Spruce Grove Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

We have appointments available this week with all 3 of our acupuncturists! 🙌👏

💚 Lianne White has availability on Friday June 14 during the day for new or returning clients. Book yourself in with Lianne to take care of your mental and physical health!

💚 Dr. Melanie Marr has 2 cancellation openings tomorrow including rare evening availability, Tuesday June 11 for returning clients.

💚 Constantine Karampelas can see returning clients Tuesday June 11 and Wednesday June 12, and new or returning clients on Thursday June 13 and Friday June 14. Come see Constantine for a tune-up, or to see how acupuncture can help you with pain, digestion, and so many other issues.

To book one of these available spots this week, give us a call at 780-904-5006, or book online using the link below.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Still a couple appointments left available this week!

Constantine has had some cancellations for today so can see a new or returning client this afternoon, otherwise he is booking into next week.

Lianne has a few more spots left open on Friday this week, and Melanie still has one cancellation opening tomorrow!

To book one of these last remaining appointments, give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online at www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com/schedule
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

✋ We have a handful of openings left for this week ✋ (Scroll through the images to see more!)

Lianne has availability for new or returning clients this Friday!

Constantine can see returning clients on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week, and a new or returning client on Friday!

Melanie has a couple rare spots open this week for returning clients including THIS afternoon!

To book one of these last remaining appointments, give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online at www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com/schedule
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

📣 Last appointments available this week! 📣

Constantine can see returning clients on Thursday, and new or return clients on Friday and Saturday.

Lianne can see new or return clients on Friday AND she now has limited Saturday availability! There is one spot left this weekend!

To book one of these last handful of spots, give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

3 more days until a long weekend - but who's counting? 😉⌚

We will be closed on Monday, May 20 for the Victoria Day holiday.

We hope you have a happy and safe long weekend! We're back to regular hours on Tuesday.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the body, reaching many different organs in the body as part of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Not only does it control important bodily functions like heart rate, breathing rate, the immune system, and digestion, it also has an impact on lots of other functions in the body like:
🔥 the inflammation response
💗 feelings of empathy and compassion
🫂 social engagement
🧐 your "gut feelings"
☺️ emotional regulation.. and more.

Improving vagal tone and stimulating the vagus nerve can be keys to helping a person improve their resiliency to stress, and overall mental health. 🗝️

Acupuncture and craniosacral therapy (CST) are both effective at improving vagal tone and stimulating the vagus nerve, and here are some other practices to try at home:
🌬️ "belly" breathing
💦 splashing cold water on your face
🎵 humming, singing, or gargling
🍽️ nutritional supplements like omega 3 fatty acids and probiotics
🧘 mindfulness practices including meditation and yoga

Our mental health specialist, Lianne White, R.Ac., incorporates acupuncture and CST into most of her treatments to provide the best outcomes for her clients.

If you'd like to try her unique style of treatment, give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

We're re-sharing this cool infographic for Mental Health week!

How does trauma affect the body's stress response?

When the body is in a state of resiliency, it easily adapts to stress and normalizes to a state of homeostasis following stressful events. The nervous system can cycle between arousal, activating the sympathetic system to deal with minor stressors, and restoration, allowing the parasympathetic system to handle its rest & digest functions and heal the body.

In un-discharged traumatic stress, the body can get stuck in sympathetic activation, or parasympathetic freeze. This idea is based on the polyvagal theory, introduced in 1994 by Stephen Porges.

The polyvagal theory posits that our nervous system has 3 neural circuits. The newest part of our nervous system is the ventral vagus complex, which describes a state in which we can connect to other people and engage socially, and feel empathy and joy. It is in charge of social engagement and relaxation, and when we are operating from our ventral vagal system we feel safe and secure.

In response to real or perceived danger, the body activates the second oldest circuit, the sympathetic nervous system, to mobilize resources. Blood shifts to the brain and muscles to prepare for fighting or fleeing, and other bodily functions like digestion and reproduction are put on pause.

The dorsal vagal freeze response is thought to be the oldest, most primitive response of our nervous system. Our bodies access this response when we cannot escape from danger. People operating in the dorsal vagal freeze response become immobilized, and may feel an intense need to sleep or lie down when faced with high-stress moments.

In a healthy person, these three neural circuits work together and are in constant fluctuation, working to restore the body to homeostasis. With trauma and PTSD, a body may become stuck in sympathetic activation, or dorsal vagal parasympathetic freeze.

In the practice of acupuncture and TCM, we approach treatments in much the same way, with the goal of finding balance and homeostasis, and we understand that our mental and physical wellbeing are inextricably linked.

If you would like help processing trauma and regulating your nervous system in order to access all your intrinsic resources, book your appointment with our mental health specialist Lianne White (R.Ac.). Give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) is defined as failure to respond to at least 2 antidepressants from different classes of medication. In Canada, the overall prevalence of TRD is about 22%, meaning that almost one quarter of patients receiving care from a physician for their depression do not respond to treatment with medication.

Between the inefficacy of many of these medications and intolerable side effects, it's no wonder more and more people are turning to alternative therapies to treat their mental health concerns like depression.

Mood disorders are a very common reason we see people for acupuncture here. Acupuncture can help reduce the severity of depression symptoms and generally has fewer side effects than medication.

If a person is taking a medication they can tolerate, combining pharmacotherapy with acupuncture can significantly reduce depression symptoms.

Book your appointment with our mental health specialist, Lianne White, R.Ac., if you'd like to find out how acupuncture can help!
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Have you heard of Heart Rate Variability (HRV)?

💓 HRV is a measure of the fluctuation in time between heart beats, and it's a good indicator of autonomic function in the body. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for regulating automatic bodily functions like your heart rate, breathing rate, digestion, and blood pressure.

😰 Decreased HRV has been linked with autonomic dysfunction in psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders.

📌 One of the ways that acupuncture can help with mental health conditions is by improving Heart Rate Variability. With a higher HRV, the body is better able to cope with stress – a higher HRV suggests that the body's nervous systems are more in balance and less dysregulated.

If you're interested in learning more about HRV and how acupuncture can help you through mental health challenges, book your appointment today.

Our mental health specialist, Lianne White, R.Ac., has a wealth of knowledge in treating trauma, mental health concerns, addiction recovery, and more.

Call us at 780-904-5006 or use the link in below to book online.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

The prevalence of mild to moderate symptoms of PTSD in Canada is around 8% of adults. It affects women more than men, and is highest among those aged 18 to 24.

PTSD can have lasting and pervasive impacts to those who suffer. But luckily, research is emerging on how holistic treatment approaches can be incredibly beneficial.

A study out of Norway published in the Complementary Therapies in Medicine journal suggests that a multimodal treatment approach, including hands-on therapies like craniosacral therapy, can benefit people living with complex traumas including PTSD.

For people experiencing pain, adding craniosacral therapy to their treatment approach was particularly helpful in addition to psychotherapy. CST reduced the physical pain, improving access to the mental resources necessary for effective psychotherapy.

The study concludes that those who are dealing with complex traumas can benefit from a holistic treatment model, with several different modalities, "including a bodily oriented modality such as craniosacral therapy".

Our acupuncturist Lianne White, R.Ac. incorporates CST into most of her sessions with clients, and uses Somatic Experiencing to gently guide clients through processing past traumas.

If you would like to work on your mental health using a gentle, titrated approach, book your appointment with Lianne. Give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

If you'd like more insight into how trauma gets "stuck" in the body, and how to get "unstuck", check out this short video from Peter Levine, developer of Somatic Experiencing.

https://youtu.be/fiq0sILHiJs?si=QlMx9iyMLYVRGUUH

“Trauma is not what happens to us. But what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.”
— Peter A Levine, PhD

If you're interested in trying Somatic Experiencing with acupuncture to work through trauma, book your appointment with Lianne White, R.Ac. Give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below!
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Peter Levine Demonstrates How Trauma Sticks in the Body What if the traumatic event wasn't the cause of trauma? It's time to rethink trauma by looking to the body's memory of the event, not the mind's interpretati...

🌿 Our incredible acupuncturist Lianne White, R.Ac. combines ancient wisdom with modern techniques to help guide you towards profound healing.

🗝️✨ Lianne uses her unique set of tools during sessions with her clients, including Somatic Experiencing, a gentle approach that encourages you to listen to your body's whispers and unlocks the keys to inner peace.

Whether it's anxiety, PTSD, or stress holding you back, it's time to rewrite your story and thrive! 💪

Book your appointment with Lianne White, R.Ac., by calling us at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below.

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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Our ability to move forward with all parts of us intact or restored is dependent on how we have made sense of our stories in our heads, hearts and nervous system. If you only heal it in your head you will still always be fighting with your body. And I can definitely help you with that part of your journey.

✋ We have less than a handful of appointments left for this week! ✋

Constantine has some space left on Wednesday and Thursday, and Lianne can see a returning client on Friday.

If you'd like to snag one of these last few spots, give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link in our bio!
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taosim, the balance of Yin and Yang energy is at the centre of overall good health. ☯

Our North American society is focused much more on Yang, which is bright, hot, masculine, producing. We are always about action, achieving, accomplishing. 💥

Often we eat the same things year-round, and keep the same levels of activity, work, and sleep. This can lead to overwhelm and burnout.

In order to live more harmoniously with nature, consider adjusting your rhythms to be more in tune with nature's rhythms through the changing seasons.

🌱 Spring 🌱

Now is the time to prepare our bodies for the excitement of the summer. We can get outside more as the weather warms, stretch, and enjoy leafy greens and other green foods. We can start waking up earlier with the sun during spring, and enjoy stretching activities like yoga.

🌞 Summer 🌞

Yang is at its height in summer, so now is the time to start new projects, harness the energy of the sun, and enjoy the bountiful summer produce. We can enjoy later evenings with more sunlight, and early mornings with more intense activity during the day.

🍁 Fall 🍁

Fall is the season to start preparations for winter. Finish up any projects that you started in the summer and get yourself organized for winter, bundle up as the weather cools, and enjoy heartier meals made with seasonal produce. Start going to bed earlier as the days shorten, and add in meditation to nourish Yin.

❄ Winter ❄

Yin is at its peak in winter, and it's the perfect time to turn inward to conserve energy in preparation for spring. Make yourself some warming soups and stews made with root vegetables that you saved in the fall. Incorporate more restful and restorative activities and hobbies, and more sleep.

Let us know if you'll give this a try! ✅
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Please note that we will be closed this Saturday, April 27. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes and we'll respond to all messages once we're back on Monday.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Happy Earth Day! 🌎

While we think every day should be Earth Day, take some extra time and care today to help our planet - after all, it's the only place we have to live. 🤗

Some ideas include:

♻️ Picking up trash in your favourite park or green space

♻️ Making small changes in the products you use at home or on-the-go

♻️ Shopping at businesses with carbon-neutral practices or that promote environmental stewardship

What will you do for Earth Day? Let us know below! 👇
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Why is it so important to be connected with the Earth? 🌎

The Earth's surface has a limitless and continually replenished supply of free or mobile electrons ⚡

When these electrons enter our bodies, they can help to reduce pain and stress, regulate circadian rhythms and the immune system, and reduce inflammation.

Our modern lifestyle has increasingly separated us from this primordial energy flow. We often spend most of our waking hours indoors, and when we do go outside we wear rubber- or plastic-soled shoes that insulate us from the Earth's electrical field. However, mounting evidence suggests that connecting with the Earth's negative potential can contribute to better health.

When we have direct contact with the Earth or are grounded to its electrical field - think walking barefoot outside, digging your hands into the earth, or sleeping on an 'Earthing' mat - the electron flow can help to stabilize our internal electrical environment.

Earthing can:

💤 help improve sleep
💖 reduce the incidence of chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes
💥 reduce pain levels
🔥 and improve inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and asthma

How do you like to connect with the Earth? Let us know! 👇
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Wu wei is one of the most important concepts of Daoism. It's difficult to translate into English, but it aligns with the idea of "going with the flow". 🌊

We are in a society of action - we are taught that we must achieve, accomplish, acquire, and attain. These goals often come at the expense of our health. 🤒

Wu wei can be translated as "action through non-action" or "doing without doing". According to Elizabeth Reninger of Learn Religions, "wu wei refers to the cultivation of a state of being in which our actions are quite effortlessly in alignment with the ebb and flow of the elemental cycles of the natural world." 🌎

When we take steps to live more in harmony with nature, we are embodying wu wei. And when we embody wu wei, we experience less stress and better health overall.

Do you need more wu wei in your life? Keep watching for more tips!
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

At Spruce Grove Acupuncture, our philosophy is based in Daosim (Taoism). Put simply, Daoism is all about being in harmony with nature 🍃

To be in harmony with nature is to respect the outer world and the inner world. It means eating whole, nutritious foods, rising with the sun in the morning, and respecting our planet 🌎

We live in a society that has largely lost its connection to nature. We value being busy and productive, and do not respect the balance between "doing" and "non-doing".

Stay tuned as we share some tips on how to live more in harmony with your inner world and our outer world, and how to cultivate a connection with Nature - our greatest healer!
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Did you know that acupuncture can be used to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder?

Scalp acupuncture treatment (SAT) or neuroacupuncture is a specialized and contemporary style of acupuncture that blends Traditional Chinese Medicine needling methods with modern understanding of specific areas of the brain.

Benefits of SAT for autistic children can include improvement in behavioural challenges related to emotional regulation, fewer sleep issues leading to better sleep, and improvements in cognitive and social performance.

A study referenced in the article below found SAT to be a safe and complimentary therapy to language therapy, and combining these modalities had a significantly positive effect on language development of autistic children.

Another study suggests that there are greater improvements in behaviour when acupuncture is used together with pharmacological interventions, compared to using medication alone.

https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/is-acupuncture-effective/

If you're interested in learning more about neuroacupuncture or trying this unique modality, book your appointment with Lianne White, R.Ac. Give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Small Business Shoutout!

Just a quick post to say THANK YOU to the small local businesses we use and who help us keep our clinic running smoothly!

🙏 Thank you to Kathy and Lyle at Grove Laundromat for offering amazing laundry service with quick turnaround and keeping our linens fresh and clean (and so nicely folded!)

🙏 Thank you to all the folks at Joffre's Water for keeping our water cooler stocked with Monashee spring water - all the delivery staff are so friendly

🙏 Thank you to the team at Queendom Cleaning Ltd. for getting into all the nooks and crannies on cleaning days

🙏 Thank you to all the other businesses and health professionals who send referrals our way! We're so honoured to see your clients, friends, and family members. Just some of our favourites are Elements Health, Back On Track Spruce Grove, Dochas Psychological Services, Infused With Love, .wellness, Lakeside Massage Therapy

🙏 Other local businesses we love: SandyView Farms, Homegrown Foods Ltd., The Local Refillery, Main Street Law LLP, Hairoinna, Central Hair, Romantic Notions - the list could go on and on!

📢 Which small business do YOU want to give a shoutout to? Let us know in the comments!! 👇
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Did you know that acupuncture can be a very powerful tool in helping to heal from trauma?

Acupuncture can alter the flow of blood in the brain by promoting blood flow in the areas of the brain responsible for reasoning, and sending less blood to the areas responsible for the fight-flight-or-freeze response.

A meta-analysis of acupuncture for PTSD suggests that acupuncture is neuroprotective, and promotes neurogenesis and plasticity in the brain. Acupuncture also regulates the stress response in the neuroendocrine system.

All of these changes lead to an improved capacity to process and heal from trauma, and the effects complement other forms of therapy widely used for PTSD recovery including talk therapy modalities.

To get started on your healing journey, book in for an acupuncture appointment today. Lianne White, R.Ac. is our trauma specialist and she would be honoured to hold space for you.

Book online by using the link below or give us a call at 780-904-5006.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Happy Easter!

We're closed Friday March 29, but open regular hours on Saturday March 30 and Monday April 1.

We hope you have a lovely long weekend 🐰
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

Did you know that acupuncture can be effective in helping those healing from trauma?

Acupuncture can improve both the mental and physical symptoms associated with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Check out a recent blog post on our website for more info!

We're so lucky to have a trauma recovery specialist on our team, so if you'd like to try acupuncture for trauma-related concerns, book your appointment today with Lianne White! You can call us at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

sprucegroveacupuncture.com

These are the last handful of appointments left for the week! 🖐️

Melanie can see a returning client on Thursday at 12:00 pm.

Constantine has openings for new or return clients on Thursday morning, or can see returning clients on Friday afternoon.

Lianne is fully booked this week!

To book any of these spots, give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below.
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com

✨✨✨ Dr. Melanie Marr has a rare opening this week! ✨✨✨

She can see a returning client this Thursday, March 14 at 12:00 pm.

To snag this spot, give us a call at 780-904-5006 or book online using the link below!
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Spruce Grove Acupuncture
📍 215-636 King St
☎️ 780-904-5006
🌐 www.sprucegroveacupuncture.com