BLOGS

Food has the power to either weigh us down, leaving us feeling stagnant and stuck, or to uplift us, bringing lightness to both body and spirit. By being intentional with what we eat, we can raise our vibration and align more deeply with the energy of the seasons.

In Chinese Medicine, winter is seen as a season of introspection and restoration—a time to align with nature’s rhythm of slowing down and conserving energy. Just as the earth rests and renews beneath the surface during the colder months, we too are encouraged to embrace stillness and focus on replenishing our vital energy.

One of the things I deeply love about Eastern Medicine is its wisdom in guiding us towards healthier, more balanced lives—drawing inspiration and lessons directly from nature itself. Each season offers us a unique lesson, and winter teaches us to embrace stillness and introspection.The Winter Solstice marks a pivotal shift in the earth’s energy. As the longest night of the year, it gently invites us to slow down and align with its quiet stillness.

Pears benefit the Lung in Chinese medicine by adding moisture. As Autumn is consider the Metal season, known for being drying, we want to add moisture through the nourishment we take in. Pears are said to have a sour & sweet flavor which tonifies (builds & supports) yin through the lung, stomach and spleen. Pears counteract heat and resolve phlegm. Although the roasting action is drying, this is offset by pear’s temperature in TCM which is considered cool.

Acupressure works by stimulating specific points on the body, aligning our internal energy (qi) and allowing it to flow more freely. Just like a leaf falls freely from a branch, acupressure can help us let go of anxiety and stress as it is stored in the body. It is a readily available technique that can be used at anytime, anywhere.

Ever wonder what your Acupuncturist or Chinese Medicine Herbalist is doing when they place their fingertips on your wrists? Quite

For those of us who have had the “pleasure” of getting our breasts squeezed between two cold metal plates for

Seasonal Horary Acupuncture Treatments offer an opportunity to bring forth the gifts of the season in the human form.

Happy Winter Solstice and Holiday Season.Today will be the shortest day and longest night, for us in the Northern Hemisphere. As nature begins to go down and in, we are naturally inclined to do so as well (as soon as the holiday season is over, wink).

Acupuncture is more than meets the eye. It encourages the body into balance and is not only useful in treating physical ailments. Because your body is not separate from your mind and spirit, treatment effects all of you. Read this guest blog written by our Fields of Qi, Spring 2023 intern Sherry Yu

Gallbladder 21 is found on the topmost part of the trapezius muscle and is often used to relax the muscle to effectively treat headaches, neck & shoulder pain and stress. As this point helps the body to relax downward, it can be used to help with delayed or prolonged labor. On a deeper level, it can also help one shoulder the challenges of life.

Powerfully moving Acupoints are located on the tips of our fingers and toes, all can be used to restore consciousness. Middle Rushing In (Zhong Chong) aka Heart Protector 9, is one such point. In addition to having a “waking up” effect, it eases pain & stiffness on the tongue, treats the inability to speak and night-time crying in young children (the heart meridian enters the tongue).

The NADA 5 Needle Protocol is a standardized ear acupuncture treatment that involves the placement of up to 5 needles into ear acupoints. Often done in community, recipients sit quietly for 30-45 minutes and let the treatment work. Benefits include: increased calmness & better sleep, decrease in anxiety and agitation, decreased craving for alcohol and other addictive substances, relief from stress & trauma, easier connection with counseling other healing modalities. Dr Matulu Shakur along with many others had a strong hand in brining this healing treatment to the community.

Winter – the deep part of the seasonal cycle, the dark part, the yin phase – is here. Nature has

How do we protect ourselves while keeping our lung function up? I recommend using masks made of natural organic fabrics. I like these, that allow for nose protection although not organic. I am aware that main stream news have denounced fabric masks. Put on your thinking cap and make a decision that feels best for you. I also recommend getting outdoors (parks, ocean, nature) to uninhibitedly breathe fresh air, exercising outdoors and doing the qigong exercises shared here.

As our environment has moved into Spring, inside we have also shifted. Rested qi is ready to liberate. Do you notice any internal shifts with the season change? Take a look outside, for insight. With Spring, the earth has woken up from its deep winter rest; bulbs are popping, birds are singing. There is more movement. How does this feel in you? Ready to get going, exercising, moving on a plan you set? Or are you stuck and frustrated at being stuck?