Karen Sze

05/05/2024

Get moving on Day 5! A balanced body is a healthy body 🏃‍♂️💪. Embrace physical activity for better health.

Typically I suggest gentle movement exercises in clinic
👉 Taichi
👉 Qigong
👉 Swimming (with flutter board, if uncomfortable with water)
👉 Gentle stretching
👉 Yoga (Yin, restorative, hatha)
👉 Pilates
👉 Walks / Hiking
👉 Aquafit
👉 Weights (done slowly, light weight, high reps)
👉 Calisthenics

Why do I suggest these, instead of running or high intensity style exercises?

🤔 Stress and high impact or intense style exercises release cortisol into our body - that is a Stress hormone. NO one need more stress hormones - period.

👉 To heal, we need to down regulate our nervous system. From Sympathetic (fight/flight) to Parasympathetic (rest & digest)

This is why acupuncture helps, as acupuncture helps our body to calm the f down! 😁😉

🚴‍♀️
exercise

11/20/2023

New week. New thoughts.

10/30/2023

You are what you eat!

I love purple yam, they're a bit elusive at times but when I find them, I'm definitely bringing some home!

Today feels like winter is close by... So I made some congee featuring a blend of my 2 favs (food and culture). Purple yams and German Schweinhaxe (ham hock) plus a century egg.

Sweet and savory. Yams for tonifying my Spleen and Kidney while pork nourishes my Qi plus the collagen in the pork skin 😋

Did you know century egg is packed with nutrients and good for your liver health while regulating blood pressure? It is simply a preserved duck egg, the egg white is like a jelly and the yolk is very unique. Give it a try 😉

10/30/2023

You are what you eat!

I love purple yam, they're a bit elusive at times but when I find them, I'm definitely bringing some home!

Today feels like winter is close by... So I made some congee featuring a blend of my 2 favs (food and culture). Purple yams and German Schweinhaxe (ham hock) plus a century egg.

Sweet and savory. Yams for tonifying my Spleen and Kidney while pork nourishes my Qi plus the collagen in the pork skin 😋

Did you know century egg is packed with nutrients and good for your liver health while regulating blood pressure? It is simply a preserved duck egg, the egg white is like a jelly and the yolk is very unique. Give it a try 😉

10/19/2023

Curious about the cupping marks colours mean from a TCM medicine point of view?

As Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an all encompassing modality with a diagnosis approach that considers all presenting symptoms, it is not surprising that results after a treatment will correspond with the diagnosis.

If you're curious and want to learn more about how TCM treatments can help you and your health, book a Free 15 minutes consultation today.

09/29/2023

Fermented beets for Gut health!

Why is fermented foods better than regular pickled foods?

💥 Probiotics!!! Without taking another supplement, eating fermented foods on a regular basis helps with your gut flora. They help your body break down food and improve nutrient absorption.

For all of us uterus owners, beets are great. We shed blood every month and from TCM POV, our blood is used to make breast milk too, and this is why I suggest many of my clients to eat more red coloured foods, like red beets! Think low energy, poor sleep, easily fatigued - these and much more are usual symptoms of Blood deficiency. I'll talk about Blood deficiencies in another post, if you'd like - LMK.

It's an easy process to make fermented foods, these 4 jars took me just one hour to make! They'll be ready to eat in a few days and will last in storage in my fridge for a few months.

I used a 2% brine for this batch with fresh dill and dried coriander seeds.

09/05/2023

What's happening during an acupuncture treatment?

Each session starts with a verbal intake:
👉 Note down your chief complaint(s), symptoms and how long its been bothering you
👉 I may ask to palpate (touch), or do a visual check of the area(s) of concern, if necessary
👉 Take your pulse and look at your tongue - a very TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) assessment tool
👉 Decide on a face up or face down treatment
👉 Needle time!
👉 Acu Nap time - not all achieve this but when possible, it's amazing pants!
👉 Step back into reality...

How long do the needles stay in?
👉 Traditionally, 25 to 30 minutes to allow for Qi to complete one full cycle
👉 Exceptions do occur - see photos

Photo 1 - despite leaving needles in for about 25 minutes, the client's body said not yet and "sucked" the needle into the body when I tried to remove it. I respected the response and waited a few more minutes

Photo 2 - redness after needle insertion = body's natural histamine response (dispelling what needs to purge - typically internal Heat = bringing out what was stuck in the body to allow natural healing and free flow of Qi)

Photo 3 - no redness, no grip on needles = end of treatment, needles removed

07/09/2023

Curious to know how TCM acupuncture works?
🤓
Head on over to the newly published knowledge centre in our website!
Link in bio or 👇
https://acucorner.com/knowledge-centre/f/how-does-acupuncture-work

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtwefZ5O8s1/?igshid=NjFiZTE0ZDQ0ZQ==

TCM Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine, sterile, single-use, disposable needle into one of 361 acupuncture points, found along 14 meridians or channels in the body.

03/29/2023

Pulse diagnosis goes hand in hand with our detailed intake form, tongue diagnosis and palpation assessment.
🤓
In TCM, it is very different than the pulse assessment done by a western medical professional. There are 3 different positions to be assessed on each wrist which provides insights to your internal organs and your overall health.
🤓
Some words you may hear are forceful, thready, hidden, wiry, slippery, moderate, deep, superficial, etc. There are 29 pulse types in total, each indicates something different, allowing us to formulate a personalized treatment every time.
🤓
Your pulse changes constantly. So we may check your pulse during treatment to check how your body is responding to it. However, it is always pertinent to communicate your sensations (felt senses) to your acupuncturist!
🤓
One main difference between TCM and western medicine is that we account for your objective AND subjective symptoms. What you feel and How you feel are integral to formulating your diagnosis and treatment plan.
🤓
I want to hear your story. The detailed intake form wants to know! Think of it as writing your memoir, if you so please.
🤓
When you are ready to share your story with us at Acu Corner and have the desire to feel better, give us a call or click on the link in bio to book 👆
📷

03/13/2023

just published this article.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/long-covid-acupuncture-eastern-remedies-rcna74358
🤓
If you have been suffering with long covid symptoms and want to explore TCM acupuncture, book a Free consultation today.

01/13/2023

Anyone who's 1st or 2nd generation immigrant should check out this book, Permission to Come Home by Jenny Wang .
💖
I'm turning 48 in March and am finally felt heard and seen while reading this book. Now I can finally get a sense of what people mean when they say they've found a community that's gone through what they've been living in their whole live.
💖
Every topic that she's brought up in chapter 1 and asking the reader to question about triggers and/or resonates with me. Some I've been dealing with already and some are things I keep sweeping under the rug and avoiding in my own way with procrastination.
💖
Asking for help? That's still such a challenge for me and to do it without thinking owe them and need to pay it back! For me to accept help after finding the courage to ask is massive! It's silly but very real.
💖
Be proud of my achievements?? How dare I?! My parents have never said the word proud to me, in my face. I've been laughed at, but never a pat on the back or anything of that sort. Not after my Engineering degree. I've been struggling so much launching because of this deeply ingrained belief of "don't make a scene". This is so conflicting with the "everyone gets a participation ribbon" culture.
💖
I can honestly tell you that I've never been asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" by a family member. "Who am I?" There's just so much projections and assumptions and expectations to live up to and it's been so hard living as the blackest sheep in my whole lineage!
💖
I can also tell you writing this post is totally against the grain. The whole" Saving face" way of thinking is very much alive and well practiced in my family. It's better to live in pain and suffering than to talk about it, let alone do something about it. God forbid someone knows about the shameful things that happened. It's all manufactured fear - afraid others will judge and bad-mouth our family, afraid to be the disgrace of the family.
💖
What's worse is carrying the burden, for generations to come. To not break the chain and continue this unhealthy lifestyle, relationship, way of thinking... It's super duper toxic.
💖

11/23/2022

Today I'm officially launching my new business page Acu Corner Toronto 🎉🎉🎉
💗
Please Like and Share my new page and stay tuned! I'm in the process of updating my website.

11/22/2022

During my 10 months period in student clinic, I met and treated over 111 patients and fortunately many became repeat clients. The introvert in me tried to strike a conversation with everyone while the extrovert in me tried to listen attentively when it's the clients time to speak. This balancing act required me to become an ambivert. It was an honour to develop many different connections and relationships.
🤓
Some clients took more time than others to truly open up and share their stories with me. It is from their stories that I discover the root cause of their current chronic, physically manifested ailment. It can date back to an accident that happened 10 years ago or it can be a habit they've kept since childhood or a trauma since birth. Regardless of origin, I am truly grateful for the trust they have placed in me!
🤓
Gloria and I became very familiar with each other as I treated her 13 times over a period of 8 months. She is pictured here mid-session with needles in her scalp and on her body with wired clips for electro acupuncture. We shared laughter, sad tears and happy tears during this time.
🤓
I will always treasure all the moments from student clinic as it was an honour to meet each and every one. For each of them to have faith in me from the beginning with shaky and anxious hands to now, as a graduate. I am grateful for our exchanges and times spent together. I hope everyone all the best on their healing journey.
🤓
Full permission and blessing was given by Gloria to make this post with her photo included.

11/21/2022

Part of my TCM acupuncture studies required participation of 500 hours in student clinic where we helped and treated the general public with their real life ailments. Over a time span of 10 months, this equated to 266 treatments. In this time, I put to use all the theory, practical instructions and case studies we'd learned in class and on the spot through our 9 different clinic supervisors.
🤓
William played a key role in my clinic hours, as I spent over 130 hours under his tutelage and guidance. He taught me Scalp acupuncture to assist a paraplegic patient and clients with psycho-emotional issues. He introduced me to glimpses of Tung's style acupuncture to help treat a variety of chronic illnesses.
🤓
I could not have asked for a better teacher as he has decades of hospital experiences from China. His fast pace and highly efficient treatments kept me on my toes and amazed at every turn, at every positive outcome. The immediate response in patients with frozen shoulders is astounding.
🤓
I could only wish to spend more time learning from acupuncture masters like William. This is a hands-on practical skill that needs time and patience to learn and keep learning. I look forward to meeting and learning from other great acupuncture masters in the future.
🤓
For now, I'm trying my best to patiently wait for my licensing exams results so I can needle again! 🤞🤞🤞

11/19/2022

My TCM studies journey finally culminated with a little get together and a little presentation of diplomas!
🤓
I dipped my toe in at back in September 2019 with one course and was fully enrolled in the program by January 2020. Etai taught me TCM theory first and it was a beautiful beginning. He then became my main instructor in all 3 years of my studies.
🤓
We pivoted from in person learning to all online within 2 weeks of lockdown. It was difficult, and challenging as we went from a mix of theory and practical courses to all theory courses online. Fortunately, I love charts and bullet points and luckily that's how Etai taught. All the old paper tests are now online too. Talk about pushing our comfort zones in more ways than one.
🤓
In hindsight, my studies may have saved me by giving me structure and lots and lots of things to do while the whole world was in a state. Though contending with school stress and pandemic stress simultaneously is probably not something I'd wish upon anyone. Oh did I mention I also moved and experienced a break and enter during that time?! Lol
🤯
Nevertheless, I survived it all with support from new friends and old and lost some along the way. I'm now trying to plan my next move while "patiently" waiting out the 4 to 6 weeks period while my licensing exams are graded!
🤓
I can't name them all here but I want to thank Etai Tintpulver and the other instructors at AIM academy for sharing their wisdom and TCM experiences with me the past 3 years! Buckets of thanks from the bottom of my heart 💗💗💗
💛
#2022

08/27/2022

It's so sad to see another person, especially a top tier athlete to suffer and ending their career prematurely.

It must be said and be known that the "acupuncture" performed by physiotherapists, chiropractors, RMTs, etc are actually called dry needling. They learned it at a workshop, over a weekend or a few days.

Licensed acupuncturists spend 2200+ hours to learn the basics in TCM acupuncture! They're given the RAc designation in Canada and LAc in the States. This is what I'm working towards.

This is also why we fought the Ford government back in March 2022 as they wanted to allow anybody to offer acupuncture treatments. Let's make sure this doesn't happen again!!

03/11/2022

We did it!! Our campaign, worked!!! We can finally breath a sigh of relief and celebrate!! 🎉🎉🎉
Since the announcement on February 28th until today, March 10th 2022, we've been repealing the Conservative government's attempt to deregulate Traditional Chinese medicine and Acupuncture in Ontario by dissolving the governing body, CTCMPAO.
Over 39500 signatures were collected through the petition!
We had a news conference on March 4th.
We protested peacefully in front of the legislature on March 7th in the rain and snow.
All the major news networks published our concerns - Keep the Public Safe!
Everyone did their best to rally support from around the world. We got lawyers, and lobbyists involved!
This is the fruit of our intense labour!! 🙌
I am grateful for all the amazing human beings who stepped up! I am heartened to see how we banded together as a profession in such a short time! I cannot wait to finish my final year of studies and pass my board exams so I can officially become a Registered Acupuncturist in Ontario!! 🤞
#2022

03/06/2022

progress update:

We've received a lot of positive support from locals and people around the world; including local politicians, stakeholders and prominent authors in the profession.

It is amazing how much we've accomplished in such a short period of time but we need to keep pushing for the removal of Schedule 5 of Bill 88!!

So far the second reading as been postponed from last week and have gone to committee.

Many current members of the CTCMPAO have been working tirelessly for us all and I am extremely grateful to stand on these shoulders as I strive to finish my final year of my acupuncture program.

Let's keep the momentum going!
Please click on the link below to show your support by signing the petition, sending a message to your MPP, donating to the GoFundMe site or come to the protest on Monday March 7th at Queen's Park.

https://saveacuon.carrd.co/

03/04/2022

Please help sign the petition! 🙏

https://saveacuon.carrd.co/

On February 28th 2022, the government of Ontario suddenly introduced Bill 88, within section 5 is the small paragraph to dissolve and deregulate acupuncture and Chinese medicine as we know it. They did not consult anyone. They only notified the governing body, CTCMPAO that same day.

The government have no idea that the end result will cause more harm than good to the general public. They are allowing anyone to practice acupuncture, regardless of their lack of education or experience!

Insurance companies will stop covering the cost of a patient's visits.

The livelihoods of thousands of hard working R. Ac and RTCMP will be affected.

I'm currently in the third and final year of my acupuncture program and and due to graduate in June and write my Board exam in October 2022. This needs to remain a regulated profession. We work well with allopathic medicine and other complementary therapies,

I have seen the positive effects of TCM acupuncture first-hand in Student clinic while under supervision of registered acupuncturist.

Please help our voices be heard 🙏

12/24/2021

🎊🎄🔮🤶 Wishing everyone near and far a warm and joyful Christmas! ☃️🎁🎅❄️🍾
🎉
Live to the fullest
💗
Love with all your heart
💖
Laugh out loud
💝
#聖誕快樂

07/12/2021

Body shaming your children doesn't make them try to be better. It just destroys them from inside out. It's an insidious process.

My mom body shamed to me constantly, comparing me to other relatives and total strangers - all in the name of "for my own good". Regardless of the good intentions, children only hear and remember the words. My mom's older sister and total strangers would compliment me while her younger sister would look me up & down then diss me until I'm worthless.

All the mixed messages from my surroundings messed me up completely.

I grew up feeling unworthy.
I grew up to become insecure.
It didn't matter how much I've accomplished on my own.

So don't. Just keep your idle thoughts to yourself.

A little compliment goes a long way.
Smile.

07/10/2021

First post in a very long time... Slowly coming back to civilization. Hope everyone has survived the pandemic. Our physical and mental health are the most important pillars in life.
I've gotten my 2nd pfizer shot and past the 2 week period so I'm "fully vaccinated" now. Though I'll keep wearing my mask as I take public transit very often.
Aside from that, I've been busy with my 2nd year at acupuncture school and tending to my first gardening space. Multiple steep learning curves plus lockdown stress has been testing me every day. But what doesn't kill me will make me stronger.
Take care of yourself and those you love the most.
Don't forget to rest.
Set aside me time.
Connect with nature.
Do what you love.

01/10/2021

It might only be the 9th day of the year but there's already signs of what's to come!!! I'm so excited!
Pure joy!
#2021

01/01/2021

This was the last sunset of 2020.
🌇
To describe this year as Challenging is an understatement.
🌆
Every single person was affected in more ways than one.
🌆
However, focusing on the negative is not helpful or constructive. We grow from lessons. We grow from experiences.
🌆
I think 2020 was here to test us in all aspects of our lives.
💛
In short, everyone of us that's still here have shown a side of resilience that we weren't aware of before. This year made us recognize a lot of things we've taken for granted.
🧡
So let's start 2021 with gratitude in mind.
❤️
Be thankful of your health.
Be thankful of your courage to persevere.
Be thankful of your own tenacity.
Be thankful of your dreams.
Be thankful of your goals.
Be thankful of your abundance.
Be thankful of those who are here to support you.
💚
Be thankful of yourself.
You are the one in the driver seat.
💙
How do you picture yourself going forward?
💜
It's time to dream and manifest your hopes and dreams.
🤍
Most important thing - Live. Love. Laugh.
💞

12/24/2020

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! 🎄💕
Ich wünsche Ihnen Frohe Weihnachten! 🎄🌞
祝大家聖誕快樂! 🎄🎁
Stay healthy and happy!
#2020

10/12/2020

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone !

This year, with all the up's and downs, I'm even more grateful for all that's passed. I can't wait to see how we all come out the other side.

I saw this awesome driveway today and loved the practicality of it and the pattern formed. It doesn't matter how we criss cross our paths, we'll come together in the end. 🙏

09/09/2020

This is so true.

Book smart only gets you so far. Straight A's and the highest GPA won't get you everything in life.

Proper life and social skills are what's necessary for day to day interactions and more.

08/19/2020

Just because it has happened to someone in your family. It doesn't mean it will happen to you also - do not become a victim.

Be a chain breaker.
Empower yourself with intention to end the cycle.

I can help you with the work.

Current data suggests that only 5% of all diseases may be caused by inborn errors in the genetic code, while 95% of all diseases is likely the result of Epigenetic factors!

Traditionally, it was thought that the characteristics of an organism were pre-programmed in the DNA, hence the concept of “genetic determinism.” In other words, humans were considered to be the victim of their heredity.

Current research in the field of Epigenetics proves that we can change our genetic expression, which means that the fate of our health is NOT written in stone.

The science of Epigenetics studies how factors “beyond” the gene influence genetic expression.

Factors such as:
✅ environmental toxicity,
✅ pharmaceutical drugs,
✅ diet,
✅ lifestyle,
✅ stress,
✅ ancestral history, as well as,
✅ emotional and physical trauma

all play significant roles in modifying genetic expression!

The DNA is the blueprint to make proteins - but it is controlled by Epigenetic signals that mediate which genes will turn on or off.

Perhaps of even greater significance, is the study of how our PERCEPTIONS influence genetic expression. In other words, how you perceive the world determines which genes are going to be turned on/off, modifying the read out to manufacture the proteins that are most adaptable to YOUR perception of the environment.

Check out my article to learn how to take advantage of the latest insights in the field of Epigenetics to heal from chronic illness! https://www.thechhe.com/articles/the-underlying-causes-of-disease-part-2-genetics-epigenetics-the-biology-of-belief

Did you find this content helpful? Let me know in the comments! 👇

07/05/2020

This is the difference in 24 hours... I didn't know when my clematis will share her first blooms with me... But I've been patiently waiting.
🥰
All is possible!
🥰
Let yourself open up to infinite possibilities.
🥰
You are worthy.
🥰

06/21/2020

May your Summer of 2020 blossom in all aspects of your life.
🌸
Today is the official first day of summer and many were able to witness a solar eclipse in certain parts of the world.
💖
Let's capture today's energy and manifest something mind-blowing and magnificent. 💞
We all had a challenging start of the year but we are all fighters with different skill sets.
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Let's work together.
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Inspire each other.
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Time to love ourselves unconditionally and be empathetic to our individual struggles.
💖
Be love.
📷 1 and 2: me
📷 3: