Why into flowers of course!  These daffodils were weighted down when  bees needed shelter from a sudden downpour recently.  

I was set to plant my garden with my grand daughter a few days ago, and I said to her we would plant the next day if it doesn’t rain.  This very wise 3 year old replied , “it’s just water Grandma and plants like water , and we have rain coats!”  I am so glad she thinks like this and doesn’t let weather stop her from having fun in the rain, and me from getting my garden planted and watered on the same day.  

Our health is kind of like my garden.  The terrain is how I take care of it in the big picture.  Do I give it lots of compost (nutrition), water ( hydration) , aeration ( Acupuncture/ massage/ exercise) and finally TLC ( rest and time to grow).    The seeds are important too.  Am I planting at the right depth, in the correct season, and next to companionable neighbours?  All of these  qualities can apply to our health too.  

Is my attitude like my 3 year old grand daughter not letting little things worry me or do I fret and stress?  Emotions affect our health,  and yes worry is classed as an emotion that affects our spleen.   In TCM Spleen  is our organ to distribute fluids.  In Western medicine the spleen cleans our lymphatic fluid and that fluid is responsible for our healing of injuries.  There are foods to help our spleens have more energy and aid in its’ positive work, rather than ruminating or overthinking A.K.A. worrying.  

One of those foods is a food I think of as a spring tonic.    Asparagus grows in the spring and  is great for getting our lymph tuned up.  Others that may also be spleen supportive are:  carrots, celery, grapefruit, millet, oyster mushrooms, parsnip, pumpkin, and squash.  I was reminded of these as I planted this years squash to use up the last of last years.   As the lymph system requires my bending and flexing of my body to move it, I did a few extra squats while putting in this years seeds in the name of spleen and lymph support.

So happy gardening season readers, and may you enjoy sunshine and rain, long with lots of  bending  and flexing  to support your lymph too.

Now to plant another seed or 2  before I sign off…I’d like to invite you to the June Reset Retreat  a 2 day Immersion to reset an overworked Nervous System.   Date of this first and hopefully annual event is June 13 and 14.  Another retreat is in the works for autumn in lovely Victoria BC.  Stay tuned or let me know some of the components that would appeal to you in a “Reset Retreat”.  

If you are feeling wired but exhausted, disconnected from your true self, carrying more than is comfortable, stuck in cycles of  overload and busyness , this June weekend may be your reset button.  

I along with 2 other local health practitioners will be offering it here in the cozy yoga studio I share office space with , and the second experiential day at a Nordic  Spa in Fairmont area.

For more info and all the details I ask you to sign in to  

kootenaykindred.co website and check out the events page.  Or message me here at Flourishinghealth4all@gmail.com and I will send you the info.  

Another retreat is in the works for autumn in lovely Victoria BC.  Stay tuned or let me know some of the components that would appeal to you in a “Reset Retreat”.  I

I will be away pressing my own reset button during the week of May 25- 30 and the wonderful Acupuncturist with a background in massage therapy Pearl Mertins Weins will be available for many shifts that week.  As always you may book sessions online at Flourishinghealth.ca or by texting 250-688-0033.  Remember the wise word of the 3 year old that “rain showers mean we get to play in puddles”.  

Happy May, from Heather, Pearl, and my 3 year old puddle loving granddaughter.

Happy August to all you wonderful readers.  It’s my hope that the moisture filled weeks we’ve had, are seeing your gardens and health blooming!  

In TCM we take weather and climate into consideration for your health and various symptoms that show up to impact ones health.  

For example I am sure some of you may have an old injury that aches more when a storm is happening, or even threatening.  And some  “Snowbird clients” go as far as to escape our cold winters to somewhere warmer and dryer for the sake of their health.  

In TCM one of the most common weather factors that causes aches and pain is cold and dampness.  The cold slows the movement of Qi/energy in the body and the damp creates inflammation with this slowed energy resulting in swollen joints – particularly around areas of old injuries.  We have treated a lot of  this pattern this spring and summer.  There are remedies for this you can access year round if this is a challenge for you.  

Far infrared light and heat are some of the best options to chase the aches and inflammation away.  Though we have had a good dose of rain and storms recently,  we have also enjoyed some heat this summer.    Getting out into the sun during those times is most healthful!  Yes we want to avoid sun burns and skin damage, however sunlight is health promoting!  Morning sun exposure or even enjoying the heat and light in the shade of a nearby tree, during the warmth of the day, can be helpful. Morning sun to your unshaded eyes is also helpful for setting your circadian rhythms, aiding one to fall asleep at a good time about 12- 14 hours following the sunlight exposure.  

Heat packs and heating balms or liniments are also supportive to sore joints.  

Red light therapy is available for rent from my office or one can purchase a unit for yourself online for those with more chronic joint inflammation.

We occasionally use a herbal cigar of moxa, or a heat lamp over an area  which gently heats an acupuncture point to get the energy flowing more freely.  

That free flow of energy is a key to why we feel better in the summer generally.

Other ways to build your health bank up in the summer, is through seasonal focused eating.  This translates to enjoying the bounty of fresh veggies and in season fruits, along with shorter cooking methods, such as grilling.  If your system is digestively strong, it will be able to handle more raw veggies and a variety of salads.  If it’s not so strong, try stir frying them to warm them quickly, to capture that fresh flavour of summertime.  

The flavours of summer in TCM ( yes seasons have affiliated flavours!) is sweet.  So enjoy a peach, or melon, or berries and an occasional ice cream now as they may be “ seasonally” off the menu as the weather shifts in the fall.  

I hope that you support to build energy and resilience through the  remainder of a beautiful summer, and know that we are here for more personal consultations when needed.  Heather’s shifts this summer are Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursday, with Morven is available in August on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.  

Now get outside and have some summer fun building memories, exercising, and celebrating a health building lifestyle.  

Dear friends and valued patients,

We’d like to share a heartfelt update — Morven will be moving to Fernie in September, and with that, her time at the clinic will be coming to a close for now. It has been such a joy and privilege for her to work with this wonderful community, and she is deeply grateful for the trust, warmth, and connections built here in such a short amount of time. Morven will be available for appointments only until August 29th, with limited spaces remaining, so please book in for the month as soon as possible. She will be returning in October for a week and looks forward to welcoming you then for follow‑up visits. If you’ve been considering a session, now is the perfect time to book so she can see you before beginning this next chapter.

AS of September Heather will be searching for another TCM associate to join Flourishing Health.  Please let any you may know of this fact and that the beautiful Columbia Valley is a great place to live and work.  Until that wonderful new associate practitioner is found, appointments will be available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with a variety of time options.  As usual appointments can be booked online from our website or by texting 250-688-0033.