Blog
New guidelines for saying “cheers!”
We've all seen these memes right? On the surface they're lighthearted and funny; but on a deeper level they can be part of a larger problem that makes light of alcohol use as a coping tool. Did you know the Canadian Low Risk Alcohol Consumption guidelines changed recently? The new guidelines define alcohol related risk as: -Negligible-to-low for people who have 2 standard drinks or less/week -Moderate for those who have between [...]
Happy Lunar New Year!
Happy Lunar New Year!! The lunar year begins anew bringing Water Rabbit energy (or Water Cat energy in the Vietnamese zodiac). I love lunar new year activities & how they carry meaning & intention for beginning anew. We often look at the new year with hope, making resolutions & promises for improvement. As the new year is an opportunity to begin anew – so is every moment. Each present moment is like none before & [...]
Navigating the Holiday Season
While the holidays can be a joyful and festive season, for many of us it is a challenging and painful time of year. If you are entering the season with a tender heart, here are a few suggestions for coping with kindness and care: Keep it simple If you are feeling overwhelmed, put down the bells and whistles. Keep it simple by choosing just the activities and traditions that feel nourishing. Giving ourselves permission to [...]
Men – Be like an astronaut while trying to conceive
In the recent addition of Acupuncture Today magazine (Nov 2022) there is an article highlighting NASA’s interest in acupuncture as a treatment modality for its astronauts on their Mars missions. The combined benefit of the minimal space required for acupuncture needles or acupuncture devices and the broad range of conditions acupuncture can treat make this treatment modality very appealing. Additionally, since acupuncture treatment works to trigger a change to the physiology and release of the [...]
Gratitude post
I just read the words copied below as a "gratitude post" on a community social media page and feel *SO* strongly that we all need more of this perspective, view, and orientation. There are examples of this kind of generosity, presence and "extras" everywhere. Daily. The research is clear that noticing, naming, savouring and sharing them has significant impact. Both for our own well-being and for the people we share our lives with as well. [...]
September wellness
Does September feel like the new January to you? As nature begins its transition to autumn colours and shorter, cooler days, there is a natural change to the rhythm of our days as well. The return to routine always feels notable to me this time of year and as much as there might be moments of resistance to summer fading, I am also aware of welcoming the fresh start of fall and the new opportunities [...]
Summer Reading
This summer, my friend and I are having a contest to see who can read the most books....enjoyably, we are both still determined to be the winner! Here are a few of my summer picks so far: Currently, because it came highly recommended by one of my patients, I am reading "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry. I love reading historical fiction novels set in India, so this has been quite the magnificent journey. I [...]
There is more to you than sperm
When it comes to fertility and fertile potential, the quality of sperm and the genetics contained within that sperm are paramount. So what affects sperm quality and how might we be able to improve it? To answer this we should first consider that there is much more involved than just the reproductive organs in creating quality sperm. Take this analogy of a car and its wheels for example. Just because a car has wheels doesn’t [...]
Toe the Line
Despite what the current May-cember weather situation would have us believe; summer is rapidly approaching. For many this means a welcome return to open toed shoes and more barefoot time. Finally your toes can breathe some fresh air and spread out a little after being constrained by ski boots, dress shoes and rain boots. Have a look at your feet next time they're not ensconced in a fashion-cast. Do your toes look like sausages crammed into [...]
Eating for Endometriosis
What should I eat to help with my Endometriosis? If you typed this question into any search engine or social media site you will be inundated with numerous recommendations and products that all claim to have benefits. So what is the problem with this you ask? Not every woman experiences endometriosis in the same way, and therefore one specific diet will not work for everyone who has this condition. The strategy is often to decrease [...]