Most people seem to resort to over the counter medication for getting relief from their allergies. The problem is that these medications can have some rather dreadful side effects. Acupuncture has no harmful side effects. This means that it is possible for anyone to give acupuncture a try and not be concerned about suffering for their daring.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) what acupuncture does is stimulate certain areas of the body which correspond to the condition that is being treated. So, acupuncture is actually a way to help the body heal itself through the stimulation of the relevant points on the body, usually through the insertion of fine needles or laser stimulation.

Acupuncture for allergies is practiced in two parts. There is the treatment of the symptoms – referred to as the branch – and the strengthening of the immune system so the body can combat the allergies on its own – referred to as the root. When you go into an acupuncture treatment with all the symptoms of allergies you will get a different treatment than if you go in while you are not showing the symptoms.

Each treatment is done on an individual basis. Your symptoms are examined in conjunction with your lifestyle and everything else that makes you who you are. This is so that you can be given a treatment that will take care of your individual problems. Western medicine, on the other hand, tends to treat all allergies in the same way and is much more generalized.

An acupuncturist is able to tell the nature of your allergy through a close examination of all the various points in Chinese traditional medicine. They will basically be determining the heat and cold conditions that are affecting you and then treat these.

An acupuncturist will  use needles or a laser beam to stimulate the various points of the body. The treatments will   correct the imbalances that are causing the allergic reaction.

The next time you start to suffer from an allergic reaction to something in your environment, take a moment to seriously consider trying acupuncture.

Give me  a call at 604-839-9789 to book your appointment.

~~ Wendy Lind    RAc   Registered acupuncturist (*CTCMA BC)

Whether you suffer from allergies seasonally or perennially, life can become very miserable. Itching of the eyes, roof of the mouth, or throat, runny nose, headache, sneezing, cough, wheezing…the list goes on.

It is up to our immune systems to defend us against foreign substances such as pollen, dust, pets, etc., however, our immune system can overreact to certain antigens (allergens) which are harmless to most people. The result is an allergic reaction. In other words, it isn’t the allergy itself that is the problem, but the person’s reaction to the allergen.

Acupuncture has been proven to help alleviate the symptoms of allergies when they are active and more importantly, can help to correct the immune system imbalance that causes the allergic response in the first place.

Acupuncture treats allergies in 4 main ways:

1. Stabilizes the immune system to moderate its response to allergens;

2. decreases swelling and inflammation of local tissues to stop itching;

3. decreases secretions of mucus membranes to reduce nasal discharge and watery eyes; and

4. strengthens your natural resistance to antigens.

Acupuncture not only helps with the active symptoms, but also in the prevention of them. Acupuncture can enhance the immune system’s performance in the off-season to prevent the on-set of your allergy symptoms. In other words, acupuncture strengthens the immune system so that your body will not create an overreaction or allergic reaction to elements in nature.

You may also be interested in our BIE  allergy process.

The five elements are fire, earth, metal, wood and water. Each of the elements has a corresponding internal organ. Each element is also associated with a different season.

They each also have both direct and indirect interactions. Something that affects one element and therefore a specific organ will have an effect on other organs and elements within the body. The point of traditional Chinese medicine is to achieve a balance within the body.

Spring is the season associated with wood. This element is the one that is associated with the liver and gall bladder. Since the wind has a tendency to blow in spring and wind strengthens the liver the spleen will also be affected. This can cause a disharmony which can present with problems like stomach pain, acid regurgitation, stomach distension and diarrhea. If the imbalance also affects the lungs then you will find that you suffer from all the classic signs of allergies.

If you are suffering from these kinds of problems in the spring then you can turn to the traditional Chinese medicinal disciplines of acupuncture and herbal medicine to help you get your body back into balance.

Herbal medicine and diet

In spring it is considered important to eat green leafy vegetables. These vegetables cleanse and freshen the body. It is recommended that you eat things like dandelion as a cleanser and drink juices from citrus fruits, pear and apple as well as celery and carrot. You can also add some sprouts to your diet, this would include things like beans, mung and radish sprouts.

Acupuncture

The first thing that has to be done when undergoing an acupuncture treatment is to identify and release any blockages in your system. The main blocks will be internal and external blockages, aggressive energy and entry exit blocks. It is the entry and exit blocks that relate directly to the organs affected by the elements.

Once the blocks have been cleared the next step is to plan what spirit points to open to help the patient to recover and rediscover their joy in life. The last step would be to treat the problem or imbalance directly through the use of command points. The command points are all directly related to the five elements. Thus in spring the most commonly treated command points would be the wood points.

As you can see, traditional Chinese medicine and spring, and the other seasons, are intricately related. The treatment that you receive will depend on the season and how that season is affecting your body and the balance within your body.

Many of my patients come in for seasonal treatments to enhance and optimize good health and to keep their immune systems strong.

Wendy
604-839-9789

I have been certified at the first level of Auricular Medicine, a discipline that is being practiced by only about 150 people in Canada. You may remember that  Blue Jays pitcher, Jeremy Accardo,  underwent this type of acupuncture to treat a level 2 Groin Sprain, and was able to regain his full range of motion after only one treatment! He was injured on June 21 and with the help of Auricular Medicine, he was back pitching 5 days later.

The good news is that if you are afraid of needles I can use my laser prob and get just as effective results!

I have also undertaken advanced studies in the Five Elements Theory. It was great to see physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists, and other health practitioners in the course (I was the only acupuncturist)! More and more main-stream health practitioners are looking more and more to alternative healing tools offered by TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

Despite my obvious bias, kudos to them for striving to offer their patients more than just a prescription!

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) seasonal changes also signal changes in both your physical and mental health.

The ancient Chinese believed that every living thing is sustained by a balance of two opposing forces of energy — Yin and Yang. Together,these energy forces make up your life essence, or Qi.  Your life energy is affected by the food you eat, your state of mind as well as your living conditions including weather and the seasons.

As the seasons change, so should your diet.  Your diet needs to supply the essential nutrients necessary to enable a health balance of Yin and Yang

Autumn foods are white in color and pungent in flavour.  Choosing white foods will help relieve cough, nourish skin, and relieve constipation through moistening and promoting body fluid production.  Move away from eating the summer fruits and vegetables into eating more fall produce.

Autumn foods include:

• turnips
• almonds
• potatoes
• cauliflower
• yams
• soybean milk
• garlic
• onion
• apples
• pears
• mushrooms
• cabbage
• kale
• brussel sprouts
• carrots
• leeks

If you are thinking soups and veggie laden stews you’re going in the right direction.  See tomorrows post for some great recipe ideas.

If you feel run down or the start of a cold, book an Acupuncture appointment to give your immune system a boost.  My needleless acupuncture treatments are perfect if you are afraid or even shy of needles.  Give yourself a boost and avoid the fall and winter “cold” season.
Call for an appointment now.  604-839-9789

Facial Rejuvenation, or Cosmetic Acupuncture is tremendously popular among movie stars, models and other “players” in the entertainment industry. Madonna and Cher, who have regular Acupuncture treatments, look decades younger than their calendar age. Sandra Bullock is one of the newest additions to the ever growing list of Stars going for Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture.

So, why are the Stars crazy about this natural therapy? There are several simple reasons — the foremost is because they can look and feel younger than their actual age, without having to resort to surgery or potentially harmful drugs.

Facial rejuvenation acupuncture is not only less risky; it has very little (or no) recovery time as well. And though the treatments are less costly than plastic surgery, I’m sure that looking younger and staying healthy is not a cost most of the Stars are prepared to quibble about!

In addition to being helpful in reducing aging effects, acupuncture also helps to improve your overall health at the same time. You will feel less stressed and more energetic.

Cosmetic Acupuncture gives your skin a natural glow. This is done by invigorating the blood circulation, which is also helpful in balancing skin tone and discolorations. The treatments help tighten your skin and give you a supple and natural appearance. It treats the core constituents of your facial skin and provides you with a natural anti-aging effect.

Curious?  Come in and talk to us about what a Facial Rejuvenation Series of treatments can do for you.

I am so pleased to be one of the first clinics in Canada to introduce a new acupuncture therapy sans needles! Biostimulation is a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) that stimulates acupuncture points so that needle penetration is unnecessary. Immune boosts, weight loss, smoking cessation, injuries, aches and pains, digestion problems, skin aliments, and allergies can all be treated successfully with this laser. Most importantly, this German technology is safe and effective.

For patients, biostimulation also means shorter treatment periods with all of the positive end results of traditional acupuncture.
Some treatment plans will always require the use of a few needles including facial rejuvenation and other situations of deficiency. I am a big believer in the magic of acupuncture needles, but I am well aware that many people are squeamish around needles. Despite my best efforts, some people still picture vaccination needles rather than hair-thin ones when they hear about acupuncture! With biostimulation, I can share the benefits of acupuncture therapy and of Traditional Chinese Medicine with everyone! Biostimulation combines the wisdom and effectiveness of a 6000 year-old therapy with modern laser technology.

Laser therapy, in fact, is not new to acupuncture, but we’ve never had such advanced technology as we do with the RJ Laser machine used in my clinic. This technology is fully approved in Canada.

How does it work?
The laser beam produces a low-heat and is an electromagnetic wave which can stimulate the acupuncture points of the human body. It also puts energy into the body to excite the channels, regulate the function of organs, and increase metabolism. This oscillating energy field makes it very suitable and effective for acupuncture and the meridian system as a whole. One of the major benefits of biostimulation is the ability to treat injuries and promote the healing of tissue.

For you, this means an effective holistic therapy with faster treatment periods and no need for needles. It’s the best of both worlds I say!

Here’s to a wonderful 2010!

Wendy