I was not a “cool” kid in school. I didn’t sit at the popular table. Yes, I played varsity sports but I was also in school plays, Key Club, Mock Trial, and Speech Team. I didn’t have an Acura Integra (the car of choice at my high school) and I definitely didn’t get invited [...]
How do you eat for the seasons? Why should I try? Well, the Chinese philosophy is that human beings are part of nature and just like nature is affected by the changes that occur with the seasons (plants turn to seeds, bears hibernate, etc), humans are also affected by changes in nature. So, for [...]
In Chinese culture, it is also used as an herbal medicine. The ancient texts describe the healthiest seasonal drinking habits: “In summer drink green tea, winter black tea and in Spring and Autumn, flower teas.” You can think of it this way: in the Summer, the weather is generally hot and green tea is [...]
In Chinese philosophy, all foods have a particular action on the body. I kid with my patients that there is usually a point, an herb, or a food for “that.” (Just like the joke, “there’s an app for that.”) Anyway, with this belief, the Chinese have been able to utilize food as medicine for [...]
This is the season when you can start planning your vacations! Hopefully, you’re checking your calendar to see when you can get away for some rest and relaxation. Before you go, make sure that you are familiar with this point for nausea: Nei Guan, Inner Gate, Pericardium 6, or PC 6. Several studies support [...]
What do you do if your digestion just feels “off?” Maybe you’ve had too much cold water or you went a little frozen-yogurt happy at the new self-serve joint. Or maybe you have a sniffle and cough that won’t go away or you’ve been a little too friendly with the latrine of late. Think [...]
Have you ever woken up with a stiff neck or a “crick in your neck?” All you can think of is, “I must have slept wrong!” Well, even though this type of pain is usually short-lived, there is something that you can do to loosen those neck muscles. Luo Zhen to the rescue! This [...]
Headaches and Migraines: I have been a long-time sufferer of both and I am up to “here” (pointing to my head) with them! So, what do you do if you have a headache coming on or feel the aura of a migraine? Think: Acupressure! First of all, recognize that you are having a headache [...]
Gou Qi Zi (go chee zuh), also known as the Wolf Berry, Lycium berry, or Goji berry, this fruit has been gaining world-wide attention for its antioxidant properties. However, it has been used for thousands of years by the Chinese for its anti-aging attributes. It Nourishes the Liver and the Kidney Yin and the Liver [...]
In Chinese philosophy, everything has meaning. Some patients will sheepishly ask, “For the past 6 years, I’ve woken up at 3am. What does that mean? Or other patients will say, “I have eczema, asthma, and digestive issues. Does that make sense?” It’s almost as if I’m a walking commercial for acupuncture. Instead of saying, [...]
