Hi my name is Bob and I am a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I graduated from Pacific Rim College as Valedictorian, with magna cum laude honours. As a Doctor of TCM I am able to practice Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Shi Liao (diet therapy), fire cupping, Gua Sha (fascia scraping technique), Tui Na (Chinese massage), and moxibustion. Depending on the individual patient, I incorporate some of these techniques as I see fit.
I grew up on a tobacco and ginseng farm in southern Ontario. My early careers involved operating heavy machinery at a gravel pit and building barns for a local framing company. When I realized I was looking for something else in my life, I took a one way flight to Victoria to complete a four month Certificate of Holistic Nutrition. During this program I had my first encounter with Chinese Medicine. Immediately after the program had finished I enrolled in the Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine program, which I completed in December 2021 after five years of study. This program included 1065 hours of clinical training, and 3750 hours in total with a focus on Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal medicine and Biomedicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a medicine of patterns. I consider the body and how it is functioning together as a whole, and how it is functioning in relationship to its environment. When considering an ailment, such as shoulder pain, diarrhea or headaches, I consider the entire experience of the patient. I ask about digestion, sleep, emotions, energy levels, diet, exercise routines, work life, bowel movements, etc. I observe what the tongue looks like, feel the radial pulse and palpate the abdomen. I take this all into consideration to figure out which pattern(s) are present in the patient which will determine the TCM diagnosis/treatment. Using appropriate acupuncture points and herbal medicine along with other modalities mentioned above, I will treat the pattern that is presenting to resolve the issues at hand. When the body is in a harmonious state, the digestion is strong, the muscles are strong and the sleep will be restful; this will help you overcome disease, avoid injuries and live a long and prosperous life!
I am fascinated by the long history of Chinese Medicine. I often find myself looking into the classical Chinese texts when I am searching for answers to modern problems or looking for a new piece of wisdom. I am truly interested in every aspect of health and the human experience, whether that be physical pain, internal medicine conditions, or mental/emotional distress. You can count on me to use the tools I’ve learned to help you reach a state of well being and to live a long and fulfilling life!
Thank you for reading my bio. I look forward to working with you to help you feel and function better!
Dr. Bob Malecki, DTCM