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Help Fight Off Colds & Flus This Season

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Did you know acupuncture can help strengthen your body’s natural ability to fight off colds and flus?

Just because we are in the middle of the cold and flu season doesn’t mean it’s too late for some preventative complimentary medicine. Our bodies will naturally try to fight off any viruses but when we are run down or have not been taking care of ourselves the way we should be, we can be susceptible to getting sick.

In Chinese Medicine we strengthen the organs that are in charge of protecting our body against viruses. Think of the immunity building treatment like a tune up on your car, doing preventative care is being proactive and reduces loss of time due to mechanical failures. Your body can be thought of the same way, preventive treatments now can reduce loss of time from work, family and friends.

Sometimes colds and flus can still get through and if that should happen your acupuncturist help you. There are different treatment plans that can be used from Ghu Sha to cupping to needles to dietary recommendations. These treatments will lessen the length of the illness and reduce symptoms.

Here is a testimonial from one of my clients regarding this treatment:

“In the middle of the 2015/16 winter (January) I had a “flu shot” from Leigh-Anne. She explained it to me that it helps build up my immunity to fight off any colds or flus that may try to infiltrate my house. She gave me another treatment in the summer heading into the fall season and again in December. I can tell you it has made a big difference in my household. Everyone but the youngest has had this treatment and we have warded off quite a few bugs that have tried to come our way. Normally I get sick due to having two children in the school system who pick up colds and flus and bring them home with them. The kids always bounce back but for me it lags on. With these immunity building treatments I have been able to enjoy my winter. I recommend seeing Leigh-Anne, especially for this treatment.” – Kristie Dupuis

Call 780-756-6505 and book your appointment today with Leigh-Anne at Spot On Acupuncture located at Manning Chiropractic & Wellness.

Image of large tree and garden for Spot on Acupuncture Edmonton Alberta specializing in musculoskeletal conditions. Direct billing for all Veterans Affairs Clients

A Summer of Heart, Fire and Joy!

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Summer is a season of long, hot days and is associated with the small intestine and heart, fire, and joy in Chinese Medicine.

Some great tips for the summer season are to:
Wake earlier in the morning, go to bed later in the evening and rest midday.

Summer time is a time of utmost yang and therefore we replenish our yang energy and save our yin energy for the winter months.

Because it’s a season associated with fire we see many people can tend to anger more easily. So it’s a time to especially refrain from anger, keep calm, and try to stay even tempered.

In summer indigestion can occur, so it’s recommended to eat light and refrain from greasy fried foods. Also try and reduce your dairy intake.

It’s great time to consume cool and cold natured foods, foods that tend to be on the green end of the spectrum. These foods will help clear heat, reduce toxins and generate body fluids. A good rule of thumb is to think of what is in season.

Fish & seafood are cool in nature, whereas most meats are warm in nature. Lettuce, cucumber and watercress are some of the best foods but the following is a good list to follow too:
Watermelon, cantaloupe, peach, orange, asparagus, broccoli, bok choy, corn, white mushrooms, spinach, mung beans, cilantro, mint and dill.

Also making a pitcher of water with cucumbers and lemons sliced up makes a great hydrating beverage.

Enjoy your summer! And don’t forget to book your summer appointment today! Call Spot On Acupuncture!

No Show Policy

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Thank you for trusting your medical care to Spot On Acupuncture. When you schedule an appointment with Spot On Acupuncture we set aside enough time to provide you with the highest quality care. Should you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment please contact the clinic as soon as possible, and no later than 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. This gives us time to schedule other clients who may be waiting for an appointment. Please see our Appointment Cancellation/No Show policy below:

  • Effective September 1, 2022, any established patient who fails to show or cancels/reschedules an appointment and has no contacted our clinic with at least 24 hours notice will be considered a No Show and charged $45.00 fee.
  • Any established patient who fails to show or cancels/reschedules and appointment with no 24 hours notice a second time will be charged a $95.00 fee.
  • If a third No Show or cancellation/reschedule with no 24 hours notice will not be rescheduled.
  • Any new patient who fails to show for their initial visit will be charged a $95.00 fee. Should they reschedule and cancel/No Shoe with no 24 hours notice, they will not be rescheduled.
  • The fee is charged to the patient, not the insurance company, and is due at the time of the patient’s next clinic visit.
  • As a courtesy, when time allows, we make reminder calls or texts for appointments. If you do not receive a reminder call or text, the above Policy will remain in effect.

We understand there may be times when an unforeseen emergency occurs and you may not be able to keep your scheduled appointment. If you should experience extenuating circumstances please contact the clinic immediately so that the fee may be waived. You may contact Spot On Acupuncture 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 780-456-2323 and leave a message.

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Healing with Auriculotherapy

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Healing with Auriculotherapy and Integrated Medicine

Spot On Acupuncture specializes in Auriculotherapy as a treatment tool.

When an acupuncturist opens their business they are considered a integrated medical practice. This is because not only do acupuncturists treat with acupuncture needles but they also treat with cupping, electro-therapy, Ghu Sha, acupressure, lifestyle and diet recommendations and also the use of other tools such as auriculotheraphy that can be a non-invasive treatment plan. 

What is Auriculotheraphy?

It is a technique of using points on the skin of the external ear to diagnosis and treat pain and medical conditions of the body. Whether it is used in conjunction with another treatment or by itself, auriculotheraphy is often effective when other treatments have failed. Best of all it is non-invasive and virtually free of side effects.

How does it work?

Specific points on the ear have been mapped for treatment of specific problems. These points, when stimulated, often have positive effects on the target area of the body.

What can you expect?

Certain points that may be related to your problem on one or both ears will be inspected to start. When therapeutically active points are located they will be treated with electrical stimulation. Ear seeds can also be applied as part of a take home treatment.

What can it treat?

It is most commonly used for pain control, addictions and cravings, weight loss, and help with mental and emotional problems. Points and protocols exist for the treatment of many internal disorders as well. Because Auriculotherapy can address any part of the body, nearly any problem can be treated by Auriculotherapy.

Is it painful?

It is generally very comfortable. The use of the electrical stimulator may give you the feeling of a mild electrical sensation but typically most people don’t feel anything at all or just a warming sensation.

How quickly can you expect relief?

It often produces very rapid effects. Some treatments take effect immediately, while others are cumulative in nature, becoming increasingly effective with more treatments.

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Why Didn’t Acupuncture Work For Me?

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Have you ever heard someone say they tried acupuncture and it didn’t work for them? There are probably many different factors on why this was their conclusion without even realizing it.

Acupuncture is not a one time treatment fix all. Unfortunately in today’s instant gratification society some people believe this to be true. The fact is that each acupuncture treatment builds on the previous one. Each treatment works to build up your Qi (energy), remove blockages, and put your body back into balance. Seeing an acupuncturist for one treatment and expecting to be cured is like putting a band aid on a cut that requires stitches, more care and treatment then a band aid.

Acute and chronic conditions are, and can be, treated by acupuncturist and your acupuncturist will set up a treatment plan that is highly recommend to stick to. This means not going often enough or leaving too much time between treatments will lead to starting all over as your body didn’t get the right attention as prescribed by the practitioner.

There may be other factors that need to be considered as well. What is your lifestyle like? Are you over worked? Are you suffering from low energy? Are you not getting enough sleep? These can all be contributing factors as well. This is because when you start acupuncture treatments with low energy, a deficiency in Qi, your first session or two could just be focused on bringing your Qi back up. It is important that lifestyle is discussed with your acupuncturist to determine if this might be a contributing cause to your condition. Your acupuncturist may make some recommendations on changes to your lifestyle to assist in speeding up the body’s natural healing capabilities.

What about your diet? Yes this can be a determining factor in the healing process. There may be a food your are consuming, could possibly even be a “healthy” food, that is something you should be avoiding due to your condition. Acupuncturist look at the whole body and that includes the fuel you are putting into it.

Unfortunately when it comes to our health there are no quick fixes. You need to work with your health care practitioner to help heal your body. Just like when you are prescribed a medication, you need to build up the dosage in your body for it to work.

People often ask, how often do they need to come out in. Well that is different for everyone and the condition you are being treated for. But a good start is 8-10 sessions that may start out at 2-3 times a week or maybe once a week. Some people it can be less than this if it is an acute condition and some people it may be longer for chronic conditions like asthma, allergies and so forth. It is an individual plan as unique as you are. Once you have reached a maintenance level you can be seen any where from once a month to once every three months.

Call Spot On Acupuncture at Manning Chiropractic and Wellness today to book your consultation, 780-456-2323 or message me directly.

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Your Mood & Feelings of the Season

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Every Season comes complete with it’s own emotion in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We are in the season of fall, when our bodies start to slow down after the fast pace of summer and when our moods and emotions can change too.

Sometimes you may be feeling sad and just don’t know why. In the fall we can feel more sadness and this can be explained through the Five Element theory. Each element is associated with a season, an organ, an emotion and so much more. Metal is associated with fall, the lungs and sadness. 

It is perfectly natural to feel sadness, be it unexplained or the recent loss of a friend, family member, relationship, job or whatever you personal loss may be. And it is perfectly natural and healthy to let yourself feel the grief but we also need to move forward and heal. Learning to let go so that we can come out on the other side even stronger.

Watch, listen and pay attention to your body. It will tell you when you need to slow down and what you need to feel but it will also tell you if it is out of balance. If you are feeling more tired than usual, a little under the weather, your breathing has changed or maybe there is a cough developing you may want to try acupuncture to help you. We have many points that can help you heal emotionally or help with issues associated with the lungs. The common cold, flu, asthma, cough can all be helped.

Call or message Spot On Acupuncture today to book your appointment. Take the time to heal yourself.