 1st, the majority of the celebrating is done on New Year’s Eve with fireworks, feasting, and dragon dancing. Unlike the Western New Year celebration of just one day, Chinese New Year is a 15… Continue Reading
Moving into the New Year can be a bit tricky sometimes, and I don’t know about you, but as much as I look forward to a fresh start and all the beautiful possibilities…I can be left feeling conflicted, confused, and overwhelmed. The feeling of anxiety coming in waves when I think about all of the… Continue Reading
We most often associate dry skin, dry brittle hair, and excessive thirst with conditions of a hot, desert-like climate. So why does my skin, hair and nails feel so dry and why am I thirstier this winter than I seemed to be all summer? Can I be dehydrated in the winter? Turns out, yes, I… Continue Reading
“What is beauty?” This question was asked to me by a dear friend who works closely with the beauty industry some time ago now. At first, this seems like a fairly easy question to answer, but if you sit with it for a while, the layers and complexity of the question begin to unfold. I… Continue Reading
There is something extraordinary about autumn – the mornings are crisp but the afternoons are hot, trees are bearing ripe fruit and their leaves begin to transition from green to a stunning palate of yellow, orange, and red. Then let go and return to the earth. It is wondrous to see the ease in which… Continue Reading
The earth is an abundant planet bursting with incredible natural resources. Our earth, our home, nurtures us and provides, selflessly, all we need to survive and flourish. It is no wonder that people around the world refer to earth as “The Great Mother”, “Pachamama”, and “Mother Earth”. We are sheltered in her embrace and sustained… Continue Reading
Every year we commiserate about how long and cold the winter is and how we can’t wait for summer and then it is here and in a blink of the eye its gone again and we are left in a bewildered heap of sun-kissed skin, sandy towels, and calloused, flip-flopped feet. Because this season can… Continue Reading
“Scars. A sign that you had been hurt. A sign that you had healed.” ― Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Scars are a marker of wounds, a tale of hurt, a representor of pain, but they can signify strength, growth, healing, and a lust for life. No matter how… Continue Reading
In the winter, the body slows down as the days grow colder. Build strength and counteract the effects of cold by adding foods that support the kidney and warm the body. By consciously supporting the body as the seasons change, we can make the winter a more enjoyable season. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the seasons… Continue Reading
Running puts stress on the body, and as a result, runners generally experience fatigue and damage differently than other athletes. Lower limbs take a beating and are more well-known as “part of” running…from shin splints, to plantar fasciitis, to low back, hip, knee, and ankle pains and strains and everything in between. As with many… Continue Reading
Today Traditional Chinese Medicine and other alternative medicines are steadily gaining momentum and becoming a staple in many people’s wellness routine. More and more people are seeking out these therapies for recovery from an injury, preparing a new mom for birth, relieving stress, anxiety, or depression, or stabilizing a person’s immune system, and everything in-between.… Continue Reading
February is Heart Month as well as hosting Valentine’s Day, which is synonymous with hearts, making this the perfect time to talk about how to keep your heart in its best possible health! In Chinese Medicine the Heart plays a leading role, we not only think of the organ itself but also the heart concept;… Continue Reading
Acupuncture is an ancient medical modality and in Eastern cultures it is normal to turn to acupuncture as a first choice of treating an ailment, but for most Westerners it is still relatively new. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine were introduced to North America in 1888 when Ing Hay immigrated to the U.S. in search… Continue Reading
Facial cupping is a rejuvenation treatment that has been used for years around the world. Specially crafted smooth rimmed glass cups are used to create a gentle vacuum which lifts the facial tissue and activates your lymphatic drainage system. While maintaining suction, these small cups glide over the skin to stimulate the release of collagen,… Continue Reading
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