For many people, their only exposure to sesame seeds are those that are sprinkled on top of a sandwich bun or a bagel. However, you may be interested to learn that sesame seeds are so much more than a garnish. They can offer a nutritional boost and be good for your health too. Sesame seeds come in two colors; black and … [Read more...]
Sharpen your Vision with Chinese Herbal Medicine
Goji berries are a Chinese herb that’s gained some mainstream popularity in recent years, to the extent that they’ve even been called a superfood. Called Gou Qi Zi in Chinese, but also known as Chinese wolfberry fruit, Goji berries are small, elongated red berries that grow on shrubby plants that are native to China. Gou … [Read more...]
To Drink or not to Drink?
With the coming of the New Year, many of us take a look at our lifestyle and health habits and think about making changes. Some may decide to be more physically active, tweak their diet or try to get more sleep in the coming year. However, another subset of people may choose to redefine their relationship with alcohol. In … [Read more...]
Chinese Herbal Medicine to Clear Phlegm and Improve Lung Health
In Chinese medicine, the flavor of an herb or food tells you something about its actions. That’s because, each flavor; sweet, salty, pungent (spicy), bitter and sour all have a different effect on your body and the organ systems affected. In general: Sweet affects your Stomach and Spleen, and is often used to help your … [Read more...]
How does Pulse Diagnosis work in Chinese Medicine?
I recently returned from an intensive seven day workshop in Amherst, MA on pulse diagnosis. It was the in-person culmination of a year-long online course focused on how to prescribe classical Chinese herbal formulas using pulse diagnosis. Not only did I learn a lot, but the course was held at the Sirius Community … [Read more...]
Peach and Apricot are Chinese Herbal Medicine
If you’re walking in an orchard during the late summer and looking for Chinese herbs, chances are that you’re looking for plants growing on the ground. However, for this month’s herbs, you’ll find them if you look up in the trees, in the form of peaches and apricots. The kernel from each of these stone fruits are a part of … [Read more...]
What is Chinese Medicine Good For?
An important and effective healing tool that we use at BodaHealth is that of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Because Chinese herbology is more complicated than buying a bottle of herbs at the drug store for your current symptom, and because the use of these herbs may feel unfamiliar to some, many people have questions. In … [Read more...]
Can Chinese Medicine Help with Stomach Issues?
If you’re having digestive problems, you may not think about Chinese herbs as a treatment. However, there are a number of useful herbs that are compiled into formulas in TCM that can promote good digestion and relieve your symptoms. TCM stands for Traditional Chinese Medicine and is a way to describe the use of Chinese … [Read more...]
Six Things to Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
If you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you’re well-aware of the impact this condition has on your quality of life. Not only is IBS uncomfortable, but it may also involve urgent bathroom visits, unpleasant bouts of constipation and embarrassing gas and rumbling. To make matters worse, people who don’t know much … [Read more...]
Get the Red Out: Help for Rosacea
If you’ve ever noticed someone with very red cheeks, you may have thought that they were sunburned or had just finished a hard workout, which may be the case. However, they may have a skin condition called rosacea. Primarily affecting the center of your face—cheeks, nose, forehead and chin—rosacea is a condition of redness, … [Read more...]
Moxibustion for Arthritis
In a previous post we introduced Moxibustion Therapy, which is an ancient yet 100% pure modality of healing. There is something rather mystically mesmerizing and relaxing about the Moxa smoke burning slowly and swirling in the atmosphere around you. At least, this is what my patients tell me! The feeling of Moxibustion … [Read more...]
Eleven Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep
If you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep at night, you’re not alone. An estimated 70% of adults report inadequate sleep (which should be 7-9 hours a night for adults) at least once a month, and over 10% report not getting enough sleep every night. And the impact of going without sleep is enormous. Consider this: … [Read more...]
Chinese Medicine and Nutrition
At BodaHealth, we frequently talk about Chinese food therapy and how it can be an effective component in treating a number of health conditions. If you’ve never experienced this kind of healing through food, you may think that it’s similar to conventional nutritional therapy, in which your diet is assessed for caloric … [Read more...]
Detox with Chinese Herbal Medicine
Whether you’re eating baked beans at a picnic, topping your salad with garbanzo beans or having refried beans alongside your burrito, you’re promoting good health. That’s because beans are a good source of dietary fiber and B vitamins, and when combined with whole grains, such as brown rice, they form a complete protein. … [Read more...]
Dark Chocolate for Heart Health
Dark chocolate for heart health? Yes folks, you read correctly! Another great reason to enjoy dark chocolate! Keep reading before you have a change of heart, & don’t miss a beat! Scientists wholeheartedly believe that the infamous cacao bean is packed with antioxidants (more so than found in green tea!) and the … [Read more...]
What Causes High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)?
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one of the leading causes of heart disease, strokes, disability and hospitalization in Canada. Despite high rates of community awareness of hypertension throughout Canada and some of the best care in the world for this condition, high blood pressure still affects about … [Read more...]
Hot Pot: A Chinese New Year’s Experience
You may have heard of Chinese New Year and think it’s a little bit like New Year’s Eve in Western traditions. However, Chinese New Year is a little different. First, it lasts for two weeks—this year (2022) it begins on February 1st and runs until February 15th. It’s also called Lunar New Year because the actual celebration … [Read more...]
Indigestion? Try Chinese Herbal Medicine
What do you eat when you get sick or have an upset stomach? In Chinese medicine, one of the most common foods to soothe cranky digestion is a thick, grain-based soup called a congee*. It’s traditionally made with rice, but it can also be make with other grains, such as barley, millet and even wheat. Essentially, congee is … [Read more...]
How to Stay Healthy in the Cold Winter Months
We are all always seeking effective and simple ways that keep us healthy, particularly towards harsher seasons such as the Winter. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the more in tune we are with nature, the healthier and more harmonized we will feel. The Winter brings cold, darkness and hibernation, reminding us all … [Read more...]
Superfoods for Brain Health Day!
In honour of Women’s Brain Health Day, BodaHealth is introducing some healthy foods that benefit our health as well as our brains! Undoubtedly, sleep, exercise, and meditation have an amazing impact for our health including our brains. But so does the food we eat! According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is … [Read more...]
Ten Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season
The holidays are a time of celebrating, gathering with friends and family, and let’s be honest—overindulging. In Vancouver and throughout the world, the winter holidays are a period of socializing and eating. It can be hard to navigate a healthy diet and maintain your weight amidst an abundance of rich appetizers, hefty … [Read more...]
The Most Important Thing to Know About Type II Diabetes
November is National Diabetes Month. It’s a time when communities work to bring attention to this disease. Type 2 diabetes is steadily on the rise, and is estimated to double the number of cases in the first quarter of this century. Diabetes is a disease in which your blood sugar, called glucose, becomes elevated. The … [Read more...]
Working with Classical Chinese Medicine
Please join us in welcoming Catherine Zheng to the BodaHealth team! Catherine is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and is excited to expand her practice and share her healing gifts with her patients. Read more about Catherine in this Spotlight Interview. Jeda Boughton: Hi Catherine, thank you so much for joining … [Read more...]
Did you Know that Gourds, Squash and Melons are Chinese Herbal 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...]
Hawthorn Fruit: A Chinese Herb that’s Great for Digestion and Hearth 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...]
