​There's a baby on the way!

So for those of you that I haven't seen for a little while, you may not know that I'm pregnant and am expecting my 2nd child in early December so there will be some changes to clinic hours.

I finish up on Monday 4th November and the clinic will be closed from then until January 6th, 2020. 

During January there will be 2 fantastic  practitioners working.  Times and days will be confirmed in December.
At this stage I'm planning on returning to clinic sometime in February. 

For those of you on herbal medicines, I will still be refilling scripts during this time - just notify me via sms with at least a few day's notice.

I've also put the contact details for Jenny (who practices in Drysdale), Kate (who practices in Geelong) and the wonderful Pia Williams (who practices in Ocean Grove) so that you're looked after whilst I'm on leave.  Please note Jenny may be on leave in November so check with her clinic to confirm dates.
 
Jenny Layton Acupuncture
c/o Drysdale Physiotherapy and Sports Injury clinic
27-29 High Street
Drysdale
Ph: 03 5251 2958

Kate Heagney Acupuncture
c/o Holistic Osteopathy
2A Roxby St
Manifold Heights
Ph: 03 5200 1044
 
Bellarine Chinese Medicine
Pia Williams
29 Parkview Ave,
Ocean Grove,
Ph: 0404 224 004

Spring is in the air - September/October/November

With Spring this year, the trees and flowers have begun to blossom. With the blossoms comes pollen. Pollen is microscopic powder produced from seed plants. It can be very fine and very light and can be easily picked up and spread by the wind. It can enter our nasal airways and cause irritation and inflammation. 
Allergy to pollen is called Hay Fever. The symptoms of Hay Fever can include itchiness, swelling, sneezing and mucus.
For more information about Hay Fever from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Inc. (ASCIA)
click this link....

In Chinese Medicine, Spring is the season of 'Wind' and the 'Liver'. As with the pollen mentioned above, wind is the carrier of many pathogens. These pathogens can enter the body and cause illnesses like Hay Fever and Eczema, This gives meaning to an old Chinese saying that 'wInd is the spearhead of a thousand diseases'. 
And though we can't stop the wind or the pathogens it carries, it is the belief in Chinese Medicine that we are able to nourish our bodies so we can fight off any illness which may occur with the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine.
If you are one of those many unfortunate people, who suffer every year spring comes around, perhaps consider Chinese Medicine this season.
For more information on the treatment of Spring ailments such as Hay Fever, as well as any other enquiries you may have, please refer to Contact page.

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Time for a Spring clean!

Spring time is that time of year when we look to do a spring clean of our house, getting rid of the clutter we’ve been accumulating. It’s the perfect time to be doing the same thing for our bodies.  An easy way to cleanse the liver is to start the day with a hot water with lemon juice – this alkalizes all the acid we’ve produced overnight and flushes out the system.  Fibre is also an important cleanser as it’s not just what we put into out body, but how it comes out the other end! Pectin is a fibre contained in lemon skins and pith (the white part) which can bind products in the intestines and clears them out via your stools, so after you’ve juiced a lemon, use what’s left and add it to hot water, allow it to cool and drink as a natural lemonade. Remember to use organic or home grown lemons so you know where they’ve come from and are free of chemical sprays.