The practice of traditional Chinese medicine (CM) is very complex. People often ask “how does acupuncture work?” or “what types of conditions can acupuncture treat?” The answers to such questions are much more involved than a simple list of ailments. Simply put, and CM is an ancient, energetic, … [Read more...] about Chinese Medicine 101: What is it?
Let’s Talk about Sex
Working with women and fertility, we focus all our attention on menstrual cycles. We focus so much on length of the period, quality of the period, timing of ovulation, signs of ovulation, etc. that we forget how babies are actually created. Last week, I had a patient report that she didn't think … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk about Sex
Diet: A Chinese Medical Perspective
Diet is just as important as acupuncture and herbs when it comes to treating the body from a traditional Chinese medical perspective. Making appropriate food choices is key in maintaing good balance. Individual foods, like Chinese herbs, have specific healing properties and this is the basis of … [Read more...] about Diet: A Chinese Medical Perspective
Bottoms Up!
As most of our patients taking herbs know, herbs do not taste good. There is a reason for this. The Chinese materia media (all Chinese herbs) are classified by their tastes--different tastes have different functions. For example, sweet tonifies deficiencies and sour astringes fluids. Therefore, … [Read more...] about Bottoms Up!
Food Choices
As we begin the new year, many people are hoping to make dietary changes. I have found a lot of confusion among people as to which dietary path to choose: Vegetarian? Organic? More grains? Less grains? Whenever I find myself confused about dietary choices, I always think of the basic TCM … [Read more...] about Food Choices
Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Common Cold
In the western model of medicine, a cold is transmitted from person to person through a virus or bacteria. This leaves us with the feeling that we are always “exposed” and have no means of self defense. In the Traditional Chinese Medicine model, we can do things to prevent and release disease. … [Read more...] about Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Common Cold
