Tag Archives: Traditional Chinese medicine
The Gift and Danger of Anger
Anger isn’t all bad. Anger has a purpose, and is often a motivating force for change. But as many of us know, anger has a dark side. Insert Star Wars mental montage here. While anger has the powerful ability to engender change, when not harnessed properly it can damage our health. The role of healthy […]
The Earth Pair: the Stomach and Spleen/pancreas Meridians
The Earth Yin-Yang Pair: The Spleen/Pancreas and the Stomach *note: the Spleen in Chinese medicine is responsible for the tasks of both the pancreas and the spleen as we know them in Western science. Some think it was mistranslated as spleen, but the roles attributed to the ‘Spleen organ’ truly encompass both the pancreas’ and […]
Winter: The Season of the Kidneys
Winter weather is settling in here in Walla Walla, WA. As we bundle up and cuddle up in the evenings, it reminds me that winter represents a very important season in Chinese and East Asian medicine. Each season has strong ties to specific organ systems and acupuncture meridians in East Asian medicine. The way we adjust […]
Want a strong digestive system? Food preparation is considered key.
One of the most controversial topics in my clinic is the discussion of diet and food preparation. Not only is food very literally considered medicine in East Asian medicine, but food preparation is key. In East Asian medicine, every food item has a property such as damp, astringent, drying, and moistening. They also have a […]
Recipes To Keep You Cool In The Summer
In Chinese medicine, each season corresponds to a color, an organ system, and a flavor. Since each season brings different weather patterns, temperatures, and amount of sunlight, they predispose us to certain health imbalances. In summer, we have to protect ourselves from overheating, getting sunstroke, getting headaches from dehydration, and possibly fighting irritability from either […]
Seasonal Allergies and Other Cyclical Summer Ailments
In Chinese medicine, the seasons can play a major role in your personal healthcare. Specific weather patterns ebb and flow with the seasons, just as certain health concerns take on a cyclical pattern. Some common health concerns that have a cyclical nature are seasonal allergies, autoimmune disorders, and some mental health conditions. If one struggles […]
Reflections on Nepal
This is the first article in a short series reflecting upon my clinical experience with the Acupuncture Relief Project in Nepal. When you treat a high volume of patients five and a half days a week, the poignant stories start to stack up. Writing weekly does not begin to overcome the stack. I am home […]
A Case of Ankylosing Spondylitis- Nerd Geeks Unite in Nepal!
In the treatment room, I am greeted with a slender, smiling face. Eager and animated, he doesn’t wait for my introduction, he dives right into perfect English. I admit, I am excited to have a break from the time-lag of interpretation. My interpreter looks momentarily shocked. My patient is a twenty-five year old pre-med student […]
Rooftop Clinics and Motorbikes
Ramesh kickstarts his motorbike and looks at me expectantly. “How should I get on?” I ask, thinking about Nikki, our clinic director, instructing us not to wrap our arms around our interpreter when riding the motorbike. “Don’t grip with your knees,” Nikki said with a grin. I look at her blankly, thinking that you ride […]
Getting to know you.
Stick out your tongue for health? Yes, please fight the urge for politeness and let your tongue just loll out. This is a blog about acupuncture and the broader world of Chinese medicine. Soon you will know all about how your tongue is a weathervane for personal health. You can join the ranks of my […]
Stick Out Your Tongue 