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Consumer Choice Award 2021

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Ryan Tze-Wai Longenecker

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Can Qi Gong Help Your Stress Levels?

A high percentage of individuals today live with moderate to high stress in their daily lives. With our on-the-go lifestyles, addicted to our phones and work, we seem to be unable to slow down and relax.


Stress can present itself in a variety of ways such as hypertension, depression, insomnia, and fatigue. In the US, stress contributes to two thirds of doctor’s visits and 50% of all illnesses. Over the past few months, self-care trends have taken off as people have tried to adjust to working from home, teaching their kids from home and not being able to
socialize in quite the same ways. People are looking to new exercise habits, skin care routines, limiting screen time, getting a new family pet and many more ways to try and bring some sanity back into their life.


Qi Gong is an option for those who are looking for variety, a new way to move their body, and a way to gain control over their stress levels. It’s been found that this exercise has helped improve physical health and reduce perceived stress and anxiety. It’s found to be beneficial for medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart disease, movement disorders and even cancer.


This practice combines physical movements with specific breathing techniques to help decrease stress and improve overall health and well-being. The movements stimulate key acupuncture points and meridians, which help to promote the flow of energy. Other reasons for this effect is because Qi Gong focuses on concentration and slow, deep breathing patterns during the movement, which proves to be effective in reducing blood pressure and decreasing stress levels. It works to reduce the sympathetic nervous system (the fight or flight reaction) and helps to control norepineprhine and cortisol levels.


If you want to learn more and practice yourself, you can learn more at the Qi Gong Institute website where they have more information, videos, teachers and educational content https://www.qigonginstitute.org/
You can also check out my personal Qi Gong teacher, Sifu Rupert Harvey: http://goldenharmonykungfu.com/what-we-offer/

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3152799/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3893407/

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How does sitting around impact our lives?

Have you ever thought about how much you sit every day? You drive to work, sit at your desk for 6-8 hours where you might stand up for social breaks or maybe lunch. Then you drive home and you sit again after dinner and look at screens or read. How many of us are sitting for more than 8 hours a day?

Studies have shown that increased sitting decreases our ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down body fat. We spend a lot of our days sitting whether it’s at work, doing homework, watching TV or spending time on our computers and for many people, commuting. There are no current recommendations on limiting sitting time, but we do know that we should be breaking up excessive sitting with some movement. In a 7 year study of almost 8000 people, it was found that any amount of activity was better than sitting. Swapping 30min of sitting for 30min of light-intensity activity (walking, house maintenance etc) would have 17% lower risk of death. Increase the intensity (jogging, cycling etc) and that jumps to 35% lower risk of death. However, maybe you’re busy and can’t do 30min in a row. That’s not a problem – 1-5min active breaks between periods of sitting also reduce risk of death. If you wear a smart watch, you’ll notice they’re set up to remind you to move every hour if you haven’t moved enough.

Sitting increases pain because it tightens the hip flexors and hamstring muscles and stiffen the joints. This impacts our gait and balance and makes simple activities more difficult. These tighter muscles also contribute to low back pain, and knee problems that many of us suffer with.

For adults, it’s recommended to try to avoid sitting constantly during the day. Stand when and where you can and if possible, move around as much as possible. For example, if you have the ability to stand while working try to set up a standing desk. If you’re taking a phone break, walk around and message friends instead of slouching in your chair. For families, try and limit screen time in the house to avoid excessive sitting and instead encourage activities that require you to move around. Stand up and stretch or do some jumping jacks during commercials or between episodes of your Netflix shows.

Acupuncture can help if you have back pain and are finding that it is negatively impacting your daily habits. The acupuncture points used help to stimulate the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and brain. These make an impact on the individual’s experience of pain as well as stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities.

Additionally, try out these 4 stretches that help open the hips and release the muscles that might be linked to your back pain:

Image credit: https://www.flexibilityrx.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FRXc-sW-Core-Four-Lower1.jpg

Sources:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/why-sitting-too-much-is-bad-for-us/
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/light-activity-may-lower-harmful-effects-sitting
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/the-dangers-of-sitting

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Are you feeling the Summer-Heat?

This summer is shaping up to be one of the hottest that our city, Toronto, has seen in recent years. With the rise in temperatures and humidity, we have turned to various options to keep cool. Many of us have cranked up the AC units, turned on all our available fans, and stocked up on cold drinks (and maybe some ice-cream).

In North America, we tend to reach for iced teas and coffees, salads and smoothies as our go-to summer foods to help cool us off but how long would your list of go-to foods be before you got to tea or some spicy tacos? Many warm countries enjoy hot drinks and very flavourful foods all year round regardless of the heat.

Why do hot countries use more spices in their cooking?

1. The main reason these warmer countries use more spices goes back to the time before fridges were a thing. Food spoils quicker in the heat and the use of spices was used to preserve food. Unlike colder climates where they could hang a piece of meat outside to cool and preserve, warmer climates didn’t have that same luxury. Spices like chilli were favoured because they have antimicrobial and antiparisitic properties.

2. The spice from the food increases your body temperature which leads to your body trying to cool itself down through perspiring. This is the body’s mechanism to cool you down. However, if you’re in a humid heat (like Toronto) eating all the jalapeno peppers you can get your hands on won’t be much help.

3. Chili peppers tend to grow more in these warmer climates, so they end up being used in their cooking more often.

Fighting Fire with Fire

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, we want to use heat to beat the heat (at least with our food and drink). Our digestive system runs on “fire” in order to properly digest food and deliver nutrients around the body. If we cool down our internal temperature too much and go too far out of balance, it can lead to a variety of problems which can develop in various ways. If we are “cold” on the inside, the body has to work extra hard to generate heat in order to digest the foods. This ends up making you hotter and thirstier creating a vicious cycle. Our bodies are meant to balance the heat of the summer, but we often take it too far.  In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the recommendation is usually to drink fluids that are lukewarm-cool, never iced to keep us in balance with the weather.

Summer Heat and Acupuncture

In the summer time, it’s very common for us to enjoy being outdoors and soaking in the rays. If not careful, we can be exposed to too much heat, too quickly and this can lead to imbalances within the body. Some common symptoms include excess body heat, profuse sweating, parched mouth and throat, constipation and heart palpitations.

With acupuncture, the placement of needles can help with the symptoms and clearing heat.

  • Heart 8: can be used to decrease thirst and restlessness, while also treating insomnia.
  • Large Intestine 11: helps to clear heat, drops fever and decreases inflammation that may be occurring due to excess heat in the body.
  • Pericardium 3: can be used for sunstroke or anxiety that often accompanies heat stroke.

Cooling foods to add to your Summer Diet

  • Watermelon – you can eat all parts of it, and has been used in Chinese Herbal Medicine to help with Summer Heat symptoms and dehydration
  • Mint and Chrysanthemum Tea – both “cool” herbs that relieves heat in the head and chest. Drink it hot ideally!
  • Cucumbers – add it to your water, chopped in salads, or sliced up on side of your breakfast or lunches.
  • Other foods include: apricots, peaches, berries, oranges, avocados, mung beans, eggplant, asparagus, bean sprouts, bamboo, bok choy, spinach, watercress and cilantro.

A quick Google search will bring up others not listed and you can easily find some inspired summer recipes to try!

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4861186/
https://daoisttraditions.edu/stay-cool/
Beat the Summer Heat with This Superfood
https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Summer+and+Traditional+Chinese+Medicine

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Consumer Choice Award Winners 2019!

We are so excited to be chosen as the 2019 CCA Winners for Best Acupuncture Clinic in Toronto! What makes this even more special for us is that this is now our 5th consecutive win for this award. It is humbling and exciting to be recognized for the hard work that we put into giving our patients the best care possible. And it makes us feel that we are doing something right here! A special thank you to all of our amazing patients for trusting us with their health, your most valuable asset!

-Ryan and Brendan

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DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK AS A STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE?

These days, anxiety has turned out to be a part and parcel of our lives. Though it is not a great state of mind to be in, it cautions that you are going to come across a lot of tricky circumstances.

Some individuals may feel without tension one cannot feel driven to work, but this is not the correct way to think. In small quantities, anxiety could be a good thing, but not for an extended period of time, as it may lead to a condition where one has to face a lot of penalties linked to stress, and that does not mean just loss of appetite or labored breathing.

Clinical anxiety can be treated by means of medication and other clinical approaches. Before that, an individual has to admit that they are going through constant worry and the first attempt to resolve the problems as much as conceivable. Such approaches consist of acupuncture which can ease anxiety and stress.

  1. Acupuncture Is Very Upfront

The procedure is direct and consists of a well-qualified acupuncturist. First of all, we will inquire about your health history and inspect the tongue. We observe the feel of the pulse and will carry out other physical inspections on the condition on the patient’s health.

After inspecting the individual, we will formulate a treatment strategy to treat a specific health condition.

There would be no pain or negligible uneasiness as the fine needles are positioned lightly on these respective points. The needles would be reserved for approximately half an hour and then will be removed. A lot of individuals have gotten liberation and felt comfortable after the treatment.

2. Acupressure Points

There are many acupressure points in the body.  Here are nine helpful ones that may be used:

• Leg Three Miles Point

The point is situated near the kneecap and above the feet. By putting on the pressure at this point, the energy flow can be controlled and augmented.

• Great Rushing

This point is in the middle of the second toe and thumb in the webbing of feet. By putting on pressure, it aids in upholding an even flow of energy and unclogs blocked meridians.

• Grandfather-Grandson

This is found in the feet just at the base of big toe. It aids in providing stable circulation of energy all over the body by putting on the pressure to it. It aids by releasing the mind from apprehension and concerns.

• Inner Gate

This is located close to the pulse of the hands and by putting on pressure on it, one can get rid of additional stress. It aids in getting rid of nausea.

• Outer Gate

This point is situated on the precise another side of the inner gate point. By stimulating this point, one gets sustenance for the immune system and aids in refining the energy flow.

• Union Valley

The point is situated in the webbing in the middle of index finger and thumb. By applying pressure, it decreases the stress and muscle tautness.

• Central Treasury

This point is adjacent to armpit and exciting this point aids in deep breathing and donates to balanced emotions.

• Will’s Chamber

The point is to be found near the backbone, and by exciting this point, it aids in strengthening the whole body and gets rid of back tension.

• Shoulder Well

It is situated on the edge of the shoulder and it decreases strain and tautness by putting on the pressure at this point. It provides an unconstrained flow of energy which aids in relieving stress and anxiety.

3. Generating Steadiness in the Nervous System

A meta-analysis research study has revealed that the HRV (heart rate variability) scores were enhanced by applying acupuncture treatment. This has aided a lot of patients in refining their health disorders as well as mental conditions.

4. Boost Your Energy

Most of the time, we feel tired and anxious or dazed due to work or effort. This may lead to frustration, low energy levels, which make you moody, bringing about in a state known as stress and depression.

5. Acupuncture Is Relaxing

Acupuncture is extremely calming and soothing to the body. A lot of individuals have gone through this treatment and discovered it to be helpful in getting released from stress and anxiety.

The acupuncture is perceived as harmonizing Qi in Chinese medicine which involved reinstating balance and well-being of health.

6. Drug-Free Treatment

Medical consultants in general use steroids and drugs in treating pain which typically leads to a number of side effects. Matched to these, acupuncture is effective, harmless and it is a completely drug-free treatment for pain and other conditions.

A research study piloted in Georgetown has revealed that the acupuncture works in a similar manner as compared to the calming drugs such as anti-anxiety and anti-depressants.  

7. Healing Outcome

Healing time of the ailments is influenced by the patient’s mindset and the harshness of symptoms. Most of the patients report relief after only one session of acupuncture. Others may take longer to feel the effects, if their body has more toxins or delayed healing reaction.

Summary

In modest words, there is nothing you would lose with acupuncture and with a specialized acupuncturist there would be no dangers at all. On the other hand, there are a lot of benefits with such treatments, and one can sleep better and have a better sense of well-being.

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Consumer Choice Award Winners 2018!

Another year of many thanks and appreciation to those who have supported us over the years and who continue to do so as the years go by.  Additionally, thank you to the Consumers Choice Awards for recognizing Avenue Acupuncture as the Top Acupuncturist in the GTA for the fourth year in a row. It is truly fulfilling to have received this esteemed award for another year as we have made strides to ensure that the utmost care is delivered to our patients and that improvement in their health and our delivery of health is of top priority

Of course this award would not have been possible without our dedicated and loyal patients who are as committed to their health as we are to them. It is humbling to have the opportunity and honour of being dedicated to what you do.  We love the awesome reward of bearing witness in the improvement to our patient’s health. This past year we have had the privilege of sharing in the joys of improved sight for those patients that have had eye treatments, success stories of healthy baby deliveries from couples who have struggled with fertility, to improved emotional and physical wellbeing over all. It is the stories of all of our patients that keep us motivated to continue growing, learning and improving.

We are eager for the year ahead and what it brings!

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Hormonal Balance Through TCM

Chinese Theory behind use of Acupuncture to Restore Hormones

Jing is known as essence and has three main energy components one of which is related to your hormones. Jing is also responsible for keeping the mind, body and spirit in balance. Yin balances the blood and fluids in your body and yang balances the energy and warmth of the body. Chinese theory sees Jing as being housed in the kidney’s which is one of the organ systems that are responsible for regulating hormones. During the course of the lifetime Jing is what is responsible for nourishing cells, tissues and organs.  When the hormones are imbalanced the Jing or (essence) depletes and therefore, the goal in Chinese medicine is to restore Jing.

Acupuncture VS HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

Acupuncture is a natural way to balance out hormones. Acupuncture achieves this balance by redirecting the flow of energy so that your body can be guided into healing
itself. HRT in Western medicine uses an artificial substance to regulate hormones and can come with potential complications such as heart problems, stroke, and blood clots.

Benefits of Acupuncture to Balance Hormones

When the hormones are not in balance you can experience fatigue, low libido, depression, mood swings, fluctuating menstruation, weight gain or weight loss among other experiences.  When it comes to balancing hormones, acupuncture restores this balance by targeting the liver which is responsible for our metabolism and emotions. It also regulates the body for example by removing heat from dilated blood vessels thus, reducing blood pressure.  Acupuncture to regulate hormones is beneficial because it restores balance, promotes relaxation reducing stress, anxiety and muscle tension. Additional benefits include;

  • Reduction of PMS symptoms
  • Reductions of symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, insomnia, headache)
  • For men it can reduce symptoms of hypothyroidism.

What to Expect

Your acupuncturist will evaluate you by checking your pulse or tongue to better understand the hormonal imbalance. A treatment plan will be formed that will aid your body in balancing itself out. Herbs, teas, diets and an exercise plan may all be suggestions from your acupuncturist.

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Why Does My Acupuncturist Look At My Tongue?

This is a common question. Your acupuncturist will look at your tongue to determine;

  • Diagnosis for TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
  • And to identify the advancement of a condition

The tongue is associated with the internal organs of the body as well as the meridians. The meridians in TCM refer to pathways within the body where energy is known to flow. These energy pathways coincide with the overall health of the organ system they correspond with.

  • The back of the tongue corresponds with the kidney, bladder, large and small intestine
  • The left and right side of the tongue correspond with the liver and the gallbladder
  • The center of the tongue corresponds with the stomach and the spleen
  • The tip of the tongue corresponds with the lung and heart

The colour of the tongue serves as an indicator of the internal temperature of the body and correlates with circulation from the liver and the heart. Colour of the tongue can also reveal to your acupuncturist if there is a heat or cold condition present. A heat condition indicates that the body’s internal temperature is too warm and vice versa for cold conditions. This is also why your acupuncturist may suggest that you eat hot or cold foods (see: Healthy Eating According to Traditional Chinese Medicine).

Red or Pink: Indicative of the internal temperature of the body and is a normal colouring. However, too much redness (only when applicable symptoms exist), could indicate a “heat” condition.

White: The thin white layering of the tongue is referred to as the tongues coating. In individual cases, the coating can vary from week to week. For example when a woman has their period, is pregnant or after labour the white coating may change. The white layer is indicative of a healthy digestive system however, if the white layer has a thickness to it, this could mean a “cold” condition is located in the GI tract. Poor circulation (blood clots and toxins) can cause there to be more or less white coating.

Purple: A purple colouring is indicative of poor blood circulation, due to the liver and the heart. But there are several other reasons why the colouring of the tongue may be purple. Migraines and arthritis are a couple examples.

Yellow: The GI tract is inflamed and digestion is sluggish.

Your acupuncturist will also examine the shape of the tongue to gain a sense of the nature of a condition. Therefore; it is important for your acupuncturist to take a look in order to gain a sense of your body and your health.

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Bloodletting

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a few drops of blood let out from one of the peripheral points acupuncture points can have significant health benefits.  Bloodletting is one of the oldest Acupuncture techniques, which is effectively used for helping to increase blood circulation, and induce a therapeutic effects on the body.

It is commonly used for alleviating heat, convulsions, mental distress, fevers and many other ailments including:  reducing blood pressure, increasing blood circulation, facilitating in the creation of new blood, sore throat, cardiac pain, headache, redness of eyes, hernia, prolapsed uterus, dream disturbed sleep, toothache, facial swelling, cold feeling in legs and feet, dizziness, blurred vision, deafness, nasal obstruction, and mental disorders.

 

Research has also shown that the act of bloodletting slows the growth of bacteria.

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Third Year in a Row! 2017 Consumer Choice Award Winners!

‘Honoured’ doesn’t begin to describe how we feel about achieving this prestigious award!  With so many other great practitioners in the city, we are so excited that we have been chosen as the Top Acupuncturist in the GTA for, not once, not twice, but three years in a row.  Thank you to the Consumer Choice Awards for recognizing great business and empowering consumers to make smart buying decisions.  It is such a great feeling to have your hard work recognized.

We are so blessed to have such a loyal patient base, and so excited by the daily miracles we experience in the clinic.  From the struggling fertility couple who is finally able to conceive; to the young adult born with a genetic eye condition that is able to see better; to the construction worker who’s back pain is gone; it is the stories of all of our patients that keep us motivated to continue growing, learning and improving.

We are eager for the year ahead and what it brings!