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We are deep in Liver season and hopefully you are feeling the seeds that you planted starting to spirt and grow.
A gentle reminder that movement, increasing water intake and slightly detoxing herbs (dandelion root, milk thistle) are still beautiful tools to help you thrive.
If you need a little bit more support during this time, Chinese Medicine can help support your body by targeting the root of the imbalance. Book your Traditional Chinese Medicine appointment.
Headaches, neck and shoulder pain are sypmtoms of Liver and Gallbladder imbalance.
The Gallbladder pathway travels from the inner canthus of the eye, to the temple, around the ear, the back of the head and neck to the traps then down along the side of the body ending at our toe. This may be why when we are stressed, we often feel the “weight of the world” on our shoulders.
Hydration, movement, breath work, acupuncture; all of these are potent medicine to help shift our bodies out of pain.
Anger, frustration and deep-seated resentment are all sypmtoms of liver imbalance.
The liver is responsible for the smooth flow of qi; when it becomes stagnated, it also stagnates our emotions. Anger and frustration tend to get stronger during moments of higher stress and overwhelm. When in balance, these emotions are a healthy part of our day to day experience. However, if these emotions are not expressed or not released - communication, music, exercise, journaling, creative outlets, etc - they stay stuck in our body. Long term they start to become feelings that are much harder to shift: deep seated resentment.
If you are experiencing an excess of these emotions, consider booking a Traditional Chinese Medicine Consultation to help get to the root of the issue.
Feeling tightness along your side? Or discomfort and pressure under your right ribs?
Both of these symptoms are connected to the liver and gallbladder.
The Liver and Gallbladder meridians run along the hypochondriac region (side body) of the body. The liver and the gallbladder organs are located at the right-upper quadrant of our abdomen. When these organs are out of balance these symptoms can arise.
Traditional Chinese Medicine targets the root cause of the symptoms you are experiencing. A TCM consult will help determine the best course of treatment, including acupuncture + herbs to help alleviate these sypmtoms.
The spring is Liver season and now is the time to let go of what the body doesn’t need. One of the main functions of the liver is to help rid the body of toxins.
Herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root and orange peel (Chen pi) help the body to supportively detox. We are constantly coming in contact with allergens, chemicals and pollutants - physically and emotionally.
For extra support for your body during Liver season, book your Traditional Chinese Medicine appointment.
Kim (Akashic Records + Soul Purpose Coaching) is hosting a
Vision Board Creation workshop on Friday, May 3rd from 6-8pm.
With all of the energy from the cosmos- now is a powerful time to get clear guidance on our goals, dreams + inspirations.
The purpose of this workshop will be to hold space to come together in community + create uplifting connections while crafting a vision for how we want to navigate the next stage of our lives- be it short or long term, in a beautiful serene setting.
Vision boards are a wonderful tool for activating your creativity, moving out of logical thinking into the realm of imagination and intuition. If you can imagine it, you can create it. A vision board is a tool that we can use to focus and direct our energy into what we wish to either let go of, affirm for ourselves or call in for our future. It holds us accountable to our own growth and gives us confidence and discipline to move towards our goals. At the same time, the ritual of creating our boards allows us to engage with our inner child and foster a dialogue between our subconscious and higher self in a setting that is upbeat, fun and safe. There is so much beautiful empowerment that can come from community connections and art.
What you can expect:
Opening introductions and share circle
Short talk on why we utilize vision boards, manifesting and releasing
Vision board creation (all supplies will be provided)
Optional share circle on our boards and sharing our vision
Closing circle + gratitude
Acupuncture points (acupoints) are located on energy pathways called meridians.
If you want to conceptualize these pathways, they are similar to our circulatory or nervous system. They are constantly flowing throughout the body.
Each meridian is connected to a different organ in the body. Each acupoint is located on these different meridians and is linked to help the proper functioning of that organ.
Modern CT scans and x-rays have shown that there is mirco-vessel clusters and increased microvascular structures at these points in the body compared to the areas where there isn’t an acupuncture point.
The Celluma LED light is one of the only medical grade LED lights in Canada. LED lights help to promote collagen, oxygen rich blood, decrease inflammation, repair tissue, clear scar build up and re-establsih the smooth flow of qi. You can add this treatment on with Rose’s sessions and it is included in acusculpting with Christina.
Book your Traditional Chinese Medicine + LED Light treatment
Liver is the season of new beginnings. Where the seedlings begin the process of growing into flowers.
It is time to get rid of what we no longer need in order for rebirth.
Anger, frustration, deep seeded resentment.
It is time to acknowledge it and to let it go so something new can be created.
How to curb the side effects of time change (this can also help with jet lag or time zone shifts):
Get appropriate day time exposure. This will help your body understand the shift in the daylight hours.
Acupuncture- Acupuncture will reset your sleep/wake cycles, promote relaxation and support the organs so the transition is easier.
Good sleep hygiene. No screens an hour before bed, practice meditation.
Calming herbs - Chamomile, honey, valerian root, suan zao ren.
Book in for a Traditional Chinese Medicine appointment to help reset your sleep/wake cycle.
Ever wondered why the time change can feel so hard on the body?
The innate rhythmic flow of our body is dictated by a circadian clock. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each organ in the body has a 2 hour interval when its qi (energy) is the most abundant and strong. When each organ flows into their time of abundance and is running at its full potential (no deficiency or excess) the body is in a beautiful balance.
When we travel between different time zones or when the time change occurs this innate balance is interrupted. The body then has to recalibrate to our new sleep and wake cycles. This can take a few days or a few weeks depending on the person.
Traditional Chinese Medicine can help support your body during this transition. Click to book.
Gua Sha has had a lot of press on social media over the last little while for cosmetic purposes and part of our nightly skin-care routine but its origin is rooted deeply in Traditional Chinese Medicine channel theory and as a physical therapy to stimulate the body’s surface for:
Releasing the exterior for the common cold so that the pathogen can escape through the cou li and wei qi space = this means regulating the immune function as well
Increasing Qi + Blood flow aka circulation -- for stagnant Qi + blood felt as pain or discomfort trapped in the body through the musculoskeletal system – (e.g. tight traps, tight calves, overworked IT bands and treat acute or chronic injuries to soft tissues).
Gua means to: scrape with a smooth-edged gua sha tool made of bian-stone, buffalo or yak horn, jade or a house-hold spoon.
Sha describes the small, raised petechiae spots – which allows for more flexibility of the fascial system.
From a Western Medicine perspective, recent research findings have also shown that this ‘gua sha’ scraping technique can increase microperfusion by 400% and upregulate heme oxygenase 1 – through a mechanism called ferro heme metabolism. Meaning ‘gua sha’ has an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effect, meaning it guards against tumor growth and has immune regulatory effects in vascular cells .
This traditional technique is very different from Graston, as graston is not using the channel theory used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
AcuSculpting is a Cosmetic Acupuncture protocol for cellular regeneration, promoting collagen growth, stimulating healthy hair follicles, stimulating thermogenesis & trimming fat. Cosmetic Acupuncture is an ancient beauty secret.
After the age of 30, the body renews cells more slowly, our enzymes start to deplete and result in sluggish digestion and circulation can also slow-down, resulting in dysregulated body temperature. Lifestyle choices and life’s stressors can also contribute to why we may: hang onto the last 10 pounds, see tired and puffy eyes, or dull looking skin when we catch our reflection in the mirror.
In AcuSculpting, we insert small and fine acupuncture needles to the area of focus- This creates “micro-damage” in the skin, which will stimulate the production of new healthy cells.
This cell regeneration fills in wrinkles, triggers older blemished skin to restore and therefore improve the overall appearance of the skin. Some patients notice a difference after 1 treatment – but acupuncture is cumulative and does not use neurotoxins like Botox. Each treatment is building-on the last treatment, until the desired appearance is obtained.
Common testimonials include deep relaxation, better sleep quality, better digestion, better bowel movements + etc. – which all help to improve the overall appearance of the skin. Same goes for healthy hair stimulation – nourishing hair cells stimulate qi and blood – which will activate hair follicles + trigger regrowth. We can also focus on a desired goal or area for: lifting the buttocks, adding volume to breast tissue and trimming excess fat on the abdomen and thighs. Christina will combine both AcuSculpting + select traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture points on the body, to treat the root cause while honing in on the desired area of focus.
*** this protocol is for healthy individuals - this service is not recommended or contraindicated for: during pregnancy, skin diseases, cancer & patients on heavy medication(s) (e.g. blood thinners)
NADA is a standardized auricular acupuncture protocol which has many well documented benefits. It is mostly recognized in its application for: pain relief & addictions (e.g., recreational + pharmaceutical drugs, smoking, alcohol, food & habits).
NADA stands for: National Acupuncture Detoxification Association - since the 80’s it has been massively helpful with the opioid epidemic, was used in the recent Hawaiian wildfires for trauma/ PTSD and for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and pain management.
The ear is a microcosm for the rest of the body; it is said in textbooks that a fetus sits inside the ear – the energetics of the organs can be reflected inside the ear. It is also a deeply relaxing protocol and can aid in insomnia, stress, anxiety or depression.
With 5 tiny needles on each ear – these potent points innervate or stimulate:
Sympathetic: turning the ‘off’ button for fight, flight or freeze
Shen Men: which is translated from mandarin as, ‘Spirit Door’ - - connecting to spirit
Kidney auricular point: rooting the mind
Liver auricular point: forgiveness and for direction and making plans for the way forward
Lung auricular point: connected to the Vagus nerve (inner concha) and could lower heart rate
NADA Protocol (also known as: NADA-nap) session takes about 30 mins.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Book your Traditional Chinese Medicine + acupuncture appointment.
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.
The Way Holistic Collective
On the diverse cusp where Bridgeland meets Renfrew
Located downstairs @ 622 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary Alberta T2E 3J4