New logo of Greenleaf Acupucture clinic

Common mistake for ankle sprain treatment.

When I was in school for Eastern Medicine, I also had to study a lot about Western Medicine. At that time, My teacher, who is western doctor, told us for the first 36-48 hours post-injury we put ice pack on the ankle. However she also told us we had to change from ice pack to hot pack after 48 hours. Otherwise, ice pack prevent blood circulation and delay healing. I want make sure this treatment process is from western medicine not eastern medicine.

Unfortunately most patients don't know this basic treatment process. Some patients even put ice pack for one month or more. I don't know where they get the information and why their family doctor doesn't mention to switch packs.

Last spring, a beautiful young girl came to my clinic with her parents. When she played soccer, she got injury. At the beginning, her family doctor told them that was not severe, it was going to be cured as time went on. However, pain was kept going. the parents took her to physiotherapy and special doctor but nothing changed. Just diagnosis is different. Finally one specialist told them surgery s might be the solution. The father is a soccer coach, so he knew that's not a good option. In the end, they were looking for alternative therapy and found my website.

When I touch her feet, those are really cold. Her parents also put ice pack for a long time. I put acupuncture the bladder meridian which started from the feet and heel with infrared heat and asked her to get a warm foot bath everyday. she also had to wear socks every time.

After one week treatment, 50% of her pain was gone and 0ne and half month later her pain was completely gone. Acupuncture works very well about pain but warming is also important treatment method. If she came to my clinic at the beginnings, she did not have to suffer for a long time. I wish I saw her when she got injury.

What is meridian?

Meridians is the most important concept of acupuncture. My patients often ask me "Even though pain is generating shoulder, why you put acupuncture on my feet?" If you understand meridians, you can find an answer easily.

Energy(I call Qi, pronounced "chee") is circulating the body. There is the pathways which the energy circulates. Those are meridians. There are 14 main meridian pathways throughout the body. Each is connected to specific organs and glands. You can see the liver meridian on the left picture.

The Liver meridian is circulating the genital area. Because of that, Problems of genital area(such as enlarged prostate, leukorrhea, etc) can be treated through the liver meridian. The liver meridian starts at big toe. So I put acupuncture on the feet and can treat enlarged prostate.

However, location of meridian can explain only the small part of application of meridians. I usually treat stress, anxiety, headache, eye problems, hypochondriac pain, muscle spasm, IBS(irritable bowel syndrome) through the liver meridian.

Here is the testimonial from the patient for IBS

Suffering from IBS for more than 10 years & trying different treatments without any result, I started to believe that I have to live with it ! Stress was one of the main reason of my problem which I couldn't control it. As a newcomer to Vancouver, I had a stressful life. The IBS has got worse & worse. A friend of mine proposed me to try acupuncture treatments. I found Green Leaf Clinic. This was the beginning the end of all my suffers during these years. After 2nd session I felt better. I had no usual pain. After 7th session I started to enjoy from a normal life. The IBS was controlled. Acupuncture treatments worked for me ! Professor Byoungjin Na, I'm very grateful for what you have done. Thank you for changing my life.

When I first saw her, she complained severe abdominal pain and frequent bowel movements especially in the morning. As she said, stress affect her a lot. According to Eastern Medicine theory, stress firstly affect the liver and liver meridian. The liver has a function to regulate the Qi. If that function has problem, the Qi is stagnated. This condition is called 'The Qi stagnation'.

The Qi stagnation usually occur heart burn or IBS at digestive system. I treat the liver meridian and release the Qi stagnation. Therefore we had very good results. Pain for almost 10 years was gone in one month with acupuncture treatment. After that, she visited the clinic once a month for following check up.

As an acupuncturist...

I am an acupuncturist and herbalist at Greenleaf Acupuncture and Herb Clinic. I see patients everyday and talk a lot with them. while I explaining basic acupuncture theory, I often feel difficulty and lack of time. I always blame my English level, but I know it' not a good way to solve problems.

Actually my first major is journalism. I practice a lot about writing in Korean and also have confidence of it. Unfortunatley it doesn't help my English speaking patients. However I realized my English writing is little better than my speaking. That's the reason I make up mind starting blog.Throughout the blog, I want to explain more deeply and accurately.

I know people has lots of questions about Traditional Eastern medicine. Becaucse of westernization, even Asians don't know how acupuncture works and basic background of acupuncture. Acupuncture is completely based on Eastern philosophy. I also want to share those things.

Sharing testimonial and case study is also my magor goal of the blog. I am also teaching acupuncture and herb medicine at Golden mountain college. The more cases students see, they become better acupuncturist. Hopefully, they also get some advices from this blog.

Communicating is my first priority when I see patients. Sometimes I also failed to treat patients.
However I always try to listen every words patients say. Minor symptoms could be a big clue for diagnosis. Most of all, sharing the patients feeling is the first step of treatment. I am listening and I will listen.