We have moved to 2612 Quadra St., just north of Kings Ave., on the ground floor of Blue Bird Cabs!
Happy Spring! Or to the long-suffering seasonal allergy-havers of ‘Victoria’: our condolences! In Chinese metaphysics the astrological start of the yearly calendar begins with Spring, which starts in early February every year according to the luni-solar calendar followed by practitioners of classical Chinese medicine. The shift in seasons described in the luni-solar calendar lines up…
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the life sustaining red fluid we know as blood extends beyond the medical definition of red blood cells and transporting oxygen. It is the vital bodily substance responsible for nourishing our tissues and supporting our organs. It maintains strong and healthy skin, muscles and tendons ensuring supple, smooth movement. It…
In Chinese medicine, each season carries its own rhythm and medicine, gently guiding how we live and care for ourselves. While the Western calendar marks the beginning of winter at the solstice (December 22nd), the Chinese solar calendar recognizes November 7th as the first descent into winter. In this view, the solstice represents the heart…
If you’re like me and many of us who live in the “City of Gardens” you might be experiencing the slow build-up of stiffness or pain from the ongoing maintenance of your beloved backyard-, balcony-, or community garden. Try as we might to make things ergonomic with all the latest devices, gardening is more difficult…
We are now into the deep of winter, with warmer and longer days on the horizon! Though it can be challenging to strike a balance with the everyday demands of life year round, it can be especially challenging during the darkest coldest time of year. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers seasonal guidelines to help protect…
“My body is not a temple, it’s a thermos for soup” Fall is the perfect time to begin incorporating more nourishing broths into the mix to bolster our immune system and protect ourselves against seasonal illnesses. Medicinal herbs can be combined with bones or chicken feet and seasonal vegetables to make for a nutrient-rich broth…
When learning how to comprehend the basic principles of Chinese medicine, students are taught that all of the philosophical ideas that underpin the ideas of yīn and yáng, and the ways they are interrelated, can be mapped on to the tàijí – or what in the west we might hear people casually refer to as the ‘yin-yang…
One of the things I try to reinforce for every new patient after their first cupping & gua sha session – and periodically bring up as time goes on and the seasons shift – is how to care for their bodies in the few days following a treatment. After care is one of the most…
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the season of Fall is associated with the Metal phase or “element”. The natural movement of the metal phase is of contraction or gathering of energy for storing. Think plants dying back to store its energy in their roots, trees dropping their leaves to prepare for dormancy, or bears gathering…
As the days get longer and the temperatures start to increase into the double digits we are well on our way to the hottest and brightest time of year, SUMMER! Here in the northern hemisphere summer is often recognized as starting at the moment the sun is farthest north or the “Summer Solstice” around June…
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