I love acupuncture. Actually, I love all of Chinese Medicine – its ancient roots that go back thousands of years, its holistic philosophy of living in harmony with the environment, its natural approach to balancing the body with food, herbs & minerals, its central idea that good circulation of blood and energy is a cornerstone of feeling good, and (perhaps most importantly) the notion that health is more than just the absence of disease. “Wellness” is having an abundant supply of vitality which enables you to thrive; it is more than just not being sick.
What first drew me to the practice was its X factor – an idea I had that something magical must happen when needles are placed, just so, into the body. Now I know that acupuncture is not rooted in magic or fantasy, rather it is based on highly advanced theories of the human body which were developed over many millennia. Knowledge was gathered from martial arts, as well as from the observations of ancient doctors practicing this healing modality.
I will never forget the first time I had an acupuncture treatment. Once the needles were in, and my body was “tingling” in that unique acu-kind of way, all I could think as I lay there was, “I cannot believe I have gone this long in my life and I didn’t know this sensation existed”. I love introducing people to that sensation with their first treatments, and I will never tire of seeing that certain “spaced-out” look of deep relaxation on people’s faces when the treatment is finished.
When I began studying Chinese Medicine at the International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Vancouver, there were 2 subject areas I was most interested in – pain relief and women’s health. After completing the 5-year DTCM diploma program, I wrote all 3 provincial licensing exams to become a Registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I also challenged a written exam to become a Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (FABORM). In 2006, the same year I began practicing Chinese Medicine, I spent 3 months in the People’s Republic of China, completing an intensive internship in a TCM hospital.
My interest in the role that Chinese Medicine can play in women’s menstrual and reproductive health continues to grow as I use it to manage my own gynecological and reproductive health. While I am still interested in treating back, neck and shoulder pain, since graduating from Chinese medicine school I have taken advanced classes by highly respected leaders in the field of TCM women’s health and fertility such as Jane Lyttleton, Debra Betts, Bob Flaws, Daoshing Ni, Miki Shima and Kiiko Matsumoto. I am currently a member of the IVF Acupuncture Group, a team of doctors specializing in providing quality, evidence-based acupuncture services for patients undergoing IVF in Greater Vancouver.
Originally from Saskatchewan, I moved to Vancouver in 1996 to finish my Bachelor of Arts degree at Simon Fraser University, in the department of Psychology. After that I briefly moved to Alberta, and earned a Master of Science degree in the department of Neuroscience from the University of Calgary.
When I am not studying or practicing acupuncture and TCM, my passion lies in exploring the world and traveling to places I have never been to before. My partner Adam recently bought a sailboat, and we are enthusiastically planning trips to explore our own home coast of British Columbia and beyond. Someday, we plan on circum-navigating the entire big blue planet we live on. I love spending time with family and friends, and derive great pleasure out of waxing philosophical over a pint of good quality micro-brew (which I try my best to always do in moderation, remembering the importance of wise lifestyle choices). I enjoy hiking in the great outdoors, and going within myself on the Yoga mat. Inspired by the muse of Mother Nature, I’m learning through trial and error how to capture her beauty with digital photography. Our border collie, Louie, reminds me on a daily basis the importance of living in the moment. During our daily walks he reminds me to stop, and smell the flowers (although he prefers to stop and smell the fire hydrants and other stinky stuff, to each his own I guess….).
My *new* travel blog can be found by clicking here (erinsphotoblog.wordpress.com)! It’s a work in progress. Such is life.
