In traditional Chinese medical theory, one of the best ways to stay healthy is to live in balance with the seasons. Balance, in this context, means mindfully crafting your diet and certain aspects of your lifestyle based on what season it is. An easy way to think about this is with fruits and vegetables: we are lucky these days to have grocery stores stocked year round with fruits and vegetables from every corner of the globe at all times of year. That makes it possible to en

One of the best gifts you can give your mother this Mother’s Day is the gift of acupuncture. Acupuncture can help with an abundance of health problems and get you feeling one hundred percent again. Mom’s make the world work, it’s a known fact. So this holiday season you should give your mother the gift of acupuncture, here are seven reasons why. 1. Acupuncture is great for pregnancy. In the first trimester of pregnancy, many women turn to acupuncture when they are looking for

If you are suffering from insomnia or unable to get a good night’s rest, you are not alone. Around 60 million Canadians experience insomnia and sleep related problems on a daily basis. Prescription sleeping pills are one of the most highly overused medications and can lead to side effects and addiction. Acupuncture is a centuries-old practice that has been proven to help sleep disorders without the risk of addiction or putting chemicals in the body. How acupuncture works Acup

At Inner Essence Wellness, we believe in a collaborative approach to health and wellness. Acupuncture and floating work together to help relieve pain, calm the mind, and promote a deep sense of wellness. Book today to find your inner zen. To book please call either Drift Float Studio at 780-467-7636 or Inner Essence Wellness at 780-232-4259 and mention this special. For online booking please use the link below, select your desired acupuncture session and type Acu+Float into t

One of the things I have found most valuable when dealing with my own PTSD and panic disorder, is learning to dance with my pain. I can hear the "WTF's" now... I had a major softening towards my own struggles when I started to look at healing as a dance. Sometimes it's a two-step: one step forward, two steps back. Other times its a rapid, raging, heart-pounding, adrenaline inducing, head banging, mosh pit of emotions. And still in other moments, it is a slow, gentle sw

Today is Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year. Or as it is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine, The day of upmost yin. (I like to refer to it as the Yin-iest day of the year) In TCM Yin represents darkness, winter, cool weather, death or transformation, rest, the solid material aspects of our being, and the divine feminine energies. As uncomfortable as this darkness my feel, there is a loving, nurturing quality to Yin. It calls us to go within, to recognize,

Keep a routine It is especially easy to lose your normal routine during the holidays due to festivities and the special occasions that tend to happen this time of year. Don’t abandon your healthy habits, keep your usual routine of diet and exercise, which is especially important when holiday foods and drinks come around. Try keeping a calendar to keep better track of your schedule. Prioritize It is easy to take on too much during this time of year. On top of your normal sched

I am often asked by patients what made me decide to study and practice TCM and acupuncture. I tell them their question is all wrong. It's not about WHAT inspired me to leave conventional medicine in search of a better way to help people. It's not one specific event, or book, or lesson that lit my passion for this journey and this form of medicine. It's WHO. It's because of her. My mom. Today marks the 10 year anniversary of her death. As painful as that day was, it doesn't co

Do you ever feel your life's a ride that won’t ever stop? How many nights do you wait for Mr. Sandman to magically appear? How often do you truly take time for yourself? Do you have aches and pains almost daily? Are over-the-counter or prescription medications controlling your life? When was the last time you actually felt at peace? If any of these questions resonate with you, then it might be time to look at Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for an answer. People

I have been sick for over 5 days now. From sore throat, fever, coughing, head and body aches to a sneezing, runny, raw, red plugged up nose. I've got it all. and nothing seems to be touching it. I have had to call in sick at work more than once this week and today I was so exhausted from it all that I was late for a meeting. It's been so inconvenient!!! But if there is one thing I have learned from living with a chronic autoimmune disease, it's that healing is not convenient.

I put this idea out there, I asked friends, colleagues, and family members. Everyone said that it is probably not the best idea. So I decided to do it. I've always been a bit of a rebel. What is it you ask? Well, it's this. If you have been following my blog, you have probably noticed it's a whole lotta shop talk. Really that's all it has been. Sharing acupuncture studies, treatments, and successes. Sharing lists of tips and tricks to stay healthy is one thing, but I have dec

Fall or autumn is a favorite season for many people. The weather is getting a little cooler, things are starting to slow down and preparations for the holidays are in full swing..... For many others, fall is not so festive. Many people tend to get sick during the fall months, allergies can flare up for some, and many don’t like that the hours of sunlight decrease steadily, sometimes leading to seasonal depression. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, fall is the season associa

Tips to keep your kids healthy as they head back to school It’s that time of year again. The new school year is upon us. Amidst your frantic trips to the store to buy school supplies and new clothes for the kids it’s easy to forget about staying healthy. And if you think you are the only one this happens to, don’t worry you’re not. Within the hustle and bustle of everyday life it is easy to forget about nourishing your body the right way sometimes. Here are a few tips and tri

If you suffer from headaches, you are not alone. Over 50 million of us experience some form of a severe headache at some point in our lives. Whether you experience minor head pain or severe migraines, headaches can take valuable time out of your day and your life, and leave you searching for relief. Many seek relief by reaching for drugs and other medications. This may work temporarily and can help you get out of pain fast. Unfortunately, common headache medications do not ad

Although sun protection is extremely important to protect against harmful UV-rays and to prevent skin cancer, next time you pick out your sunscreen, consider what you’re buying. Many common sunscreens actually contain chemicals that can be harmful to your body. Chemicals to avoid in common sunscreens: Oxybenzone Retinol palmitate Methoxycinnamate Octinoxate Padimate O/PABA Nano or Micronized mineral particles There are several and easy ways to make effective and natural homem

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) summer is the season of upmost yang. Yang is vibrant, energetic, expansive, expressive. It is a time full of life, of zest, of activity. Spending most of the year holed up at home due to the dark Canadian winters, it makes sense that we would go all out all as soon as the sun starts setting later than 4pm! The warmer weather and longer days means our time away from the office is filled with gardening, camping, sporting events, pool partie

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) is a common condition that is characterized by pain and jaw dysfunction. TMJ is used to describe a wide range of conditions associated with jaw pain and restricted jaw movement. While TMJ isn't life-threatening, it can negatively impact a person's quality of life, causing bouts of insomnia, stress, pain and disability. It's estimated that up to 30 percent of the world's adult population suffers from TMJ, most of whom are between the a

How acupuncture helps Acupuncture treats the patient by addressing the whole body. When the body is out of balance, pain and illness can arise. Acupuncture works by returning the body back to its natural balance and energy flow to eliminate pain and to improve overall health. There are more than 2,000 acupuncture points on the body. When these specific points are stimulated through small acupuncture needles, it can help relieve pain by improving the body’s nervous system, whi

How the NADA protocol helps treat addiction NADA, which stands for the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association, was established in 1985 to promote the NADA protocol acupuncture treatment for addiction. The non-profit organization promotes advocacy and the use of a non-verbal, pharmaceutical free approach to behavioral health. The protocol uses five specific acupuncture points on the ear to treat addiction and to be an alternative to methadone. The NADA protocol differ

There are more than 80 chronic illnesses that are immune related including rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, celiac disease and one I personally struggle with, hashimoto thyroiditis. Autoimmune diseases result when the immune system mistakenly attacks its own body’s tissues. Immune deficiency is more common than most people think; around 20 percent of the population suffers from some form of an autoimmune disorder, acco