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Believe“Believe in magic.” I heard this said this morning and it seemed timely. Tonight I sit writing this blog and watching “Polar Express.” “I believe” says the little boy. Flying reindeer, elves making toys, and a big man in a red suit who knows all and delivers presents around the world in one night—a time of magical wonder. All of these things I believed in as a kid, along with the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny, and so much more.

Wouldn’t it be nice to believe in magic again? As adults, we question most everything. I regularly question if something will work. It’s my job to look into the evidence behind treatments, supplements, and health information. It’s my job to explain how acupuncture and the other therapies I use work. I usually talk about how acupuncture increases local blood flow, at least in part by stimulating the release of nitric oxide. I speak to how acupuncture causes the body to release chemicals like serotonin, a feel good hormone that can reduce symptoms of depression, pain, anxiety, and stress, while supporting healing. Evidence has also demonstrated that acupuncture points have lower bioelectric and biomagnetic resistance than other areas, and that placing a needle in an acupuncture point changes how the brain reacts.

But my favourite way to explain how acupuncture works is, “it moves Qi.” Qi is most commonly translated as energy. Some have explained that Qi is actually better translated as oxygen. But I prefer to think of it as magic!

Life is magic. Love is magic. Healing is magic.

When you think of what you would like from 2014, wouldn’t you like to have a little magic?