Qi Blog

We can feel the difference.  There is no need for internal self-motivation to get out for a run on a nice, sunny, warming Monday morning!  Active energy, Yang Qi, is stirring.

Like the dawn of a new day, winter equinox is “Yin within Yin” or “ultimate Yin” heralding in itself the beginning of Yin’s transformation into Yang.  Spring equinox (Yang within Yin) is the time where Yang becomes equal to Yin as it continues to grow relatively to Yin to its peak at the summer equinox duly dubbed “Yang within Yang”.

According to the Five Elements Theory of Traditional Chinese medicine, the season of Spring is dominated by the climate of Wind, the culprit responsible for the contraction of various viruses, bacteria, colds and flues.  In the springtime, we also see an increase of other conditions triggered by Wind invasion such as hay fever and asthma.

Nowadays we are able to understand more precisely what exactly these ‘Wind pathogens’ look like.  We can test for allergies to specific substances to find out if we are allergic to grass pollens, cherry blossoms, cat dander, red alder or any host of others.

External pathogenic Wind is said to invade the body through the pores and specifically through the area of the nape of the neck.  When our Wei Qi (Defensive Energy – aka. Immune system) is robust, the pores close in a brisk wind, disallowing the passage of harmful Wind.  When it becomes weakened, or if it is a particularly strong Wind pathogen, the pores are left open and susceptible to the invasion of Wind.  This is why we contract a cold, begin to wheeze, or get sinus congestion.

Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of a cold includes acupuncture and herbal remedies said to activate the Yang Qi to open the pores, pushing out this Wind pathogen.  For this reason, it is always recommended that one consume these particular herbal formulae at as hot a temperature as possible, careful of course not to scald the mouth!  The goal is to create a slight sweat, indicating that the pores have opened and the pathogen has been released.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with the following concept.  All of the ideas fostered over the winter are beginning to germinate.  Spring is the time to turn inspiration into action, a time to harness the expanding, active Yang energy and, with it, nourish the soil of your goals and dreams.

-Authored by Dr. Peter Wood-

GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease) or acid reflux disease is not a function of too much stomach acid, but, to the contrary, is a function of too LITTLE stomach acid!

Pardon?

As counter-intuitive as it sounds, it’s true.  Here’s the explanation.

When there is sufficient stomach acid, which contains the healthy flora (bacteria) necessary in the digestive process, the esophageal sphincter knows to close tightly so that none of the acid escapes the ‘safe-zone’ where the lining of the stomach is protected by a mucous membrane.  When the acid becomes low or neutralized, the sphincter relaxes, allowing some of the noxious liquid to escape.  When the acid comes into contact with unprotected tissues, it causes damage and the familiar pain associated with acid reflux disease.

Here’s the really backward part:  we treat it conventionally by further neutralizing the stomach acid with antacids (Tums, Pepto Bismal, etc.). This effectively takes away the symptoms by putting out the fire where the acid has escaped the ‘safe-zone’, but creates a dependence on the antacid to continue to neutralize that acid that keeps escaping through the flaccid sphincter.  As soon as we stop taking those Tums, the pain comes back!  Why?   The problem isn’t due to the acidity of the stomach fluid, the problem is that this fluid is allowed to escape the ‘safe-zone’.

Albeit a good business model, this treatment does nothing to help the patient over time, and does everything to create the dependency necessary to sell more Tums!  (Typical, right?)

And when this fails, we’re instructed to take antibiotics!!  This kills off all of the bacteria, including all the good ones we need for digestion!

What really needs to happen is that we must ACIDIFY the fluids of the stomach.  In doing so, the sphincter is instructed by the body to protect the zone outside the ‘safe-zone’ by squeezing tight, preventing the fluid from leaking out.

Here’s how we should be treating acid-reflux.

When experiencing acute symptoms acid reflux (burning pain in the area of the solar-plexus) consume one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar stirred into a glass of water.  Once the acute symptoms have subsided, continue to acidify the stomach fluids by supplementing with hydrochloric acid pills.  This will cause the sphincter to tighten down, preventing the acid from leaking out of the ‘safe-zone’.

Now that the Fire is under control, here are some easy dietary recommendations to maintain this state of balance.  Eat warm meals.  The Western diet of cold meals (breads, pastries, salads, greasy foods, refined foods) contributes to neutralizing the healthy flora in the gut.  Try replacing the ‘sandwich’ lunch with a hot soup containing Gai Lan.  Avoid eating too many raw veggies, opt instead to eat them slightly steamed.  On top of this, it is best to address the underlying imbalance in the system by treatment with Traditional Chinese medicine herbs and Acupuncture.  This will ensure that the symptoms stay away for good!

It is not recommended to attempt this treatment unless under the guidance of a trained health-care practitioner.

One of the more common ailments this time of year is allergies. Just as people are adjusting to the plants of early summer, April brings changes in vegetation that cause a new wave of itchy, watery eyes, runny noses and head-rattling sneezes.

Many patients – and many medical professionals – focus their treatments on relieving the symptoms without tackling their underlying causes. Naturopathic therapies however address both and can help reduce the suffering of allergy sufferers in any season.

The Importance of Gut Health

Nine times out of 10, allergies have their genesis in the intestinal tract. Together, the gut and our airways comprise between 60 and 80 percent of our body’s immune system. That’s why Naturopathic Therapies for allergies – and immune irregularities – begin by bolstering the health of the intestinal tract.

We know that when there is inflammatory or allergic-type reactivity in the intestinal tract most often there also is an immune reaction that can sensitize other mucous membranes and trigger allergic reactions elsewhere in the body. Accordingly, one of the naturopathic therapies for people with allergies is to reduce the consumption of foods that might be triggering allergic reactions.

Identifying Food Sensitivities

Allergy sufferers can obtain food allergy testing and use a food diary combined with an elimination diet to determine which foods are causing their symptoms. In addition to determining which foods you might be sensitive to, other helpful measures include: washing sheets frequently in hot water, replacing air filters, vacuuming carpets often or removing them entirely and investing in a good air cleaner.

Supportive Therapies: Nutrition, Herbs & Homeopathics

Between eight and nine out of 10 of my patients have seen a 90% reduction in allergic reactions – and some have entirely eliminated the risk of anaphylactic reactions – by making changes to their diets, repairing the mucous membranes in their bowels and by using an allergic desensitizing therapy.

Homeopathics and herbs can help reduce the inflammation in mucous membranes and rebuild them. There are literally thousands of such substances that have been shown to help.

A number of controlled studies have proven that homeopathic medicines containing a combination of remedies are at least as effective as commercial antihistamines at reducing allergy symptoms, especially seasonal allergies, but without the side effects associated with commercial drugs. For best results using these types of remedies it is always advisable to seek the advice of a naturopathic doctor.

Attending to Stress:

As with many other ailments, reducing stress levels can help to reduce allergic symptoms. The study of how one’s mental state interacts with the nervous and immune systems is known as psychoneuroimmunology. Researchers have observed that as people become more stressed and the nervous system becomes more irritated, histamines are released.

There are any number of homeopathic, nutritional and botanical remedies that can help reduce stress and, as a consequence, reduce the severity and period of allergic symptoms.

- Article prepared by Dr. Tesnim Adatya

*The information contained is intended for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent illness or disease.

__

Clinic Notice:

Dr. Adatya will be hosting a Naturopathic Allergy Clinic from April – August 2012

Diagnostic testing for allergy sufferers. Skin prick test suitable for Adults and Children for trees, grass, weeds, dust, dander. High degree of sensitivity and specificity.

Talk to Dr. Adatya if this test is right for you. www.dradatya.com

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) originates from a concept explored in the 1900′s by Osteopath Dr. William Sutherland that the bones of the cranium move amongst each other and can create pressure on the brain. With his research, he developed Cranial Osteopathy. In the 1970′s, American Dr. John Upledger noticed the craniosacral rhythm while assisting in a spinal surgery.

This observation piqued his interest and led to his study of Cranial Osteopathy and further research into the relationship of the structures between the cranium and sacrum. Dr. Upledger coined the term CranioSacral Therapy and developed the CST curriculum, which is currently taught internationally.

CranioSacral Therapy can be difficult to explain so I will break it down into several elements:
Cranio refers to the cranium, which houses the brain. Sacral refers to the sacrum, which is your tailbone and marks the end of your spinal column. CranioSacral therapy involves the evaluation and treatment of the physiological forces and structures between these two points.

The CranioSacral (CS) rhythm is essentially the pulse of the brain and spinal cord and is created by the movement of cerebrospinal fluid between the two structures. Like the rhythm of the breath or the pulse of blood from and to the heart, the CS rhythm can be felt throughout the body by anyone taught to tap into the frequency. By evaluating this rhythm, a CST practitioner can identify restrictions in the body.

The body loves to be in motion.

Every cell, tissue, and organ needs to be able to move freely in order to function correctly. With physical or emotional trauma and injury, adhesions and structural deformities can develop which lead to restricted motion of the tissues involved. Over the years, this increasingly puts stress on the adjacent structures to the restriction and ultimately affects the entire body.

The role of a CST practitioner is not to forcibly correct the body, but rather to encourage the body to correct itself, which leads to a more fundamental change and often disappearance of chronic symptoms. The idea is that if the systems of the body are balanced, then it has the ability to heal itself.
Because of the direct connection with the brain and spinal cord, CST also has an effect on the Autonomic Nervous System, often causing a feeling of deep calm or groundedness during and after the treatment. Treatment of this system enables the body to respond to stress and challenges better which can help improve a patient’s energy level.

A CST treatment can be considered effective if releases are present during or after treatment. A release can be expressed as a physical release of adhered structures or an emotional release involving thoughts and feelings surrounding an event of trauma or injury. Releases may be experienced in many different ways are often very individual.

Conditions treated by CST include, but are not limited to:

Migraine or chronic headaches, chronic neck and back pain, motor-coordination impairments, colic, autism, central nervous system disorders, orthopedic problems, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, scoliosis, infantile disorders, learning disabilities, chronic fatigue, emotional difficulties, stress and tension-related problems, fibromyalgia, connective-tissue disorders, jaw dysfunction, immune disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, post-surgical dysfunction, digestive disorders and fertility impairments.

What to expect during treatment:

CST can be combined with other modalities (massage, chiropractic, acupuncture etc.) Therefore there may be requirements for positioning or undress related to those practices. If CST is the sole modality then it is performed with the patient lying, fully clothed, on their back on a massage table.

Using their hands, the practitioner will then connect with specific points on the body between the sacrum and cranium with very slight (roughly 5 grams, or the weight of a nickel) of pressure. The treatment and evaluation can be very much entwined, often involving the same or similar hand positioning.

The patient is encouraged to relax, breathe and connect with their body in order to facilitate the unwinding process. A belief in or understanding of CST is not required for benefits, but it can help to make the process more efficient. Your practitioner should guide you through the process, helping to give you a deeper understanding of what your body is trying to tell you.

What to look for in a CST practitioner:

While many may practice CST, it is not regulated by provincial or national guidelines, therefore it is important to look for a practitioner that is registered by another provincial or national College and has a background in anatomy, physiology and medical conditions. This may include a Registered Massage Therapist, Chiropractor, Naturopath, Physiotherapist, or Dentist just to name a few.

- Article Prepared by Lisa Schneider, RMT

*The information contained is intended for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent illness or disease.

As we approach Spring, many of us are experiencing skin woes after a long, cold Canadian winter. Dry, chapped, tight skin is common at this time of year and all the worse for those suffering from eczema and other dermatological conditions.

Signs your skin can benefit from treatment:

• Watering Eyes
• Dryness
• Itching
• Flaking
• Dehydration lines (fine lines and wrinkles)
• Cracking and Bleeding in more severe cases
• Conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, acne

Symptoms can be eased with:

• Facial and Body Acupuncture Treatments
• Chinese Herbal Medicine
• Supplements
• Dietary Therapy
• Natural Topical Products

How to resolve these symptoms at home:

• Drink plenty of fresh, filtered, water, at least 8 glasses per day.
• Eat, whole organic food wherever possible
• Limit sugar, refined carbohydrates, caffeine, alcohol
• Use an all natural emollient, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a great option
• Take a quality Multi Vitamin
• Eat good fats in the form of walnuts, avocados, and fish oils
• Get a good night’s sleep

Steroids and other prescription topical creams do little to address the underlying cause of dehydration, allergies, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, inflammation and malnutrition that lie at the root of many skin conditions. A multi-pronged approach that addresses the whole body is your best bet to restore balance.

Resolving these symptoms with a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine:

Whether you wish to treat a dermatological condition, slow the aging process or work on a preventive level, the principles of Chinese Medicine can help you bring a glow back to your skin from within. Always consult a registered healthcare practitioner before beginning any supplementation regime.

- Advice offered by Dr. Kelly Cmolik

*The information contained is intended for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent illness or disease.

Have you ever considered, the reasons you are attracted to you partner may be the same reasons you disagree?

We are attracted to the differences between our partner and ourselves yet the differences often bring conflict. The attraction and the conflict mean you’ve found the right person

Attracted to your spouse?

Part of our attraction to our partner is to once again feel our wholeness and aliveness because the attraction represents a need to connect to lost parts of the self.

Our behavior and our defenses represent our unmet needs. We fall in love because of certain qualities the other person possesses that meet those needs. However, the quality changes after time, and that same quality represents the lost part of the self.

We tend to fall in love with someone with the same amount of baggage, and we all bring baggage into our relationship.

How to make your relationship even better:

• Express your love to your partner: “One thing I appreciate about you is…One reason I fell in love with you is…One thing I love about being in a relationship with you now is…”
• Listen to your partner. Demonstrate your listening by reflecting back what you hear your partner saying to you.
• Validate your partner. “I hear what you are saying, and it matters to me.”
• Empathize with your partner: “I imagine you may be feeling…”

How Counselling can help your relationship (even if you’re not having problems!)

One of the forms of therapy we use is called Imago. It allows for the couple’s experience to evolve from voicing frustrations about your partner to noticing and sharing your own self-struggles and experiencing and re-experiencing connection and differentiation.

You reflect on yourself, and how you affect your partner and how what you say makes you more or less connected to your partner, and how you wish would respond.

The Science of Imago and why it works:

Through Imago practice, the dialogue rewires the reptilian or automatic responses in the brain, causing us to behave defensively, to become learned and intentional behavior and communication.

You reflect on yourself, and how you affect your partner and how what you say makes you more or less connected to your partner, and how you wish would respond.

- Advice offered by Grace McDonald, RMFT

*The information contained is intended for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent illness or disease.

Cherry blossom season is just around the corner. For some of us this beauty on the eyes is also a toxin to the system. The immune system of those who suffer from seasonal allergies has learned to over-react to the pollens of several of the blooming spring trees and plants.

What these allergies commonly feel like:

• Watering Eyes
• Itchy, runny nose
• Headaches
• Sinus Congestion/ Pressure
• Low Energy
• Urticaria – Hives

Symptoms and suffering can be eased with:

• Acupuncture Treatment
• Chinese Herbal Remedies
• Natural Supplements
• Resolving these symptoms at home:

Daily saline rinses using a Neti Pot will help flush the sinuses of irritants and mucus. Over the counter antihistamines work temporarily to slow the hyper-response of the immune system. These do nothing, however, to address the question: Why is my immune system responding this way to otherwise harmless pollens?

Resolving these symptoms with a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine:

Acupuncture and TCM herbal therapies help to rebalance the immune system so that you’re able to go outside and smell the flowers without the fear of an allergic reaction. Typically within one week, Our practitioners will have you symptom free after which we begin to strengthen your system to bring that state of balance back to the immune system.

- Article Prepared by Dr. Peter Wood

*The information contained is intended for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent illness or disease.

By: Dr. Peter Wood (Vancouver Atopic Acupuncturist)

Chronic ear infections are a common problem among infants and toddlers. Otitis media, or middle-ear infection, is more common in infants of 7 years of age and less. This is due to a delayed development in the structure of the Eustachian tube of the inner ear, combined with a comparatively lower resistance to viruses and bacteria than in adults. An increased incidence of recurrent ear infections occurs in those whose tubes are further malformed or slower to develop than the norm.
The pain associated with otitis media is due to the increased pressure put on the eardrum by blocked fluids and secreted pus. Ruptured eardrums ensue and are the catalyst for severe pain and often hearing loss.

Conventional treatment for the condition includes, once topical remedies have proven ineffective, local or systemic antibiotics, the downside of which is a vicious cycle of a compromised immune system, leading to the proclivity of further infection. The condition becomes chronic when the infections come in a rapid succession such that the eardrum is unable to heal itself. In these cases, it is indicated that a tympanostomy tube, or ‘grommet’ be inserted into the ear to provide better drainage for the built up fluids. This more invasive approach, while necessary in these cases, is itself the cause of short-term pain on insertion and eventually on removal.

Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a holistic approach to treating otitis media. Herbal remedies are prescribed according to the specific presentation, but commonly contain herbs to stop the production of ‘Dampness’, that becomes ‘Phlegm’ when it reaches the ear. The other side of the treatment entails strengthening the immune system to make it more resistant to invasion by harmful viruses and bacteria. In this way, the treatment is said to treat both the ‘Branch’ – the symptoms – and the ‘Root’ – the cause of the symptoms.

An example of one such case I saw in my practice is of a boy who already had the grommets inserted into his ear but was still contracting many colds, which would still lead to some ear discomfort. It was his mother’s hope that a new procedure replacing the old tubes with new ones could be avoided. After several months of the boy’s courageous ingestion of herbal tea (we never said it would taste good), we have reached the date set to perform the grommet procedure. It has been postponed because the patient has not had pressure in the ear in over a month and has contracted relatively few colds, lasting for only a short time, never leading to an ear infection.

As in any condition, it is always my recommendation to consider a holistic approach before jumping into often more invasive conventional approaches. This could help avoid much pain and suffering now and into your child’s future. Of course, severity of the condition will ultimately dictate whether delaying such procedures is possible, and the ENT specialist should be the one to make that decision with you.

From my experience, if your child is on the vicious-cycle of antibiotics to infections, this is a good indication that it is the appropriate time to add TCM to the treatment protocol.

By: Dr. Spence Pentland (Vancouver Fertility Acupuncturist)

Testosterone is a sex hormone in men required to be able to produce sperm. It is produced primarily in the testis and is especially abundant in young men. As we age, testosterone levels naturally decline. Statistically, at the age of 50, the decline becomes more rapid and gives way to male menopause (andropause).

Yes, it’s a fact guys, we become more sensitive with age. Tears come quicker, and we really deeply cherish the important things in life, like family and love. You may go through a denial phase and buy a really inappropriate car. You may feel the need to act out in various ways in order to feel young again. Inevitably the fact remains, that you have to accept this fate or grow old and bitter, hanging onto an array of different cousins of ‘anger’ like impatience, irritability, bitterness, resentment, and just basically not enjoying life.

Whether you are trying to reproduce, or be more manly, there are many things you can do and avoid to help slow the vanishing of the ‘James Bond’ within. The following list are things that may reduce testosterone levels in men. Most can be addressed quite easily with simple lifestyle choices. It’s time to take responsibility for your male hormone health!

1. Lack of sleep. A new study in Chicago showed a drop in testosterone levels when men did not get enough sleep.

2. High stress levels. Reduce your stress, or incorporate things into your life that help alleviate the stress such as acupuncture and time in nature.

3. Marriage and children. Once you have a family, you only need enough testosterone to properly provide and protect them. This is simply a time that requires you to put others needs ahead of yours, i.e. be more sensitive.

4. Lack of exercise. Need I say more? You know who you are.

5. Plant based protein diet. In many, many respects, this is a much healthier choice, but as far as testosterone production is concerned, a little animal protein may help, especially when trying to conceive.

6. Depression. Seek help when times are tough. Put away the ego and talk to a life coach, counsellor, or doctor of traditional Chinese medicine.

7. Alcohol. Some vino with a great meal, or some spirits with a worthy celebration is just a part of living a good life. But, if alcohol is a habit in your life, it is time to check in and make a change, for so so many reasons.

8. Tobacco. Unless being used ever so occasionally for ceremonial purposes, tobacco use should be avoided.

9. Illness. More serious infections such as the mumps can have detrimental effects on testosterone levels.

10. Testosterone and human growth hormone (‘steroids’) medications. When you supplement the body with these medications, the body stops producing them itself. Shooting yourself in the foot so to speak.

11. Age. After 30 it all starts, if at all possible, make your babies earlier in life. After 50, get ready to feel more emotions guys!

12. Obesity. An epidemic that can be avoided or reversed with proper support, sustainable healthier lifestyle choices, deep commitments to change, and shining lights on the aspects of yourself that will sabotage your success.

13. Type 2 diabetes. See #12.

14. Hypertension. Again, see #12.

15. Endocrine disrupting chemicals such as phthalates. Found in common household products and packaged foods. Learn about these and avoid them at all costs.

When one takes a step back and looks at the above list of 15 things that can negatively affect male hormones, it is quite clear that most simply belong to a prescription for a healthy life wouldn’t you say?