Why I LOVE Moxa!

'Moxa', 'Moxibustion', or 'Moe Kusa' in Japanese which translates to 'burning herb' is-- that exactly! -- a herb that is burned to heat a specific area of the body for the purpose of treating disharmony.

Moxa is Mugwort or chinese Wormwood that comes from the 'sage' family and is also called Artemesia vulgaris or Artemesia argyi. It is wonderful to use as it is the most readily available combustible that does not flame and can provide a temperature of 670 degrees centigrade. Recent analysis indicates the chemical richness includes; protein, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, aluminum, magnesium, adenine, choline, and Vitamins A,B,C and D. Crazy!!

Moxa is awesome for: warming cold conditions, expels dampness, opens up the meridians and boosts Qi (energy) and blood! Excellent for conditions like; arthritis, asthma, vomiting, diarrhea, rheumatic and abdominal pain. Awesome for menstrual cramps! Moxibustion directed towards UB67 (corner of the nail on the baby toe) has good results in correcting breech presentation with expectant mothers.

Moxa can be found in; cones, sticks, moxa box, or in it's loose form. Moxa doesn't hurt, it is very soothing and excellent for cancer patients.

Ask your Registered Acupuncturist more about this wonderful, warming herb that has a multitude of uses.

Help out for a good cause! Bake for the Quake!!

http://bakeforthequake.com/2011/04/klinik-heath-collective/

Seasonal Allergies & Acupuncture

Spring time!!! And with those lovely cherry blossoms that line the streets with pink, also start a vicious cycle of allergies in many people, that can potentially last from early Spring until the late Fall. What constitutes an allergy? Essentially it's the body's over-reaction or sensitivity to an allergen. Typically in Spring it involves airborne particles from trees and weeds -- pollen. What's really happening? While the body's response is to produce IgE antibodies that attach to white blood cells, when these cells are stimulated they release histamine causing allergic symptoms such as; runny nose, sinus congestion, itchy/watery eyes, and sneezing. Western medicine treats allergies with antihistamines like Benadryl or Chlortriplon or allergy shots by injecting small amounts of an allergen and gradually increasing to desensitize the body's response. While these methods are effective at treating the symptoms, there are also side-effects (drowsiness, urinary retention, dry mouth, blurred vision...etc.) Acupuncture is a natural alternative that works not only to relieve irritating symptoms but also to help build up a tolerance to the allergen. Acupuncture treatments before spring starts, will also help diminish the hypersensitive allergic response and help build-up the body's immune system.

CTV British Columbia - Acupuncture can ease cancer symptoms, patients say - CTV News

CTV British Columbia - Acupuncture can ease cancer symptoms, patients say - CTV News

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.

Happy Heart Day!

Valentine's day, what a perfect time to take care of the body's largest and most important muscle!
In general, the heart's main function is to pump oxygen-rich blood through the arteries into all parts of the body. In Traditional Chinese medicine it also determines the state and strength of our constitution. A strong heart equals a strong, vigorous, active person with a 'hearty' constitution. The Heart is also connected with the spirit or "Shen". Mental activity resides in the Heart, which results in its affect on our emotional health, memory, thinking and sleeping. With a strong healthy Heart, comes a mind that is peaceful and happy, a balanced emotional world and sleep that is sound. A Registered Acupuncturist can help your mind and body function better. If you or a loved one, are experiencing any of the above symptoms contact your Acupuncturist today, and help take care of your Heart!

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!