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.