osteopathy

“How long will the pain last?”

  • Acupuncture Technique

When patients are in pain from an injury, the first thing they want to know is: “how long will the pain last?” and “will it ever get better?”   I always tell them that recovery time depends on how severe the injury is and how long they’ve had it for.   As a general rule of thumb, injuries can take the same amount of time to heal (undevelop) as they did to develop. So if you succumbed to an injury 3-4 days ago, then it could take 3-4 days to fully recover if you get the right treatment. But if you’ve had an injury that has been lingering around for years, or even decades, then we have to shift gears to control and maintain the issue. In fact, those are our two goals: first, we need to control it, then, we need to maintain it.   To achieve our first […]

Fact or Fiction? The Great “Triple Burner” Debate!

  • Acupuncture needles, moxa sticks, TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine

Have you ever seen the show, “Fact or Fiction?” If not, it goes like this: each week, an unbelievable story is told and the viewers get to judge if they believe the story is fact or fiction.   In Chinese medicine, we have our very own “fact or fiction” debate. Except this debate is centuries-old and we still don’t have the answer.   This ongoing debate has stayed in the back of my mind for years.   Here’s what it’s all about: TCM practitioners have long questioned the existence of the organ, The Triple Burner. Unlike all of the other organs in the human body, it is the only one with no physical component.   It’s said to be the organ with a name but no form.   How could that be?   Well, the triple burner “holds the office of the sluices (water channel controlled by gates); it manifests […]

This is How You Fix Multiple Conditions – Toronto Acupuncture Clinic

Picture this: one day you wake up to discover your home has been flooded.   In a panic, you call your local plumber, Joe.   By the time Joe strolls in, you throw your arms up in the air and barely take a breath as you rant about your damaged walls, your ruined carpet, the irreparable dresser, spoiled clothing, etc.   So why am I asking you to imagine this nightmare?   Well, a flooded home is the perfect example of how problems can spread from one system to another.   So how do we fix it?   In this situation, what’s important is that we find the drain to the basement. We must know why it is plugged, and what happened to it.   Why is the drain important?   If the plumber can fix the drain, then even if there is a flood tomorrow, the water will eventually […]

4 Things I Learned From Dissecting A Human Body

This summer, I dissected a 77-year old man.  I’m contributing to a neuro anatomical textbook by using real human specimens.   It was in a summer course called the The Complementary and Alternative Medicine Human Dissection Experience (CAM – HD Experience). It’s at Queens University and it is run by Craig Harness MSc, DO(Q).   This is an incredible self-guided program where you get 10 days of dissection!   Dissection is an amazing experience for any health care practitioner because it allows you to see the body for what it’s really like – and not just what you see in textbooks. Textbooks show bodies as if we were “perfect” on the inside.   Without actually seeing a body “in the flesh” you can never really grasp how complex the body truly is.   Think about it… flying a plane is not like using a flight simulator, is it?   So […]

What does a ’95 Corvette have to do with Integrated Health Care? By Samuel Lo

  • Integrated Health Care and a Corvette

Do Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, and Osteopathy seem like jagged puzzle pieces that don’t seem to fit together?   If so, you’re certainly not alone.   I used to practice purely Chinese medicine and acupuncture, and was frustrated to see that my patient’s problem just kept coming back. To bridge the gap in care, I enrolled in a Toronto Osteopathy college and started my journey to become an osteopath.   Why osteopathy?   Well, I always like to use the analogy of a fine-tuned sports car…   …Imagine a beautiful 2005 Red Corvette that has endured wear and tear through its 10 years of use.   First, to keep the car running smoothly and its doors and gas pedals working optimally, you need lubricants. Lubricants are the engine oil, grease in the axil, oil for door hinges, etc.   I like to think of Acupuncture like the lubricants. Lubricants help […]

Have an injury? Here’s what to avoid! Toronto Acupuncture Clinic

  • Acupuncture needles made of stainless steel

One of the most common questions I get asked is, “should I use heat or cold for an injury?”   And when I answer, “heat,” people often look perplexed…   …They start thinking about all of the times mainstream medicine practitioners recommended they use ice after an injury.   Here’s why it’s best to use heat after an injury: While the cold is good for the temporary relief of pain, you could be inhibiting the injury repair process by using ice.   So unless you’re a performance athlete who needs to function without pain, then you’re better off using heat outside the acute phase of injury (2-3 days after injury).   Mainstream medicine recommends injured patients use ice to “decrease inflammation.” However, the issue with that is inflammation is perfectly normal.   Ice decreases inflammation. However, inflammation is a completely natural bodily response to help the body protect itself so […]

Thesis Submitted!

I woke up this morning and thought that my thesis was due today! Oh wait my thesis is due today! Embarking on the journey of writing a thesis can be a daunting task, but with dedication, perseverance, and a well-structured plan, anyone can transform from a novice to a thesis-writing hero. This transformation involves several key steps: Choosing the Right Topic: Begin by selecting a topic that truly interests you and aligns with your academic and career goals. A passionate connection to the subject matter is the first step towards success. Thorough Research: Dive into comprehensive research to gather relevant data, literature, and supporting evidence for your thesis. A hero’s journey involves thorough exploration and understanding of the chosen subject. Creating a Solid Outline: Develop a clear and organized outline for your thesis, outlining the structure, chapters, and key points. This roadmap will keep you on track throughout the writing […]

Biography of Samuel Lo

In 1994 I was involved in a bike accident, and I had difficulties walking. The Western physicians wanted to do surgery, but my mom was insistent that we seek alternative healthcare. She asked all her friends who to go to and Dr. Lum Mun was the one I was introduced to by Mrs. Lau (a family friend). So my mom took me to Scarborough to her clinic which was a small dank little room behind the bookstore. Nothing was clean and there were mice. She said that she can get me walking pain-free within six weeks. Within four weeks I was walking without pain. I was really impressed. Around this point in time, mom was involved in a car accident, and was seeking help from dr lim. Dr lim asked me to treat mom “massage here everyday” so I did. When dr lam checked her over the week after, she was […]