Health Blog
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Needling Away Stress: How Acupuncture Soothes the Nervous System
When it comes to our bodies, the nervous system is like an intricate symphony, orchestrating everything from our heartbeat to our thoughts and...
Should I use a smart device to monitor my body?
A patient asked me this question recently, and I had to think about that. I don’t use one personally. Maybe I put too much stock into worries about...
What Acupuncture Really Does
Acupuncture helps your body regulate itself. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a medical system that is designed so that practitioners like me can use...
Positive Words to Help You Destress
Do you remember Stuart Smalley (funny, I remembered his name as Smiley) from the Saturday Night Live skip? He used to host a mock self-help show and...
Skip the Caffeine Before Your Acupuncture Treatment
Want to get the most out of your acupuncture treatment? Of course you do! Here's an easy--at least I think it's easy--step you can take prior to...
Dairy-Free Matcha Chip Ice Cream
Before I lived in Japan (1995-97), matcha was something I had never heard of in Canada. I had it only in hot water as a ceremonial tea in Japan, so...
What’s Trending for Natural Health Products and Foods in 2024
One of my favourite research days of the year is attending the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) trade show. I go to this annual event looking...
TCM Yesterday and Today: An Ongoing Battle
Of course Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been around for a very, very long time--about 3000 years, maybe longer, depending on source. But...
Book Club Review: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a fictional story based on a real woman named Tan Yunxian, a female doctor of TCM in the mid 1400s to 1500s. She had a book published when she was 50, based on her cases, particularly of women’s health issues, but also of common health issues of the time. What an amazing woman!
Time To Prevent Your Seasonal Spring Allergies
Spring is a beautiful time of year when flowers bloom, the weather warms up, and the days become longer. However, for many of us, spring also brings...
Creating Calm in the Midst of Chaos
The world can feel chaotic and overwhelming, at times. There's a theory that the brain's #1 goal is to minimize surprises. This theory is called the...
The Value of Failure to Reduce Anxiety
“Do or do not, there is no try.” Most know this Yoda quote. What’s not said, but perhaps implied in this is that in fully doing, you commit, and...