Okanagan-Similkameen Community Acupuncture

04/29/2026

It's official - I'm a Certified Chinese Astrology Consultant ✨ Excited for this new role in the service of helping people find greater ease in life, and in service of Traditional East Asian Medicine, and Classical Chinese Medicine and Metaphysics. Heart full after my birthday weekend just happened to align with our graduation and Tan Academy of Balance Celebration Day, in honour of the many Tan birthdays. And on the heels of the Grand Opening of our new location in Vancouver's historic Chinatown! It's been an awe filled journey, first with the Balance System Acupuncture mentorship program, and now dipping my toes into the vast world of the Bā Zì. While this will be a lifelong journey, these past 5 years have deepened my understanding of this medicine profoundly. So proud of this mighty little school and honoured to be part of it, excited for the ongoing growth and learning, and greatly looking forward to all future connections on my path as a fledgling astrologer. If you're looking for a new layer of insight on your own path, let's chat! To the flow~~~

04/09/2026

Massive thanks to everyone who nominated me for the Best of Penticton awards! Such an honour!

Businesses with the most nominations by April 13 will advance to the voting round.

Your nominations and votes help
small businesses and providers like me to succeed and reach more people!

If you'd like to see me make it to the voting round, please nominate:

"Okanagan-Similkameen Community Acupuncture"

under the category:

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (under Health & Fitness)

before April 13!

You can find the Best Of Penticton nominations page at https://linktr.ee/laurelirons

Thank you!! 🙏 ✨

02/05/2026

Welcome Fire Horse!! Xin Nián Kuài Lè! Happy New Year!

Today is the Solar new year! The Lunar new year is 13 moon cycles while the Chinese solar calendar is based on the orbit of the
Earth around the Sun, and calculated according to our relative distance from the sun.
Today is a more accurate measurement of the year, recognized in Chinese medicine and metaphysics.

Fire Horse is about major change!
And the year starts out very strong. What new world do you want to see? How can we stay grounded in times of upheaval?

Each pillar (like Fire Horse) comes around every 60 years. Think of the energy of 1966. What major changes were happening in the world?

What guidance does this year have for you? My waitlist is open for personal Bã Zì my waitlist is open for personal Bã Zì (aka 4 Pillar / 8 Character) birth chart and annual readings. I'm very excited about this after three years of in depth study.

I'm offering an introductory rate
for the next three months - sliding scale and trades accepted, limited spots available. (Consider it my practice run before my official launch in May!)

Contact me here or at oksacupuncture.com 🐴❤️‍🔥

01/30/2026

Hi friends! I wrote my first New Year forecast, for 丙午 Bing Wu / Fire Horse year! This was written as an assignment for my Bazi mentorship (under Dr. Sonia F Tan) and I thought I'd share it for anyone interested. Nowhere near perfect, but it has been marked and I've corrected any errors or oversights. Also my website is badly in need of updating, so don't click around 🙈 Anyway, link is https://oksacupuncture.com/blog/welcome-fire-horse

And I'll be available for consultations this Spring - watch for new website and booking links coming soon, or dm me to get on the waitlist! Here's to your good flow ✨

10/25/2025

Please sign this petition and help the TCM profession in BC.

Our new regulatory college, the CCHPBC, is proposing discriminatory new bylaws, to save themselves money, and in a misguided attempt to align Chinese Medicine (CM/TCM) more stringently with the Western medical system. In part by removing Chinese language and terminology, and by removing TCM herbs as a protected activity for TCM professionals.

Chinese herbalism is a complex and precise system of medicine that requires deep study to practice safely. The new bylaws would allow anyone to "prescribe" Chinese herbs, which is reckless. They don't permit just anyone access to pharmaceutical prescribing - at worst, there could be fatal consequences.

It's also part of a broader trend that has already reduced our scope of practice while adding Chinese medical practices to other professions. Effectively taking East Asian practices away from East Asian practitioners and putting it in the hands of Western professions, many of whom offer a weekend course that typically doesn’t include the historic, cultural or unique medical understandings of CM, and change the terminology to make it more palatable to Western clientele.

Chinese practitioners are calling these changes out as the racist and colonial overreach that they are, and need your help to protect the integrity of the medicine here in BC.

Please sign and support here

Say "NO" to Deregulation of Traditional Chinese Herbal Prescriptions in BC

08/29/2025

Loving the new Keremeos space with Lower Similkameen Community Services Society! Online booking is open at oksacupuncture.janeapp.com, or call/text 250.499.1905, or send us a message here!

08/13/2025

Update: booked!
Hi Keremeos! It looks like I have a rare opening for acupuncture tomorrow at 2:45. August is full with a waitlist so if you've been thinking of coming in this is a good opportunity. Message here or call/text 250.499.1905 if you'd like it. Photo of Edamame enjoying his new view 🩵

07/31/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Canadian Mental Health Association will be offering the RISE program, a group focused on releasing and integrating strong emotions.

This program offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals seeking to develop healthy coping mechanisms and emotional resilience. This program is free and individuals can self refer.

As RISE enters this new chapter our focus is to be gender inclusive, welcoming people of all genders and identities, including non-binary and gender diverse individuals. The program will run two evenings per week Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 pm -8 pm (4 hours a week) for 12 sessions. Our first group begins September 16th and will run through to October 28th. The groups will be held in our clubhouse #103-1873 Main Street Penticton.

We are scheduling intakes so if you are interested in joining the RISE program or learning more about this valuable resource please email vince.galea@cmhasos.ca or contact us at 250-493-8999 for more information.

07/20/2025

I've been waiting to share the news with everyone who has asked, here it is!! So excited for Karen and Similkameen Makers Hub !! 🙌✨

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

I'm so happy to finally share the NEWS! Similkameen Makers Hub has a location and will be opening in August.

We’re an art and craft retail store and creative space in the heart of the Similkameen.

I'll be getting the keys August 1st and will be busy setting up for a soft opening TBA. Once I've got my feet mostly under me, I'll be planning a Grand Opening! Over the next little bit, follow along to be a part of my adventure setting up this exciting addition to Keremeos!

Tell us what you're looking forward to seeing in store!

07/07/2025

2000 year old acupuncture needles!

NANCHANG, CHINA—Global Times reports that archaeologists investigating the tomb of Liu Hemarquis, the Marquis of […]

07/05/2025

Amazing opportunity to see a renowned herbalist!

There are still a few tickets left for 7song's lecture this Sunday, July 6 from 1 - 3pm at the Summerland Library on Herbal Protocols for Stress & Anxiety. Tickets are $30 pp, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Please message me first as I have the master list of attendees. The earlier plant ID walk is sold out, so just the lecture is open to more people. Wheelchair access, no sign language, though. One day!

If interested, please message me here or on my biz email: 13moons.herbal.apothecary@gmail.com

Blessings!
Sarah

07/04/2025

KEREMEOS: Exciting news! I'll be joining a great group of practitioners over at 310 Veterans Ave, as of July 16. Weekly Wednesdays, with one Wednesday a month dedicated to low cost Community Acupuncture. Bookings at oksacupuncture.janeapp.com or call/text 250 499 1905. See you in the new digs soon!