My Grace Acupuncture Clinic

11/25/2025

Clinic Reopening on December 8

With your care and support, we were able to lay my mother to rest beside my father. Thank you for your kind thoughts and for wishing her a peaceful journey.

My mother always reminded me to never forget the heart I started with and to care for my patients sincerely. Though waves of sadness still come, I will continue to honor her words.

The clinic will reopen on Monday, December 8. If your appointment was cancelled due to the sudden circumstances and you still need treatment, please rebook through the link below or call us:
🔗 https://mygraceacupuncture.janeapp.com
📞 250.378.5456

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Grace

My Grace Acupuncture Treatments Merritt BC

11/16/2025

Temporary Closure Due to Family Emergency

Dear valued clients,

I am deeply sorry to inform you that due to the sudden passing of my mother, I will need to attend to family matters in Korea. As a result, I must cancel all upcoming appointments at the clinic.

I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and regret that I am unable to personally contact each of you individually. I will post updates and reopen scheduling as soon as I return.

Thank you very much for your understanding and support during this difficult time.

Sincerely,
Grace
My Grace Acupuncture Clinic

Send a message to learn more

08/22/2025

✨ Notice ✨

We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer.
Our regular hours will resume on Monday, August 25 in the afternoon.

We look forward to welcoming you back then!

Thank you,
Grace

06/03/2025

🌞 Summer Holiday Closure Notice

Please note that the clinic will be closed for summer holidays from Monday, July 14 to Friday, August 22.
We will resume regular hours in the afternoon on Monday, August 25.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing summer!

Warmly,
Grace

04/27/2025

DRINKING MORE WATER IS HEALTHY, BUT IS IT ALWAYS BETTER?
Hydration is essential, but too much water can disrupt your body’s natural balance. Let’s explore it clearly in Part 2.

💧 [Part 2] WHEN TOO MUCH WATER BECOMES A PROBLEM.
“Hydration is important, but balance is everything.” Water is vital for life, but overhydration can lead to unexpected and serious health issues. Finding the right balance is key to protecting your health.

💧 1. YOUR KIDNEYS HAVE A PROCESSING LIMIT.
Healthy kidneys can process about 1 litre every 2 to 3 hours.
Drinking more than that too quickly overwhelms the kidneys.
Excess water is simply flushed out and can strain the renal system unnecessarily.

💧 2. OVERHYDRATION CAN DILUTE YOUR BLOOD, CAUSING HYPONATREMIA.
Flooding your body with too much water lowers the concentration of sodium in the blood, leading to hyponatremia.
Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Headache
- Confusion
- In severe cases: seizures or unconsciousness

💧 3. OSMOTIC IMBALANCE CAN AFFECT YOUR BRAIN.
When blood sodium levels fall, the osmotic pressure outside the cells drops. Brain cells, having relatively higher osmotic pressure, draw water inward. This abnormal shift causes brain cells to swell, potentially leading to cerebral edema (brain swelling), a life-threatening condition if not addressed promptly.

💧 4. HOW TO STAY SAFE WHILE HYDRATING.
To prevent the risks of overhydration: Don't rely solely on thirst signals; start drinking small amounts before you feel thirsty.

✅ Why is this important?
Thirst is a late warning signal. It typically appears after your body has already lost about 1–2% of its water.
Even mild dehydration can cause:
- Reduced concentration
- Increased fatigue
- Slower digestion
- Decreased physical performance
Especially for children, older adults, and active individuals,
Dehydration can advance quickly even without strong thirst sensations.

✅ Tips for smart hydration:
- Spread your water intake throughout the day
- Adjust for your activity level, weather, and health conditions
- Drink in moderation, not excess
- Listen to your body's needs carefully

" Good hydration isn’t about drinking endlessly. It’s about carefully balancing your intake to support your body’s natural functions.
Drink small, regular amounts before thirst sets in, and stay balanced for your health. "

Thank you,
Grace :)

Send a message to learn more

04/23/2025

💧 FEELING THIRSTY ALL THE TIME? OR FORCING YOURSELF TO DRINK 2L A DAY?
Turns out, hydration isn’t that simple. Let’s break it down — starting with Part 1: How to Drink Water Properly.

💧 HOW TO DRINK WATER: Practical and Science-Based Guidelines
“Good hydration isn’t just about how much you drink, but how you drink it.” Water plays a key role in metabolism, temperature regulation, and removing waste. However, the commonly heard “2L a day” rule doesn’t apply to everyone. Your needs depend on your weight, activity level, and diet.

🔹 HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED?
The World Health Organization and other health authorities recommend 30–40 ml of water per kilogram of body weight.

That means:
50 kg → 1.5 to 2.0 litres per day
70 kg → 2.1 to 2.8 litres per day
So the “50kg = 2L” rule is a helpful average, but it’s not a fixed rule for everyone.

🔹 WHAT IF YOU'RE NOT EXERCISING?
On days when you are less active, your body loses less water through sweat. In that case, it’s reasonable to reduce your water intake by about 20%.

🔹 WHY DRINKING SLOWLY MATTERS
Your body absorbs water better when it’s taken in small amounts throughout the day. Drinking too much too quickly can overwhelm your kidneys. Most of it will simply be flushed out as urine.
Small, regular sips = better hydration.

🔹 DON'T EXCEED 1L AT A TIME
Healthy kidneys can process about 1 litre every 2 to 3 hours.
Drinking more than that in one sitting may reduce absorption and increase stress on the body.

🔹 FOOD COUNTS, TOO
Water isn’t only in your glass. Foods like fruits and vegetables also contain a significant amount of water. These can make up 20–30% of your daily fluid intake.

✅ FINAL TAKEAWAY:
* Hydrate according to your body weight and lifestyle.
* Drink steadily throughout the day.
* Include fluids from food.
* Hydration is about balance, not just volume.

💧 Coming up in Part 2:
Did you know that drinking too much water can disrupt your body’s natural balance? We’ll explore how overhydration affects your brain, kidneys, and sodium levels.
Stay tuned for science-backed insights you won’t want to miss!

Thank you,
Grace :)

* Image by lookstudio, via Freepik

03/23/2025

The Connection Between Sociogenomics and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Last time, I talked about Sociogenomics and how our social relationships influence gene expression. As promised, here’s how it connects with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)!

1. Qi, Balance, and Gene Expression
In TCM, Qi (vital energy) needs to flow smoothly for good health. When we have positive, loving relationships, it’s like having a balanced flow of Qi—our body supports healing, reduces stress, and strengthens immunity. Sociogenomics supports this idea, showing that social connection and love activate genes that help with recovery and well-being.

On the other hand, conflict and negativity cause Qi stagnation (blocked energy flow). TCM believes that prolonged emotional distress—like anger, worry, or sadness—can damage key organs like the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Sociogenomics aligns with this, showing that chronic stress from toxic relationships activates inflammation-related genes, increasing the risk of long-term health issues.

2. The Five Elements: How Emotions Affect Health
TCM’s Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) theory connects emotions to different organ systems. Sociogenomics provides a scientific explanation for how these emotions influence gene expression and overall health.

🌿 Wood (Liver) → Anger
The liver is linked to the Wood element, which represents growth and flexibility. When we experience long-term anger or frustration, it disrupts liver Qi. Studies in sociogenomics show that chronic stress triggers inflammation-related genes, which can negatively impact liver function.

🔥 Fire (Heart) → Joy
The heart corresponds to Fire, the element of warmth and connection. Positive relationships, love, and joy strengthen heart Qi, supporting cardiovascular health. Sociogenomics confirms that love and social bonding enhance heart-related gene expression, benefiting heart health.

🌏 Earth (Spleen) → Pensiveness (Overthinking/Worry)
The spleen belongs to the Earth element, which represents stability. Excessive worry or overthinking weakens the spleen’s energy, leading to digestive issues and fatigue. Sociogenomics suggests that chronic stress and anxiety alter gut microbiome-related genes, affecting digestion and immune function.

⚪ Metal (Lungs) → Sadness/Grief
The lungs are linked to Metal, representing clarity and communication. Prolonged sadness or grief weakens lung Qi, making us more vulnerable to respiratory issues. Sociogenomics shows that emotional distress can weaken immune-related gene expression, increasing susceptibility to illness.

💧 Water (Kidneys) → Fear
The kidneys belong to the Water element, which governs resilience and longevity. Chronic fear or insecurity drains kidney Qi, accelerating aging. Sociogenomics supports this, showing that stress-related genes can speed up cellular aging and weaken the body's ability to regenerate.

3. Epigenetics and TCM’s Emotional Healing Approaches
Sociogenomics reveals that our epigenome (gene activity) changes based on social experiences. Interestingly, TCM has used acupuncture, herbal medicine, Qi Gong, and emotional therapies for centuries to regulate Qi, which may naturally influence gene expression.

For example, TCM practices like meditation, acupuncture, and Qi Gong activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which turns off stress-related genes and promotes healing. Sociogenomics suggests a similar effect—showing that positive social interactions influence gene expression in ways that reduce stress and support well-being.

Final Thought
Sociogenomics provides a scientific explanation for what TCM has understood for thousands of years: our social and emotional well-being directly affects our physical health.

Whether it’s through gene expression or Qi balance, maintaining positive relationships and emotional harmony is key to longevity and vitality.

Maybe ancient wisdom and modern science aren’t so different after all. What do you think? 😊

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03/10/2025

"Sociogenomics" – ever heard of it? I recently came across this fascinating field, and what really caught my attention was how social relationships can impact our genes. While it's a pretty big topic, I'll keep it simple and share a few key points!

Our social connections go way beyond just emotional support – they actually affect how our genes work. Even though DNA sequences don’t change, these relationships can influence how our genes express themselves.

1. Positive Relationships:
When we're in relationships full of love and support, our genes related to healing and recovery get a boost. For example, relationships built on trust and care can strengthen the immune system and release neurochemicals that help manage stress.
When genes tied to rest and recovery are activated, it helps with stress relief, promotes mental well-being, and speeds up healing from illness.

2. Conflict Relationships:
But on the flip side, when we’re dealing with conflict or negativity in relationships, it can have a pretty negative impact on our gene expression. Long-term stress from conflicts can activate inflammation genes, leading to chronic inflammation, stress build-up, and even health issues like heart disease or a weakened immune system. Conflict can also trigger genes related to aging, and over time, this stress can really wear down our bodies.

What's even more interesting is that something as simple as cuddling can actually change our epigenome, helping to promote physical and mental healing.

At the end of the day, the relationships we have and how we connect with others play a huge role in our overall health. It's something we should definitely keep in mind!

Interestingly, Sociogenomics and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) share many commonalities. Next time, I’ll talk about how these two fields are connected!

Send a message to learn more

01/06/2025

Appointment Policy Update

Thank you so much for choosing our service and taking the time to book with us. To ensure a smooth and fair booking experience for all of our valued clients, we kindly ask for your understanding regarding the following:

Rescheduling & Cancellations:
If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, we would greatly appreciate it if you could inform us at least 24 hours in advance. This allows us to offer the slot to someone else who may need it.

No-Show Policy:
If you are unable to attend your appointment, we kindly ask that you notify us beforehand. Please note that missed appointments without prior notice may result in a cancellation fee or restrictions on future bookings. Your cooperation helps us provide the best possible service for everyone. Thank you for your understanding and support—we truly appreciate it!

In 2024, the fees were donated alongside My Grace Acupuncture Clinic's contributions as follows: $500 to the Nicola Valley Food Bank, $300 to the Nicola Valley Community Art Council, and $200 to the Nicola Valley Animal Rescue.

Thank you for your attention.
Grace

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12/22/2024

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!!

Hi everyone,
As the year wraps up, I just wanted to say a big thank you for trusting us with your care. It's been an absolute pleasure supporting you, and I'm so grateful you chose My Grace Acupuncture Clinic.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with health, happiness, and everything you hope for. Take care!

Thank you,
Grace. :)

10/12/2024

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

08/21/2024

The clinic will be open on Monday, August 26. See you soon!

Thank you, Grace 🙂