How Traditional Chinese Medicine can help with a Cancer Diagnosis

Written by: Dr. Vikki McGuire, DTCM

We are all affected by Cancer. Whether you have been diagnosed or a close family or friend has, we have all struggled under the weight of this far-reaching disease.

The majority of people who get diagnosed go through a series of emotions: fear, confusion, self-doubt and STRESS.

In our society, we have not completely integrated all available therapies. A patient may become unclear about which treatment journey to follow. It can be daunting as there are so many choices without much support from Oncology outside of their scope of practice.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a great therapy for your whole system when undergoing cancer treatments and post-treatment. It works on the mind, body and spirit through needling, cupping, exercises (like Tai-Chi Qi-Gong), Herbal and Nutritional support.

Dr. Vikki has been working with Cancer patients (and their families) for 10-plus years. During that time, she has learned the process of Oncology and how valuable holistic medicine is through all stages of cancer and beyond. She treats symptoms of cancer such as:

Anxiety/depression

Cognitive Issues (sometimes called chemo brain)

Dry Mouth

Fatigue

Hot flashes

Lymphedema

Ileus (intestinal blockage)

Immune system recovery

Nausea

Neuropathy

Pain

Post-operative pain

Dr. Vikki can help navigate the holistic system and guide patients to the right providers at the right time to aid in Cancer treatments and recovery. It can be a confusing, sometimes costly and frustrating process finding the right team for yourself.

Just because your conventional cancer treatments have ended, your healing hasn’t. This is where TCM can be a lifeline. Dr. Vikki can help you get back to your pre-cancer health. Chemo can take up to a year to leave your system and the damage it does to the good cells takes time and support to repair.

Whether you are recently diagnosed, part way through Western treatments or looking for post-treatment care – give Dr. Vikki and Traditional Chinese medicine a try.

Dr. Vikki McGuire works at AST Willow Park and is currently taking new patients. Call 403-278-1405 to book your appointment today!

Acupuncture for Insomnia

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Dr. Vikki Mcguire TCM

What is considered insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder where an individual has difficulty falling asleep and/or remaining asleep through the night. Upon waking in the night, the person might then have a tough time falling back to sleep. Insomnia can be either acute, which means it’s short-lived and goes away. Acute insomnia might be due to a stressful life event, for example, a student may not be able to sleep the night before an important exam. Chronic insomnia is when a person experiences it a minimum of three nights per week lasting at least three months. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it could also include sleep that is disrupted by nightmares and dreams.

Most adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep per night and without that people can experience both a physical and mental toll, especially if the insomnia is chronic.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, insomnia can be a symptom of an underlying health issue. Some causes of sleep disorders include:

Hormonal Imbalances (peri-menopause or menopause)
Digestive Problems
Stress or Anxiety
Sleep Apnea

After a full assessment, a TCM doctor will design a treatment plan to help address your sleep issue. It may include a self-care lifestyle plan, herbal recommendations, nutrition options, acupuncture and cupping treatments.

How can Acupuncture Help with Sleep?

Acupuncture is a treatment where fine needles are placed into certain points in the body that will help to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissues. With regards to sleep directly, acupuncture therapy can help to activate your body's generation of the sleep hormone melatonin and works to lower overall stress and anxiety by relaxing the body, in turn sending you to sleep easier. Working with the flow of energy in the body, acupuncture can help bring back flow to areas of the body that may be obstructed or are experiencing an imbalance. Many people experience an extremely peaceful sleep immediately after an acupuncture session.

If you're having trouble falling asleep, here are a few pieces of low-hanging fruit that you can reach for to see if they make a difference:

Get yourself on a schedule – Going to sleep and waking up at the same time everyday can help your body to establish its' circadian rhythm. This is basically an internal clock that helps tell your body when it’s sleep time, and when it’s wake time.
Meditation – Meditation and mindfulness is a great way to help calm and relax the body to prepare it for rest and rejuvenation. If your worries tend to keep you awake, this can be especially important to help you stay present in the moment. One meditation app that gets rave reviews is The Daily Calm.
Turn off your electronics – A combination of the light emitted from devices and the distractions that come with them can cause people to have a hard time falling asleep. Try to avoid these devices when bedtime is near.
Aromatherapy – Lavender is probably the most popular scent of aromatherapy when it comes to helping the body relax at bedtime, but there are many others that can help too.

If you’re interested in learning more to find out whether acupuncture could be right for you, please book in with Dr. Vikki Mcguire TCM at Active Sports Therapy.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Sports Medicine Acupuncture

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By: Dr. Vikki McGuire, DTCM

A Sports Medicine Acupuncturist will use many techniques to locate injured tissues in your body. These may include range of motion testing, muscle palpation and testing, orthopedic examinations and more. Some muscle imbalances are assessed through both static and functional movements which can help the practitioner understand the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ the injury occurred. Integrating these methods with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can diagnose and treat the excess (shi) and deficient (xu) conditions that are related to the injured tissue. In TCM areas of the body are all considered to be connected to a specific organ (zang fu) which might require acupuncture treatment as well.

This new technique which is a combination of Western Sports Medicine and the genius of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments can assess and treat:

Changes in the spine
Address issues with postural imbalances
Musculoskeletal injuries and imbalances
Pain
Other internal conditions such as digestive issues, adrenal fatigue, anxiety, and respiratory issues

With a goal of treating the patients issue with a truly integrated perspective, treatments may include more than just acupuncture. Myofascial manipulation and cupping might also be utilized and many clients report experiencing positive results after just one session. If you've experienced a sports injury or a repetitive strain injury this could be a great treatment option for you.

To schedule your appointment with Dr. Vikki McGuire TCM for Sports Medicine Acupuncture please call 403-278-1405 or email mail@activesportstherapy.ca

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, Dr. of TCM, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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