Tis the Season...

The holiday season can be a crazy time of year. A time for family and cheer but also a time of increased stress and anxiety levels, financial demands,  over eating of rich foods and alcohol over-consumption. 

It's no wonder that the body becomes unbalanced and resolutions are made to try and right the havoc!

Acupuncture treatments prior to holiday madness significantly diminish effects of stress and excess making it easier to bounce into a healthy New Year. Acupuncture not only helps to reduce anxiety, but also helps one stay grounded during a busy season, resulting in more energy and less feelings of panic to get things done. Acupuncture can help to detoxify the system and help regulate metabolism.

Can't get to your Registered Acupuncturist before the madness begins? Remember to; breathe, drink lots of water and regulate your daily routine as much as possible and check in, in the New Year.

Acupuncture for Torticollis or 'Wry neck'

 Autumn is the time of year that I see the most cases of Torticollis, also known as 'Wry neck' or simply a stiff neck with limited range of motion.

This may be due to the seasonal shift with temperatures cooling down at night, (caused by direct contact with wind or cold) a drafty window or a blowing fan can cause the muscles of the neck to contract and spasm. Quite often patients simply wake up with the pain or discomfort of the neck and certain movements restricted on one or both sides. A stiff neck can also be the result of stress--a common area for people to hold their stress which seems to increase as Summer grinds to a halt and Fall routines take over.

Acupuncture alone can be a very effective healing modality in helping to release the muscles and allow blood and energy to circulate better with the use of local and distal points. I like to use a heat lamp to add a little bit of warmth to release soft tissue tension once the needles are in. Acupuncture also has a calming effect which boosts Serotonin and Endorphin levels and reduces stress. Cupping along sub occipital and trapezius muscles is also soothing and helps to release muscle tension and promote local circulation.

 I recommend that heat be used at home, a heating pad or a warm shower while doing light movement therapy will help keep mobility and prevent from further stiffness and spasm. This can be done with active range of motion exercises involving the neck, shoulder shrugs and shoulder rotations (forward and backward). An analgesic such as Tiger Balm or Japanese mint oil may also work to soothe achy muscles and take the edge off the pain. Acupuncture treatments are recommended before stress gets out of control and to help keep your body in balance with any seasonal change.  Book your treatment today!

 Oh poor neglected blog!! It has been such a long time since posting!

Fall is rapidly approaching... and the first day after Labour day always feels like the start of the new year, doesn't it?
When the days start to become shorter and the need for cozy layers and warming foods become more apparent.

In Chinese medicine, Autumn is the time of year to slow down the busy pace that was Summer and to look forward to a quieter, more introspective time. A time when that crazy Yang energy starts to shift to more nurturing Yin energy. A time to start thinking of conserving that energy for winter and stay warm!

The best way to do this is to shift from eating cold, raw, foods (like salads and sushi); to cooked or lightly steamed local, seasonal foods (soups and stews). Utilizing warming herbs and spices like ginger and cinnamon with meals.. I prefer Vietnamese cinnamon, which almost has a sweeter flavour. One recipe I love for Fall is a simple apple sauce or compote which can be heated as a part of breakfast or simple snack.
Apple Sauce
6-8 medium size apples (Mcintosh, Braeburn, Fuji or a mix)
1/2 spoon of Vietnamese cinnamon

Slice apples into a medium size sauce pan and fill half way up to the apples with water. Cook on medium heat just until apples soften. Add the cinnamon and stir. Perfect for chilly mornings!

As Autumn correlates with the Lung energy, it is a perfect time to schedule an acupuncture treatment to help ward off cold and flu season and give the immune system a boost. The emotion associated with the lung is grief/sadness. Acupuncture treatments can help improve mood, lift depression, and help with Seasonal affective disorder.

Book a treatment today and help prepare your body for the changing season!

June is Bike Month!

With Spring upon us, and Summer just around the corner; days are lasting longer which means more opportunity to enjoy the outdoors! Lucky for us Vancouverites, there is no limitation for outdoor adventure, especially when it involves hopping on a bike and enjoying awesome local road and/or mountain biking anywhere from long stretches of smooth pavement to gnarly single-track trails. A perfect time to tune-up the bicycle and the body to help prevent injuries and maintain strength and endurance. Acupuncture helps promote healing for sprains and strains, can decrease pain, improve local circulation and decrease inflammation and recovery time. Post-ride visits to your Registered Acupuncturist can help flush out lactic acid build-up from strenuous work-outs and keep muscles supple and loose. Periodic treatments can help improve immune system function to keep you out on the bike all Summer long!

June 19th is Car Free Day in Vancouver, stop by Main Street from 12-8 pm and say hello to some of the wonderful practitioners and therapists from Klinik. Our table will be located between 17th and 18th Avenue.

Acupuncture improves symptoms after cancer therapy

from The Journal of Chinese Medicine, #95, February 2011, North American Edition:

Having weekly acupuncture treatment following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) may reduce patients' symptom severity and decrease the amount of time they need to undergo tubal feeding. In a retrospective case series, ten American patients with HNC were treated with weekly manual and electroacupuncture for radiation-induced dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and xerostomia (dry mouth). Nine out of ten patients reported subjective improvement in swallowing, xerostomia, pain and fatigue levels. Six out of seven patients had their feeding tubes removed after acupuncture, at a median duration of 114 days post CRT, which represents a relatively short time under such circumstances. (Acupuncture for dysphagia after chemoradiation therapy in head and neck cancer: a case series report. Integr Cancer Ther. 2010 Sep;9(3):284-90).
Meanwhile, a Norwegian study has examined the quality of life of breast cancer patients on anti-oestrogen medication, two years after receiving acupuncture treatment for hot flushes. Forty-one women from an acupuncture treatment group and 41 women from a sham acupuncture control group had received a course of 15 acupuncture treatments over a period of 10 weeks showed that women previously treated with sham acupuncture complained that hot flushes were still a problem, whilst those previously treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture found them less problematic and generally had a more positive outlook on life. (Quality of life of breast cancer patients medicated with anti-estrogens, 2 years after acupuncture treatment: a qualitative study. Int J Womens Health. 2010 Sep 28;2:319-25).

While acupuncture does not cure cancer, acupuncture treatments can vastly improve quality of life post-chemo and radiation. Relieving symptoms such as: proctitis, pain, edema, nausea/vomiting, low energy levels, constipation; acupuncture is a natural, non-invasive approach.

Feeling Good? -- Keep that feeling going with Acupuncture!

Allergies diminished? Back pain feeling better? PMS under control ...at the moment?
There is no better time, even when one is feeling great, to come in for a treatment to help keep that good feeling going!

Quite often I hear the words "I'll come in when the pain returns..." or "I'll come in when I NEED to...". With initial acupuncture treatments, it may take a few sessions to help build or balance the body's energy. Once this has occured, quite often it only takes one treatment down the road to bring everything into check again, to provide a "tune-up" to keep things moving properly. It makes sense to have a maintenance treatment to keep the body balanced and the energy harmonized rather than more treatments when a crisis occurs.

Acupuncture can work very well as a form of preventative medicine, which can mean a boost in the immune system, faster recovery time, and less intense pain with pre-existing, chronic injuries. Feel good all the time with regular monthly or seasonal treatments, or schedule a session before a stressful time-- this combined with moderate exercise and a healthy diet can help you take control of your health and allow you to enjoy life!

Christmas Gift Certificates!

Stumped with what to get that special someone who has everything? Tired of giving more stuff? Give the gift of health this holiday season!

With every Acupuncture gift certificate, recieve a 20 mL bottle of Hagina Japanese Mint oil --FREE!

Japanese Mint Oil is a great stocking stuffer that has a multitude of uses. From easing headache pain to muscle cramp relief, it's a great natural liniment that smells good too.

Come into Klinik to finish your Christmas shopping today!

Acupuncture-- A Natural Choice for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Do you find that as the days get shorter in the Fall months, lack of sunshine, colder temperatures, bring you down? Experience symptoms such as; anxiety, palpitations, insomnia, high blood pressure, decreased libido and excessive sweating? You may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D, but acupuncture can help!

S.A.D. effects approximately 2-3% of Canadians, and people with S.A.D make up 10% of all depression cases. Women are 8 times more likely to be effected than men, and typically those who are under 50.

Your family Doctor can provide a diagnosis to rule out thyroid dysfunction or other forms of depression. Light therapy and antidepressants are often prescribed, but often with dangerous side-effects.

Acupuncture is one natural treatment option that works by releasing noradrenaline and serotonin in the body with a series of treatments. Acupuncture is also safe enough to use in conjunction with medications to help decrease side-effects. It works by stimulating specific points along the meridians to help balance energy, regulate hormones, and to help address the underlying problem with no side-effects! It is also important to factor in proper dietary measures, ensure that you are getting a minimum of 20 minutes of outdoor activity daily, and to try going to bed and awaking early to maximize time spent in natural day light.

If you or someone you know is feeling depressed there are many types of treatment and many resources for natural treatment options. If you looking for a natural alternative, try acupuncture and start enjoying winter again!