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.

Do you eat differently with the shift of seasons?  

This practice is very common in many parts of the world and in our human history prior to supermarkets and the ability to ship foods globally became common practice.  

In the winter we lean to slow cooked soups and stews and long lasting root veggies, and at long last the spring brings tender greens, to cleanse our livers from that heavier winter fare.  

One of the first and some may say best of these greens is the lowly dandelion. 

All parts of this herb/plant are edible, unless harsh lawn chemicals have been applied to it.  The early leaves are tender and an adaptable green that can be added to salads or stir fries. The leaves may have a slight diuretic affect as energetically they cleanse the kidneys.   The flower buds are crunchy and tasty with my preferred ways of enjoying this spring treat in stir fries, or pickled.  

The flowers themselves can be added to teas, salads or into mocktails or lemonade, with lemon being the sour flavour that energizes our liver in the spring. The pairing of the sweet flowers and sour lemon is a wake up for our taste buds too.  Lastly the root can be dug  washed and chopped, dried or used fresh to make tea or tinctures from, to cleanse our hard working liver.  

If spring is your favourite season to enjoy the great outdoors and some nature therapy that it provides, remember to do some stretching before and after your exercise activity, or as your exercise activity.  We probably see more tendon injuries or sprains at this time of year than any other. Some  of these are from overuse situations, yet many are from demanding more of our muscles and tendons before they are warmed up or in condition for the demands we ask of them.  

Qi Gong, Tai Chi or yoga are all good choices to activate and condition the connective tissues of our body.  We often send patients home with a few of these type of exercise as homework between visits.  

Adequate hydration and even  added electrolytes are also important to minimize risk of strains. A home made type of electrolyte is a tsp of lemon juice and pinch of quality sea salt to your liter of water.  Commercial flavours  of electrolytes are also widely available.  Magnesium glyconate is the best form of magnesium to aid for relief of tendon or  muscle soreness.  I am also out picking poplar buds to make a liniment which will be available at the clinic soon.  

Spring sale  of 40% off on all of last years infused oils, tinctures, salves and dried herbs is now on to make room for this years batches.  

Both Heather and Morven are back to full strength and our hours are set for  the spring season.  Morven is available Mondays 12-5:30, Wednesdays 3-5, Fridays 11-5:30, and Saturdays 10-3.  

Heather is available on Tuesdays 1 – 6:30, Wednesdays 10 -3, and

Thursdays 9-3.  

If you need a time outside of the schedule above please let us know and we will try to accommodate you.  

Here is the booking link or call 250-688-0033 for appointments.  https://flourishinghealth.janeapp.com/

We are very open to new clients, and welcome referrals from past patients.  We also promote Acupuncture /TCM as a maintenance type of health care to prevent a worsening of symptom, as well as relief from symptoms.  

We have several treatment options with the two most commonly booked sessions being: the 40 minute consult and Acupuncture  for $110, and the Combo treatment which includes nutrition, diet and lifestyle coaching, massage and acupuncture in an hour time frame for $145.  

Other options are: Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Reflexology, Relaxation Massage, Aromatherapy consults and blends,Cupping,  and Diet therapy sessions.  Another reminder is many benefit plans cover acupuncture and TCM therapies.  

We invite you to support your health through these tools this spring, & hope to see you soon.

If you are a reader of this little newsletter, you may have read the info that TCM/Acupuncture is credited to be an effective treatment for over 150 diseases or disorders according to the World Health Organization.  TCM  includes  acupuncture, nutrition coaching, Qi Gong exercise instruction and herbal medicine as well.  

As a person with a heart issue called A fib, which caused a stroke, I have studied the chapters  of my text books pertaining to heart health quite extensively over the past couple of years.  

With February being designated to heart health I would like to share a few findings from that study that may be supportive to you or someone you know that needs heart health care.  And I think we all can benefit from it even if you are seeing us for gout, a painful back,  or headaches. 

In TCM the heart is considered the ruler or emperor  of the other organs.  It can be a benevolent leader or a nasty one depending on its health.  I think I have experience both of those and recently had a crash course in  reading its signs to keep it in the happy ruler camp!

Heart health often affects our sleep, or inability to sleep, fertility, and multiple  hormone regulations.  It pumps our nutrients throughout the whole body through our  energized oxygenated blood which is in turn is built from the foods we take in.   It adapts to the stress we experience, with variations in speed, and rhythm.  

Its health is one of the biggest factors on how active we can be on any given day or age. 

To build and maintain healthy heart muscle, a combination of nutrients plays an essential role in supporting function, energy production, and overall cardiovascular health. Here are key nutrients to focus on:

• Role: Protein is essential for muscle repair, growth, and maintenance. It’s especially important for rebuilding any muscle tissue that may be broken down during exercise.

• Sources: meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, tofu, and quinoa.

• Role: These healthy fats help reduce inflammation and improve heart health. They also support muscle recovery and help maintain healthy blood vessels.

• Sources: Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines), flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts

• Role: Potassium helps regulate fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contractions, including the heart muscle. It is crucial for maintaining a healthy heartbeat and reducing the risk of high blood pressure.

• Sources: Bananas, potatoes, green vegetables, tomatoes, and avocados.

• Role: Magnesium supports muscle function, energy production, and the regulation of muscle contractions, including the heart. It can help prevent muscle cramps and spasms, including those in the heart.

• Sources: Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes.  70 % of North America populations are deficient in this important macro nutrient as soils that foods grow in are often low in it.  Therefore it is important to supplement it and there are a variety of forms it comes in.  The most beneficial for heart specifically are magnesium glyconate or orotate.

• Role: CoQ10 is a compound that helps produce energy within cells, particularly in the muscles. It has also been shown to support heart health by improving blood vessel function and reducing oxidative stress.

• Sources: Organ meats (liver, kidney), fatty fish, spinach, broccoli, and whole grains. Supplementation is often used for higher intake.

• Role: Vitamin D plays a role in calcium absorption, muscle function, and reducing inflammation, all of which are important for heart muscle health.

• Sources: Sunlight, fortified dairy products, fatty fish, egg yolks, and mushrooms.

• Role: B vitamins, especially B6, B12, and folate, are involved in energy production and red blood cell formation, both of which support heart muscle function and health.

• Sources: Whole grains, leafy greens, meat, eggs, dairy, and legumes.

• Role: Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the muscles, including the heart muscle. Proper oxygenation is critical for heart health and performance.

• Sources: Red meat, poultry, beans, spinach.

• Role: Vitamin C is important for collagen formation, which supports blood vessels, and it helps protect cells from oxidative damage. It also aids in iron absorption, and is very important to those with arrhythmia.  

• Sources: Citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes.

• Role: Calcium is vital for muscle contraction, including the contraction of the heart muscle. It’s also involved in maintaining the health of blood vessels.

• Sources: Dairy products, leafy green vegetables.

• Role: Zinc supports immune function, protein synthesis, and tissue repair, all of which are necessary for muscle growth and recovery.

• Sources: Meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, and nuts.

• Role: Staying hydrated is important for maintaining muscle function, including that of the heart, and for ensuring efficient nutrient transport throughout the body.

• Sources: Water, herbal teas, and hydrating fruits like watermelon and cucumber.

In addition to nutrition and hydration for  heart health,  we can look to the blue zones of the world where folks live and thrive into ripe and wonderful healthy old ages.  The deep community links, active lifestyle and purpose as they age are worth examining and emulating.  

In my opinion joining a club, volunteering, being creative through art or music, hiking, skating, skiing or laughing over a shared story and beverage of choice with friends & family, all fit the bill to promote a healthy heart.  

So as Family & Valentine’s days approach, I wish for you some, or all of these healthy options.  

As always Morven is available 5 days per week including Saturdays in Flourishing Health Clinic. Heather is back to work a few hours per week.  

We also give hugs which are heart health approved too.