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It’s that time of year again, magic is in the air…. and butts are meeting the pavement.

Statistics Canada documents that as many as 1.7 million falls occur for people age 12 and older every year, accounting for about 40 percent of all injuries.

That’s a lot of sore bottoms (amongst other things).

Dealing with pain in the hips, low back, and/or glutes? Acupuncture could be your answer to a speedy recovery and get you back in the holiday spirit!

Often when someone has had a fall, the muscles, tissues, and acupuncture channels have been disturbed and compromised. This causes the body’s energy and blood to become stagnant or deficient in the injured areas. 

With time, our body’s natural healing process will often get energy and blood flow moving again as it should. However, due to other body imbalances, sometimes there may not be enough energy to get the healing movement going again. This stagnation can cause problem areas to persist, resulting in lingering pain and slower healing.

Getting acupuncture treatments after a trauma will support the movement of energy and blood flow in the injured area and will channel the body’s need to support the healing. The practitioner can often determine if there are other underlying problems that may contribute to slower healing such as “blood deficiency” or “qi stagnation” or “qi deficiency.”  For underlying problems, the practitioner can make diet and lifestyle recommendations to help the patient tune in to their body and support optimal healing.

So instead of trying to “walk it off” and allowing the pain to linger and make the condition more difficult to correct, consider trying acupuncture! We want you to be able to fully enjoy the holiday festivities. 

Have more questions about acupuncture and how it can help you? Contact Us!

You may have heard of it, but do you know what it is?

Reiki is an energy healing modality that is gaining popularity in western culture; Reiki originated in Japan, dating back to the 1920’s. 

It works by targeting the vibrational energy fields in and around the body to remove any energetic blocks and help to restore a state of flow.

So who should get Reiki?

In short – Anyone and everyone. Typically, clients come to see me when they’re feeling sick and tired; even sick and tired of being sick and tired. Physical aches and pain? I can help with that. Feeling anxious, overwhelmed or just off? We can work on that too! Need some guidance or feel like you’re at a crossroad in life? Let’s work through it.

Think of your body like your mode of transportation; Do you regularly book oil changes or do you wait until the check engine light is on before you seek help? Regular sessions can help keep you feeling balanced so you don’t reach the point of crisis before addressing your own mental, physical and spiritual health needs. 

What can I expect during a reiki treatment?

Typically, sessions follow similar patterns, but the deliverance varies to meet the needs of each person. We start off talking about our goals and intentions for the session, followed by a guided meditation to settle into our space. I scan your body, holding my hands a few inches above your body, letting my intuition and your aura guide me to the spaces that may need attention. I may use sound therapy tools to help move any stuck energy. We focus on clearing and aligning the 7 chakras, while bringing in any messages that may come from the universe or loved ones. Usually, we’ll pull an oracle card for guidance and close the session with a discussion about anything that may have come up. 

What can I expect to feel during or after a treatment?

Clients usually report feeling an overwhelming sense of relaxation or peace. During a session, it’s completely normal to feel sensations of heat/cooling, tingling, burping or stomach gurgles. Usually, my stomach will show off with it’s own sounds as energy passes through it.
As reiki is a detoxifying process, you should expect to take it easy for the remainder of the day. Whether your body needs rest, sleep or water; honour your process as it happens.

What can Reiki help with?

Reiki is most commonly used to balance the mind, body and soul. 

It can help with:

• chronic physical ailments
• speeding up the natural recovery processes
• reducing stress and tension
• easing anxieties and calming the mind
• enhancing the immune system 
• boosting your intuition and self-awareness
• promote deep restful sleep
• breaks down negative energy blocks
• clears the mind and helps improve focus

If you have more questions about what Reiki can do for you, please contact us! You can also book online!

Suffering from tension headaches? Congrats! You are part of a massive club – up to 70% of some populations in fact!

Tension headaches are a result of muscle contractions in the head and neck. Patients at our acupuncture clinic generally experience it as mild to moderate pain, describing it as a tight vice-like band around the head, sometimes spreading into the shoulders.

Sound familiar? 

Other symptoms of tension headaches may include:

• Dull, achy pain in the head
• Pressure and tightness across the forehead, on the sides, back of the head, and/or behind the eyes
• Tension and tenderness in the neck and shoulders

This type of headache can vary greatly in duration, frequency, and intensity. Many individuals report that they have been dealing with headaches for months, years, or the famous “For as long as I can remember, I thought this was just my normal”.

Why does this happen in the first place?

The most common cause and trigger is, drumroll please…..

Stress

The classic culprit, and there tends to be a lot of it these days in this crazy world we live in.

Along with stress, tension headaches are usually precipitated by one or more of the following triggers:

• Working at a desk – a.k.a “Desk Neck or Tech Neck”
• Eye Strain (e.g. staring at a computer screen for long periods, see above)
• Colder temperatures
• Fatigue
• Poor posture
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Smoking

“I’ll just pop back an aspirin and I’ll be good”

Sure, over-the-counter pain medications such as Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can work well in a pinch, but they are by no means a long term solution.

In fact, if you take them too often, they may no longer help as much or even at all. You may even get headaches more often because of overuse!

Can Acupuncture help with Tension Headaches?

Absolutely!

Acupuncture is very effective at treating tension headaches, and while they have a number of causes (as mentioned above), the most frequent causes are:

• Stress
• Muscle Tension

 Acupuncture provides an approach that addresses these primary causes in three ways:

1. Providing natural pain relief by stimulating the nervous system to release a cascade of natural painkillers such as endorphins and enkephalins
2. Reducing and eliminating muscular tension by increasing blood flow to the affected areas, helping relax muscles in the neck, shoulders, and head.
3. Reduce stress by regulating the Central and Autonomic Nervous System

By approaching the problem via this three-pronged strategy, not only does it address simply the symptoms, but also the root underlying cause in order to help manage and reduce the frequency and severity of tension headaches (possibly even eliminating them completely!).

Not a tension headache? No problem!

Acupuncture is not only great for tension headaches, but it can also treat migraines, hormonal headaches, and more! Acupuncturists also have an arsenal of other modalities and tools to help keep your headaches away; including moxa, nutrition and lifestyle changes, and herbal therapy!

What to learn more about how we can help you with your headaches? Contact us!

Have you ever been sucked into buying a really neat, nifty, and new supplement or herb because of its benefit claims? 

Improved energy levels, performance and vitality? Add to cart. 

Better stress tolerance? It’ll take three, please.

Increased overall happiness and decreased sadness, AND SUPERPOWERS? Take my money!

I know, I know, the promise of superpowers is REALLY tempting. It’s common to read the effects of certain herbs and supplements and want to take them for their advertised benefits, however without proper diagnosis and context of your lovely, individual self, you could be just creating expensive urine, or causing more harm than good.

While there are some supplements that are definitely great for many conditions based on where we live (Vitamin D for Albertans during the Winter), or boosting your immune system during cold and flu season (Cordyceps); we have to be wary of HOW these supplements are working and WHY we are taking them, especially when treating specific symptoms or conditions.

Understanding the mechanism of action for herbs and supplements is essential when choosing what you are going to be taking. For example, some herbs stop bleeding by creating a clot, while others stop bleeding by treating an underlying weakness elsewhere in the body.

The second, but definitely most important part of choosing the right herb or supplement, is understanding YOUR INDIVIDUAL BODY CONSTITUTION AND PATTERN. This means knowing what your individual body and condition need, because we’re all different!

Where is your body deficient or needing help, specific to you?

For example, one person’s immune system might be low from stress or environmental factors, where another person’s immune system could be weak because of poor absorption of nutrients in their intestines. It might even be a combination of the two!

Both of these people may be looking to boost their immune systems, but they should approach it differently with their herbal and supplement choices!

This is where your TCM practitioner comes in!
*Insert cheesy superhero music*

TCM practitioners and acupuncturists are trained to view the body holistically, not just treating the symptoms. This means they find the root of the problem, and create a treatment plan for your individual needs.

Another set of powerful tools that many TCM practitioners have in their arsenal are patent formulas, supplements and Chinese herbal formulas. These not only work with your TCM diagnosis and pattern, but they are also customizable in our herbal apothecary, which is opening this Spring!

Your TCM practitioner or acupuncturist can also tailor supplement, diet and lifestyle recommendations based on your specific constitution. They can even help review your current supplements, and let you know what is good to continue taking, and what isn’t necessary for your goals and health needs.

So next time you are reaching for the next vitality boosting, super-power generating, super duper elixir, be sure to seek out professional assistance. Otherwise you might just be making some expensive pee!

Want to know more about our apothecary, supplements and herbs? Have questions about your own herbal needs? Contact Us!

 The human body is essentially one big ol’ battery. Energy is constantly flowing back and forth, upwards and downwards throughout the different circuitry such as muscle tissue, fascia, and meridians.

Like with the flow of electricity, if these pathways end up being interrupted or impeded in some way, efficiency becomes subpar. This can result in difficulty with simple tasks, increased fatigue, and can even lead to injury!

While Acupuncture is amazing on it’s own at rectifying the flow of energy and Qi throughout the body, modalities such as electro stimulation and moxibustion can help provide a bit of a boost to the overall output.

For example, let’s take one of the body’s primary functions: Healing.

While the human body is VERY good at healing all that daily wear and tear, sometimes a little help speeds things along.

Now, with a combination of Electro and Acupuncture, we Acupuncturists can help provide a jump start to the natural energy flow and cause the body to focus on a target area to enhance the healing process. This leads to more rapid results!

But HOW does it work, you ask?

As mentioned earlier, Acupuncture itself helps to streamline the flow of Qi and Energy. This is done by removing underlying conditions and stagnations that impede said flow. Once the needles have been inserted, teeny tiny clips and a few wires are connected to the needles creating a circuit for the electricity to flow between them. Once turned on and electricity is flowing, you may feel a bit of buzzing, tingling, or even tapping. 

Nothing too crazy, and definitely not painful.

During this process, electrons flow into your body, providing a bit more “juice” to flow through the acupuncture points and injury sites.

More Qi and Electrons = happier cells and faster recovery!

Any other questions about Electro-Acupuncture or Acupuncture in general? Don’t hesitate to ask, we are here to help!

First of all, before we go into any benefits and uses – doesn’t it look so damn cool? It makes you look like a real dragon! Rawr! Well…Not quite, but it does feel incredible!

Dragon Moxa is a type of moxibustion therapy that is used to boost Yang and Qi in the body. 

What is Yang?

Yang is a term used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to describe many systems, hormones, substances, and functions within the body. Yang refers to moving energizing and fluidity; compared to Yin which is stillness, calming, and rigidity. 

Yang is what keeps us moving and groovin’! Some of our body’s Yang processes include ATP synthesis or making energy, digestive processes, and your adrenals.

Our adrenals, a small gland at the top of your kidneys, have been taking a beating lately with the amount of stress that many of us have been experiencing with COVID. If our body is constantly in a state of “fight or flight”, it wears down the adrenals and can lead to fatigue, poor digestion, and many other systemic issues.

What does a Dragon Moxa session look like?

First we lay down a layer of fresh ginger along your spine. Ginger is very warming and helps enhance the properties of the moxa, while also providing a layer of protection for the skin.

We then take loose moxa or moxa punk and roll it into a continuous cone that goes down the length of the spine along the Du Meridian. This nifty meridian has very strong links to Yang processes in the body, along with psycho-emotional points.

Then the fun begins! We then light the moxa so it starts to smolder, smoke, and burn down. This creates a pleasant warming sensation on the back. Most of us compare the feeling to a nice toasty hug!

Once the moxa has burned down, we ask how you’re doing with the heat. If it’s too warm, we just remove it and then move on to the rest of your acupuncture treatment (needles, cupping, guasha, tuina etc)! Everyone’s heat tolerance is different, so the process can last anywhere from 10-20 minutes.

So what can Dragon Moxa treat?

Some of the many benefits of Dragon Moxa are:

• Boosting the immune system
• Boosting digestion
• Relieving cramping and painful periods
• Relieving arthritis pain
• Improving fertility
• Boosting energy levels
• Improving sport performance
• Maintaining overall vitality
• Releasing emotional blocks
• And more! (Depending on your constitution and what your body needs)

This is not a treatment that is typically done frequently unless you are very ill. To put it into perspective, this is a treatment typically used to keep a patient’s energy and immune systems healthy while they are going through chemotherapy.

Depending on your specific body’s needs and constitutional makeup, it’s typically recommended to do this type of treatment 2-4 times per year for health and vitality maintenance.

Ask your practitioner if Dragon Moxa would be a suitable treatment for you!

Have more questions about Dragon Moxa? Contact us!

Are you trying to get pregnant?

Is trying getting trying? We are here to help. Acupuncture can help optimize your menstrual cycle and improve your chances of conception. We know that trying to get pregnant can be stressful, we are here to help you relax!

Acupuncture and fertility

Acupuncture is a gentle approach to assist natural fertility and a great adjunct therapy to IUI and IVF.  Acupuncture can help increase fertility by reducing stress, increase blood flow to reproductive organs, balancing the endocrine system, and decreasing inflammation.

Natural conception and fertility

Acupuncture enhances natural fertility by re-establishing the regular rhythm of the menstrual cycle and supporting ovulation. If you have never tried acupuncture, it is extremely relaxing and takes the stress off baby-making, therefore improving results! We can also help you sort out how to chart your menstrual cycle to increase awareness of ovulation and your fertile window.

IUI and acupuncture

We recommend receiving acupuncture to improve the success rate of IUI. Acupuncture can help relax the uterus so it is more receptive to treatment and can help relieve uterine spasms after the procedure. According to this study acupuncture and herbs increased IUI success rate from 39.4% to 65.5%.

IVF and acupuncture

Acupuncture increases the chances of pregnancy when receiving IVF. According to this study, combining IVF with acupuncture shows an increase in the pregnancy rate up to 42.5%. Acupuncture treatment, like with IUI, will help relax the uterus and relieve spasms caused by the procedure, but acupuncture is also important for self care during this time because fertility treatments can be stressful.

Both partners benefit from acupuncture!

It takes 2 to tango! Both you and your partner can benefit from acupuncture. Optimizing sperm count and motility would be the focus of the treatment. Acupuncture can assist with this by improving overall health and wellness, improving circulation, increasing blood flow to reproductive organs, and reducing stress.

Still have questions about how acupuncture can help with your fertility and natural conception? Contact us!

References

NIH Consensus Development Panel on Acupuncture. JAMA 1998; 280: 1518-1524.

Paulus WE, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertil Steril 2002; 77: 721- 724.

Sela K, et al. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment for women undergoing intrauterine insemination. Eur J Integr Med (2011), doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2011.04.020

Subconscious Imprinting Technique or S.I.T. is a modality that reprograms how the body perceives and reacts to memories and limiting thoughts and beliefs, thereby creating profound emotional and physical changes in the body. Sounds fun, right!?

Um, what the heck does that even mean?

Well first, let’s start with a bit of a science lesson about how the body reacts to stress. Most of us have heard of the “Fight or Flight” response, which is activated when your body is reacting to an immediate threat, such as being chased by a bear or a particularly grumpy goose. This response can also be triggered by modern stressors such as being yelled at, or being told you have a massive project deadline coming up. This “Fight or Flight” response is switched on by our body’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (or HPA axis, because that’s a mouthful!), which cranks up our cortisol, makes our hearts race, and causes a full array of physiological, and psychological reactions.

All of these reactions are usually great for helping us survive and navigate stressful situations (That goose didn’t stand a chance!). However, the ol’ Fight or Flight isn’t meant to be a long term state. When we are chronically stressed, our body’s tend to give us physical and emotional diseases. Isn’t that sweet?

What’s SUPER interesting, is our body can perceive memories in the same fashion as immediate stressors, and react accordingly. 

When we hang on to the stress response of an event (a trauma), it can turn into a learned behaviour. A lot of the time, this is a really helpful mechanism in the brain. Touch a hot stove and burn the heck out of your hand? Let’s not do that again, that hurts!

These traumatic events don’t have to be car accidents or sudden deaths in the family either – a trauma is just an event that triggered our body’s HPA axis. So this can be something as simple as being told you sucked at a sport as a child, or not having support and comfort when we needed it most.

Our body can collect information from these traumatic events that can lead us to have a host of uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms. We can get locked into the stress response state, and this can affect how we think and react to our current environments. It can even affect how our body functions neurally, hormonally, and physically!

We all have varying levels of trauma in our lives. Fortunately, our brains have a neat characteristic called neuroplasticity – which is a fancy way of saying our noodles are made of playdough and we can change them!

This is where S.I.T. comes in!

Through the S.I.T. process, we focus on getting to the root of what is causing the disease (either physical or emotional), which typically appears as either an event or environment that triggered our body’s stress response. There are typically several layers to most issues, but we tend to work with the most potent issues first and work our way down the line. Us humans tend to like being lovely layered onions… or cakes! Shrek reference? No?

So what does a S.I.T. session look like?

It starts similarly to an acupuncture appointment, where there is an in-depth interview process where the practitioner gets details on what is bothering you and what the root causes are.

You then get to lay on the table and get cozy, and we put your body into a Theta or “brain mouldable” state. This is a very similar state to when you meditate or you’re just about to fall asleep. This disarms your brain’s alarm bells and defenses of your conscious mind, and allows us to redesign and reprogram how your body is reacting to stressors! Neat, right?

The practitioner then takes you through a series of statements and breathwork. This can sometimes create really profound emotional releases, and other times it can be quite mellow – it really varies from case to case. It also combines really well with other modalities such as acupuncture, massage, and reiki, which also have profound effects on the body’s stress response!

What can S.I.T. help with?

The sky’s the limit with S.I.T., as you can reprogram just about anything (even disliking certain foods!). However, here are some of the more common things that get worked on with S.I.T. sessions:

• Chronic injury or pain
• Chronic physical conditions that you’ve “tried everything” for and can’t seem to find relief
• Limiting beliefs or negative self-talk (I.e. I suck at this, I’m worthless)
• Anxiety, depression
• Stress or feeling overwhelmed
• Trauma or abuse
• Feeling stuck
• Sport mindset and performance

If you’re curious about what S.I.T. can do for you, please Contact Us!

What are Holistic Facials, and what is the importance of Natural Skincare?

Have you noticed ‘Natural” Skincare has been popping up everywhere over the last few years? Have you wondered what exactly is Natural Skincare is, and how is it can benefit you?

What is natural skincare? 

Natural Skincare is skin-care using ingredients found in nature, without the use of synthetic chemicals that can be harmful to our health. 

Why is it important to use Natural Skincare? 

Certain chemicals found in skin-care can be linked to health problems like hormone disruption, organ toxicity, cancer, and allergies to name a few. Chemicals like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and fragrance can also cause skin irritation.

Our skin is our biggest organ and what we put onto our skin is just as important as what we put into our bodies.  

Benefits of Natural Skincare

• Eco-friendly 
• No skin irritation
• No harsh smells 
• Helps maintain skin health
• Promotes overall well-being

In our Holistic Facial, we use Essentials by Nature products, which are locally made in small batches. These products are made out of essential oils and other plant-based, all-natural ingredients. All of their products are free of chemicals, parabens, dyes, synthetic fragrance, sulphates, and formaldehyde. 

What is a Holistic Facial?

A holistic facial uses natural skincare and not only focuses on the health of the skin externally, but the holistic facialist will take a look at what’s going on internally. Focusing on such things as diet, stress, exercise, sleep, and any allergies or sensitivities.  Seeing the skin connected to the person as a whole. 

Our skin says a lot about our overall health and what is going on internally. Most skin issues are a direct reflection of what’s going on inside the body. A holistic facialist will take all of this into consideration while performing your facial and making recommendations after. 

What are the benefits of a holistic facial? 

• Moisturizes and nourishes the skin
• Increases blood flow
• Improves fine lines and wrinkles
• Have a treatment plan that will help your overall well-being 
• Improves skins texture 
• Relaxing 
• Clears acne
• Gives you a better understanding of your skin and body 
• Calms irritation and inflammation

What does a Holistic Facial look like? 

The facial will be 60 minutes and custom for your skin’s needs. This rejuvenating facial will help to restore balance and improve the overall health of your skin. By combining plant-based ingredients and nourishing massage techniques, your skin will be left feeling rejuvenated and restored. 

Each facial consists of a cleanse, exfoliant, facial massage, mask, hand massage, complete with finishing products by Essentials by Nature leaving your skin hydrated and glowing. 

Depending on your skincare needs, we may incorporate:

• Jade Rolling
• Gua Sha
• Facial Cupping

You will leave your facial feeling completely relaxed and with knowledge on the right products for your skin type.

Have more questions about Holistic Facials or Natural Skin Care? Contact Us!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, sometimes. Other times we can feel a little bit run down, stressed out and bloated from all the Christmas cookies.

 

While a huge component of TCM is prevention, but sometimes holiday “side effects” happen!

 

Here’s how to remedy 4 common holiday mishaps, so you can stay happy and healthy going into the New Year!

 

Overeating and Overindulging – *Burp!*

 

We’ve all been there. Grandma offers you that third helping of stuffing, or you keep eyeballing that assorted chocolate tray in the workplace lunchroom. One more couldn’t hurt, right?

 

*gurgle gurgle*

 

During the holidays, we tend to overindulge on rich foods, sweets and alcohol. Instead of swigging back Peptobismol like it’s going out of style, acupuncture and herbs can help regulate stomach acid secretions, moderate digestive enzymes, and modulate motility in your bowels. In other words: slowing things down for diarrhea, and speeding things up for constipation.

 

Stressing the *Bleep* Out!

 

You’re in a crowded mall. Did she say she wanted a blue or red sweater? What was that game little Timmy wanted? Blue Life Break?

Why is it so crowded in here? IS IT HOT IN HERE OR IS IT JUST ME?

 

 

Headaches, anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, high cortisol levels – so much for holiday cheer right? Sometimes stress can get the best of us with all the events, shopping, and planning this time of year.

 

Acupuncture is a great tool for promoting relaxation, both short term and long term. In the short term, acupuncture encourages the body to release “feel good” hormones like oxytocin and serotonin to give that sense of “Ahhhhh” post treatment.

 

Long term, acupuncture and herbs can regulate our body’s ability to handle stress. This is done by improving the function of organs such as our Liver and Kidneys, and moderating our cortisol levels. Lowering cortisol levels also keeps our immune systems working top notch, so we don’t get the post holiday sniffles. 

 

Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD – ironic name, right?)

 

It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s winter in Alberta. Not only do we get less sunshine and Vitamin D, but it can sometimes just feel grey and “Bleh” during the winter months. Add stressful family events or a lack of sleep from Christmas parties into the mix, and we can end up feeling quite crummy.

 

While SAD can have different causes for different people, some theorize that it can be caused by an overstimulation of the pineal gland, which releases melatonin. Too much melatonin means too much “sleepy hormone”, which can cause fatigue, lethargy and depression.

 

Not only are herbs and supplements great for moderating the individual root causes of SAD, but acupuncture can have an effect on the pineal gland and moderate melatonin secretions. There’s even a point right over it!

 

Sore, Cranky and Downright Grumpy Muscles

 

Whether it’s from hanging Christmas lights, shovelling the walks in the cold, or doing an incredibly animated impression of Mr. Bean Cooks a Turkey; our necks, backs and hips can take a beating this time of year.

 

Acupuncture increases circulation to the muscles and can stimulate the muscle to relax. Moxibustion and electro-acupuncture can also relieve inflammation and decrease the healing time on sprains and strains.

 

Add on some Cupping, time under the TDP lamp and maybe even some Tuina and you’ll be back to your Rowan Atkinson impressions in to time!

 

Prevention is key, but sometimes holiday mishaps happen!

 

Eating slowly, meditating, and stretching can help us avoid these festive side effects. But sometimes we just have to let loose, and enjoy the holiday fun!

 

Just do yourself a favor; get treatment for damage control afterwards so it doesn’t turn into a year round problem. Mr. Bean probably got acupuncture after his Turkey cooking adventure too!

 

Happy holidays! 

 

Have questions about how Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine or Herbs can help you?

 

Contact us!