Ancient Wisdom - Modern Practice

The practice of medicine is a combination of physical and social sciences; a fusion of doing and knowing. The guiding philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine is that health is achieved and maintained when we are in balance with our selves and the environment we inhabit. Each individual patient is a unique arrangement of substances and biochemical reactions, but there is a shared human experience when we operate as our optimal selves.

The rules that structure and control our physical realities have equal effects on our bodies and minds, as we are no more removed from the world than a raindrop is from the ocean from whence it came. This philosophy is infused in everything we do.

Adam Cappuccino R.TCM.P., MATCM, B.Sc (Ag.env.sc)

Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

In good standing with the College of Complimentary Health Professionals of BC; 2014-Present

Master's of Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine
4 year program. Graduated with honours, with experience as Teaching Assistant, private and group tutor, Herbal Lab Technician. Yo San University, Los Angeles; 2009-2013

Bachelor's of Science - Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

Botany, Minor in Environmental Ecology.
McGill University, Montreal; 2006-2009

Clinical Experience

Adam's clinical experience began on Salt Spring by providing house calls for his patients. In May of 2015, Adam co-founded Salt Spring's first Community Acupuncture clinic. Adam founded KokoroCare in 2019 to continue his goal; providing effective and affordable natural healing solutions to his community. While this office has since closed and KokoroCare has still not found itself a Kokoro(There), he continues to offer community acupuncture in the Fulford Valley.

Island Life

After completing a Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine program from Yo San University in Los Angeles, Adam moved to Salt Spring. When Adam is not treating patients, you'll likely find him tending his garden, growing food, or speaking passionately and rapidly about health & wellness. He also finds refuge and solace in simply contemplating the beautiful interconnectedness of all things in this universe.

Adam is also a co-chair for the Salt Spring Health Advancement Network (SSHAN) a collective of engaged islanders working towards improving the status of healthcare for the community.

Teaching

Adam is passionate about the dissemination of knowledge for the betterment of his peers and the profession itself. With experience as a university level Teaching Assistant at both McGill and Yo San, he has a dynamic and personalized approach to making complex topics easy to understand. Simplicity is mastery!

Adam has lead, created content, and administered examinations for both practical and theoretical classes in Botany, Acupuncture Points & Energetics, TCM Diagnosis, and TCM Herbal Medicine/Formulas. Whether it's sustainable biodynamic farming practices, nutrition and cuisine, or the Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine, he is eager to share his knowledge with his patients and students.

The Four Paramount Pillars of Wholistic Health

Physical Activity

Adequate and appropriate, challenging and invigorating, be it from structured rigorous exercise routines, or due to a revivalist homemaking lifestyle, we all need and thrive with he right amount of movement. For more Yang action, combine activity with being outdoors, in fresh air, moderate sunlight, and good company. Your muscles, tendons, and bones rely on movement to assist the heart and lungs in doing their job.

Sleep and Restfullness

In opposition to our movements, we need depth and quality to our sleep and times of rest. The science of sleep is emerging, the importance of this time on our hormones and nerves is under appreciated in our Summer-loving, thrill-seeking society. Try to rise and set with our sun, avoid excessive blue lights at night, screen time before bed, and rushing around behaviours in general.

Mental and Emotional Health

Much can be said on the topic of modern mental health. An epidemic of our era, or a symptom of a greater disharmony? The Mind may still be the greatest frontier, but we need not pretend we lack tools to navigate this terrain.

Meditation doesn't have to be a static event. A meditative mind can be found in the painter, the runner, or during prayer. The roads leading there are infinite, but the goal is the same; a parasympathetic dominant, harmonious, human experience of peace and clarity.

Nourishment and Nutrition

Perhaps the most vital of all the pillars, or at least the most confusing and complex, is our relationship with food. We need to understand we eat not only for our mammalian selves, but also for the microbiota than inhabit every inch of our surface, inside and out.

What we should eat depends on where we are in the world and the season, and to also match that with whatever season of your life that you are living in. We partake of the World when we eat, it can bring us harmony or ruin.

Try to eat a wide range of fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits, unprocessed, whole, ideally organic, better if local, and best if grown yourself! Choose the highest quality animal products if you do consume them, and plenty of whole grains, nuts, seeds, and lentils regardless. Supplement only what you can't otherwise get from diet.

Remember to chew your food, your stomach doesn't have teeth. Don't drink too many fluids during your meals, don't over-consume raw, cold, greasy, fried, or frozen foods, and leave sufficient time in between meals for your stomach to empty. Always eat in a calm manner and environment, and try to walk 1000 steps after every meal. Do not underestimate these simple steps at promoting regularity and improving general digestive health!