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 / Gan Cao
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...]
Diet Tips to Improve Fertility for Women with PCOS
The road to becoming pregnant can be a challenge, especially for women who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. Affecting somewhere between 8 and 20 % of reproductive-aged women, PCOS is a metabolic and hormonal disorder that may cause your ovaries to become enlarged with small, fluid-filled cysts. These cysts are … [Read more...]
Congee
Do you ever wonder what you should eat when you’re sick? Maybe you’re recovering from the flu, a bad cold, or just general stomach upset. You want to eat something to fuel your body, but are thinking that the leftover pizza in the refrigerator may not be the best idea. You know you need to start slowly and don’t want … [Read more...]
Practitioner Spotlight: Tamara Pfister
Pilates instructor Tamara Pfister has an interesting background! She began practicing Pilates and Yoga while studying ballet as a teenager, and she taught Yoga for a year in Central America. Tamara has a broad area of expertise, and is all about helping her clients' correct misalignments and move properly. Learn more about … [Read more...]
Pelvic Pain in Men
Male pelvic pain can be a mix of uncomfortable, scary and embarrassing. And sometimes it can be hard to get a clear diagnosis or effective treatment. That’s because there are a number of underlying causes, and sometimes the pain is related to male anatomy and in other cases the cause may be a condition that can affect … [Read more...]
Practitioner Spotlight: Cindy Solkin
Today, I’m excited to introduce you to team member Cindy Solkin. She’s a holistic nutritionist, Pilates instructor and personal life coach. She works with clients who have a variety of health issues, with special experience in inflammatory issues, auto-immune conditions, allergies, weight management, hormonal imbalances, … [Read more...]
Six Things You Should Know about Rotator Cuff Pain
You’ve heard people talk about their rotator cuff. They have pain, it’s near their shoulder, but the details always seem so vague. What kind of body part is a rotator cuff? And how does it become injured? Here are six things to know to help clear up any rotator cuff confusion you may have: 1) Your rotator cuff is a … [Read more...]
Chris Munn, CEP – Spotlight Interview
Meet BodaHealth team member and Exercise Physiologist, Chris Munn! Chris incorporates movement, prescribed exercises, massage, Yoga, Pilates, therapeutic personal training, and cold laser therapy to treat and prevent a wide variety of health conditions. He also brings mindfulness, meditation, breathing, and education into … [Read more...]
Practitioner Spotlight: Dr. Brit Watters, Naturopathic Doctor
We are so excited to have Dr. Brit Watters on board as a part of the BodaHealth team! Brit is a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and a graduate of the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster. Read more to learn about Dr. Watters and naturopathic medicine. Dr. Jeda Boughton (JB) – Hi Brit, it’s so great to … [Read more...]
Lettuce Wraps with Homemade Hoisin Sauce
Ingredients for filling: Ground meat or meat substitute Onion, 1 medium, chopped Mushrooms, any variety, chopped Small chunk of peeled & diced ginger root 2-3 cloves of garlic diced/pressed And iceberg, butter or romaine lettuce for wrapping the meat mixture Ingredients for Hoisin sauce: 1/4 … [Read more...]
Zesty Vegetarian Chipotle Chili with Butternut Squash
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons oil (coconut, butter, olive or grapeseed) 1 medium onion, chopped 1 butternut squash (smaller), peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes 1-2 cups chopped leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, or brussel sprouts) 1 cup chopped mushrooms 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 1/2 tablespoons chili … [Read more...]
Couscous with Root Vegetables
What is couscous? Many people think that couscous is a grain, but in fact, it is more like a pasta. It is made by rolling semolina durum whole wheat into tiny balls. There are three kinds of couscous, representing three different sizes. Moroccan couscous is the smallest, with the Israeli and Lebanese couscous being … [Read more...]
The Health Benefits of Spinach
If you’re looking for a superfood that’s versatile and tastes good, look no further than spinach. While spinach grows well in fields and gardens almost anywhere, this leafy green vegetable came from the Middle East. Spinach is low in calories and sugar, high in fiber, and is highly nutritious. Here are some reasons why … [Read more...]
Thai Coconut Curry Squash Soup
Ingredients 1 large or 2 small Butternut or kabocha squash, seeded and quartered 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil 1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, pressed or chopped 2 to 3 tablespoons Thai Red Curry paste 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 large carrot or yam chopped 1 … [Read more...]
Endometriosis
If you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, you know very well how rough it can be! It’s not just painful; it’s excruciating, with discomfort that can last for a week or two every month. People don’t really get it, because they tend to think you just have bad menstrual cramps. To make things worse, endometriosis is hard to … [Read more...]
Seed Cycling for Hormone Balance & Fertility
We practitioners of Chinese medicine believe that food is medicine that you eat three or more times a day. This is the theory behind something called seed cycling, a practice to help boost your reproductive health. If you’ve never heard of seed cycling, you’re not alone. However, if you’re looking for a natural way to help … [Read more...]
