Sandra Robertson R.TCMP / Renew Massage Therapy and Acupuncture
204-4475 Viewmont Ave. V8Z 6L8 Victoria, BC, Canada

Warmest wishes for this winter solstice- https://mailchi.mp/de2b9288e4cc/happy-autumn-5073964

Chinese Medicine recognizes that our digestion is at the top of the list when it comes to feeling good and staying healthy. It's the process which breaks down and transports nutrients to our body- our brain, muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin and all the other organs. How can our body absorb and utilize our nutritional building blocks if the system making them is sub-par and not looked after? In Chinese Medicine, the digestion is looked at as if the stomach was a pot, the foo...d we eat the contents and the fire/heat below our digestive fire which continues to break down our food into usable parts. Children especially will benefit from having their digestive systems focused on and taken care of. It is because of this that I'm excited to announce that I am writing a book which is a guide to Chinese medicine nourishing life nutrition for children! I am currently in the writing process and will release little excerpts each week and would appreciate questions and feedback! Here's a little piece from the intro: One should be mindful of what one consumes to ensure proper growth, reproduction, and development of bones, tendons, ligaments, channels, and collaterals. This will help generate the smooth flow of qi and blood, enabling one to live to a ripe age. Huang di the Yellow Emperor "One of the most effective ways in which we can help children’s health is through what we feed them. [ 291 more words ] http://sandrarobertsonacupuncture.com//chinese-medicine-n/ Anita Chopra Gigi Vincentine Jenami Larsen Sandra Robertson

I have an 11:30 am appointment available tomorrow morning!I have an 11:30 am appointment available tomorrow morning!

Summer= Fire element= Heart and Small Intestine Chinese Medicine secrets of balance and longevity for the summer season. A truly abundant, life-giving, energizing season; summer is the utmost yang time of year and the longer, hotter, sunnier days are a favorite for many. Everything around us is growing rapidly and the farmer's markets abound with fresh vegetables and ripe fruit. Around us the world is alive, and the yang energy of the sun infuses brightness and life into our being. [ 517 more words ] http://sandrarobertsonacupuncture.com//happy-summer-solst/

Strawberries still top the list of the dirty dozen and kale is up there. Multiple samples of kale were found to have 18 different types of pesticides. 99% of non-organic dried raisins tested had residues of at least two or more pesticides. If they were tested against fresh produce they would rank at the top as the WORST of the dirty dozen. "Recent research suggests that even low levels of pesticide exposure can affect young children’s neurological and behavioral developm...ent. Evidence shows a link between pesticides and neonatal reflexes, psychomotor and mental development, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder." -Pesticide Exposure and Child Neurodevelopment: Summary and Implications- published 2012 Let's support our local farmers this summer and look for organic or unsprayed produce as much as possible!

I'm so grateful for this nourishing Pho! Last night's leftovers for lunch today Homemade pho is my new fave. ... In Traditional Chinese Medicine we say that Beef bone broth strengthens overall constitutional health, strengthens the Kidneys and builds blood. If you haven't already been doing so, now is definitely the time to be focusing on your overall health and staying strong in energy and spirit See more

Do you save all your vegetables scraps; the peels, stems, leaves, and the bits you don't use in your main meal? I throw mine into a bag, store them in the freezer, save them up, and eventually add them to the pot when making either a veggie broth or bone stock. This is a great way to extract every last bit of the vitamins and minerals from various parts of the vegetable that are nutritious but often end up in the compost bin. ... #veggiebroth #vegetables #bonebroth #vegetables #healthyfood See more

STOP! Don't throw away your radish tops!!! The Spring season is connected to the Liver and Gallbladder in Chinese medicine. Green is the colour for these organs and coming out of winter we want to focus our diet on lighter foods (young plants, fresh greens, sprouts) reducing cooking time to high temperatures for a short time (we don't need to be eating as many soups and stews) and the inclusion of a little more raw foods is healthy. Just a little though. Let go o...f too much salty/ heavy food which was great for winter (soy sauce, miso, cured meats, too many nuts). Radishes are coming up out of the ground now and are great at detoxifying the body. They cut mucus and regularly eating them will help to PREVENT VIRAL INFECTIONS. The radish tops are super healthy. They can be eaten as a salad, tossed with dressing or just lemon juice, olive oil and a little honey. Their bitter flavour is great to remove heat and mucous from the lungs. They will also help to remove Liver stagnancy - you can feel easily irritable or frustrated when your Liver is stagnant. Does anyone have a favorite way of eating radishes and their tops??? See more

eVisits- Telehealth now available - I'm still here for you!! https://mailchi.mp/0764598/evisits-telehealth-now-available

Shaolin Qi Gong simple exercises to strengthen the Lungs: https://www.youtube.com/watch

Breakfast Millet Congee A hydrating start to the day. I made this the night before, then added some water in the morning to heat it up and make it a little more 'soupy'. ... 1/2 cup millet, rinsed 1/2 cup sweet potato, very small cubes 2 tbsp honey 1 tsp grated ginger 1 star anise 4 dates chopped, pit removed 5 cups water Combine ingredients in a deep pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce to medium/ low and let simmer for one hour. Remove star anise. In the morning, heat on low , add water as needed to create a 'soupy' consistency. Add almonds, raisins, cinnamon and anything else you desire to taste. ***Millet is great for improving digestion and transforms phlegm. ***

Anyone in need of a refill of their herbal formula?Free shipping to your home until midnight this Tues., March 24. Email me!Anyone in need of a refill of their herbal formula?Free shipping to your home until midnight this Tues., March 24. Email me!

I have been reading the news more than I ever have in my entire lifetime for the past couple of months. When the virus first erupted in Wuhan, I was away on Orcas Island with friends. We were all sitting around discussing what was happening and the initial numbers- 50, 200, 600, 1000 people infected. I had heard an infectious specialist describe this virus as "unlike anything he had ever seen before" and those words have continued to ring in my ear. [ 1,160 more word ] http://sandrarobertsonacupuncture.com//keeping-yourself-s/

Herbal formulas and acupuncture alongside Western medicine helping recovery rate of COVID-19 in China: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn//WS5e617d7ca31012821727cb88_

Fascia Buddies can be your new best friend when you're dealing with muscle tension musculoskeletal pain or sports injuries. Look as if an octopus hugged you anytime now! These silicone cups come in different sizes and can be used at home- on the back, neck, along IT bands, hamstrings, quads, calves, forearms, hands, wherever you need the tissues to be regenerated, the fascia remodeled and muscles released. I carry different sizes depending on the body part you want to apply the cup on.

Eating past 7 pm is known by many to not be healthful for the digestive system. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, late night eating is definitely not recommended. Each Organ has a 2 hour time of the day when its energy is the strongest- for the Stomach this time is 7-9 am, and for the Spleen- which controls the breakdown of food and transportation of nutrients- it's 9- 11 am. This is why a hearty breakfast is important and will help to sustain energy throughout the da...y. 12 hours later at 7 pm digestion has slowed down and there is the least amount of energy in our Stomach at that time of day. The energy isnt there to help breakdown the nutrients, and or to burn the fatty foods so it leads to congestion in our digestive tract causing bloating, acid reflux, and weakness in the Stomach and Spleen organs. Energy to digest will have to come from other organs and will affect the Gallbladder and Liver ( 11 pm- 3 am) organs which help the body with detoxification while we sleep. It may disrupt your sleep and be a contributing factor in many health concerns. Try finishing your last meal and snack before 7pm for one month and notice if you feel better, sleep deeper, lose weight, or have less aches and pains? If you really need to eat something try having something really light and easy to digest, ie: fruit or warm broth. #digestivehealth #digestion #organclock #acupuncture #chinesemedicine #tcm #tcmlivingwell #wellness #preventionisbetterthancure #womenshealth #acupuncturist #chinesemedicinepractitioner See more

We did it! 25 km Orcas Island trail run 2020 put on by Rainshadow running! If you know the island then you know Mt. Constitution- beautiful trails running along lakes and creeks and rivers and past waterfalls to take you to the Summit which has 360 degree views of the surrounding area. Now it's time to rest and restore. In TCM we look at ex...ercise very differently than in the West- light to moderate exercise builds energy and blood whereas excess will deplete it. You'll know if you're overdoing it if you have overuse injuries to muscles and tendons, your sleep is disrupted, your immune system is weak or you're fatigued. - You should feel rejuvenated after exercise- if you're feeling depleted consider adding in more rest days or cutting back on the intensity. - In TCM gentle forms of exercise, like Tai Chi and Qigong are preferred- these forms are incredibly strengthening to the body and build Qi - good health and longevity are the by-product for practitioners of these activities. - Our Western mentality of exercise is very hard on the body- think about how you want the health of your joints to be when you are 60, 70, 80 90... listen carefully to your body's signals. It knows its limits and everyone is different. #rainshadowrunning #trailrunning #25km #orcasisland25k #chinesemedicine #acupuncturist #holisticmedicine #acupuncture #tcm #wellness #healthylifestyle #mindfulness #lovelife #nutritiontherapy #womenshealth See more

#preventionisbetterthancure Mondays! To start my weekly posts on ways to prevent chronic illness and disease (which is what traditional chinese medicine has always strived for) I would like us all to think about and be mindful of something that all of us do multiple times a day every day..... chew our food As I sit here to enjoy my apple cinnamon oatmeal breakfast I will focus on eating.......not reading, or rushing, but simply savoring each bite. Digestion starts in the mouth and as I always remind my daughter...our stomach has no teeth The more you chew, the better you absorb and break down your food and nutrients , the easier your digestion system has to work, and you will probably eat less due to slowing down the eating process. #savoreachbite #chinesemedicine #acupuncturist #holisticmedicine #acupuncture #tcm #wellness #healthylifestyle #mindfulness #lovelife #nutritiontherapy #womenshealth See more

Here is Lillian Bridges Year of the Rat forecast for 2020. In regards to health, she writes, "The Year of the Rat is a very good year for improving health. People will feel more vital, alive and awake. Minor health issues can clear up easily and more serious or chronic illnesses can stabilize, as Yang Metal enhances the immune system and the Lungs. When people do get sick this year, they can recover quicker and easier." Click on the link below to read the full forecast! The y...ear officially begins on January 25th. What a year!! https://cdn.shopify.com//fil/Year_of_the_Rat_Forecast.pdf

As the saying goes- If something seems too good to be true.... https://globalnews.ca/news/6325143/u-dream-sleep-aid-pulled/

So inviting isn't it??!! #chinesemedicine #acupuncturist #holisticmedicine #acupuncture #tcm #wellness #healthylifestyle #mindfulness #lovelife #nutritiontherapy #womenshealth

BRrrrrrrr! Temp's are dropping and the heavy wind is finding its way through every crevice. Wind, cold and dampness are part of our climate and it's important to stay protected and warm from these environmental factors. They can easily penetrate through our defensive layer which, in TCM , we say circulates on the exterior of the body. An "invasion " (out in the cold for too long or repeatedly wearing shorts in the winter) can cause the body to feel heavy, have joint pain, n...umbness, muscle atrophy, neck tension, and more. Thermal undies, wool socks, slippers at home, dressing in layers, toques, gloves, scarves, hot beverages, heat packs, etc., will all help to prevent illness, soreness, stiffness and cold. The bottom of the feet is connected to our kidneys so keeping our feet warm helps with kidney energy. Cold feet can equal painful feet, more likely to catch a cold, cause low back or knee pain and potentially exacerbate urinary problems. Cheers to warm cozy fires, warm food and drink and bundling up for health!!! #winteriscoming #staywarm #chinesemedicine #acupuncturist #holisticmedicine #acupuncture #tcm #wellness #healthylifestyle #mindfulness #lovelife #nutritiontherapy #womenshealth See more

WARNING! YOU MAY BE EATING HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP without knowing it. (And if you eat agave nectar for health reasons, time to reconsider) I was doing a little research on sugar for a section in the book I'm writing and was shocked to find out that in Canada, high fructose corn syrup is labeled as glucose-fructose. I don't think this is common knowledge, but please let me know if I'm wrong? Is this something you were aware of?? I think we all know that high fructose corn sy...rup HFCS is worse than sugar and should be avoided. But why? Glucose can be used as fuel by every single cell in the body, fructose can only be broken down in the liver. The end process in the liver of too much fructose is triglyceride, a type of fat that in excess causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes to name a few. Fructose has been researched to increase ghrelin levels, which makes us think we're hungry and to reduce our leptin levels which is our satiety signal. This means we'll eat more = obesity. When found naturally in fruit, the amount of fructose that can be eaten at once is small and paired with, nature's insurance, fiber to create balance. When processed into HFCS the number of fructose averages at 55% but can go up to 90% in the syrup. Fructose has been called "alcohol for children" because of the way it is processed in the body. Not something I want to be feeding to my children :( Unfortunately, it is hiding in our yoghurts, juices, sauces, granola bars, and is more obviously found in freezies, popsicles, soft drinks, and candy. Agave nectar, which I always thought was a safer sweetener, has the HIGHEST fructose content of any sweetener on the market. HIGHEST! 55% to 97% depending on the brand. I just checked the "made good" bars that I buy for my daughter- I will now refer to them as "Made bad" bars- second ingredient being agave nectar :( Limiting all sugar is important for overall health. Read every label because sugar is always hiding. Look out for glucose-fructose and agave nectar as two higher fructose-containing sugars. Now off to make homemade granola bars using dates as a sweetener!

Recently, I've been debating whether to upgrade to one of the modern instant pots vs using my stovetop pressure cooker. It's been the one pot I use almost daily in the kitchen; it speeds the process of cooking a healthy lunches or dinners . It works fantastically for throwing in the leftover veggies that seem to pile up in the fridge- better eaten than thrown away! I always have beans soaking ready to go into the pot- they cook up in 3- 10 minutes depending on the bean. It...'s also great for dals, chillies, soups, roasts, steaming veggies, and much more that I haven't explored yet. This lentil dal makes a great lunch and it's easy to make extra and pack it for lunch for a couple of days. You can throw in whatever veggies you have on hand and it's like they "disappear" into the dal - great when you want to make certain ones invisible for the wee ones :) Here's the recipe from the video: Ingredients: 3 cups chopped veggies half an onion chopped 1 tbsp olive oil 1 cup lentils rinsed 3 cups water or broth 2 tbsp curry powder salt to taste (I used himalayan) Saute onions for a few minutes in the olive oil. Add chopped veggies. Saute for a few more minutes. Add lentils. Mix. Pour in water or broth. Attach lid and once pressure regulator is rocking gently, cook for three minutes. Let pressure drop of its own accord. Season with salt. Serve with rice and a little greek yoghurt or sour cream on top. I added cucumbers on the side because it's summertime and they help to cool our bodies.

Happy New year of the brown Pig! Here is Lillian Bridges year of the Pig forecast. Click below for the link. Here's a sneak peak: People will be very interested in food this year and the theme is that food must taste good. They will be less concerned about the calories or the nutrients and more focused on flavor. ... People will be cooking more; gathering and eating together more. They will cook family recipes and from their heritage. Comfort foods will bring pleasure. It is important to eat more cooked foods this year instead of so many raw foods. Fruits and Root Vegetables and Pulses all belong to the Earth Element and will be very nourishing this year. Yin Earth is also lightly sweet foods or sweets eaten in small quantities, so small pastries, light desserts, and creamy custards will be popular and consumed more than dense heavy desserts. https://cdn.shopify.com//fil/Year_of_the_Pig_Forecast.pdf

Women should never just "suck it up" when it comes to period pain. Our society has become used to this and we are taught from the age of teenagers that it is a normal part of womanhood. Chinese medicine can help! Tell one, Tell all!! https://www.noted.co.nz//acupuncture-treatment-for-period/

The Halloween bowl at our house! Lollipops coloured with natural fruit juice instead of artificial food dyes (which come from petroleum by-products and some of which are banned in the EU), free of partially hydrogenated oils ( which are now banned in Canada but will still be in food ie Halloween candy, for the next two years as it gets phased out ) and no refined sugar or corn syrup!! Also, take the time to read up on brutal child labour used by the following companies to get the cocoa for the chocolate bars that we get so cheaply .... Hershey's, Mars, Nestle, Godiva. For a list of companies which definitely do not use child labour go to https://foodrevolution.org/blog/child-slavery-chocolate/

Check your forehead.... http://www.chicagotribune.com//ct-new-wrinkle-heart-health

So happy it's pumpkin season!! They are so delicious in soups and pies and muffins and did you know that eating pumpkins helps to regulate blood sugar balance? They benefit your pancreas and are great for diabetes and hypoglycemia. It starts to get damp in Victoria at this time of year so nature gives us this food to help our bodies cope- pumpkins drain dampness and help to promote discharge from the lungs!! #pumpkins #bloodsugarbalance #saanichpeninsula #eatlocal

There are many different foods and activities we need to be conscious of avoiding during pregnancy... alcohol, high mercury fish, raw eggs, sitting in a hot tub or sauna, sports that carry a higher risk of falling, ibuprofen, certain cheeses, getting overheated, etc. . Many labels on products will warn to consult with your Doctor prior to taking if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. [ 589 more words ] http://sandrarobertsonacupuncture.com/?p=52

What you put on your skin is just as important as what goes in your body- check out this line of natural, hand made skin care products made locally here in Victoria. The dry shampoo is amazing!!! https://www.facebook.com/NUUDEleaf/

Stay in harmony with the Summer season- here's a video with some tips on how to!

We will often treat the opposite side of the area of pain in Chinese medicine more effectively than treating the local area of pain....this study is great to know about if recovering from injury or surgery....

"Don't materialize anything negative. Materialize everything positive." I came across this 100 year old beautiful soul. she doesn't drink water.... prefers wine!!! Next time you think you can't....... "https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=PGe_Lcb5QA8

The next time you buy non-organic strawberries, think about the 7.8 different pesticides that you will be ingesting along with your "healthy" fruit. Some strawberries tested had 22 different pesticide residues. The average sample of other produce is 2.1 pesticides. Here's a list of the 2018 dirty dozen:

A few tips on staying in balance this Spring!

https://iquitsugar.com/recipe/asparagus-spinach-quiche/

A couple of recipes to help with your Spring "Liver cleansing" meals. Spring corresponds to the Wood element in TCM and the Liver and Gallbladder organs. It's the best time of year to help the liver to detox. Watch my video to find out some more tips on how to stay in balance with the Spring season! https://www.jamieoliver.com///simple-lemony-spring-greens/

I just had a couple of cancellations for tomorrow evening appointments... 5:30 and 6:30 pm.... book online or let me know if you'd like a treatment!!

Caution: cute kid in video :) Also reposted in normal speed - I was sounding a little squirrely the first time around :) ***If you are doing acupressure on children use their finger sizes as measurement***

Have you heard about xenoestrogens??? If not, then it's important that you are aware of them so that you can try your darndest to avoid them. Xenoestrogens mimic estrogen in the body, attach to receptor sites (in BOTH men and women) and interfere with hormonal signaling. They are stored in our fat cells and have been indicated in breast, prostate and testicular cancer, infertility , miscarriages and early onset puberty to name a few. ... They are not biodegradable; once stored in fat cells they are cumulative. As part of your Spring cleaning make sure to toss away your plastic containers, plastic water bottles, chemical sunscreens, chemical nail polishes and perfumes, any lotion or shampoo containing parabens, etc. Here's a list of the common xenoestrogens that we come into contact with: http://www.balancedconcepts.net/tips_avoid_xenoestrogens.pdf

I'm so excited to see this!! Chinese Medicine integrated into the Children's hospital in Orange County!! https://acunow.org/

Help for Allergy season

Happy Year of the Yellow Dog!! It's a year to take things slowly... try not to do too much- it will only frustrate you! After the last two fiery years life should get easier and more relaxed :) Read on to learn more: https://cdn.shopify.com//fil/Year_of_the_Dog_Forecast.pdf

Fads come and go... this art of the Chinese Nourishment of life is simple. It's remembering the basics to achieve health and longevity.

Here are some delicious bone broth recipes to help you through these cold days~ https://www.fiveflavorsherbs.com//epic-bone-broth-medicina

What we call "channels or meridians" in Chinese Medicine are now potentially visible! http://ocm.auburn.edu//auburn-scientist-discovers-microstr

Adding mushrooms at this time of year is a definite immune boost! https://iquitsugar.com/recipe/wild-mushroom-risotto/

Butternut squash soup: https://www.jamieoliver.com//superb-squash-soup-with-the-/

Current seasonal breakfast ideas- Thanks Gwyneth! https://iquitsugar.com/rec/sweet-potato-five-spice-muffins/

Recipe links for current seasonal breakfasts: You could try subbing hemp milk for the milk portion! http://alexandracooks.com//bircher-muesli-homemade-muesli/

An interesting article on the ingredients in the most popular brands of toothpaste I'm sure we've all used or are using...

Yin Yang Water post #2

Want a way to help bloating, indigestion, constipation and diarrhea?? Yin Yang Water

Love Blackberries! !

A couple of tips to help you stay cool and balanced this summer!