Facial Acupuncture Rejuvenation

Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, is a painless, non-surgical procedure that is effective in reducing the signs of aging.

Acupuncture facial treatments includes the insertion of acupuncture needles into the fine lines and wrinkles in specific locations on the face, ears, and neck, in order to reduce the visible signs of aging.

The body interprets the insertion of the needles as a “positive injury” which in turn stimulates collagen and elastin production locally, as well as increasing blood flow at the cellular level and nutrient exchange.

Facial acupuncture is also a full constitutional treatment that views the face as an extension of the energy flows of the body which extend from the soles of the feet to the crown of the head and is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

What can you expect from after a series of treatments…..

  • Increased muscle tone and dermal contraction
  • Reduced bags under the eyes, and less tendency to sagging and jowls
  • No fine lines or frown lines, and less larger wrinkles
  • Softer and tighter skin due to the increased circulation of blood and lymph to the face
  • A radiant glow with more even colour
  • A reduced double chin
  • Lifted eyelids
  • A more relaxed and refreshed expression and beauty radiated from within

Unlike surgery that may have an extended recovery period with swelling and discolouration, there is no trauma from Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture.

While not a replacement for surgery, Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture is an excellent alternative to looking your best. For more information on this treatment, please contact the Acupuncturist.

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Erica Fynn, Acupuncturist at Diversified Health

Erika-2Erica is our newest practitioner to join the Diversified Health Team.  Erica was born and raised in the Kootenays where she developed a love for the outdoors and a natural way of living.  She moved to Vancouver island to receive her B.Sc in psychology from the University of Victoria; and upon completion: spent time traveling and completed her yoga teacher training. It was during this time she developed a passion for an energetic, hands on healing approach.

Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine involving the insertion of solid stainless steel acupuncture needles into the skin at specific points on the body to achieve a therapeutic effect.  Acupuncture is used to encourage natural healing, improve mood and energy, reduce or relieve pain and improve function of affected areas of the body.

Erica attended Pacific Rim college for acupuncture and nutrition, and after receiving her Diploma of acupuncture in 2015, she traveled to Mexico and worked at a yoga/acupuncture studio.

Erica strongly believes in a well rounded lifestyle approach to healing, drawing from acupuncture, yoga and nutrition. Her practice has involved treating many physical ailments such as back pain, sciatica, tendonitis, stiff neck/back, frozen shoulder, and general body aches, pains and injuries. She has also focused on treating fertility and menstruation issues, allergies, digestion, sleep issues, stress, and depression.

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9 Ways to Avoid The “Seasonal Blues”

During this time of year it is easy to feel stressed-out and overwhelmed; so we’ve rounded up 9 ways to help you escape the seasonal blues.

Do Less – Enjoy More

Most of us go overboard to please others especially during the holidays, from shopping, family obligations to attending numerous events. This season why not take care of yourself, and say no to one or two activities!

Say Good-Bye To Perfection

Remember that the world is not going to end if your home is not “Martha Stewart” perfect, or if you have a pile of laundry on the kitchen table. Use your energy and focus on the important things – the people in your life.  As author Richard Carlson wrote “Don’t sweat the small stuff “!

Stop Over Scheduling

If you can’t slow down and relax during this time of year, when can you?  Your daily agenda shouldn’t make you feel stressed and overwhelmed. Slow down, simplify your schedule and learn how to delegate!

Find Time To Exercise

It may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re stressed out, but going for a walk or attending a Pilates class can actually make you feel better. Research has found that exercise can boost your mood for up to 12 hours and can decreases anxiety.  So get out of the house and go for a brisk, 20 minute walk every day.

Health Maintenance

Take some time for yourself and schedule a massage or an acupuncture session; your health care practitioners can help you keep healthy and feeling fit.

Put Down the iPhone

Enjoy spending time with your family and friends without the constant buzz of your smart phone.  It becomes a habit that is very hard to stop, and repetitively looking at your phone is exhausting, and contributes to mounting stress.

Re-Think Old Customs

Ending old customs can be a good policy if you’re a lone or grieving.  Start some new traditions that will have happy memories associated with them.

Positive Thinking

Negative thoughts drain you of energy and keep you from being in the present moment. The more you give in to your negative thoughts, the stronger they become. On-the-other hand, a small positive thought can have the same effect -developing into a beautiful positive outcome.

Get More Sleep

Don’t underestimate the value of the power napor a good night’s sleep.  Light exercise like yoga or walking at night can help sleep as it releases tension without over stimulating the body.

Music can also help by soothing your mind and body as well as meditation, which can relieve stress in the body and mind. It’s a great technique to use before bedtime because it relaxes the body, clears the mind, and creates inner peace.

Put yourself first for a while. Take care of yourself, pay attention to your needs and desires, and find the courage to do something about them.

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How To Minimize Tech Injuries

imWhen using technology on a daily basis we need to be vigilant in not only how we use technology, but for how long a period we interact with the device.  Here are some injuries – mainly in the form of repetitive stress injuries that are caused by our smart phones and tablets.

Selfie Elbow – Just like tennis elbow, this is a simple overuse injury caused by extending and twisting your arm and wrist when taking a selfie.

Text Claw – Text claw is caused by over use when texting and typing.  The result of text claw is pain, soreness, numbness, and the loss of strength in your wrist. This condition is left untreated, it can lead to tendonitis.

iPad Hand –  This ailment involves both hands – the hand that is used to steady or hold the tablet can suffer from painful symptoms,  and pins and needles, as well as, the other hand, where the extended index finger is used for repetitive and prolonged scrolling, emailing etc.

Texting Thumb –  Texting Thumb is a repetitive stress injury that affects the thumb and can also lead to a decrease in grip strength and range of motion.  The  thumb is good at gripping, but does not have the muscles or the mechanics to support constant typing.

Text Neck – Text neck is the term used to describe the neck pain sustained from looking down at your  wireless devices too frequently and too long. Text neck causes chronic pain to the shoulders, and upper and mid back area.

How To Minimize Tech Injuries:

  1. Take frequent breaks: Try setting an alarm every 40 minutes so that you can stand up, stretch, and move around.
  2. Hold your device at eye level: All screens—laptops, computers and tablets should also be positioned so the screen is at eye level and you don’t have to bend your head forward or look down to view it.
  3. Use the 20/20/20 rule: Take an eye break every 20 minutes for 20 seconds to look away from the screen and about 20 feet ahead.
  4. Ice: Place ice on the area twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes.
  5. Anti-Inflammatory Relief: Take an anti-inflammatory to reduce inflammation.
  6. Wrist Brace: Sometimes the support of a brace can help to alleviate the pain while supporting your wrist.

If you suffer from any of these injuries, please contact your health care practitioner. The treatment for any type of soft tissue injury can include massage,  physiotherapy, chiropractic, and acupuncture.

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Curious About Acupuncture But Afraid Of Needles?

needlesWritten By Sara Calabro founder of AcuTake.

Curious about acupuncture but afraid of needles? Here are some things your acupuncturist wants you to know!

Most people, when they hear about the benefits of acupuncture, find themselves thinking, “That would be so good for me!” Less stress, more energy, better sleep and digestion… Who doesn’t want that?

But for many people, there’s one thing that holds them back from enjoying the benefits of acupuncture: Fear of needles.

There’s a spectrum of needle fears, ranging from downright needle phobic to being moderately concerned about the whole voluntarily-being-stuck-with-needles thing. Regardless, fear of needles is the number-one reason people choose to forego acupuncture.

5 things to remember if you’re scared of getting acupuncture

Acupuncturists get asked about the tool they wield all the time. Here’s what they tell people who say they’d love to try acupuncture but haven’t because they’re scared of needles.

They’re nothing like the needles you know.

“Needle apprehension is very common and natural, considering that we have been conditioned to associate needles with pain—think dentists, blood draws, and IVs,” says acupuncturist Kathryn Peak. “But acupuncture needles are hair-thin and nothing like the needles we are accustomed to in a medical setting.”

“Acupuncture is the most gentle form of needling possible,” adds acupuncturist David Bonilla. “If acupuncture was anything like getting a shot, I wouldn’t be in business!”

Most people who have never had acupuncture do not realize how thin acupuncture needles are. They bend when you touch them. For an up-close look at an acupuncture needle, check out this article.

You’re in control.

People commonly assume that they cannot move once the acupuncture needles are in place. That they need to lie there stiff as a board lest they endure excruciating pain or damage their insides. Understandably, this leads to a lot of anxiety and out-of-control feelings.

But it’s not true. A good acupuncturist will go at whatever pace you’re comfortable with. If you want to start with only a few needles and not keep them in very long, tell your acupuncturist that. If you want to pull out a needle that’s bothering you, go for it. If you get push back on this, find a new acupuncturist.

“I tell my patients that we can go as slow as they want so that they feel like they are part of the experience,” says acupuncturist Po-Hong Yu. “Acupuncture is not about something happening to you. You have a voice.”

One thing you can ask for is that your acupuncturist avoid acupuncture points in your arms.

Acupuncturist Kerry Jenni, a self-described needle phobe who realized after becoming an acupuncturist that acupuncture needles are nothing like the ones she’s scared of, says that keeping her arms free during her early days of receiving acupuncture was helpful.

“Moving during acupuncture is a weird sensation,” says Jenni. “With your arms free, you can be more in control.”

Acupuncturist Christina Morris makes sure that her fearful patients remain at ease once the needles are in. “I leave the patient with a pager so that they can alert me if they’re feeling overwhelmed when I’m outside the room.”

It’s not all about needles.

“If the needles really freak you out, there are other modalities that acupuncturists can use,” says acupuncturist Paola Acuna.

Acupuncturists are trained in several healing techniques, and only one of them uses needles. There’s acupressure, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, ear seeds, qigong, herbs, among others. None of these things involve needles.

So, what do you say? Maybe 2016 is the year you overcome your fears and try acupuncture. Here are 16 reasons to go for it.

For the complete article  by Sara Calabro click here.

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Acupuncture Can Make 2016 Your Healthiest Year Yet

S.miska-acupuncture2Written by Stefanie Miska

As we come out on the other side of the holiday season, many of us have resolved to begin fresh by letting go of habits that no longer serve us or by adding ones that do.

Whether it be to spend more time physically moving the body, joining a new sports team, to begin meditating or sitting in stillness for five minutes each morning; this is a time where each of us reflects back on the past year and focuses on how we can improve and move forward in this coming twelve months.

Here are a few ways acupuncture can help:

Reduce stress – Often the holidays and returning to work afterwards can be stressful. Acupuncture has been proven to lower stress and help the body get out of the perpetual sympathetic (fight or flight) state. Many people report a Zen like experience during and after an acupuncture treatment, by attending regularly you can help prolong this feeling.

Aid digestion – Are you feeling bloated, distended, and gassy? Perhaps you over ate at Christmas dinner or over indulged on all the rum and egg nog? Acupuncture can help regulate the digestive organs by reducing bloating and moving any stagnation causing pain or distention.

Strengthen immune system – We are still in cold and flu season; whether you have been lucky enough to avoid this year’s bout or have been fighting off a lingering sore throat, acupuncture will help build the body’s natural resistance to disease. Acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs can benefit you whether it be the acute stage of a debilitating flu or you are feeling tired and run down since you were last sick.

Decrease pain – Do you suffer from chronic pain or have you been putting in extra hours at the gym this week? Acupuncture improves circulation and the release of pain relieving endorphins, which can benefit long term issues in addition to tight and sore muscles from sudden overuse. Often when we have pain we seek treatment locally to relieve the obvious tension, acupuncture will help relieve the localized discomfort, and in addition, by observing the body as a holistic being, your TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner will address the root of the problem.

By incorporating regular acupuncture treatments into your new year’s resolution you will also see the benefits of more energy and better sleep.

Diversified Health is happy to welcome Stefanie Miska, a registered practitioner of Acupuncture & TCM (meaning she incorporates acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine into her treatments) to the clinic. She looks forward to helping you make 2016 your best year yet!

Call 250 382 0018 to book an appointment on Wednesday or Sunday with Stefanie. Here’s to you!

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Choosing your New Year’s Health Resolutions

Choosing your New Year’s Health ResolutionThis is that time of year when, individuals make various resolutions with the objective of getting rid of a bad habit and replacing it with good/healthy habit.  However, it is also a fact that most of the time people are not able to follow through on their resolutions.

The main problem is in the practical implementation of the resolutions.  People generally are eager to make resolutions but as soon as the time comes to get started, they begin to think of justifications why they should not continue and ultimately give up and in some cases before they have even started.  (You know who you are!)

Remember that it will be easier to incorporate and keep a small change rather than 1 huge generic goal such as “I want to lose weight”.

Listed below are 9 tips to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle.  Pick one tip and work on that one for 6 weeks.  Every 6 weeks add another tip to your daily routine and work on that for 6 weeks… before the end of 2016 you will have incorporated all 9 tips and will be living a healthier lifestyle.

Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

A serving size is: half cup of cooked vegetables, one cup of raw leafy vegetables or one small whole fruit.

Increase your fluids and decrease your coffee intake. 

Aim for 6 to 8 glasses of fluids per day. Have plain or lemon water, unsweetened juice, skim milk, or herbal tea, and keep the coffee to 1 or 2 cups a day.

Exercise on a regular basis.

An ideal combination includes aerobic exercise, weight-training, yoga, stretching, and recreational activities, such as dancing and swimming. Get exercise during your regular daily activities by walking at lunch and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Reduce the “bad” fats.

Reduce the amount of saturated fats and trans fatty acids in your diet. Saturated fats are found in animal products such as meat and processed foods. Processed foods contain trans fatty acids and partially hydrogenated oils. So limit your processed foods and cook with olive and canola oils.

Chew your food!

Many digestive problems such as bloating, gas, and stomach discomfort can be alleviated by taking the time to carefully chew food.

Limit your intake of sugar.

Sugar increases triglycerides, cholesterol, and insulin, and can impair the immune system. Check food labels and look for hidden sugars (corn syrup, sucrose, glucose, and lactose).

Make relaxation a regular part of your life

Chronic stress can lead the way to a weak immune system, high blood pressure, and many other conditions. Proper breathing and meditation are effective ways of coping with stress.

 Make sleep a priority.

Restful sleep is essential for a fully functioning mind and body. This means avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which can disrupt sleep. In addition, sugary snacks before bed can affect blood sugar levels and disturb sleep.

Develop and nurture your support network.

Maintain meaningful and fulfilling relationships with family and friends. These relationships nourish our heart, body, and soul.

Remember it’s never too late to start again.  It’s your life, take charge and decide who you want to be.

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Herpes Virus Includes 8 Different Viruses

cold-soresThe herpes family of viruses includes 8 different viruses: herpes virus 1 through 8 (HHV1 – HHV8).  The herpes viruses are a group of contagious virus that can be passed from person to person through direct contact.

Human herpes virus 1

HHV1 infections are contagious cold sores that are spread from skin-to-skin contact with an infected person through small lesions in the skin. The HHV1 virus is spread through sharing eating utensils, razors, tooth brushes, towels, kissing etc. from a person who has an active lesion.

Human herpes virus 2

HHV2 can cause genital herpes, a sexually transmitted infection spread through skin-to-skin contact.

Human herpes virus 3

HHV3 can cause chickenpox. It can also cause a recurrent virus infection called herpes zoster or shingles. The shingle lesions generally appear on one side of the body and are often painful.

Human herpes virus 4

HHV4 known as the Epstein-Barr virus is the major cause of mononucleosis.  It is a contagious infection that is transmitted through saliva, coughing, sneezing, etc. with an infected person.

Human herpes virus 5

HHV5 is know as cytomegalovirus, which can cause mononucleosis. It can be sexually transmitted and cause problems to newborns, and in people with weaken immune systems, and can cause hepatitis.

Human herpes virus 6

HHV6 causes roseola, which is a viral disease of young children in which a fever and a rose-colored rash occur in measles, typhoid fever, and syphilis.

Human herpes virus 7

HHV7 is related to HHV6.  Like all the herpes viruses, they are so common that most of the worlds population has been infected at some point.

Human herpes virus 8

HHV8 has recently been discovered in tumors (Kaposi’s Sarcoma) of people suffering from AIDS.

There is currently no cure for the herpes viruses. Once a person has the virus, it remains inactive in the nerve cells until something triggers it to become active again.  However, treatments such as acupuncture can relieve symptoms and shorten the healing time.

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Acupuncture Actually Works for Neck Pain, Study Says

acupunctureWritten by Mandy Oaklander

Two alternative therapies get a boost of scientific legitimacy in a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Acupuncture, the ancient practice of needle insertion, and the Alexander Technique, a program that teaches people how to avoid unnecessary muscle tension throughout the day and improve posture, coordination, balance and stress, are two complementary therapies often used to help treat neck pain. Treating it is often difficult, and it’s common for people to seek out alternative therapies.

The researchers wanted to see how well two of these worked. They assigned 517 people, all of whom had neck pain for at least three months (and sometimes many years), to the standard care for neck pain, which involves prescription medications and physical therapy. Some of the patients were assigned to also receive one of two extra treatments: a dozen 50-minute acupuncture sessions or 20 private Alexander Technique lessons—which focus on teaching people how to move their body to avoid or correct muscular pain.

A year after the start of the study, people in the groups doing acupuncture and the Alexander Technique had significant reductions in neck pain—pain was assessed by questionnaire—compared to those who just got usual care. Both groups reported about 32% less pain than they had at the start of the study, which is far greater than the 9% typically associated with physical therapy and exercise. The interventions also gave people in the groups more self-efficacy, which were linked to better pain outcomes.

The study adds to growing evidence suggesting that acupuncture is effective against pain; a landmark review in 2012 involving almost 18,000 people with chronic pain concluded that acupuncture was better than standard care and sham acupuncture (which proved the effect is not due to placebo of simply sticking needles in the body.)

“You get a two-fold effect with acupuncture for pain: a natural pain-relieving effect and an anti-inflammatory effect,” says Jamie Starkey, lead acupuncturist at Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Integrative Medicine, who was not involved in the new study.

Acupuncture manipulates the nervous system, she says, activating the release of pain-relieving endorphins. “With neck pain patients, a lot will get steroid injections or take a non-steroidal anti inflammatory, like ibuprofen or a prescription medication,” says Starkey. “Those medications or injections have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, but the acupuncture needles can do that naturally.”

The influx of new research has helped legitimize alternative therapies like acupuncture, says Starkey. “That’s really brought acupuncture to the forefront of people’s minds and attention, and physicians are a lot more willing to refer their patients to an acupuncturist.”

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Sore Muscles… Here’s What You Can Do!

Sore Muscles... Here's What You Can Do!All of us have suffered from sore muscles at some point in our lives, the good news is, there are many ways to treat sore muscle pain.

Post-workout muscle pain is the most common cause of sore muscles, and is known in the medical community as “DOMS” or delayed onset muscle soreness.

DOMS occurs when an exercise, or a repetitive motion causes stress to muscle tissue. The tissue develops microscopic tears, causing inflammation followed by pain, usually 24 – 36 hours after the incident.

Using these 5 tips will help you mange the pain and speed up your recovery.

Hydrate ~  Make sure you are properly hydrated.  Your  body and your muscles need water, especially when they are sore.

Alternate ice and heat ~ Ice works wonders for sore muscles. Once the onset of soreness occurs, use ice and alternate with heat a few hours later. Ice helps in decreasing swelling, and heat will increase blood flow and  help relax the muscles.

Stretch ~ Your muscles need to be stretched back to their normal length. Warming up the muscles properly and  stretching before physical activity is a superb way to prevent or minimize most muscle soreness.

Walking ~ Muscle soreness is a result of tiny muscle fiber tears, and it’s also a result of a buildup of lactic acid. Going for a walk helps to  decrease that buildup of lactic acid.

Rest ~ Sleep allow muscles to regroup and rebuild.

The following disciplines and techniques can be extremely beneficial when dealing with sore muscles, so talk with your health care practitioner and find out which techniques are right for you.

Massage is used to relieve pain, relax, stimulate, by working on the soft tissues, the muscles, tendons, and ligaments to improve muscle tone.  Massage stimulates blood circulation and assists the lymphatic system (which runs parallel to the circulatory system), improving the elimination of waste throughout the body.

Acupuncture is used to encourage the body to promote natural healing and to improve function. Acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals will either change the experience of pain, or they will trigger the release of other chemicals and hormones which influence the body’s own internal regulating system.

eToims produces painless deep twitch contractions that stretch and relax damaged muscles. This produces an inflow of fresh blood and tissue oxygenation to tired muscles as pain-producing chemicals simultaneously outflow from affected areas.

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