Acupressure for Nose Bleeds

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, nosebleeds are due to dryness and heat in the lungs, causing the blood to move recklessly out of the organ related to the lungs - the nose.

The lungs hate dryness, and with the dry weather of winter upon us in Calgary, here are a couple acupoints you can massage to help stop a bleeding nose

LU-3: clears lungs heat, descends lungs qi, cools blood and stops bleeding
Located on the lateral border of the biceps, about 6 inches up from the elbow crease.

LU-6: clears heat, stops bleeding, moistened dryness, moderates acute conditions.
Located on the inside of the forearm, about halfway between the wrist crease and elbow, slightly closer to the elbow.

For additional stimulation, add an essential oil that stimulates the lungs, such as eucalyptus, peppermint or lavender.

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Cosmetic Acupuncture

The face is a microsystem in which the whole body is represented.

In cosmetic acupuncture treatments performed by our Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, we address the underlying patterns of disharmony that are manifesting as symptoms in the face, including emotional and physical roots.

Needles are inserted in the face to promote abundant qi and blood flow to the tissues, invigorating and lifting the face, with the addition to therapies like gua sha and jade rollers.

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Congee

Congee is a rice porridge, famous in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its ability to soothe and support the digestive system.

This is a great recipe to add for those with "weak" digestive systems or when you're sick. It takes little energy to process, while ensuring that essential nutrients + hydration are maintained.

Basic Congee Recipe:

  • 1 cup white rice, rinsed

  • 7 cups water (or bone broth)

  • Bring to boil and simmer for 1 hour until porridge becomes thickened and creamy

  • Savory option: top with an egg, black sesame and green onion

  • Sweet option: top with Pears stewed in Cinnamon and honey

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Reishi Mushrooms

Reishi is considered “The longevity herb” in Chinese medicine. This mushroom has been used for centuries as a life supporting tonic. It helps to nourish our blood, qi and our essence (our life force).

Great for all humans, big or small, this powerful mushroom also helps to calm the mind, improve digestion, balance hormones, support our immune system and give us energy.

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Herb for the Cold + Flu Season

The cold and flu season of the lungs is deeply upon us. Protecting ourselves from external pathogens and supporting the proper healthy functioning of the lungs is imperative to move through the season.

Ginger - sheng jiang is an all around super food. Warming in nature ginger is perfect for prevention and during the duration of being sick.

Ginger, honey and lemon: The 3 important ingredients to help your body fight off pathogens, bacterias and cold. Ginger stops vomiting and coughing, warms in the middle (Spleen and stomach) and the lungs, disperses wind-cold and resolves toxicity.

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Acupressure for Common Cold + Flu Symptoms

This trifecta of points are some of the most beneficial to clear wind-heat and wind-cold (the attack of pathogens) ie, common cold and flu. Sore throat, headache, chills and fever, phlegm, coughing, sinus congestion.

LI 4 (large intestine 4) - the pocket inbetween your index finger and thumb along the bone of the index finger

LU 7 (lung 7) - at the crease of the wrist thumb side

SJ 5 (san jiao 5) - on the back of the forearm, along the medial line 2 cun (about 2 finger lengths) from the wrist

You can acupressure these points and also add a dispersing essential oil - lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus.

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TCM Dietary Therapy for Winter

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Winter is the season of the Kidneys and the most supportive dietary focus this time of year is Building and Nourishing. This is the best time to replenish our reserves, essence and vitality.

Foods to focus on:

  • mineral rich bone broth

  • roasted squash and root vegetables

  • dark colored foods; such as Molasses, black sesame seeds, black beans and kelp

  • nurtient dense foods; such as liver and other organ meats

  • sautéed and stewed hearty greens

  • slow cooked and easy to digest foods; such as soups and stews

  • herbs to gently warm the body; such as ginger and cinnamon

  • stewed fruit; such as poached pears and apple sauce

Before jumping into a new years "cleanse," talk to your TCM practitioner about the best ways to support your body with dietary therapy this season.

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Winter Solstice

The shortest day of the year is the beginning of the season of the Kidneys and carries the theme of embracing your own darkness. Coming into the season of the kidneys it is important to embrace this shift nature has for us.

Shorter days mean more time inside and longer hours of rest. The cold gives us time to slow down, to stay warm, to nourish our selves.

The kidneys are responsible for the growth and development of our bones, our endocrine system (all of our hormones), our immunity (production of WBC) and the proper functioning of our adrenals (our internal fire). The kidneys love routine, they crave to be grounded and nourished and they house the emotion of fear.

Sleep more, eat warm foods, wear warm clothes, take warm baths, connect with those you love.

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Self Care Boutique

Looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, or a treat for yourself this holiday season? We have a wide range of nourishing items available in person.

Pain management relief, homeopathic remedies, ear seeds, our signature scent, gua sha packages, Chinese herbal remedies, palo Santo incense and jewelry. All of our products are created or prescribed by The Collective team, giving each curated item its own personal resonance to the space and your health.

We also offer select items through our online shop.

Gift Certificates at The Way Holistic Collective

Health is the greatest gift you can share.

We are happy to offer Gift Certificates at The Way Holistic Collective that can be used toward a session with any of our pracititoners. Our Collective offers Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, Massage Therapy and various Energy Work modalities.

Gift certificates can be purchased right on your Janeapp profile, on our website or in person at the clinic.

Purchase a Gift Card directly from our website

Fatigue

A gentle reminder that fatigue is one of the first signs of getting sick.

Our minds and bodies are most susceptible to illness and imbalance during times of transitions. Whether that be seasonal changes or a life chapter ending and new one beginning.

As we transition from Fall to Winter, allow yourself some extra time for rest especially if you are feeling more tired.

Feeling fatigued? Book your Traditional Chinese Medicine appointment to help support your body.

How Constipation Can Affect Your Lungs

Did you know, constipation can affect your lungs?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the lungs and large intestine are paired together and correspond to the Metal element.

The large intestine descends and helps us let go of all waste matter physically and emotionally. In turn, letting go gives space for the lungs to take in the breath of life and find new inspirations.

Getting enough fiber in our diets is essential to protect the lungs and large intestine and to promote healthy bowels. Breathwork and exercise also stimulate the lungs and bowels.

Still having issues with constipation? Acupuncture can help support healthy digestion and bowel movements. Book your Traditional Chinese Medicine appointment.

Fruit to Help with Coughs + Mucous

In Traditional Chinese Medicine diet therapy, pears affect the lungs and stomach and are traditionally used to treat cough with mucous, constipation, difficult urination and indigestion.

The sweet and cooling nature of pears helps produce fluids, lubricates and eliminates mucous.

Try simmering pears in a little water with honey and cloves and serve over oats during the cold and flu season.

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Dietary Support in Autumn

The Metal element is associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine, the season of Autumn and the color white. As we move into Fall our diets should start to incorporate heavier foods such as more grains, beans, animal proteins and hearty soups to build warmth and yang for the colder months ahead.

Try incorporating white colored foods such as radishes, white meats and mushrooms and pungent foods such as onions, garlic, turnips and white peppercorn to stimulate the lungs and large intestine.

Flax seed, fennel and fenugreek tea can also help clear old mucous from the lungs.

Beautiful presentation of food nourishes our senses and Metal element within us.

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Sound Therapy

Using different sound vibrational forks based in Chinese Medicine and Astrology; These forks are specifically attuned to the planetary frequencies and archetypes to clear the subtle field, balance the chakras and stimulate acupuncture points and channels for a smooth, balanced flow of Qi.

The zodiac fork is an amazing frequency that has a few special functions. This frequency is based on the frequency of the earth's movement through the 25,900 year procession through all the 12 zodiac signs. Because of this massive movement, it helps to create space in the body, allowing it to help with pain. This space also allows for more room for expansiveness, wisdom, meditation and breath in our body, mind and spirit.

Dr. Cejaye incorporates sound therapy and tuning forks into her Esoteric Acupuncture sessions.

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8 Extraordinary Vessels

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are 12 main meridians. These meridians correspond to the physical body. They have been mapped out and found in the space between the fascial lines. They have relationships to the organs in the body, and are affected by lower frequency emotions (limbic emotions), the biological clock, the seasons, and foods/flavours. These will be the meridians that most people will be familiar with in TCM.

There are also 8 Extraordinary Vessels; these are less talked about, but very important. These are the vessels that correspond to the energy bodies, also known as your electromagnetic field. This field extends approximately 50 feet from your physical body. They have a relationship to the Chakras, high frequency emotions (soul emotions), endocrine glands and planets. These vessels could also be classified as the coding or wiring system that makes you ‘you’, making them the vessels of creation. They are also reservoirs that hold stored trauma when the physical body in unresourced to move it through.

When working with stored trauma in an Esoteric Acupuncture session, Dr. Cejaye resources these vessels specifically as they help unwind trauma from the system without having to express or relive the trauma, making it a loving and safe option for your deep unwinding and healing journey.

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Fascia

You have probably heard this word in the wellness industry, but what is fascia?

Fascia makes up everything in your body that is responsible for connection. To keep it simple, it is mainly composed of fibre and fluid aka collagen and water as its main components. It wraps around everything including your muscles, bones, organs etc, holds your organs in place, makes up the structure of your ligaments and tendons, cells, bone marrow and honestly so much more.

So what does fascia do?

It has many functions, but again to keep things simple, its main functions are to provide Structure/Support + Communication.

When the body suffers an injury or trauma, the fascia comes in and says “don’t worry, I got you” It tightens in the area affected to essentially “hold you together” to allow the body the time and space to heal.

It is also responsible for communication. Since part of its component is water, and it connects everything, it becomes the conduit of information. When a signal travels to the end of a nerve, it continues to transport the information through the fascia.

When the fascia becomes tight or overactive, it creates an adhesion. This adhesion restricts movement and communication, which then signals back to the brain that there is pain in that area, and oftentimes it will radiate.

Fire Cupping is a great way to work with the fascia, to break up any adhesions, to get things moving freely and communicating properly.

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Acupressure point: Lung 3

Lung 3, LU3 (the greatness of the celestial palace) Window to the heaven point is located on your upper arm, on the lateral border of the biceps, about three inches below the armpit and five inches above the elbow.

This point calms the corporeal soul - Treats sadness, weeping, insomnia and disorientation. It stores akashic records, allows access to intergenerational and karmic patterns that perpetuate grief, bridges the gap between loneliness and engagement, frees us from the longing for home that alienates us from source.

Here we are led to our own richness and greatness. This point represents the treasury storehouse of the heavens, where the immortals go when they have walked their taoist path. This point reminds us of the light of heaven within us, bringing courage, purpose and strength.

The point can be stimulated by using essential oil or by tuning fork as demonstrated in the photo by Dr. Cejaye Thoraldson.

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Autumn in Traditional Chinese Medicine

The autumn season is associated with the metal element, and the lung and large intestine. The emotion associated with the lung is grief and the large intestine is the ability to let go. 

Autumn is the time of letting go of what no longer serves. By letting go, we are refreshed to see clearly again with a new vision. Autumn is represented by leaves falling to the ground, reminding us of the impermanence of life, and the inevitable feeling of loss. Grief and sadness directs our energy inward, bringing us down into ourselves. Naturally our energy moves more deeply in, as we withdraw from outward senses and movement. 

Autumn is a time of big transformation as we draw our energy from the most outward expression, to our most inward aspects. It is here where we are able to let go of the old, and create the space for reflection and an honouring of the values held within. 

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