Who knew that acupuncture treats a urinary tract infection (UTI)? A UTI can present as burning, frequent, incomplete, or urgent urination. When we treat a UTI, we’re addressing something called “Damp-Heat.” Damp energy comes from food that you’ve eaten that doesn’t transform into Qi. Heat comes from a pathogen or inflammation of some kind. But for…
When I started learning aerial dance, I quickly found out that (1) it’s hard! and (2) I had to cross-train to prepare for the workouts. The classes were great – I felt stronger than ever, and occasionally even graceful. But I rotated between being injured- a wrist injury here, a shoulder injury there – and stiff, sore pains…
If you read the old texts on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and gynecology, you won’t find a single thing about “PCOS” because it wasn’t what they called it hundreds of years ago. Back then it was Stagnant Blood caused by Cold, Damp, and Phlegm. Same thing. So what do we do about “cold, damp, phlegm stagnation?” And…
The answer is … it depends. Hopefully by now you know there’s no shortcut to eating healthy. There’s no magic pill, injection, or procedure that gives you the body you think you want. After 20 years of working in the natural healthcare field, I’ve amassed a lot of observational data. People who make permanent changes in…
Whether you’re talking about menopause, PCOS, fertility, testosterone, adrenal, diabetic, or stress hormones, they all share similar needs. The first basic need is INGREDIENTS. Foods, or if you’re not going to eat them, supplements. 1. Zinc – necessary for Zinc is found in seeds, oats, oysters, beef, crab, chickpeas, black beans, greek yogurt, and cashews. You can…
Can acupuncture help neck and shoulder tension? Is a Smurf’s bottom blue? YES! We’re all doing so many things that make our shoulders and neck hunch forward – driving, texting, scrolling, working, stressing, falling asleep on the sofa, etc. Knowing what to do on your own “in a pinch” is a good idea. For this stretch, find a wall…
Elbow pain on the thumb side of your arm is usually classified as “tennis elbow,” while pain that’s more on the pinky side of the elbow is usually called “golfer’s elbow.” It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re playing those sports, but you’re doing repetitive movements that aggravate those specific tendons and muscles. There’s 5 things you need to…
Depression, according to TCM theory, is a sign of Qi Stagnation. When your Qi is stagnant, you’re stuck, physically (pain) and emotionally (depression). Maybe both. DEPRESSION THROUGH THE SEASONS: SPRING In the “5 Elements” of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each element nourishes one other element (black, dashed lines below). Each element also “controls” another element (red lines below). It’s…
As a long-time insomniac, I sympathize if you’re not getting enough good sleep. It’s the worst of all the first-world problems. My insomnia started when my “yin and yang” became imbalanced. “Yin-time” is night-time and “yang-time” is during the day. When we stay up late at night (all-nighters to finish school papers, partying, or working the graveyard…
If you’ve ever brushed your hair and had a little too much come out in your brush, a few too many days in a row, you have my sympathy. I’ve been there too. “I don’t want to go bald!” I’ve heard panicking voices state in my clinic. Me too, girl, me too. Even if…