Meghan Hawkshaw, R.Ac

Did you know There is a 18 day window between Fall & Winter where the shifts of weather & lifestyle bring new challenges to daily life And it starts NOW! This is a great time to focus on boosting your digestion & immune systems. I like to check in with my goals to see if I need to do anything to make them happen before the end of the year. this is a great time to pre-plan my holiday plans, some self-care and add some play back into my life.... Happy Late Autumn

Homemade Apple Sauce Great to treat the Heart, Lung, Stomach, Spleen & Large Intestine Meridians, it will help to boost the immune & digestive systems before, during or after a cold. - Nourishes Yin & Boosts Qi... - Clears Heat & Removes Toxins Making (and preserving) your own is fun, easy & soo delicious. #tcm #acupuncture #foodcurefridays #vancouver #tcmfoodcures #apple #pínggujiàng # #tcmfood

I love my @acufast needles. They make a volunteer shift at the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival easy & efficient while reducing my Acu waste & planting trees! Thank you to @soniaftan & @langaracollege for teaching me the Balance Method of acupuncture. #balanceacupuncture #dragonboat #dragonboatfestival #yvr #bodyoptionclinic #acupuncture #acupunctureworks

These are my favourite pieces of TCM Advice for the Autumn What are your tips for preparing for the Fall? 1. Eat warm & cooked seasonal vegetables... 2. Release things that don’t serve you 3. Dress for damp, cold & windy weather 4. Acupuncture supports immune health 5. Harvest summer successes 6. SLOW DOWN . Book Online - Link in Bio . . . . #immunesupport #acupuncture #wearascarf # #preventativehealth #yvrautumn #acupuncturevancouver See more

W is for Watermelon (XiGua ) Watermelon’s cold temperature is perfect for combating summer heat symptoms. It helps boost your natural body fluids (Yin Fluids). It cools the TCM Heart, Stomach & Urinary Bladder meridians to help like headaches, excessive thirst & scanty urine. Watermelon is great to add to your diet when you:... - have excessive thirst - have dark &/or scanty urination - Are having trouble regulating heat during the summer months Want to try a new way to eat watermelon? Try a Watermelon, Feta & Mint Salad! Caution!Avoid Watermelon when you have: 1) #TCM Spleen Deficiency 2) #TCM Stomach Deficiency 3) Cold symptoms Not sure what your #tcmconstitution is? See your local #acupuncturist

The best way to start a new week is with an Unboxing of @acufast @earseeds & so much more My latest order of acupuncture supplies arrived first thing this morning thanks to the incredible team @easterncurrents

Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture is a holistic & natural way to address many skin concerns that arise throughout life. This incredible modality helps rejuvenate skin while optimizing the balance of the body. A few things it can help with:... - Minimizing Acne, Scars & Inflammation - Improving the appearance of Fine Lines & Wrinkles - Address Sagging Skin - Reduce TMJ pain & Jaw Tension - Treat Headaches & Sinus Issues plus so much more!!! For best results: - Visit a Licensed Acupuncturist - Expect that you’ll need to complete a full course of treatments for best results (10-20 appointments) - Discuss with your acupuncturist your full general health, any hormonal changes & past Filler/Botox use Cosmetic Facial Acupuncture is not a good treatment if you are trying to conceive, are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. See more

P is for Persimmon (Fruit - shì ; Calyx - shìdì ) The most commonly grown & eaten type of persimmons are the Diospyros kaki (Oriental persimmon). Native to China, Northeast India & parts of Mainland Southeast Asia, they are now cultivated across the world. The unripened the fruit has a astringent & bitter taste because of a high concentration of tannin which decreases as the fruit matures. Once fully ripe, they have thick, pulpy jelly encased in a waxy thin-skinned shell.... While persimmon is commonly considered to be a fruit, it is actually a berry. High in pectin use them to make jelly, added to baked goods or use as a thickening agent. I found a jam recipe I I am excited to try on @sweetnsavorymeals website (linked below). Persimmon fruits act on the #TCM Heart, Lung Spleen, Stomach & Large Intestine meridians. As a food cure you can try them to boost digestion, calm coughs & nourish the body’s yin fluids. #tcmfoodcures describe the energetic actions of a persimmon as: - Nourishing to the Yin - Able to Clear Heat - Transform Phlegm The fruit is not the only part of the Persimmon tree to be used by TCM practitioners. When used correctly as a #herbalmedicine, the calyx of the persimmon (shìdì ) helps to regulate Qi & control hiccups. Caution When using any type of herbal medicine, get a proper diagnosis & prescription from your local Herbalist or Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner. Contact your local authorities to find a registered & licensed practitioner near you. Not sure what your #tcmconstitution is? Your #Local #Acupuncturist can help! https://sweetandsavorymeals.com/easy-persimmon-jam-recipe/

R is for Reishi Mushroom (LíngZh ) This mushroom is considered a super food by both Western dieticians & Eastern practices alike. Western dieticians advertise it’s use to include boosting immune system, fight fatigue & depression. They may also may have anti-cancer properties, boost heart healthy HDL cholesterol, possibly have a antioxidants effect & a potential for controlling blood glucose levels (see healthline’s article linked below for more details on the western u...ses of Reishi) Often Reishi is added to food or drinks in it’s dried & powdered form. I’ve been enjoying it in my morning coffee using a Reishi Hot Chocolate mix. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses Reishi Mushrooms to treat the Heart, Liver & Lung meridians. The sweet, neutral temperature makes it perfect to nourish the Heart meridian & Blood while tonifying Qi (energy). Reishi helps to quiets the Shen (Mind & Spirit) & eases breathing difficulties. Reishi is commonly used as a TCM food cure to help reduce symptoms like: 1. Insomnia, Forgetfulness & Fatigue 2. Dyspnea, Chronic asthma, Fast & Shallow Breathing 3. Cough with Profuse Sputum 4. Weak Digestion, Poor Appetite & Loose Stools 5. Dizziness & Listlessness 6. Sore/Weak Lower Back Caution!Avoid Reishi Mushrooms when you have: 1. Any TCM Excessive Conditions Not sure what your #tcmconstitution is? See your local #Acupuncturist https://www.healthline.com/nutriti/reishi-mushroom-benefits

Yam (Shan Yao ) Yams, real yams - not sweet potatoes, are native plants from African & Asian. They are related to lilies & can vary dramatically in size. Yams have white, purple or reddish flesh, & blackish or brown, bark-like skin. They are also cylindrical in shape. If you want to know more about how they are different from sweet potatoes (think yellow flesh & buld shaped) check out: @thekitchn They wrote an awesome article What’s a (Real) Yam?(link below)... These sweet & starchy root vegetables are great for nourishing the #TCM Kidney, Lung, Spleen meridians and boosting the body’s yin & fluids. Together these meridians are known to regulate the bodies water metabolism & flow. Yams are great to eat when you are suffering from symptoms such as: 1. Diarrhea 2. Fatigue 3. Spontaneous sweating 4. Lack of Appetite 5. Chronic cough or wheezing 6. XioK () - wasting and thirsting disorders 7. Or if you have leaky fluid problems (ie urinary frequency, vaginal discharge, spermatorrhea) Caution!Avoid Yams when you have: 1) An accumulation of dampness especially when presenting with fullness in the abdomen Not sure what your #tcmconstitution is? See your local #Acupuncturist #TCMFoodCure #foodcurefridays #tcmdiet #holistichealth #acupuncture #traditionalchinesemedicine #selfcare #medicinalfood #naturalremedies #tcmdiettherapy #eatlocal #yvr #bodyoptionclinic #yams # # Article Link: https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-yams

Yam (Shan Yao ) Yams, real yams - not sweet potatoes, are native plants from African & Asian. They are related to lilies & can vary dramatically in size. Yams have white, purple or reddish flesh, & blackish or brown, bark-like skin. They are also cylindrical in shape. If you want to know more about how they are different from sweet potatoes (think yellow flesh & buld shaped) check out: @thekitchn They wrote an awesome article What’s a (Real) Yam?(link below)... These sweet & starchy root vegetables are great for nourishing the #TCM Kidney, Lung, Spleen meridians and boosting the body’s yin & fluids. Together these meridians are known to regulate the bodies water metabolism & flow. Yams are great to eat when you are suffering from symptoms such as: 1. Diarrhea 2. Fatigue 3. Spontaneous sweating 4. Lack of Appetite 5. Chronic cough or wheezing 6. XioK () - wasting and thirsting disorders 7. Or if you have leaky fluid problems (ie urinary frequency, vaginal discharge, spermatorrhea) Caution!Avoid Yams when you have: 1) An accumulation of dampness especially when presenting with fullness in the abdomen Not sure what your #tcmconstitution is? See your local #Acupuncturist #TCMFoodCure #foodcurefridays #tcmdiet #holistichealth #acupuncture #traditionalchinesemedicine #selfcare #medicinalfood #naturalremedies #tcmdiettherapy #eatlocal #yvr #bodyoptionclinic #yams # # Article Link: https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-yams

Yam (Shan Yao ) Yams, real yams - not sweet potatoes, are native plants from African & Asian. They are related to lilies & can vary dramatically in size. Yams have white, purple or reddish flesh, & blackish or brown, bark-like skin. They are also cylindrical in shape. If you want to know more about how they are different from sweet potatoes (think yellow flesh & buld shaped) check out: @thekitchn They wrote an awesome article What’s a (Real) Yam?(link below)... These sweet & starchy root vegetables are great for nourishing the #TCM Kidney, Lung, Spleen meridians and boosting the body’s yin & fluids. Together these meridians are known to regulate the bodies water metabolism & flow. Yams are great to eat when you are suffering from symptoms such as: 1. Diarrhea 2. Fatigue 3. Spontaneous sweating 4. Lack of Appetite 5. Chronic cough or wheezing 6. XioK () - wasting and thirsting disorders 7. Or if you have leaky fluid problems (ie urinary frequency, vaginal discharge, spermatorrhea) Caution!Avoid Yams when you have: 1) An accumulation of dampness especially when presenting with fullness in the abdomen Not sure what your #tcmconstitution is? See your local #Acupuncturist #TCMFoodCure #foodcurefridays #tcmdiet #holistichealth #acupuncture #traditionalchinesemedicine #selfcare #medicinalfood #naturalremedies #tcmdiettherapy #eatlocal #yvr #bodyoptionclinic #yams # # Article Link: https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-yams

SLEEP! Light exposure effects your sleep hormones production - Your body uses melatonin to make you sleepy & regulate your circadian rhythm (aka sleep-wake cycle). Your light exposure will effect the amounts of melatonin the brain secretes: more melatonin when it’s dark & less when it’s light. Modern technology can alter the production of melatonin causing sleep issues. Try avoiding screens for 1-2 hours before your bedtime for better sleep. Create a bedtime routine - a bed...time routine can be just what you need to help unwind, distress & fall asleep with ease. Some great ideas for a bedtime routine include - a warm drink (caffine free & low sugar), a bath, meditation, or listening to music or a relaxing podcast. Daily physical activity improves sleep quality overtime - Regular exercise improves sleep disorder symptoms like insomnia & sleep apnea. It is also been shown to increase the amount of time spent in deep & restorative stages of sleep. Go to sleep & wake up the same time every day - This helps set your body’s internal clock optimize the quality of your sleep. Avoid tossing & turning by going to bed when you are normally tired. When you are getting enough sleep, you should wake up naturally. If you need an alarm clock to wake up, try going to bed a little earlier. Alcohol, Caffine & Nicotine all can effect sleep - Stimulants can effect your quality of sleep as much as 12hours after their consumption!Meanwhile depressants (alcohol) may help you relax in the moment, but often interferes with your sleep cycle once you’re asleep. Both stimulants & depressants can effect the body’s ability to enter into a restorative sleep cycle. Make your Bedroom a Space for Relaxing - Make your room into relaxing oasis sends a powerful signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down and let go of stress. Avoid working, watching TV, or using your phone, tablet, or computer in bed, so your brain beings to associate the bedroom with only sleep and sex. Talk To Your Acupuncturist - Traditional Chinese Medicine can address sleep issues with acupuncture, food cures, herbal medicine, lifestyle, ear seeds, and so much more!