Your period should come every 28 days, right? Well, not exactly. That 28 day number is more of an average that many women are led to believe is essential. In reality however, most women have menstrual periods that occur anywhere from 21 to 35 days apart. In addition, for most women, their period lasts somewhere from four to … [Read more...]
Did you know that Gourds, Squash and Melons are Medicine?
When it comes to Chinese herbal medicine and dietary therapy, the lines are often blurry between what’s considered to be an herb and what’s considered a food. This is evident when it comes to melons, gourds and squash. There’s a good reason for this overlap, in that both herbs and foods have very specific properties, … [Read more...]
How Important is Prenatal and Postpartum Care?
At BodaHealth we strive to be Vancouver’s premier natural health clinic focusing on fertility and pre and postpartum care. We understand that adding to your family is an important time in your life, and we’re committed to getting it right. That means offering a wide variety of clinically effective treatments, having … [Read more...]
Does Your Gut play a Role in Mental Health?
Your digestion is one of the most emotional systems in your body. Think about it; you can have a gut wrenching experience, a visceral reaction, a nervous stomach or a gut feeling. You know intuitively that your gut is closely tied to your emotions. Scientists are finding just how closely your brain and your digestion are … [Read more...]
Does Everyone Get Anxiety?
We all worry about things from time to time—finances, your health or that of a family member, feeling safe or a situation at work. However when that worry interferes with your daily life and relationships, and it doesn’t go away, it crosses the line and becomes anxiety. There are actually different kinds of anxiety, … [Read more...]
Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Real?
Ugh! Winter is coming! If winter weather makes you feel sad or depressed, you may have something called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression that’s related to a change in seasons. The most common kind is SAD that begins late in the summer or fall and is sustained during … [Read more...]
Migraines: is there a cure?
If you suffer from headaches, you’re not alone. Headaches are considered the most common form of pain by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. And consider this: The estimated wait time for new patients at the UBC Hospital Headache Clinic in Vancouver is four years! Headaches come in all shapes and sizes. There are … [Read more...]
How Can You Relieve Achilles Tendon Pain?
Ouch! Does the tendon at the back of your heel hurt when you get out of bed in the morning? Can you feel it burning after you’ve walked or run a bit? Do your lower legs feel tight? Chances are you have Achilles tendonitis. Your Achilles tendon connects the muscles in your calf to your heel bone. It’s actually the largest … [Read more...]
Hawthorn Fruit: Great for Digestion and Heart Health!
Hawthorn trees are similar to crabapple trees. Both produce white or pink flowers in the spring and a dark red fruit in the fall. The fruit of both trees tends to stay on the branches until the following spring, and both provide good food for wintering birds. One big difference between hawthorn and crabapple is that the … [Read more...]
Did you know that Turmeric is a Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Many people are familiar with turmeric, a yellow spice that’s used in curries and other Asian dishes. Turmeric has gotten a lot of attention because, in addition to being a spice, scientists have found that it also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It’s been used to help people with certain kinds of pain, … [Read more...]
Eight Things You Didn’t Know about Cinnamon
Chances are that you have cinnamon in your spice cabinet right now. After salt and pepper, it’s one of the most common kitchen spices used in cooking—right up there with bay leaves, vanilla extract, curry powder and cumin. But beyond being a spice that you put into your zucchini bread or apple crisp, there are a number of … [Read more...]
What the Heck are Shin Splints?
Years ago I developed something called shin splints. Attracted to the neighborhoods and running paths around Vancouver, I became a regular runner. However, the pain of shin splints stopped me in my tracks—they really hurt! If you’re not familiar with shin splints, be thankful. It’s a painful condition that occurs along … [Read more...]
Did you know that Vancouver is one of the Healthiest Cities in the World?
Statistics show that living in Vancouver can be great for your health! Not only is the city a mecca for people seeking natural healthcare such as acupuncture and massage therapy, but it’s also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Vancouver is bordered by water on three sides, a mountain range on the fourth, and within the city … [Read more...]
What You Need to Know about Sprains
Vancouver is a beautiful city with a ton of opportunities to enjoy being outdoors and participating in your favorite activity. This also means that it increases your risk of sustaining an activity-related injury—one of the most common being a sprain. A sprain can be especially frustrating because it can take a long time … [Read more...]
Does Ginseng Boost Your Energy?
If you think of the herb ginseng as something you take to give your energy a boost, you’d be right, but only up to a point. While taking ginseng can help your energy in many circumstances, this herb is so much more than a quick pick-me-up. In fact, the biological name for Asian Ginseng is panax ginseng, derived from the … [Read more...]
What is Trigger Point Acupuncture?
If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen, it’s likely that your neck and upper back get sore from time to time. If fact, if you’re like most people, you have muscle knots in these areas, too. A muscle knot is a thickening in the muscle where the fibers have begun to adhere to each other. These knots, … [Read more...]
What are Muscle Knots?
Do you have any hard or stiff lumps of muscle? Maybe in your shoulders, upper back or neck? Do they feel tight and sometimes a little achy? Congratulations! You have muscle knots. And you’re not alone—muscle knots are very common. These knots can actually show up in just about any of the large muscles on your body, but … [Read more...]
Amazing Health Benefits of Ginger Root / Sheng Jiang
You probably know that ginger is a spice used in Asian cooking or a pickled condiment served with sushi. But did you know that ginger is also a versatile Chinese herb? It’s true! As an herb, ginger comes in a variety of forms and has a number of uses. If you were to go to your grocery store to buy fresh ginger, you’d … [Read more...]
Spotlight interview: Sara Lee
We’re so happy to welcome Sara Lee as a part of our BodaHealth team! Sara is a registered massage therapist whose philosophy is to tailor her sessions to each client’s individual needs, based on her extensive experience and her mastery of a wide range of therapeutic bodywork techniques. Read on to learn about Sara! Jeda … [Read more...]
Play Safe: Eight Ways to Avoid Sports Injuries
Summer is here, and it feels like the perfect time to get outside and play! And here in Vancouver, there’s an endless number of opportunities to hike, bike, paddle or do whatever your favorite sport happens to be. With the good weather and increased activity, also comes an increase in activity-related injuries. Needless to … [Read more...]
The Low Down on Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that’s used by every organ in your body. It helps to normalize your blood pressure, keep your bones strong, regulate the rhythm of your heart, balance blood glucose, facilitate nerve conduction and enable the contraction and relaxation of your muscles. This powerhouse mineral is also used to treat … [Read more...]
Licorice Isn’t Just Candy
Most people think of licorice as that black candy that comes in a variety of shapes, from long strings to bite-sized twists. However, as a practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine, I think of licorice as being more than just a type of candy. That’s because licorice comes from a root that’s used as an ingredient in a number … [Read more...]
Five Ways Your Thyroid Can Affect Fertility
Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland that’s located at the front of your neck. Despite being small, your thyroid has a large impact on many—if not all—of your body’s systems. That’s because your thyroid produces hormones that regulate your metabolism. It impacts things like your digestion, energy, internal … [Read more...]
Physical Activity for People with Cancer
In general, we all agree that exercise is good for us. But it might surprise some that just by being sufficiently physically active you are significantly less likely to develop many cancers. In fact, exercise is particularly potent in preventing colon, breast, and prostate cancers by 40-50%. These types of cancer account … [Read more...]
A New Way to Treat Knee Pain That Works!
Do you have knee pain? If so, you’re probably well-aware of how difficult it is to go up and down stairs. Maybe you’re taking medications that barely touch the pain and maybe the pain in your knees wake you up at night. If your knee pain is bad enough, chances are that it’s keeping you from doing the things that you want to … [Read more...]
