Services being offered ​

​Acupuncture  ​

Initial appointment includes intake, discussion of treatment plan and relaxing acupuncture session.  ​Available for 30 or 60 Minute sessions

Acupuncture & Reiki Chill ​

De-Stress and reclaim balance with your mind, body and spirit. Choose this option for both initial and follow up appointments for acupuncture and reiki sessions.

​Melanie Snell ​is a registered acupuncturist,
​holistic nutritionist
​&
reiki master. 
Check out her bio ​

​
Top 10 Things Acupuncture Treats
(but not limited to or in order of importance)
1. Neck & shoulder tension 
2. Low back pain & sciatica
3. Headaches & migraines
4. Digestive disorders
5. Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain
6. Allergies & Autoimmune Disorder
7. Insomnia
8. Fertility & Hormonal Issues
9. Chronic Fatigue
10. Mental/ Emotional conditions | Stress
​

Traditional Chinese Medicine & Emotions  Emotions are considered a cause of illness under certain conditions, such as a prolonged experience of one emotion or suppression of emotions. This leads to dysfunction in the organ systems and can also cause emotional symptoms; for example, excessive anger can result when the liver system is out of balance.

Grief: According to TCM theory, grief is related to the lungs and the metal element. The lungs are our first line of defense against external pathogens (think cold and flu), and their primary function is to disperse and disseminate Qi throughout the rest of the body. Prolonged, unprocessed grief impairs the lungs’ function and consumes the Qi, leading to exhaustion, lassitude and shortness of breath.

Anger: According to TCM theory, anger is related to the Liver and the wood element. The wood element is all about growth and expansive movement, and the Liver directs this internally, both physically and emotionally. Anger is the natural response to any interruption in the Liver’s mission to move and grow. At the same time, an excess of anger or repressed anger inhibits the Liver’s function, leading to further emotional imbalance and feelings of frustration, resentment, aggression and depression. Imbalance in the Liver system manifests physically with headaches, waking up between 1-3 AM, and tension in the neck and shoulders. Anger can injure the body when it’s either vented excessively or repressed. But the value of anger is that it gets our attention when things are out of balance in our bodies and our world. Protesting, speaking out against injustice, and demanding action are all signs of the Liver doing its job in response to anger. Anger drives us forward and compels us to change and grow as individuals and collectively.

Fear: According to TCM theory, fear is related to the Kidneys and the water element. The Kidneys are the root of our constitutional strength and are responsible for the natural unfolding of our life cycle. They’re the storehouse of Jing, which is often translated as Pre-Heaven Essence and is our genetic material; it’s what we come into the world with, passed down from our ancestors. Jing is precious stuff that can’t be replaced, so the energy for our everyday activities should come from food and air. If we don’t nourish ourselves properly, the body’s reserve of Jing gets depleted, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. So what does this have to do with fear? Prolonged fear, or sudden fright or shock, will damage the Kidney system and deplete the Jing. Conversely, excessive fearfulness or a tendency to frighten easily are symptomatic of weakness in the Kidney system. We can’t banish fear from our lives, but we can pay attention to it. Fear can warn you of danger, but it can also point you in the right direction. If we listen, spend some time with it and try to learn from it, fear can point us toward our highest purpose.

Worry: According to TCM theory, worry is related to the Spleen and the earth element. The Spleen is responsible for transforming food into vital nutrients and transporting those nutrients to the rest of the body. In other words, the Spleen ensures proper digestive function. Excessive worry and overthinking tax the Spleen, so it can’t do its primary job of digesting food. Prolonged deficiency of the Spleen leads to an accumulation of fluids and dampness, weighing you down physically, mentally and emotionally. This further weakens the Spleen system, impairing our capacity to think clearly and focus and making us susceptible to worry. Mindfulness is one of the best practices to benefit the Spleen. Like most of us, the Spleen isn’t great at multitasking, and unfortunately for our Spleens, we’re living in a time of endless distraction. Many of us try to do multiple things at once because we worry we’ll forget something, but we’re further burdening our Spleen, leading to even greater worry. Give your Spleen the space to do one thing at a time. Whether you’re eating, reading, or working, try doing just that one thing and nothing else. ​You’ll have improved digestion and less worry as a result.

Joy: According to TCM theory, joy is related to the Heart and the fire element. The Heart houses the Shen, which is our emotional and spiritual being. The Shen embodies consciousness, emotions, mental function and vitality. The blood of the Heart nourishes the Shen and provides a resting place for it at night. ​The Heart is our emotional center and rules over all the other emotions. Joy nourishes the Heart, and healthy expressions of joy reflect a healthy emotional state. When there’s an imbalance of joy in our lives, it can be expressed as too much (agitation and mania) or too little (depression). Because the Shen needs rest, sleep disorders are one of the most common imbalance symptoms in the Heart system. It’s not always easy to find joy in life. The other emotions of grief, fear, worry, and anger must all filter through our Heart, and when we experience any of them in excess, it often leaves little room for joy. Remember that our spiritual being, our Shen, needs rest to thrive. Sleep. Take a break from the news. Meditate. Get acupuncture. Rest helps your Heart filter and process your emotions, leaving more room for joy.

​Our emotional health and organ function are the root cause of our cravings and mood. In Chinese medicine, each organ correlates to a specific taste, emotion, season, sound, colour... so on and so forth. Through listening to our body, and using the clues it gives us, we can understand ​the root cause of our cravings and heal ourselves on a deeper level. 🧡 Bitter 〰️ Heart & Small Intestine: imbalances like red face, Heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia and ulcers in the mouth may be present. On a deeper level, perhaps you are craving joy. Connect to your inner child, find pure joy. Foods like hawthorn, bitter melon, dandelion greens, parsley, endive, ​mustard greens, collard greens, burdock root, sesame seeds are all classified as bitter to help. 🧡 Sweet 〰️ Spleen, Stomach and Pancreas: the organs that run the metabolism and nourish the entire body. Sweet cravings can be rooted in Qi deficiency and emotions like anxiety and over-worry. Sweet flavours from corn, pumpkin, sweet potato, and congee help the digestion greatly while refined sugars weaken it. 🤍 Pungent 〰️ Lung, Large Intestine: spicy flavour invigorates the Lungs, which are our body's first defence, expelling pathogens like wind and cold. This organ pair is in charge of grief and wants to let go emotionally and physically. Spicy is satisfied through aromatics like ginger, garlic, onions, daikon, garlic, black pepper and cayenne, not through hot sauce! 🖤 Salty〰️ Kidney, Bladder: the organ system that correlates to water, naturally craves salt to regulate minerals and fluid. Foods like black beans, bone broth, seaweed, black sesame seeds, miso, shellfish, eggplants, walnuts and chestnuts. You may crave salt if you are "burning the candle at both ends" and experiencing Kidney energy deficiency. The emotional tie is fear. 🖤 Sour 〰️ Liver, Gallbladder: all about detoxification and the smooth flow of Qi, emotions and Blood. Most affected by anger, frustration, stress and toxin overload. This is the organ that governs women's menstrual health. Sour or green foods help, along with sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, green apples, lemon, lime, dark leafy greens. Symptoms can be IBS, heartburn, eye issues, stress, PMS. The Liver craves flexibility and going to bed early.

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