Over the last year we’ve done a blog series on seasonal eating according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), from which Acupuncture comes. This year, we’ll be focusing on the physical and emotional elements associated with each season and the lifestyle factors that come into play, while offering tips on how to ensure optimal health. Here’s what you need to know for Fall:
Read moreBurnout
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. It’s safe to say that after the last 16 eventful (and at the same time event-free) months, almost everyone feels burnt out in one way or another. So what exactly is burnout and how do we deal with it?
Read moreWhat's Still Missing From Your Home Office
It’s been 16 months since large swaths of the workforce were asked to start working from home. Some may never go back to an office, and others are looking at a modified work week with time split between office and home office. Even after all this time, we’re still seeing patients with back and neck pain related to their, shall we say, less-than-ideal work-from-home setup. Here are the top things that may still be missing from your home office.
Read moreWhat The Body Can Tell Us About Consciousness
For more than 100 years, scientists have known that the vagus nerve carries signals between the organs and the brainstem. As part of the parasympathetic nervous system (rest & digest mode) the vagus regulates functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion. But new studies have shown signals carried by vagal fibers climb beyond the brainstem, revealing a broad interoceptive network in the brain that interprets internal changes, anticipates the body’s needs, and sends commands to fulfill them.
Read moreSummer Eating
Summer is here! Over the last few months as the daylight hours have slowly increased, you may have noticed a change in your circadian rhythm, eating habits and energy levels. Traditional Chinese Medicine codifies these natural seasonal changes into a system to help us live our happiest, healthiest lives. In TCM, summer is a yang season full of energy and abundance.
Read moreJoints
Human joints come in many shapes and sizes and are arguably the biggest factor that enables us to move around and do all the things we consider normal activities of daily living. This means that joint health is imperative. What do we need to know about joints to keep them healthy?
Read moreThe Mask Factor: Jaw Pain and Headaches
Could your mask be causing your jaw pain and headaches? Since masks became a regular and necessary accessory we’ve seen an increase in jaw pain. Patients with existing jaw pain are experiencing more pain than before, and patients who have never had jaw pain before, suddenly do. The same goes for headaches. And while we’re optimistic for the future, masks will probably be a part of our everyday lives for a while yet. There are a few mask factors that can contribute to jaw pain and headaches, some of which are obvious and some that may surprise you.
Read moreNatural Allergy Relief
Do you wait all winter for the nice weather to return, only to spend sunny days inside staring longing out the window at the great outdoors? While usually not serious, seasonal allergies can put a serious damper on your day. Many over-the-counter allergy medications can be effective, but have undesirable side-effects. We rounded up a few natural supplements and anti-histamines to help relieve common symptoms of seasonal allergies like runny nose, congestion, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes.
Read moreSpring Eating
Few things feel better than the first signs of Spring! After the long, cold, isolating winter we’re overjoyed to see those classic harbingers of spring: birds chirping, green buds sprouting, daffodils blooming, and longer daylight hours. This post continues our series on seasonal eating and living with Traditional Chinese Medicine, preparing us for spring!
Read moreRepetitive Stress Injuries and Technology
By this point in our technological development, we’ve learned a lot about healthy ergonomics for computer and phone usage, but cell phones, tablets, and even laptops? Not so much. These technologies are still new, and represent the new frontier of repetitive stress injuries due to technology. A Repetitive Stress Injury, or RSI, is caused by repeated movements which ultimately damage tendons, nerves and soft tissues. Pain in the thumb, forearm, wrist, and elbow can all be caused by using technology and the frequency at which we’re using it.
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