Jennifer Jellis RAc.

Spring! Such an amazing time of year for shaking off winter's slumber and looking forward to a new season of growth and expansion. Days start to get longer and warmer, new buds and blooms burst forth into the world, one can not help feel a renewed energy! In Chinese Medicine, the Liver is the organ system associated with Spring. When this energy is unbalanced you can experience symptoms such as: allergies, headaches/migraines, eye issues, irritability, digestive problems, etc... so you want to be kind to your liver with a few healthy tips. 1) DECLUTTER!- get your spring clean on- open the windows and clean out that closet- figuratively and physically! 2) MOVE! - a time to take advantage of the sun and Vitamin D. Get outside and get moving. Nothing better to get that stagnated liver energy moving than vigorous exercise! 3) EAT your GREENS ! The liver works to detoxify the body and works really well with incorporating pungent flavoured greens into one's diet. This inc...

Cupping is a healing modality that has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. It is a Chinese massage or  tuina technique that is frequently used during an acupuncture treatment. The mechanism behind cupping involves creating a deep suction effect with the skin and the underlying tissues. Usually, this involves dipping a cotton ball in 90% proof alcohol, lighting the cotton ball on fire and sticking this in the cup to rob the cup of any oxygen. This is then placed immediately on the skin to create the suction. Cups are typically left on the skin for 10 minutes. Placing cups on the skin and removing right away and repeating this is known as ' Flash ' cupping. Applying a lotion or cream base prior to cupping and moving on the skin is known as 'Slide' cupping. The suction and pressure of the cups is excellent to help: -relieve musculoskeletal pain -relieve tension headaches & migraines -improve immune function- flush out cough & colds faster -re...

'Moxa' , 'Moxibustion', or 'Moe Kusa' in Japanese which translates to 'burning herb' is-- that exactly! -- a herb that is burned to heat a specific area of the body for the purpose of treating disharmony. Moxa is Mugwort or chinese Wormwood that comes from the 'sage' family and is also called Artemesia  vulgaris  or Artemesia  argyi . It is wonderful to use as it is the most readily available combustible that does not flame and can provide a temperature of 670 degrees centigrade. Recent analysis indicates the chemical richness includes; protein, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, aluminum, magnesium, adenine, choline, and Vitamins A,B,C and D. Crazy!! Moxa is awesome for: warming cold conditions, expels dampness, opens up the meridians and boosts Qi (energy) and blood! Excellent for conditions like; arthritis, asthma, vomiting, diarrhea, rheumatic and abdominal pain. Awesome for menstrual cramps! Moxibustion directed towards UB67 (corner of ...

Ginger root -- Zingiber officinale --also known as Sheng jiang (in Chinese Medicine) or Galanga (if you happen to be in Thailand) is such a great herb for so many reasons; it is a natural, cost-effective way to stay healthy and keep warm this Autumn season! 1. Ginger is used as an AntiViral:  there's nothing better to fight the cold and flu season than with a steaming cup of ginger root tea. Boiling a small pot of water with grated ginger is excellent to help ease a sore throat and sweat out toxins. 2. Ginger is great for lowering Blood Pressure and improves Circulation!  Ginger works to thin the blood which ultimately lowers blood pressure and reduces the chance of blood clots. Ginger also dilates the blood vessels and prevents platelets from sticking to blood vessels. 3. Ginger is a natural antispasmodic  which helps ease menstrual cramps or abdominal cramping with IBS. 4. Ginger is the best thing out there for Nausea!  Any kind of nausea, whether it be motio...

Menopause  is a naturally  occurring  phenomenon that will affect all women at some stage in life (typically around 45-63), and is a natural part of aging. But the transition doesn't have to be a dreaded process, symptoms of menopause can be managed with acupuncture and traditional chinese herbal medicine. Hormone imbalances can be maintained often with as little as a few treatments. Menopause occurs when there is a decrease in the amounts of estrogen and/or progesterone being produced in the body. This can result in symptoms as varied as; hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, memory loss, headaches, joint aches/pain, insomnia, decreased libido, increased urination, and weight gain. Physicians usually prescribe hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) to aid in the symptoms, however there are often serious side-effects that go along with this.  HRT  can increase the risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Wo...