NEW! !
Hello Yogi's!
Change is in the air, and I am moving from Open Door Yoga.
The good news is that I will continue with the same community sliding scale model
not too far away at POKE!
POKE Community Acupuncture
is located at
225 East Broadway.
just east of Main Street.
ph# 604-568-7322
Wed. Sept. 15 9am-1pm
Thurs. Sept. 16 10am-1pm
Fri. Sept. 17 9am-1pm
Mon. Sept. 20 2pm-6pm
Tues. Sept. 21 2pm-6pm
I also have an evening practice, please call me directly to discuss an appointment _ 604-603-4591.
Thank you!
And I hope to see you soon.
Namaste.
An echo is an acoustic phenomenon of a reflected, single source, energy wave. We can see a resulting echo in the form of water rippling away from a drop. If the singular source becomes a plural, the reflected waves are no longer echoes, they are now reverberations. I believe while in a dis-ease state, the smooth flow of Qi is interrupted, or stagnated, causing reverberations in the body. We feel this as pain or other uncomfortable sensations. The body wants to harmonize itself and will do so if the obstacles to healing are removed. Acupuncture can unblock these areas of stuck Qi to restore the echo of your original nature.
I have been working as a healer in Vancouver for the last 15 years. After four years of dedicated study at ICTCMV, I became a registered member of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia. Prior to this I have worked as a Respiratory Therapist, and continue to do so. Many of those years were spent in trauma and acute care. Having worked the last few years in diagnostics, the 'one on one' contact gave me unique insights into the struggles people have with their health. It became clear to me that I wanted to heal and educate people in the paradigm of 'health care' instead of 'sick care'.
While I recognize the many benefits of western medicine, I firmly believe that many of our ailments can be prevented using acupuncture. The real strength of Chinese Medicine is that it includes not only diagnosing and treating conventional physical symptoms, but also interpreting and treating the earlier stage energy imbalances. We live in such an activated stressful society, we often overlook the subtle energies that are shifting in and around us. Research shows that 90% of disease has its beginnings from stress. The unease you sense with your body is valid, and it is at this early stage where acupuncture can best help to restore your health. By you taking the time to engage in the awareness of your body, you begin healing. I look forward to helping you on your journey towards health.
Your first appointment is my opportunity to get to know you better. I will ask not only what your chief complaint is, but will also ask many detailed questions that seem to be unrelated to your visit. For example, if you tell me you have insomnia, I will ask whether you have difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep, or tendencies to wake throughout the night. What time of night or morning you wake, or is it associated with things like excessive dreaming, night sweats, anxiety, or dizziness. One symtom like insomnia only has meaning in the presence of other symptoms. The importance of asking a detailed inquiry is for me to establish what the PATTERN of your disharmony is. This holistic interview is an amazing process, as not only does it shed light on the root cause of your condition, I see patients forge deeper connections with their body through heightened awareness. Your being empowered propagates your healing.
chinese view:
The Chinese ideogram for Qi has two articles, one that symbolizes rice, the other vapor. Commonly known as Vital Force, or Energy, no one has actually been able to precisely define what Qi is. This expounds on the Chinese philosophy's implicit versatile nature, whereby Qi can assume different manifestations and be different things in different situations. Qi can be the material uncooked rice, the vapor, or the unseen rarified 'ether'. In Chinese medicine this Qi is the physical YOU, the sensory and perceptive YOU, and the ethereal YOU... physical, mental, and spiritual energies. All of these energies are connected through channels which run along the surface of the body with secondary pathways that go deep into the body to communicate with the organs. Qi regulates and nutures our physical body as well as our mind and our spirit. Processes of the human body are interrelated and in constant interaction with the environment due to the opposing forces of yin and yang. Qi is in part passed on from our parents, and derived from the food we eat, the air we breathe, the environment we live in, and our interactions with each and all of them.
western view:
Biochemical Defense Mechanism: The microscopic prick of an acupuncture needle creates a site of injury at the cellular level. The body's repsonse to injury is a release of chemicals vital to cellular repair. In this way, an acupuncture needle insertion fools the body into thinking it has been invaded by a foreign object and both tissue and cellular biochemical defense mechanisms are initiated. This helps to reduce local inflammation and relieve pain.
Endorphins: Acupuncture and shiatsu stimulate the body to produce its own pain-relieving chemicals called 'endorphins', which are also known as 'anti- stress hormones'.
Gate control Theory: Pain is transmitted from the periphery to the brain via the spinal cord. There is a mechanism (or gate) at work in the spinal cord, which stops pain messages from reaching the brain. Insertion of the thin needles of acupuncture can close this gate, thus lessening the sensation of pain. Endorphins can also block pain pathways by acting on these gates.
Electrical Conduction: It has been noted that acupuncture points have different electrical potentials than other areas of the body. It is not known exactly why these different electrical potentials exist but research suggests that acupuncture, on one level, works by affecting electrical conduction in the body. Research into this phenomenon continues. http://www.i-sis.org.uk/lcm.php
Autonomic Nervous System: The autonomic nervous system is responsible for coordinating and conducting all of the body's involuntary functions. Acupuncture "turns on" the conserving, healing function of the autonomic nervous system while overriding the fight-or-flight function which, when overactive, puts a great deal of wear and tear on our bodies and minds.
Trigger point theory: Through clinical research, western physicians have discovered specific points of tension in the body that, when released, are particularly effective in the alleviation of musculo-skeletal pain. The locations of these points remarkably correlate with the acupuncture points of oriental medicine.
Acupuncture developed over a 3000 year period as practitioners observed the effects of needling different points on the body. The needles have come a long way. What initially were made of bone, are now perfectly engineered shafts of stainless steel with infinitesimally small, unblemished points. They are so small that on most insertions people do not feel anything. Once the needle is inserted, people experience sensations such as heaviness, heat, cold or a heavy pulling or pushing 'magnetic-like' feeling. The needles are left in for about 20-30 minutes. Often you will have peaceful feelings and a sense of calm. Many people report that they feel sleepy after, or sleep very well that night. The needles are removed without bleeding. It is recommended that you have a restful day post treatment as there has been an energetic shift in your body. Healing is beginning as your body remembers its original nature. Take care of yourself, be gentle, and drink tea or water after your treatment.
Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat many conditions. These include:
allergies, addictions, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, colitis, common cold, constipation, dental pain, depression, diarrhea, digestive trouble, dizziness, emotional problems, eye problems, facial tics, fertility, fibromyalgia, headaches, incontinence, IBS, sciatica, sinusitis, sleep disturbances, smoking cessation, sore throat, stress, tennis elbow.
I am NADA (National Association for Detoxification and Addictions) certified. If you are suffering from smoking or chemical dependencies, the NADA specific ear acupuncture protocol has proven efficacy. Contact me to set up an affordable program. NADA is also effective for non-drug habits that are just as dangerous and resistant such as gambling, over-eating, and over-spending.
"Addiction in the modern world can be best understood as a compulsive lifestyle that people adopt as a desperate substitute when they are dislocated from the myriad intimate ties between people and groups (from family to the spiritual community) that are essential for every person in every type of society." ~Bruce Alexander~
For full article check out: http://www.cfdp.ca/roots.pdf
Ancient Chinese philosophers were naturalists believing human beings were akin to nature. Humans were not 'other' and meant to conquer nature, rather they were meant to live within and along side nature. To change with and be changed by it, just as winter changes to spring, and light changes to dark. To acquire an understanding of health and well being, they observed and studied natural phenomenon around them. They were able to construct a conceptual framework, known as the 5 element theory. These five phases were able to explain the interactions and relationships between universal principles using organic metaphors. This theory was not only employed by medicine, but also to many fields from feng shui, music, and astrology to martial arts and military strategy.
The five elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Respectively, they correlate to the liver, heart, spleen, lung, and kidney. Chinese medicine uses this diagnostic model to ascertain the pattern of your health and state of well-being. Harmony is maintained in this cyclical, dynamic structure thru expansive and contractive forces. These two Yin and Yang opposing forces cannot be separated. Without promoting, there is no birth and growth. If there is no restraining, then there are no checks and balances. Together these forces maintain normal harmonious relations.
The expansive (generating) force is known as the Sheng cycle. Simply put, wood burns to feed a fire, fire creates earth (ash), earth bears metal (or the ability to 'hold'), metal carries water (or can 'condense' on metal), and water nourishes wood.
In an unbalanced cycle, too much wood will absorb all the water, excess water rusts metal, abundant metal breaks up earth, earth can smother a fire, and out of control fire burns wood.
The contractive force (restraining) is known as the Ke cycle. Here, wood pulls nutrition from the earth to prevent marshland, earth absorbs and holds water to prevent flooding, water keeps fire from burning out of control, fire keeps metal warm and malleable, metal keeps growth of wood in check.
In an unbalanced state, wooden roots part earth, earth muddies water, water quenches fire, fire melts metal, and metal chops all the wood.
Keeping these four forces in mind, a clinical appliation may look like this. Stress and overwork (stagnated wood/liver qi) cause you to develop digestive issues with nausea, bloating, cramping, loose stools, and low energy (attack of the earth/spleen qi) along the Ke cycle. The under-functioning spleen can then give rise to metal/lung symptoms such as sinusitis, allergies, excema or phlegm type asthma along the Sheng cycle.
If there are anxiety issues involved (fire/heart), I may also begin to see more water related signs as the kidneys attempt to quench the overactive fire. Although there are no direct parallels to western medicine, there can be some correlations to known physiological pathways such as sympathetic and parasympathetic tone, and kidney pH effecting heart activity.
Navel Acupuncture is a new, very effective technique . Especially effective for PAIN!! Coming soon...
Poke Community Acupuncture is located at 225 East Broadway.
There is free parking at the back of our building.
The entrance is safest taking a right hand turn while going westbound off Broadway.
Poke is a community based acupuncture clinic. We use the sliding scale, which means you pay what you can afford.
The sliding scale ranges from $20-$45.
This makes acupuncture afforadable and accessible to everyone, and helps you to heal quicker.
Psychologists and Counsellors:
Dr. Elsie DeVita R.Psych http://www.elsiedevita.com
Delyse Ledgard RCC http://psychotherapy-vancouver.com
Dr. Suzanne LaCombe http://www.myshrink.com
Yoga, Somatic Release and teacher training:
Lana Maree http://www.bodydreams.org
There is no greater and more living resonator of sound than
the human body, for each atom resounds.
~Hazrat Inayat Khan~
