Finding balance through food is one of the foundational pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). When the weather turns warm or when you feel your body holding onto excess internal heat, adjusting your diet is a simple and effective way to restore harmony.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the human body is viewed as a landscape with ecosystems, just like in nature. Within it, everything is interconnected—the seasons with our organs, and even our emotions—through the Five Elements theory (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water). Summer represents the most active, warm, and radiant element of them all: the Fire element.
Stress and tension can cause a lot of disruption in both your body and mind over the long term. Think of irritability, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, gastrointestinal complaints, mood swings, and eye pain. Excessive and prolonged stress can ultimately lead to severe strain and burnout. Acupuncture is a natural and effective way to find relief from stress-related complaints.
For some people, it seems to happen effortlessly: getting pregnant. But when we truly listen and ask more, we often hear that the process is much less straightforward than it appears from the outside. Trying to conceive involves a lot, and you are not the only one experiencing this.
Without even realizing it, life sometimes passes us by incredibly fast. Suddenly, it’s the deadline of an important project and you find yourself stressed out, doing multiple things at once. Or, before you know it, time flies by and you are another year older. Many of the things we do daily happen on autopilot. As a result, we are productive and fast, but the question is: are we also intentional?
Although Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originated in China and spread throughout Asia—including Vietnam—it has a deep connection with indigenous health traditions and rituals in many countries.
“The three months of spring are called the time of sprouting and unfolding. Heaven and earth sprout. Ten thousand things come to full bloom. Go to bed on time at night, and rise early. Take a relaxing walk through the garden. Let grow, but do not destroy. Give, but do not take. Reward, but do not punish. This is Spring in harmony with Qi, and the cultivation of the Dao of growth. Whoever resists these principles injures the Liver. Consequently, summer will bring cold changes, and there will be little foundation for further growth.”— Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor), Chapter 2 (adapted)
Pain is your body’s alarm system, warning you to step back from danger. But what happens when this protective system misfires and the alarm won’t turn off?
Have you been sleeping bad? Is your hair thinning, and are you suffering from hot flushes? If you are experiencing these and other symptoms, but are still getting your period, there is a chance you might be in perimenopause.
As an acupuncturist, I believe far too little attention is paid to menstrual cycle issues, pelvic floor problems, and hormonal imbalances. Yet, I see these complaints on a weekly basis in my practice for the past five years. For Endometriosis Awareness Month, this blog post will focus on one of the most common conditions in my clinic: Endometriosis.
