Phoenix Grant Acupuncture

I loved this article on the wisdom of our ancestors and their reverence for nature.

"Our ancestors viewed health as the embodiment of a comprehensive lifestyle imbued with reverence for not only our bodies and our minds, but also the natural world around us — the food we ate, the breaths we took, the connections we made not only with others but also with the Earth, plants, and rivers around us."

Here is the op ed piece as I tried to link in the comments, but its getting removed. The article is in the Yale Climate Connections, by Netha Pathak on Feb 28, 2024.

Title - I’m a doctor. Here’s what Western medicine misunderstands about nature.
It takes a dangerously short-sighted approach.

"Still flush with embarrassment when I relive the moment.

It was 20 years ago. I was a shy medical student. In class, we were learning about heart disease — its causes and the drugs that could be used to treat it.

After the lecture, I quietly approached the professor. I asked him, what about yoga? Could incorporating yoga be beneficial for heart patients?

His response was swift and dismissive, dripping with skepticism. Yoga, he said, is nothing more than a New Age exercise, far removed from the realm of serious medicine.

The ridicule in my professor’s tone taught me that the worldview I’d grown up with was not welcome, not even worthy of inquiry or further study. Not if I valued being a respected member of the medical community.

In the Indian immigrant family of my childhood, yoga was not seen as fringe or even as exercise. Our ancestors viewed health as the embodiment of a comprehensive lifestyle imbued with reverence for not only our bodies and our minds, but also the natural world around us — the food we ate, the breaths we took, the connections we made not only with others but also with the Earth, plants, and rivers around us. The movements of yoga were just one piece of a legacy passed down for generations to maintain health.

But this ancient knowledge, rigorously tested and preserved, had been shared in a language distinct from what the modern scientific and medical community respects. So rather than publicly discussing the mental and physical health benefits of a worldview that sees mental, physical, spiritual, and planetary health as one, I silenced myself.

The irony, of course, is that medical science — obsessed as it is with claiming credit for dissecting and addressing the underlying pathophysiology of smaller and smaller pieces of a whole being — started to catch up. Specific health benefits were “proven” within a Western paradigm with new technologies like MRI scans. Yoga is now routinely prescribed to manage and prevent or reduce the risk of a variety of health conditions, including anxiety and depression. And yes, there are even potential benefits for heart disease. For me, it is a bittersweet validation of ancient wisdom through the lens of modern science.

Now, I hope for a bigger shift. We must recognize that beyond simply exercising our bodies, the yoga of Bhakti allows us to exercise our sense of awe and reverence for the world around us.

In a recent editorial published by the editors of 200 medical journals, health leaders across the globe sounded the alarm that the intertwined climate crisis and nature crisis present a global health emergency. As one part of the solution to these existential crises, these health leaders call for “shifting values related to the human nature-relationship.”

In our current paradigm, our view of nature is largely utilitarian. It is a resource to be used, a means to an end. We value nature when our scientific papers show that time in nature slows our heart rates, lowers cortisol, and lengthens our telomeres. We argue that the biodiversity of species is important because it may one day be a source of medicines to treat human diseases. Even in our fight against climate change, we measure the benefits of protecting nature in the gigatons of carbon these areas can store.

This perspective, while pragmatic, is dangerously myopic. It fails to recognize nature’s intrinsic value, its inherent divinity, and its interconnectedness with our well-being.

In countless languages and cultures across the globe, millions of us recognize the natural world as sacred, worthy of reverence and protection. Rivers are not just water bodies; they are goddesses. Forests are not just timber reserves; they are the abodes of the deities. This understanding of the divine in nature fosters a relationship of care, respect, and sustainability.

Though I have worked desperately to speak the language of modern medicine in my professional life — quietly, almost secretly, at home I pray to rivers. I am moved to tears by mountains.

I teach my children to ask for Mother Earth’s blessings every morning before they place their feet on her to do their daily tasks. My father teaches them that the sacred geography of our ancestors translates to the New World where our family has traveled. He grew up saying “Tapi Mata Ki Jai,” or “long live Mother Tapi,” referring to the river that feeds our native Gujarati towns in India. In our home in Georgia, he teaches us to say, “Chattahoochee Mata Ki Jai” as we walk along the banks of the Chattahoochee River. We walk together, recognizing that our health and happiness are inextricably linked to the health of these sacred rivers.

In hushed tones, a physician colleague recently shared that in her home village, the community used to recognize the divinity of the nearby jungle. This understanding prevented them from destroying or trespassing unnecessarily — a worldview that functioned as a guardrail against encroaching in the natural habitat of a vast array of species and likely protected the people from infectious diseases spread from animals to humans.

As part of our cultural and spiritual inheritance, millions of us connect with our natural world with a sense of awe and reverence, not merely for extraction or utility for economic benefit. This connection has mental, physical, and spiritual health benefits beyond the scope of our current understanding.

As health professionals who have maintained these ancient practices in our personal lives, our perspectives, once dismissed, are now more important than ever to protect the health of our patients.

When we live in a world where we are not disconnected from nature — when we can see revered mountains in the distance, drink from the holy waters of rivers, and bathe in the sacred tree canopies around us — this means that the air we are breathing is clean, the waters we are drinking from are not polluted, and the trees we are surrounded by will cool us, even as the Earth warms.

We saw this firsthand during the COVID lockdown. People shared awe-inspiring images of the Himalayas standing steadfast in the background of their everyday lives, clearly visible for the first time in decades. To be able to view — or have darshan — of these mountains served as a barometer for the massive decline of health-damaging particle pollution, many of them the result of burning fossil fuels.

After just a few short weeks, millions of people across India saw massive improvements in air quality, lowering their short-term risk for flares from asthma and other lung conditions. At the same time, this reduction in air pollution improved the snowpack and prevented the melting of more than 27 million metric tons of snow and ice from the Himalayas, protecting the water source that more than a billion people on the subcontinent rely on.

The cleansing and protection of the natural world should not come through lockdowns. It can come with transformation. When science and technology are coupled with humility and reverence for nature, we can ensure sustainable development that does not pollute, warm the atmosphere, and obscure the sacred world around us. This reduction in pollution, in turn, provides massive improvements in human health.

Given the urgency and scale of our planetary crises, those of us who recognize the power of the yoga of Bhakti must make our voices heard. Just as the medical community has embraced yoga for physical and mental health, we must share the power of a reverence for nature that can transform planetary health.

Though we may have once faced ridicule, though we may have internalized that ridicule, we cannot allow ourselves to destroy a worldview that has been passed down for generations — one in which the health of the divine beings in the world we live in are just as important as the health of the human beings in the communities around us.

Our worldview does not constitute an argument of science versus faith, but a fight for science grounded with reverence.

Nature is not just medicine, and nature is not just a carbon sink. Nature is divine and we need to say so to protect the health of our patients and the planet."

Acupuncture benefits include pain relief for back, knee, neck and shoulder pain, osteoarthritis as well as migraines. It will promote stress reduction, improved sleep and immune system function, allergy relief, regulation of the digestive system and increase energy. Acupuncture is holistic and benefits your physical and mental health and well-being. It promotes balance and improved functioning in the body, helping you achieve the healthy mind and body you desire. Book your appointment today to get started on improving your health. https://aurorahealthclinic.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/60

Excited to see the new changes in the Public Service Health Care Plan (PHSCP). Acupuncture is now covered to $500 per year. The important change is now they are covering treatment from a registered acupuncturist where they used to require this to be performed by a GP.

https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/benefit-plans/health-care-plan/information-notices/improvements-changes-public-service-health-care-plan.html?fbclid=IwAR1bLNDXAdL9PJ898jmICwAfDQ7PD9PyH3z6mMJCaBoADs2P-CHxtXlbhsI

Update: Improvements and changes to the Public Service Health Care Plan - Canada.ca As previously announced, effective July 1, 2023, changes will come into effect for all Public Service Heath Care Plan (PSHCP) members. The PSHCP is currently administered by Sun Life Financial. Following a competitive procurement process, which was unrelated to the new PSHCP changes, Canada Life Ass...

I've practiced Tai Ji and Qi Gong on and off for many years. I know consistency is the key to getting results, but the truth is I'm 1 part lazy and the other part I just hadn't found a lineage that resonated with me. I am sharing something that has been completely different and I am feeling immediate and profound results. Seriously, if you try this for 3 sessions you will see what I'm going on about. This will help with your energy, strength and improve your health.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bikd_He5Gww

For anyone who wants to know more, delve into the book linked in the comments below. In summary, Grand Master Feng Zhiqiang received training from both Chen Style Tai Qi Quan Grand Master Chen Fa Ke and QiGong by Grand Master Hu Yaozhen. To be imparted with this training from not 1 but 2 Grand Masters is unheard of and speaks to the skill of Grand Master Feng. He said "Xinyi Hunyuan Taijiquan is not an inheritance from my masters. It is a rich legacy to the people of the world."

Hunyuan Qigong 混元内功 no music The information is based on Grand Master Feng Zhiqiang's book, Hunyuan Qigong, translated by Chen Zhonghua. Please be mindful that Qigong, and even Hunyuan Q...

https://aurorahealthclinic.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/60

I'm excited to let you know that in 2 weeks (June 19th)
I will be moving to Aurora Health and Wellness at 778 Goldstream, Langford. This is a large multi-disciplinary clinic that I feel will be a good fit for me and allow for more integrated care for patients.
Online booking is now up, stay tuned for more details as I get settled.
I hope to see you soon!

Book Online at Aurora Health and Wellness Hello Wonderful Aurora Patients! It has been a strange couple of years for all of us and while we understand that things come up, the high volume of late cancellations and no-shows has made a significant impact on our practitioners livelihoods. If you do not show up for your reserved appointment tim...

Making time for your well-being is an important part of your mental health wellness. Acupuncture supports you by releasing your body's natural hormones to lift your mood and reduce stress.

SPRING - a time for new beginnings!

On that note, I've started a blog on my website. Check it out to get some ideas for simple tweaks to support yourself as we transition into spring. On the blog, I will be sharing how East Asian Medicine and acupuncture can be effective to support your health and well-being. I hope you'll find these helpful!

Blog — Phoenix Grant Acupuncture Explaining Chinese Medicine and how incorporating lifestyle changes based on CM can improve your health and wellness.

I'm excited to be co-facilitating a yin yoga and acupuncture workshop this Friday, March 17. The focus of this workshop will be supporting your transition into spring. We'll begin with a brief talk about spring through a Chinese Medicine lens. Moving next into a yin yoga flow targeting areas to support Liver and Gall Bladder function. Last we'll glide into an an acupuncture treatment focusing on spring seasonal support. Hope to see you there.

Are you experiencing back pain and can't get any relief? Try this acupressure at home to help the pain settle until you can get in for some treatment.

Extreme Back Pain tutorial - New video.

Learn these simple and effective acupressure points to help yourself or someone you care about who is in extreme pain.

Live on Youtube Now: https://youtu.be/eht6Q-WYMpI

Got Headaches?

Please share this news far and wide. Study results showed that acupuncture resulted in 2.3 fewer migraine episodes per month while 'standard care' resulted in 0.4 fewer episodes. "Dr Angus-Leppan said: ‘It helps to move acupuncture from having an unproven status in complementary medicine to an acceptable evidence - based treatment.’ "

BTW we don't stick needles in your face for headaches, this is a poor choice of stock photos.

Acupuncture 'four times better for migraines than drugs' study says Acupuncture is up to four times more effective than drugs at relieving a migraine, a new study suggests. Those who went under the needle had fewer attacks than those who were given fake acupuncture.

I am excited to be co-facilitating a workshop next month with the incredibly talented Nyk Danu at MaYoga. Come join us for "YIN and PIN" on March 17 at MaYoga for a Yin Yoga class and Community Acupuncture treatment to help you transition into spring. You will experience yin yoga and acupuncture focused on moving into spring and learn about supporting your body as we move into this new cycle of growth.

This workshop is intended for folks who are familiar with Yin Yoga and we recommend that you have attended 3 yin yoga classes prior to the workshop. Class size is limited to 8, we hope to see you there!!

MA Yoga Workshops Victoria | Yoga Classes Victoria, BC Expand your wellness and yoga practice with MA Yoga Victoria workshops! High quality yoga classes offered in our downtown Victoria ypga studio.

I haven’t watched this yet, but I’m excited to see it and wanted to share it far and wide. Hope you enjoy!

"Acupuncture Fever - The Road to Legalization in California"

Study finds exercise is another tool to help protect you from serious illness or hospitalization from COVID. Plus its just plain good for you and makes you feel better overall!

Are Your Patients Using This Anti-COVID Secret Weapon? More and more research shows that physical activity can lower the risk of getting very sick from COVID. Yet, many adults remain inactive.

3 minutes a day for 3 weeks will transform your life. You don't need to begin meditating for 30 minutes, if you are like most people it won't last. Start with a slow practice committing 3 minutes a day for 3 weeks and you'll be amazed at the results! That's one hour over three weeks to a new you!

Transformation in Three Minutes a Day with SIP of the Divine Hate to meditate? Can't connect with your guides? Try Suzanne's SIP of the Divine! This is a 3-minute tool that anyone can use no matter what their excuse ha...

We could all use more of this. These kids will be learning a valuable skill and taking their lives in a positive direction of self-care. Bravo!

A school replaced detention with meditation. The results are stunning. 🙏🙌

Reasonably well-done explanation of how foods balance the body, explained through the lens of Chinese Medine.

How Balancing 'Warming' And 'Cooling' Foods Could Benefit Your Health This concept from Chinese medicine could lend a new type of balance to your diet.

I just discovered this site and I can't wait to dig in.

They review the scientific evidence from acupuncture studies and create summaries of these studies. They have published summaries for anxiety, pain, rhinitis, menopause, osteoarthritis, and more which are freely available on the site. If you are a practitioner this could be a great resource to help support what you do. 😉

"Research into acupuncture as a medical treatment has grown exponentially in the past 20 years, increasing at twice the rate of research into conventional biomedicine. Over this period, there have been over 13,000 studies conducted in 60 countries, including hundreds of meta-analyses summarizing the results of thousands of human and animal studies 1. A wide-variety of clinical areas have been studied, including pain, cancer, pregnancy, stroke, mood disorders, sleep disorders and inflammation, to name a few."

Home - Evidence Based Acupuncture Evidence Based Acupuncture is a non-profit organization created to show the current state of knowledge about acupuncture, using the language of science, and improve public health through dissemination of the latest acupuncture research.

Here's a little insight into how acupuncture can help you this fall. Just finished this for the fall newsletter at Thetis.

Fall is finally here 🍂 The transition of seasons is a great time to focus on our health and wellbeing. As the weather turns cooler and we adjust to our new routines, it's important to support our bodies and minds as we head into Winter.

In September, we moved to consolidate our two clinic spaces into one location. I am now practicing at the Thetis Massage and Acupuncture location in the St Anthony's Professional Centre, on Goldstream. I am excited to be practicing in a medical setting and look forward to helping you with your health concerns.

Book Online at Thetis Massage Therapy Our rates for Registered Massage Therapy will be increasing on December 5th, 2022. Please see our website for more details.

Some exciting research comparing the use of acupuncture vs morphine to modulate pain in hospital emergency departments.
Spoiler alert, the acupuncture was MORE effective.

https://www.ajemjournal.com/article/S0735-6757(16)30422-3/fulltext?fbclid=IwAR1mxMO6llBQ4KJ5LmzzUmgUxVhY9GiGeLUzTJXUkb03JacTZnlr9TtntQk

Acupuncture vs intravenous morphine in the management of acute pain in the ED Acupuncture is one of the oldest techniques to treat pain and is commonly used for a large number of indications. However, there is no sufficient evidence to support its application in acute medical settings.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified the mechanism of action for acupuncture in reducing inflammation. This will be a game-changer for the more mainstream acceptance of acupuncture in the coming years.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/11/researchers-pinpoint-how-acupuncture-targets-inflammation/

Researchers pinpoint how acupuncture targets inflammation Researchers have identified a subset of neurons that must be present for acupuncture to trigger an anti-inflammatory response.

Acupuncture is known as a go to for treating pain. Sometimes it seems like magic, how quickly some things resolve. But it's the cases that don't move quick enough that have propelled me to start a deep dive into the neuroscience of pain.

Our understanding of pain has undergone a radical shift in the past few years and as we move into a better understanding of what exactly pain is and how it manifests, new approaches to treating pain emerge. I plan to share a resources I find along this journey.

This overview of Pain Reprocessing Therapy, offers some hope for chronic pain sufferers. Why not just post about acupuncture? Because having more tools means that when there's a tricky case that isn't budging I know there are other options in the toolbox.
https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/patient/resources/pain-self-management/how-brain-causes-chronic-pain-how-stop-it

How the Brain Causes Chronic Pain & How to Stop It Some chronic pain is triggered by the brain misreading "pain" signals. Here's how Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) can help break the pain-fear cycle.

It’s the most important holiday in China, also know as the Spring Festival. With acknowledgment to the long history of the amazing medicine I practice, I’d like to share some of this culturally significant holiday with you. Happy Year of the Tiger. https://chinesenewyear.net/21-things-you-didnt-know-about-chinese-new-year/

21 Things You Didn’t Know About Chinese New Year – Chinese New Year Why is it called the Spring Festival? What is lucky money? How do you say “Happy New Year” in Chinese? Get the answers to these questions and more.

There are so many interesting things to comment on about this discovery. Diet plays a role in health, well heck ya. Another point worth noting is that the same disease has to be treated differently in different people. Some of these concepts may already be familiar to my Chinese Medicine patients and colleagues. 😉

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/08/global-spread-of-autoimmune-disease-blamed-on-western-diet

Global spread of autoimmune disease blamed on western diet New DNA research by London-based scientists hopes to find cure for rapidly spreading conditions

Happy New Year!
Wishing you all a healthy and happy 2022.

I'm excited to be part of the team at Thetis Massage in Langford at the Belmont Market. I will be practicing on Mondays and Thursdays in 2022.

Moving into the new year, let's make your self care a priority. It's time to address those aches and pains, insomnia or anxiety and get you feeling better!

Book your acupuncture appointment here. https://thetismassage.janeapp.com/locations/belmont-market/book #/staff_member/52

Book Online at Thetis Massage Therapy Please do not arrive early for your appointment. Please wait outside or in your vehicle until your appointment time. Be sure to complete any outstanding forms prior to your visit to avoid cutting into you appointment time. All patients and staff are required to wear a mask. You may bring your own, o...

I have been seeing a significant increase in anxiety as the pandemic rages on, and this is only heightened by the stress of the holidays. Acupuncture can help with anxiety, and reduce the need for pharmaceutical therapy, win-win. BTW these aren't the points we use to treat anxiety so don't worry you wont have a face full of needles! https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/why-acupuncture-works-anxiety-relief/

Why Acupuncture Works for Anxiety Relief - Everyday Health It's thousands of years old, but acupuncture is just being recognized as an effective anxiety treatment. Learn what experts think and whether it might help you.