Being With Winter + Kidney Health | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

February 21, 2019 Hayley Stobbs

At my aunt’s farm near Birch Hills, SK.
Winter marks the days from December 21st - March 20th.

This post highlights how to be with winter as an opportunity to embrace slowing down and conserving so that we may freely flow forth with seeds of potential into Spring and make manifest the active energy that it has to offer. We’ll focus on kidney processes in harmony and disease, mental-emotional correspondences, and how to take care of your kidney health, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. . .

7 Self Care Tips for Early Cold Symptoms + Ginger-Lemon-Honey Tea Recipe | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

September 30, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Early cold symptoms indicate that one’s defensive qi (wei qi) has been invaded by either heat or cold carried by wind pathogens, for example a virus carried by a draft. The lungs govern wei qi which guards our outermost boundary; it is relative to immune protection and resides within the skin and superficial meridians. . .

Pranayama Breathwork | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

August 27, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Photo credit: Sea Flora Skin Care

Pranayama, also known as breathing therapy, directly affects the mind-body through balancing the nervous system. Nervous system balancing benefits neuro-endocrine signalling, our cells, tissues, and organs, from head to toes, as the potent ripple effect of calm energy (expansion) replaces tension (contraction).

Mindful + Intuitive Eating Guidelines | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

August 20, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Intuitive eating requires kindness, awareness, clarity, and supportive decision-making. This doesn't mean cravings won't arise or that they can't be a part of your healing; it means you will reach a point where you can decipher and honour with tolerance emotional cravings, versus blood sugar swings, versus true hunger. . .

10 Tips For Healthy Glowing Skin | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

August 1, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Certain areas of your face may be related to specific organ, musculoskeletal, and meridian imbalances. It’s clues like these that lead to an acupuncture treatment plan, diet, and lifestyle suggestions.

For skin concerns registered acupuncturists gather internal and external information to come up with a treatment plan that addresses your goals. We assess signs, symptoms, take your pulse, look at your tongue, the colour of your skin, meridians involved, microsystem observation, and gather information about your diet and lifestyle. . .

Optimizing Circadian Rhythm For Well-Being | 10 Tips

July 29, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

We're biological beings. . . we're not our smartphones, we're not our computers. We need to be in touch with the rhythms of nature..png

Our environment, diet and lifestyle routines, as well as stress and emotional health have an influence on our circadian rhythm or biological clock. Our circadian rhythm has a profound effect on hormone regulation, energy, restful sleep, and digestion. . .

My Acupuncturist Tells Me I'm Damp! + Herbal Latte Recipe | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

July 22, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Dampness is a common TCM syndrome pattern, with signs and symptoms such as: bloating, indigestion, water retention, heaviness, fatigue, mental fogginess, sluggish metabolism, cysts, leucorrhea, achey joints, and stool inconsistency. Related western diagnoses that contain elements of damp include hormone imbalances such as hypothyroidism and PCOS, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome, CIRS, diabetes, IBS, SIBO, candida overgrowth, and weeping skin conditions. . .

Healing Food Addiction, Bingeing, + Sugar Cravings | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

June 25, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

It's not willpower, it's biochemistry. The amount and type of food you eat affects the balance of brain chemistry, hormones, and blood sugar levels. Your nutrient dense meals should contain enough essential fatty acids (good quality fats) and amino acids (via quality protein) to build sufficient serotonin (happy hormone) and dopamine both of which help you inhibit food cravings (particularly carbohydrates). Set yourself up to manage cravings by resetting your neurohormonal dashboard. . .

What is Nutritional Ketosis? Could you Benefit? | Acupuncture - Victoria, BC

June 22, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Nutritional ketosis is a high fat, moderate protein, and low carb way of eating that shifts the body from a glucose (sugar) burning state into a fat burning state, thus utilizing healthful ketones that are produced by fat stores and fats from food. . .

Cosmetic Acupuncture For Healthy Glowing Skin | Acupuncture - Victoria, BC

May 19, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Cosmetic Acupuncture works by stimulating Acupuncture points along energy meridians in the face with tiny dermal needles. This process brings qi and blood to the skin to promote vitality and a radiant glow. Stimulation of nerves and cell tissue micro-traumas increase circulation, lymph drainage, and nutrients to the face while boosting the production of collagen and elastin to tighten skin. . .

Auricular (Ear) Therapy, Have You Tried It? | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

May 7, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Auricular acupuncture is considered a microsystem while the ear is a microcosm of the whole anatomical body. The head is represented by the lower ear lobe, the feet are at the top of the ear and the rest of the body is in between. This is one of the more widely used microsystem therapies used in eastern medicine. . .

Basic Whole Foods Guidelines | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

May 4, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Whole foods are a foundation for good health; foods in their most natural or unrefined forms. They offer us energy in the form of macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein, and fat), and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and enzymes), along with antioxidants (phytochemicals). Real food communicates with our bodies to prevent and reverse disease and ageing while creating a state of dynamic balance and health within us. . .

Acupuncture for Allergies | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

May 1, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

A selection of local acupuncture points for seasonal allergies. I normally choose 2 - 3 local acu-points, an ear point, as well as distal points that treat both allergies and constitutional imbalances.

According to Chinese medicine, allergy symptoms such as sinus congestion, fatigue, hay fever, runny nose, and scratchy throat, arise due to imbalances within organ and meridian systems. Repeated exposure to allergy triggers perpetuate imbalance and may stem from a variety of sources such as environmental pollen and toxins, stress, constitutional deficiencies, hygiene, and diet. Our bodies must have an adequate amount of Wei Qi (defensive qi) circulating within our meridians in order to stay healthy. . .

Here's Why You Should Add Cupping To Your Acupuncture Treatments | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

April 12, 2018 Hayley Stobbs

Cupping is an ancient Chinese medicine therapy that uses suction by means of heat and formed glass to pull muscle tissue upwards. A variety of sized cups may be applied on the back and/or moved along the affected meridian (channel pathway) to improve blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, detoxification, to expel colds, and to release fascia. . .

Acupuncture Provides Effective Pain Relief That Is Medication Free | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

November 10, 2017 Hayley Stobbs

Approximately one in five Canadians suffer from chronic pain and whether internally or externally derived the many gradients of pain affect one’s quality of life. Here's how acupuncture can help (...)

Acupuncture For Stress & Anxiety | Acupuncture - Victoria BC

June 28, 2017 Hayley Stobbs

Acupuncture is a form of mindfulness meditation, as it allows the individual to engage in being and receiving as the needles guide the mind-body into a deep state of relaxation. Biomedically, acupuncture works with the brain by acting on the nervous system. This brain and nervous system communication regulates the parasympathetic nervous system, boosts mood through serotonin and dopamine release, and eases pain through relieving muscle tension and the release of endorphins (...)