Bara Acu, 1717 Grant Street, Vancouver, BC (2026)

02/12/2026

This week in ~ what does the research say ~

There is a common misconception that the mechanisms of acupuncture are not well understood in western medical research. While there are still many gaps and much to be done, there have been hundreds if not thousands of studies analysing the effects and mechanisms of acupuncture. Because acupuncture and TCM theory is always administered with the consideration of the individual constitution and syndrome differentiation, the methodology challenges the scientific method of objective and consistent results. TCM always centres this important variable: the individuality of every persons unique physiological landscape. However, medical research has still found measurable and tangible result in studies on acupuncture and TCM. Studies show that the mechanisms of acupuncture are vast and benefit almost every physiological function in the body.

This study has shown that acupuncture:

~ speeds tissue repair
~ neuromodulates the brain
~ releases stem cells
~ relives pain
~ is anti-inflammatory

I look forward to sharing my favourite studies with you over the next few months - so stick around :)

02/06/2026

Seeing lots of neck and shoulder tension in the clinic lately!

It’s common this time of year to have extra strain on the neck, shoulders and head. With windy, damp, and cold weather conditions we are more susceptible to neck tension.

Here are some tips on how to reduce tension:

Wear a scarf and cover your ears: cold makes your muscles contract

Strength train & stretch: movement is medicine

Reduce screen time and heavy loads on the shoulders: what is in your backpack???

Prioritise rest and sleep: we need more recovery time in the winter months

Herbal patches: great for warmth and local blood circulation

Acupressure:

Jiāng Jing (GB21), or shoulder well, is used for shoulder and neck pain, dizziness, headache, and limited mobility of upper extremities. This point activates the Gall Bladder meridian, descends Qi, and resolves phlegm.

Fēng Chí (GB 20) or Wind Pool, is used for treating the common cold, nasal congestion, headache and swelling or pain of the eye. It is also effective for shoulder and neck pain, limitation of the shoulder, dizziness, and vertigo. This point expels exterior and interior wind, clears the head, benefits eyes, nose and ears, and subdues Liver Yang.

Thank you to all the Chinese elders and knowledge keepers who have generously passed along TCM knowledge - Traditional Chinese Medicine is not a trend !! TCM is a complete medical system rooted in cultural tradition that takes years of dedication to honour and understand. TCM tips and tricks are fun and helpful, but don’t underestimate or simplify the complexities and depth of TCM as a science and system. :)

02/05/2026

Seeing lots of neck and shoulder tension in the clinic lately!

It's common this time of year to have extra strain on the neck, shoulders,and head. With windy, damp, and cold weather conditions, we are more susceptible to neck tension.

Here are some tips on how to reduce tension:

Wear a scarf: Protection from wind and cold will save your energy, decrease strain and tension, and keep your blood circulating effectively and efficiently.

Find ways to reduce screen time: phones, laptops and TVs all strain our necks, eyes and brain.

Strength training & Stretching: movement is medicine! Keep the blood flowing.

Reduce load: Backpacks and bags filled with heavy laptops, etc, can add a significant load on our neck and shoulders.

Herbal patches: This is a great way to bring local warmth and blood circulation. You can find muscle relaxant patches at most drug stores. My favorite brand is salonpas!

Acupressure: Massage yourself and your loved ones :)

Jiāng Jing (GB21), or shoulder well, is used for shoulder and neck pain, dizziness, headache, and limited mobility of upper extremities. This point activates the Gall Bladder meridian, descends Qi, and resolves phlegm.

Fēng Chí (GB 20) or Wind Pool, is used for treating the common cold, nasal congestion, headache and swelling or pain of the eye. It is also effective for shoulder and neck pain, limitation of the shoulder, dizziness, and vertigo.

02/03/2026

When you go to acupuncture and win 🏆 Best Sleep of the Year 🏆

01/27/2026

Some updates!

🌞 So excited to officially announce that I have joined 💕 you can find me in Gastown Thursdays and Saturdays!

🌞 You can find me 3 days a week - Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays - at both Yaletown and Olympic Village locations

🌞 And I'm always popping in - Thursdays, Fridays and alternating Sundays 🫧

🌞 Info is now updated on my website baraacupuncture.com

🌞 Questions if acupuncture is right for you? Email me Bara.acupuncture@gmail.com

painrelief stressrelief

01/21/2026

2016 was a catalyst

I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis at 24 years old. I was told it was incurable and progressive. Thay my spine would slowly and painfully fuse over the course of my life. I already had spinal fusion that was visible on MRI and often used a cane to walk. I also graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts. My final papers were on Rhetoric of Medicine, Epistemology of Care and Disabilty Justice. I visited my home country and learned more about traditional and folk medicine.

Ten years later? This week, I learned that my Ankylosing Spondylitis is in remission. No further degeneration and the inflammation visible on MRI is resolved. This news is beyond my wildest dreams.

Ten years of hard work and 5 years of Acupuncture education and practice. Countless doctors, practitioners, healers. Endless support from family and friends.

I will be putting everything I've learned about putting autoimmune disease into remission into a series of articles, so stay tuned and follow along.

For now, it's time to celebrate ✨️

01/20/2026

Behind the scenes - sanitizing, folding, washing cups, charting, researching, planning, dreaming ☀️

Every treatment is like a little spell - a whisper that healing is always possible ✨️

01/08/2026

Acupuncture releases endorphins that take the edge off ✨️

By releasing stress and tension, regulating neurophysiology, and activating a parasympathetic 'rest and digest' state, acupuncture supports your body to detox and restore.

Imagine an all natural, drug free alternative to reaching for a vice. Reset your nervous system, and the rest falls into place.

Choose yourself in 2026 💕

01/02/2026

This year has pushed and challenged me in unexpected ways and as I reflect on the growth of my practice, I keep coming back to the profound shifts I've witnessed this past year in my patients.

Lately, I've been combining neuroscience with traditional acupuncture methods, and the results are exciting. These techniques are informed by Dr Chuangs Scalp Acupuncture techniques (shaped by 40 years as a neurosurgeon and Acupuncturist), neuroscience study at UBC, and Neuropuncture - a compete neuroscience acupuncture system developed in the US.

What is neuroscience-informed acupuncture?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the brain is called "the sea of marrow" and is seen as a systemic organ, relying on the function of all five Zang organs: heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney. This is confirmed by western medical science, which has shown that the body-brain connection is a two-way street - the body informs the brain, the brain informs the body.

With neuroscience-informed acupuncture, stimulation of specific regions of the brain reinforces neural pathways between the brain and the body. By using specific scalp acupuncture points with traditional acupuncture points, we neuromodulate the HPA axis, supporting the body to return to homeostasis. By targeting specific channels and neuropathways, we can reset underlying patterns and use the bodies own resources to heal.

Sujok Therapy uses only the hands to target very precise physiological shifts. The hands are the largest neurological imprint on the brain because there is so much information preserved in our brain-hand connection. This is why Sujok has the power to resolve a condition in only one treatment. As says: Sujok is the medicine of the future.

As me about scalp acupuncture and Sujok Therapy options and get back to your best self 💗

12/08/2025

Modern life overstimulates our senses, making it harder to manage stress and regulate our emotions. Our nervous system can perceive everyday life as a threat, putting our stress hormones into overdrive.

Scalp acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system to release neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin. These substances bind to opioid receptors, producing an analgesic and sedatative effect - effectively releiving pain, stress and tension.

Studies have shown that acupuncture stimulation affects specific areas of the brain and neuromodulates (aka balances) our internal biochemistry. It also promotes neuroplasticity by promoting neurogensis (the growth of nerves) and synaptic plasticity (strengthening connections between nerves).

In other words, acupuncture is a natural way to boost your mood, reduce stress, and improve memory and cognitive processes.

“Scalp acupoints are innervated by the trigeminal nerve, which is coincident with the intracranial sensory afferents as well as with the meningeal vessels."

Wang S, Liu K, Wang Y, Wang S, He X, Cui X, Gao X, Zhu B. A Proposed Neurologic Pathway for Scalp Acupuncture: Trigeminal Nerve-Meninges-Cerebrospinal Fluid-Contacting Neurons-Brain. Med Acupunct. 2017 Oct 1;29(5):322-326. doi: 10.1089/acu.2017.1231. PMID: 29067143; PMCID: PMC5653342.

“In the brain, enhanced bodily attention triggered by acupuncture stimulation can activate the salience network and deactivate the default mode network regardless of the actual stimulation.”

Lee IS, Chae Y. Exploring Acupuncture Actions in the Body and Brain. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2022 Jun 30;15(3):157-162. doi: 10.51507/j.jams.2022.15.3.157. PMID: 35770545.

Bara Acu

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