Our tongue can reveal a lot about the state of our health! In TCM, the tongue gives your acupuncturist valuable insight about the blood, organs, Qi, constitution and any excesses or deficiencies. Certain parts of the tongue are also associated with different organs (pictured below) At the beginning of your session your practitioners will typically ask to see your tongue and will look at the shape, colour, texture, thickness and coating. One thing you can do at home is look at your tongue daily. Overtime, watch how your tongue can change - say if you get a cold, perhaps different phases of the menstrual cycle, times of stress, on vacation or throughout the 4 seasons etc.

Many of us live a highly stimulated, fast paced lifestyle or simply feel like our brains can't shut off. Can you relate? When our bodies and minds are put into these states, it can cause an unhealthy fluctuation between the 4 main brain waves (Alpha, Beta, Delta & Theta) Where does Acupuncture come into this? Well, there's proven research shown that a session promotes slow brain wave activity which helps shut off that high alertness that comes from Beta (that may turn into stress/overwhelm). Acupuncture brings us back to a calm state of being which can help us feel more creative, connected and more present with ourselves and the world around us. If you've ever been on the treatment table and felt like you weren't quite asleep but not awake either, or in a meditative state - You're currently experiencing some Alpha and/or Theta wave love! And if you fall asleeep/start dreaming, you may be getting a dose of Delta! Even long after your session when the needles have been removed, we can still experience this bliss state! How do you usually feel after an Acu session? *Attached is a little write up on each of the main brain waves and how they help us*

Dropping in with a "TCM Tuesday" all about the summer season! I'd love to hear your thoughts or if anything resonated with you xo Summer represents growth, vibrancy, movement, energy and creativity 🌞🔥 In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Summer is the time of the Fire Element, with meridians most active in the Heart and Small Intestine channel. When the Fire element is balanced, we may feel the sudden burst of energy and joy within us. Wanting to celebrate, move around and be outside. The mind is calm and there is restful & restorative sleep. The heart is healthy and vital. If there's an imbalance, there may be difficulty with sleep, high blood pressure, or back, shoulder & hand pain. The extra energy and warmer temps may feel too overwhelming with feelings of anxiety, stress or worry starting to surface. TCM Tips for the summer season: 🍉 Include cooling foods such as watermelon, cucumber, berries and leafy greens. Up your water intake and limit alcohol and spicy foods. ✨ Joy and laughter are related to the Fire element. It's an invitation to fully embody the joy we are all so deserving of. Explore what lights you up and find ways to bring more of that into your day. 🏃🏼‍♀️ Incorporate more active workouts with a focus on cardiac health to give your heart some TLC. (But as always, move your body in a way that feels right for you!) 💤 Prioritize sleep! Make sure your bedroom is dark, limit screen time prior to bed, take magnesium or sip on some of our DAO Labs Physical Sleep formula. Living in alignment with our planet helps bring us closer to optimal health. Tune your attention to the changes in nature around you in order to encourage a transition of ease into Summer ❤️