TCM with Neil

TCM with Neil Neil (Boxun) Dou, Vice President of ATCMA,
Registered Acupuncturist in BC.

09/04/2026

“Liver Qi stagnation” is one of those TCM terms people hear all the time but rarely get explained properly.

The word stagnation is the key. In TCM, Qi is meant to move smoothly through the body. When that movement becomes disrupted, it can show up in different ways, especially during periods of stress, frustration, or emotional tension.

Think of it like a traffic jam: the cars are still there, but they aren't moving the way they should.
This is why TCM looks at the overall pattern, rather than assuming one symptom tells the whole story.
Follow for more simple explanations of TCM concepts you may have heard before but never fully understood.

(TCM, Liver Qi stagnation, Liver Qi, Qi stagnation, Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, stress, stress relief, TCM diagnosis, TCM patterns, energy flow, holistic health, wellness)

You don't need a kitchen full of expensive “wellness” products to eat in a way that supports your body.Some of the ingre...
09/02/2026

You don't need a kitchen full of expensive “wellness” products to eat in a way that supports your body.

Some of the ingredients I come back to are incredibly simple, ginger, dates, goji berries, eggs, rice, and seasonal vegetables. They're versatile, easy to prepare, and have been used in traditional Chinese food practices for generations.

I also think the way we eat matters. A warm, freshly prepared meal can feel very different from constantly grabbing something cold or eating while rushing between tasks.

TCM food therapy is about looking at the individual and creating balance through everyday habits, not following one perfect diet.

What’s one ingredient you always have in your kitchen?

[TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM food therapy, Chinese food therapy, healthy eating, ginger, goji berries, Chinese dates, nourishing foods, wellness, holistic health, food therapy, TCM practitioner]

08/30/2026

A common question, and the answer depends on the type and amount of jewellery you have.

Small piercings or jewellery usually don’t mean you can’t massage the surrounding ear area or acupuncture points. However, if you have multiple or larger piercings, it may make certain areas harder to access.

In TCM, the ear contains many acupuncture points, so if you’re looking for specific therapeutic results, body acupuncture may be a better option depending on your concern.

Have ear piercings? Drop your questions below! 👇


[uricular acupuncture, ear acupuncture, acupuncture with ear piercings, ear piercing and acupuncture, can you do acupuncture with piercings, acupuncture points in the ear, auricular acupuncture points, ear acupuncture points, ear seeds and piercings, TCM ear acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine]

Stress doesn't always feel like stress.Sometimes it shows up as the tension you carry in your shoulders, the headache th...
08/28/2026

Stress doesn't always feel like stress.

Sometimes it shows up as the tension you carry in your shoulders, the headache that keeps returning, or the feeling that you can't fully switch off at night.

A useful habit is to start noticing when your symptoms appear rather than only focusing on the symptom itself. Do they show up during busy periods? After poor sleep? When you're emotionally overwhelmed?

That context can give you a much better picture of what's going on.

Your body is constantly giving you information. You just have to start paying attention.

[TCM, traditional Chinese medicine, stress, stress symptoms, body signals, mind body connection, headaches, muscle tension, sleep, nervous system, holistic health, wellness, acupuncture]

08/13/2026

Struggling to switch your brain off at night?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the ear has several acupuncture points commonly used to support relaxation and sleep. Ear Shenmen, Sympathetic, and Heart are three points often used in acupuncture protocols for sleep concerns.

✨ Save this for your next bedtime routine and send it to someone who’s always saying “I can’t sleep!”

[acupuncture for sleep, ear acupuncture, insomnia, sleep quality, acupuncture points for sleep, TCM for sleep, Traditional Chinese Medicine, ear Shenmen, acupuncture for insomnia]

Many symptoms don't appear overnight, they build up gradually over weeks, months, or even years.One thing I appreciate a...
08/10/2026

Many symptoms don't appear overnight, they build up gradually over weeks, months, or even years.

One thing I appreciate about TCM is that it encourages us to notice these small changes before they become bigger problems. Paying attention to your energy, sleep, stress, digestion, or recurring discomfort can provide valuable clues about your overall health.

The sooner you understand what your body is communicating, the sooner you can take steps toward restoring balance.

What's one signal your body has been giving you lately?



[tcm, traditionalchinesemedicine, holistichealth, bodysignals, wellness, fatigue, stress, sleep, headache, bloating, mindbody, preventivehealth, healthawareness, balance]

Feeling tired all the time, even after getting enough sleep?Fatigue isn't always as simple as needing more rest. In Trad...
07/31/2026

Feeling tired all the time, even after getting enough sleep?

Fatigue isn't always as simple as needing more rest. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, low energy can have different underlying patterns, and understanding those patterns is the first step toward improving your health.

In this free online session, we'll explore how TCM looks at fatigue, why it happens, and what it may be telling you about your body.

Whether you've been dealing with afternoon crashes, waking up exhausted, or simply feeling like your energy isn't what it used to be, this webinar is designed to help you better understand your body from a TCM perspective.

📅 August 1, 2026

💻 Online Meeting

Reserve your spot, we'd love to have you join us.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85183578644?pwd=yTUFXPlIEEug0eS3M6M34RmMs5bzuS.1

Meeting ID: 851 8357 8644
Passcode: 308292

07/23/2026

Phew, the day was so hot today... and days like this always seem to trigger that forehead tension! 😅

Headaches don't always have the same cause, which is why one technique may help one type but not another.

In TCM, pain on the sides of the head is often viewed differently from pain across the forehead. In this video, I share an acupressure point that's commonly used for this type of headache and is easy to try at home.

Try it for about 30 seconds and let me know in the comments if it helped!

Follow for more acupressure techniques and TCM tips.



[tcm, acupressure, acupuncture, migraine, headache, headacherelief, pressurepoints, painrelief, holistichealth, naturalhealing, stressrelief, wellness, tcmtips]

If you try this, don’t change everything at once.Start with one swap — usually your breakfast or first drink of the day ...
07/17/2026

If you try this, don’t change everything at once.

Start with one swap — usually your breakfast or first drink of the day — and notice how your energy feels by the afternoon.

That one shift often tells you more than a complete overhaul of your diet.



[tcm, energy, fatigue, lowenergy, energycrash, holistichealth, naturalenergy, nutrition, healthyeating, processedfoods, wellness, mindbody, energybalance]

If you’re trying to figure out what’s affecting your energy, start simple.Pick one item you have every day and swap it o...
07/14/2026

If you’re trying to figure out what’s affecting your energy, start simple.

Pick one item you have every day and swap it out for a few days. That’s usually enough to notice a pattern.

Also, pay attention to how long your energy lasts after eating. Quick boosts are easy, steady energy is what actually matters.

In the next post, I’ll show you what I’d actually pick up instead, simple swaps at the grocery store that support more stable energy.



[tcm, energy, fatigue, lowenergy, energycrash, holistichealth, naturalenergy, nutrition, healthyeating, processedfoods, wellness, mindbody, energybalance]

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