Meghan DeSouza Acupuncture
5929 Jeanne D'arc Blvd S K1C 6V8 Orleans, ON, Canada

A couple of afternoon spots opened up this week on Wednesday and Thursday. If you've been waiting to get on my table now is the time As registered health care professionals we're still open at Align. We have strict prescreening and cleaning protocols, and continue to follow all public health mandates for infection control.

Two openings in my schedule this week: Wednesday at 6pm and Saturday at 9am, both for an hour. https://alignmassagetherapy.janeapp.com//align-massa/book

Did you know acupuncture could do all that?

I had a cancellation tomorrow at 10:30am for an hour. Book online if you want this rare Saturday appointment and start your weekend with some acupuncture

Still open! Acupuncturists are Regulated Health Professionals and I am happy to reassure you that I will remain open during the upcoming lockdown. I will continue to follow my established cleaning and screening protocols, as well as CTCMPAO and Ministry of Health guidelines to continue providing you with safe and effective care. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Acupuncture is so cool. There are so many points and different ways to approach a patient and their symptoms. There's a science to the diagnosis, treatment plan and points but there's also an art to choosing the right combination at the right time for each patient. There are many different physical and energetic connections inside our bodies. Acupuncturists consider these connections when creating a point prescription. They include; the meridian pathways, point interactions,... nerve pathways, connective tissue, the circulatory system, the lymphatic system, muscles, and skin. Many acupuncture points have similar actions. In school we often joked that if 6 acupuncturists saw the same patient there could be 6 different point prescriptions. Or if two patients came in with completely different issues they might get the same, or very similar, treatments. Both of these are actually pretty accurate!

In my practice I've seen a major increase in sleep issues in the past few months. How are you sleeping? My top tips for better sleep are: - go to bed at the same time every night, preferably before 10pm - no screens at least 60 minutes before bed... - no caffeine after lunch time - a walk after supper followed by a warm bath, meditation, or gentle yoga about an hour before bed - if your room isn't quiet and dark try a sleep mask and ear plugs - cool air, warm blankets. Open a window a crack or turn down the heat a wee bit - avoid upsetting or stressful things before bed (the news, work emails, etc) - don't go to bed super hungry or overly full - acupuncture! See more

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine sometimes have a bit of a reputation for being kind of folklore-y, or using very flowery language. I'll admit this can seem pretty accurate until you know what the common terms we use actually mean. Terms that you may hear often associated with acupuncture and Chinese medicine are; Qi, Shen, yin, yang, heat, damp and wind. Acupuncturists use these terms (as well as others) as part of a complex system of highly individualized diagnosis. They h...elp guide us to create the most appropriate treatment for each patient. Qi: the concept of vital life energy and the basic chemistry of bodily fluids. This is somewhat like the word electron or energy in English. Shen: the mental state of a person, their vitality and consciousness. Yin: represents cooling and the substances of the body, including blood and bodily fluids, that nurture and moisten the organs and tissues. Yang: represents warmth and the body's ability to generate and maintain body temperature, circulation and activity. Heat: causes expansion and increased activity. Excess heat can lead to irritability, fever and inflammation. Damp: the condition of high humidity inside the body. Symptoms can include feeling heavy, swelling or water retention, distended abdomen, phlegm discharge and loose stools. Wind: relates to conditions that effect the head and upper parts of the body (like wind moving the upper leaves of a tree more than lower) as well as symptoms that seem to move around or come and go. For example if someone has Wind Damp Heat they are likely presenting with a rapid onset cold or flu characterized by headache, runny nose and phlegmy cough with fever.

I don't know who needs to hear this today, but self care isn't selfish! It isn't limited to face masks, wine and bubble baths either. Sometimes self care is making that Doctor appointment you've been putting off, clearing out that one corner of your bedroom that annoys you, going for a 10 minute walk at lunch time, or ordering your favourite take out for dinner so you can take a night off cooking. All self care is valid, even if it's not glamorous! However, if you don't have the energy right now for any form of self care let's talk. Sometimes self care can be having someone else care for you, so if that's your jam right now come on in for an acupuncture treatment.

We're all under so much stress right now, trying to work, raise children, live our lives and function on a daily basis during the pandemic. It's no wonder that I'm seeing more and more patients with high stress, or their chronic conditions worsening because of stress. Stress is our normal reaction to situations requiring a response, either physically or mentally. It can be helpful; giving you a boost of adrenaline to run away fast, or sharpen your critical thinking to negoti...ate in a business setting. It becomes a problem when your body is reacting in a stress response way to minor things- like what to make for dinner, choosing what colour socks to wear, or regular everyday life situations. We should be able to moderate our stress response when it is not needed, and that's where so many of us are suffering right now- we've become so stressed out and can't turn the stress off. From a Chinese medicine and acupuncture point of view stress can effect the body and mind in many ways, depending on the person- it can impact digestion, sleep, pain, mood, menstruation, fertility and even skin. We'll do a detailed intake to figure out exactly which body system is being impacted and work to even out the stress response and promote relaxation.

Acupuncture- treating the whole person, body and mind, for 2000+ years.

Happy Halloween! Acupuncture is not scary!

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat the whole body- physically and emotionally. In a typical week I treat a few patients for pain (muscle soreness, pinched nerves, acute injuries, arthritis) but I also treat many many other conditions, such as: autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, menopause, PMS, infertility, migraines, breathing issues, digestive issues, skin rashes, sinus issues, allergies, labour induction, or any combination. Wondering if acupuncture can help you? Ask me!

Do you like ear acupuncture? I love ear acupuncture and ear seeds. Acupuncture in the ear is really not as painful as you may imagine, and it is really effective! Ear seeds are actual seeds, with little adhesive backing that apply pressure to an acupuncture point, without breaking the skin. You wear them home after an acupuncture appointment and apply pressure with your fingers throughout the day for 30-60 seconds, as needed. In my practice I use ear acupuncture and ear seeds often. They can be used for almost any condition, but I really like them to help promote sleep and reduce stress.