Focus on the heart!

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a more nuanced view of the function of the heart than biomedicine, but they both agree that the heart propels the blood through the vessels.  In biomedicine, the heart is little more than a pump.  

In Chinese medicine, however, the Heart is the ruler, the emperor, the sovereign of all organs and represents the consciousness of one’s being. This perspective of the Heart is just so big and beautiful! And honestly, so much more accurate. (It’s also why I make it a proper noun.)

❥The Heart is the root of life and it is responsible for intelligence, wisdom and spiritual transformation through its capacity to house the Shen.

❥The word Shen is translated to mean spirit.  If the Heart is diseased, the Heart-spirit may be disquieted creating anxiety, susceptibility to fear-based thinking, palpitations, and insomnia.

💡This is a really important concept to consider in a time when generalized anxiety is rampant.  Anxiety is one of the most common conditions I treat with acupuncture. 

Anxiety is not necessarily a problem manifesting from the brain, as conventional medicine would have us believe. 

👉🏽Consider how anxiety could in fact be the manifestation of a Heart imbalance. 

This way of thinking does NOT stand in opposition of what we know to be biochemically true; in a state of generalized or acute anxiety, there is a dysfunction of the neurotransmitters of the brain, and activation of the amygdala in a fear-state triggers a cascade of biochemical events.  Symptoms of which can include, accelerated heart rate, changes in perception, vexation, muscle tension, and changes in perspiration. (As a side note, perspiration is a fluid of the Heart in TCM, so we see another sign pointing to Heart dysfunction.) 

What all of this suggests to me, is that those symptoms manifest because the source of the problem is a damaged Heart.

If our Hearts are strong, perhaps our minds would be too. If the Heart fulfills its functions normally, and blood and qi are abundant, the spirit-mind is lucid, making an individual alert and responsive to the environment.  If the Heart is damaged, the spirit is disturbed, thus creating panic response. 

Shen/Spirit is the clarity of the consciousness and strength of mental faculties.  The Shen allows the individual to be conscious of his or her self and allows for the cohesion of various parts of our psyche and emotions. It is because of Shen that we can feel and assess the emotions; Shen is responsible for our perceptions and senses (taste, touch, sight, smell, hearing).

It is responsible for thinking, memory, intelligence, wisdom, ideas, and cognition; it also allows us insight and intuition. 

Shen provides the capacity to relate to others and the potential to form relationships. Shen allows for initiative, creativity, meaning, purpose, art and values…though it is not necessarily the outcomes of these things.

Given the enormity of all the functions that Spirit/Shen is responsible for, it’s incredibly important we protect our Hearts.

It’s important we nurture ourselves, find joy and connection in our lives, temper the types of information and interactions that disturb our Hearts and psyche.

We must be the guardians and protectors of our own mind if we want our spirits, and by extension our lives, to flourish. This month, pay close attention to your Heart and mind and find ways to settle into your being. 

🔥Fire is the element associated with the Heart. Use fire to connect your Heart, mind and spirit in a focused way: light a candle and say a prayer. Use it as a way to focus your attention with meditation.

Other ways to support the Heart is through mantra, chanting, breath work or acupuncture.

Find ways to creatively express what weighs heavy on your Heart, in order to let it go. Use whatever you have access to, be it art, music, dance, journaling…...etc.

Most importantly, use your intuition to guide you on your journey to creating balance in your Heart and mind.

Toxic soup: the damaging effects of the modern world on our health

When I think of spring, I think of spring cleaning, which is essentially clearing space for something new.  Whether it’s a refresh of your garage or garden, or cleaning up the diet, the energy that motivates this activity comes from the Liver.  The Liver (capitalized to denote the Chinese idea of liver) corresponds to the season of spring, and in terms of its function, it is known as the General…it’s the organ in charge of activating all the other organs.  

When we think of Liver energy, we think of energy in motion.  When the flow of Liver energy becomes impeded, then we suffer symptoms of stagnation: sluggishness, frustration, impatience, pain and discomfort, emotional lability, swings in hormones, seasonal allergies, tension headaches, frequent colds, and the list goes on…..

There are many factors that can negatively impact the flow of Liver energy, and of those many factors, toxins are a big contributor.  I was asked a very relevant and interesting question about the idea of detoxifying the liver, essentially spring cleaning for the body. 

What does Chinese medicine have to say about detoxing the Liver?

Before I get into the TCM concept of Liver detox, let’s unpack what the word detoxification means. 

Detoxification is a normal bodily function of every day life. Each cell has the machinery to package up toxins and eliminate them from the inner cellular matrix into the extracellular fluids. And this process is critical for our health and vitality!

Organs like the liver, spleen and kidneys have an important role in filtering toxic substances from the blood, lymph and urine and enable the body to excrete toxins through perspiration, defecation, urination, mucous, and even vomiting. 

I have always found it curious that there are many products marketed as “Liver Detox”, but almost none for a  kidney or spleen detox, when these organs also act as filters. 

Back to the question: what does TCM say about Liver detoxification? 

Basically, nothing.  Through the lens of Chinese medicine, there is no such idea as Liver detox because the concept of a toxin didn’t exist thousands of years ago. 

Also keep in mind that the world was magnitudes less toxic a few thousand years ago than it is now.  Although some plants have chemical compositions that are toxic to humans, that is very different than what we think of today when we talk about toxins. 

We are living and breathing-in a toxic soup of chemicals that contaminate our air, food, and water supply.  Additionally, we need to take into account the effect of radiation from cell phone towers, WiFi, and the electrical grid. Without question these things adversely affect cellular metabolism, disrupt cellular detoxification machinery, exacerbate free radical damage and contribute to disease processes. Check out this video to learn more.

If you really want to understand the magnitude of the impact on toxins,  check out this video about the effect of plastics on human fertility. 

Or this video about glyphosate and how it is responsible for a dramatic rise in many diseases including Alzheimers, Dementia, auto-immune diseases, cancers, and even mood disorders. 

In TCM, we think in terms of optimizing and harmonizing the Liver.  For a healthy Liver, one is wise to limit their exposure to “toxins”  (which could be environmental, emotional or spiritual) and support the free flow of Liver energy with plants, herbs, foods, activities, behaviors and attitudes that are beneficial.

The closest TCM comes to the concept of toxins is with regard to environmental influences and whether the body is able to adapt to a dry, damp, hot, cold, or windy environment.  We also think in terms of the emotions and spiritual influences. For example, a traumatic event could be emotionally “crippling”, blocking the flow of Liver qi, cascading into physical imbalances and symptoms. Or if you feel “stuck” in your life, lacking a sense of purpose, meaning or connection, how that might impede flow within the physical body, manifesting as chronic pain or discomfort. 

Does a “liver detox” help the liver? Most definitely! The most common plants and herbs used in commercial liver detox products are very supportive of the liver as observed in biomedicine, western herbal medicine and Chinese herbal medicine. 

There is another important factor in supporting the energy of the Liver: limiting your exposure to “toxic” information and news.  Basically anything that triggers you emotionally into a state of anxiety, worry, fear, anger, frustration and rage is inhibiting your liver’s ability to “detoxify”.

That’s the theme for Springtime: cut out toxins and choose plants, foods, activities and even media that will support the uninhibited flow of energy to nourish body, mind and spirit.  Support the energy of the Liver as this is the time of year when it is most active!

Springtime: this is how you grow

Spring is the season of the Wood element.  It is a time for renewal, rebirth and the moment is ripe for new beginnings. The organs of the Wood element are the Gall Bladder and the Liver. Each of these organs have physiological functions, as well as psycho-spiritual functions.

The Gall Bladder governs decision making and allows for courage.  

As anyone who has ever faced making important decisions knows,  it often requires some level of courage to choose a path where the outcomes are unknown. 

The Liver is said to open at the eyes, and because of this, it is connected to vision.  It is not only connected to our actual vision and ability to see, but also our ability to to envision our future. 

Together the Liver and the Gallbladder facilitate being able to envision what we want to manifest and give us the courage to make important decisions in our lives. 
The spirit of the Liver is called the Hun, and it is the strength of the Hun that manifests through self esteem. 

Our spirit is not separate from our mind.  They are interconnected to such a degree that the programming we receive from the world around us, interpreted through our mind from birth onward, determines the strength and vitality of the organs both on a physical level as well as a spiritual and emotional level.  

The Liver is profoundly influenced by the emotional processing of information that is coming into our fields of awareness and perceptions. 

Its job is to regulate the smooth and uninhibited flow of Qi and blood throughout the body.  When the inputs are emotionally challenging, it is the Liver that is the first line of defense in processing this information. 

How well we can move through emotionally intense experiences is both determined by and determines the health of the Liver. 

The Liver is, after all, a filter. It is a filters blood, trapping toxins and allowing nutrients to pass through. It also filters our emotions and lived experiences. It is understood to regulate the free and uninhibited flow of qi and blood throughout the body.

 When the energy of the Liver is balanced, it is well equipped to handle challenging situations.  The Liver wants to be challenged, in a way, it grows under pressure, just as wood does.

( I was once challenged by a patient whether it was true that wood grows under pressure, and according to Google, it is true. I find it funny that the person who challenged me on this was a carpenter who knew little about how wood grows … but I digress). 

What happens when the Liver is over-loaded with emotional stress and chemical stress? It gets angry. 

The emotion of the Liver is anger and its myriad manifestations: frustration, annoyance, irritation, resentment, hostility, vindictiveness, and depression. 

One way you can evaluate the health of the Liver is by checking in with your relationship to anger.  Do you quietly simmer and harbor resentments or do you explode and shout obscenities when you are stressed?  Do you have a healthy way to channel it or does anger control your behaviors?

Anger isn’t all bad; it inspires us to take action, and usually with passion.  Unmanaged anger, however, can be detrimental to our own health, as well as the health of those around us.  

With the shift into spring, you may notice feeling challenged by your emotions, particularly frustration, resentment and anger, or maybe you are having trouble making a decision and need a little courage. 

This is the season of the Liver and Gall Bladder and it’s the perfect time to get acupuncture to regulate the smooth flow of Liver and Gall Bladder energy.  

Anger, allergies and toxins…oh my!

If you have springtime allergies, NOW is the time to start acupuncture. Not when you are symptomatic. We need to keep histamines at bay, which is much easier to do BEFORE they are activated. 

Liver energy is pushing up and out…this means anger, frustration, agitation and outbursts are much more likely. We are coming into the season of the Liver and anger is the emotion. 

The Liver’s job is to regulate the body; hormones, emotions, sleep, digestion, respiration, etc. Just as springtime weather vacillates dramatically, emotionally you may find yourself yo-yo-ing  between giddiness and annoyance. Totally normal, but also something that can be smoothed over, this is what acupuncture does so well.

More movement, less inertia. The Liver responds well to movement, it doesn’t function optimally without vigorous activity. Movement need NOT to be grueling exercise or exhaustive; It could simply be a brisk walk and a quick stretch. If you have been sedentary this winter, it is time to activate those muscles and move the breath.

The Liver is a filter, it helps your body detoxify and eliminate the accumulation of substances that are essentially trash.  One way to take out the trash is to activate the lymphatic system. If you are lucky enough to have a vibration plate, that’s a great tool. If not, you can rebound, walk, dry brush, sweat/sauna and even tap along the lymph nodes to activate the removal of toxic debris.    

From the previous phase of gestation, we are coming into rebirth and activation.  Let’s optimize for a smooth emotional, physical and spiritual rebirth this spring. 

ChatGPT—what it’s doing to your brain

I am feeling a little disappointed in myself for not writing a post for nearly an eternity. The truth is, I put an unnecessary pressure on myself to write something profoundly deep, inspired, and Pulitzer-worthy. Well, that last part my be a bit of an exaggeration, but I do like to turn out something that’s worth the time it takes to read.

Everyone says I should use ChatGPT for the newsletter (maximize time, reduce energy!), but I refuse to capitulate for two reasons:

1. I value authenticity. In an in increasingly synthetic world, I don’t want to pretend ChatGPT is my voice. I don’t do fake.

2. The process of writing is good for my brain and mental health. There are infinite ways to tap into creativity, and writing happens to be a channel that I can do with confidence and enjoyment. 

This isn’t to say ChatGPT isn’t a valuable tool, it most certainly can be. I am simply pointing out, with technology, there is often a hidden cost.

What are the untold consequences of AI-reliance on our health and cognitive function?

Let’s look at artificial intelligence through the thousands of years old system of traditional Chinese medicine. 

It’s apropos of the season to point out that winter belongs the Water element. The Kidneys and the Bladder are the respective organs of the Water. These organs have many functions: they regulate the waterways of the body, urination, genitalia, sex hormones, as well as governing the bones, the teeth, the head hair and even the brain.

The kidneys store the essential energy and substance of the body known as Jing.  Jing is responsible for fertility, bone marrow and the brain, also known as the Sea of Marrow. 

Jing regulates growth, development, reproduction, long-term memory and certain aspects of cognition including creativity. 

Water is the phase of gestation: where ideas and concepts incubate until they are ready to be born.  

If we allow machines to do the thinking for us, at what point does creativity wither? 

What about recall, cognition, memory and problem solving?

Also, what will happen to the energy of the Kidneys if we stop engaging the brain? 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we treat the root to affect the branches: this means our treatment plan addresses the underlying organ imbalance in order to resolve symptoms. 

Alternatively, we can also treat the branches to harmonize the roots. In other words, addressing symptoms as the primary focus of the treatment can restore the natural harmony of the affected organ system. 

What will happen to our Kidney energy and our Jing if we don’t protect it from the unseen effects of digital overuse?

We are already seeing a sharp decline in fertility for both men and women due to the toxic environmental soup we are all bathing in.  

Will AI only exacerbate that trend because it has the effect of diminishing our brains and thereby Kidney Jing?

Could reliance on digital devices deplete bone or tooth health? Early hair loss? 

I know this sounds somewhat far-fetched, but what do we really know about how technology of today will impact our health in 20 years from now? 

Digital dementia is a term that was coined by Dr. Manfred Spritzer. It refers to the cognitive decline that results from excessive reliance on digital devices. Research has shown that there are structural as well as cognitive changes in the brain due to the internet, gaming, social media, AI etc. 

Digital media overuse impacts brain development, cognitive and inhibitory control, attention, memory, and reasoning.  It can impair motor skills, spatial awareness, problem-solving, and language learning. 

Neuroimaging studies reveal that screen usage affects brain networks controlling social-emotional behavior and executive functions.  

Furthermore, it diminishes gray matter in key brain regions affecting cognitive and emotional regulation. Well that doesn’t sound good, now, does it?

I am not chicken little, and the sky is not falling. But it should give all of us a moment of self reflection on how much we rely on digital devices and artificial intelligence and where to draw the line.  

The line for me happens to be in writing blog posts and newsletters; it’s not that big of a line in the sand, really, but it is a conscious choice and I hope in 20 years I am lucky enough to have all of my faculties. 

I hope everyone will read this and take a moment to reflect on how much technology has infiltrated your life. 

In countless ways technology has made our lives better and easier. But if the cost is a form of dimentia, premature hair loss, infertility, or brittle bones.?

The question is, in the long-run, will short-cuts really be worth it?

Boosting your immune system

As we move through autumn and the start of virus season, I want to remind everyone there are many factors contributing to a vulnerable immune system.

No one likes getting sick and there are a lot of tools to help you bolster your defenses. Here are some suggestions:

• If you are prone to catching colds and flus, consider a regular schedule of acupuncture, if not every week, maybe every other. I have seen first-hand the how effective acupuncture is at boosting immunity, but it needs to be done with consistency.

• Regular infrared sauna sessions are also shown to improve immune system function by activating heat shock proteins and activating detoxification.

• Avoiding alcohol, sugar, processed foods and seed oils will improve gut health, detoxification and elimination. When the body is overwhelmed with inflammatory agents like those foods mentioned above, it has to work overtime to clear them, taking precious resources and depleting the immune system.

• Continue to get sun directly on your bare skin as long as the temperatures allow! Vitamin D deficiency is one of the main reasons people catch viruses.

• Sleep, rest, repeat. Get as much rest as you can. An over-stimulated nervous system will eventually crash leaving you vulnerable to every germ you come into contact with.

• Walks through the forest. Trees activate our body’s natural killer (NK) cells which are immune cells. In particular NK cells target cancer cells…but the entirety of the immune system benefits and is optimized.

• Exercise is a great tool for activating the lymphatic system…and if you don’t have time for a proper workout, consider dry brushing to activate lymph.

• There are many supplements that can support your body too!. Whether it’s vitamin D, oregano, NAC, zinc…there are plenty of ways you can better support you body to ward off acute illness.

It’s not really a coincidence that the rate of viral infections skyrockets around and after the holiday season. People tend to eat and drink more of the foods that are inflammatory, they haven’t seen the sun in a while, and they are short on sleep.

Relaxation vs. Rest

As Autumn settles in and a new rhythm is established, I notice how much demand there is on my time, attention and energy. There seems to be more to navigate, schedule, plan and arrange.

The busier I become, the more I am reflecting on how many things capture my energy in subtle and gross ways.

What drains my battery? What restores me?

One of my intake questions is “how do you relax?”

Naturally, I get a myriad of responses, to name a few:

• watch TV/scroll

• play video games

• read

• glass of wine

• walk

• exercise

I think a more useful question is not how do you relax, but rather, how do you rest?

Most of the ways in which people say they relax aren’t necessarily restful.

Why is rest more important than “relaxation”?

Because rest is what allows for healing and repair. It is essential to health and vitality.

Let’s define rest as more than just sleep; rest is a state of being in which the mind and body can settle, be at peace and ultimately feel restored.

I would argue that a lot of the “activities” of “relaxation” are actually just distractions, and they don’t ultimately leaving one feeling restored.

Exercise can be restorative, unless of course one over-exercises leading to states of depletion rather than restoration.

People are often surprised at how deeply restorative acupuncture can be.

I think this in part because people are constantly in a state of doing, even when they are “relaxing”, and this is not actually restorative.

Acupuncture can shift the nervous system out of a sympathetic into a parasympathetic state.

This neurological shift allows the frenetic activity of the mind and cascade of biological responses to settle like the snow in snow globe that has been vigorously shaken and left to rest.

Keeping your mind engaged, like with reading, or scrolling or gaming or watching, has no restorative benefit.

It is simply drawing your attention out and away from your self and the present moment.

Relaxing may in fact be enjoyable, but ask yourself, is it restorative?

As we settle into autumn, I invite you to evaluate how you rest.

This is one of the keys to aging wisely…the goal should NOT be to live as long as you can, but to live as healthy as you can.

Building a robust immune system, late summer

Late summer is such an easy time to have an antioxidant rich diet. There is an abundance of organic produce grown locally. We can support our health and our local farmers simultaneously…I call this a win-win. Anti-oxidants are absolutely essential to supporting a robust immune system, as well as combating the premature aging of cells.

The importance of nutrient rich diets with vibrant colored produce cannot be understated. The health of Americans is worsening, in spite of the best science and research on the planet. We are fatter and sicker than ever, and the health care industry is the fastest growing industry in America.

This shouldn’t be the case.

Remember: we don’t get sick because of a medication deficiency!

We get sick because of a nutrient deficiency, consumption of inflammatory, ultra-processed foods, emotional distress and environmental toxins.

As we move into September, I am focusing my attention on the energy of the Lungs and Large Intestjne. These two organs are associated with the Metal Element, belonging to autumn.

Our skin is considered the tissue of the lungs. When we have skin irritations, sensitivities, and pre-mature aging skin, supporting Lung energy is imperative. The skin and Lungs are our first line of defense immunologically. 

The Lungs produce Wei qi, also known as “defensive qi”. When Wei Qi is weak, we are vulnerable to colds, flus and respiratory illness. 

For optimal immunity, September is the time to address Lung qi.

Improving cellular function and biology takes time. Between acupuncture, infrared sauna, moxibustion, functional medicine, and nutritional coaching, we offer everything at the Sunset Healing Collective you need to improve your immunity and vitality.

Do you know the emperor?

Did you know that every season has a corresponding flavor? Summer’s flavor is bitter. It enters the channel of the Heart and can be used in herbal medicine and food to resolve imbalances.

The Heart is the yin organ of the Fire Element. It is referred to as the Emperor as it has dominion over many facets of our psychology and physiology.

Summer is the time of year when the disposition of the Heart should naturally be light and pleasant. As the Emperor, the Heart regulates many functions.  We have previously covered how it rules the Shen or spirit. If the Shen is disturbed, it is made manifest in a variety of ways, some subtle, some overt.

Because the tongue is the sprout of the Heart, it governs speech.  Distorted speech is a tell-tale sign of a Heart Shen imbalance. Just as Fire emits warmth, a warm personality and friendliness can be a reflection of a balanced Heart.  Due to the Heart’s governance of speech, it also plays a major role in interpersonal communication skills. Rudeness, sharp language, harsh words, entitlement and disrespectfulness may in fact be a consequence of upbringing, culture or society, but it is also a dysfunction of the energy of the Heart.  

A common question patients have been asking about my travels is, how did people respond to me being American?Everyone, everywhere we went, was super friendly, warm and welcoming.  We were met with openness and kindness at every turn. 

We were mindful to always be courteous, friendly, and conscientious of the fact that we were “guests” in someone else’s “home”.  I told my daughters, who at some point started quarreling while waiting online for a ferry, “girls! please demonstrate what courteous young ladies from the US look like. Let’s not be the rude American stereotype.” 

Yes, it’s true, Americans have a reputation of being rude. 

Upon our arrival at La Zagara, a very quaint family-run inn along the Amalfi coast, our hosts Salvatore and Nilda greeted us with fresh-squeezed lemonade from their orchard. Under the canopy of century-old lemon trees, we made small talk and were given the lay of the land. We were charmed, to say the least. The next morning over breakfast, Salvatore commented on how incredibly friendly we were. We inquired as to whether Americans, in general, were polite. “Not really” he said, “in fact they were often rude.” 

It left me wondering, how did we as a society become this way?

Scrolling the socials just yesterday, I came across a quote from Helen Mirren:  “Women have got to stop being polite. If I ever had children, which I don’t, the first thing I’d teach a girl of mine is the words “f-off”. (That is her grammatical error, btw, not mine).

To be honest, I cringe.  

That’s the first thing she would teach her child? Really? Maybe this is part of the problem…

I see it in real life and in viral videos online. Rude, entitled, disrespectful.  The worst offenders caught on video in parking lots, coffee shops, airports, airplanes and on the street. It’s really disheartening.

Culture and society aside; what effect do these attitudes and words have on our health? 

I don’t know for sure, but it makes sense that as we harden our hearts, minds, and language toward others, it pushes us out of biological and psychological balance.  

It seems there is a crisis of the Heart. 

Maybe we can begin to heal our Hearts by simply being kind. 

The beauty of acupuncture

The bags under my eyes are gone!

This is a text I received from a new patient whom I treated for knee pain:

Hi Kristin, so far everything is great! Call me crazy but the bags under my eyes are gone!

I have been practicing acupuncture for 25 years, I have to admit, this is a first. I don’t ever recall treating knee pain and someone reporting a cosmetic benefit to their face.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t have a logical explanation for it, however. Chronic pain is taxing…especially to the mind and spirit.

I can clearly see pain translated in the expression of the faces of many people when they enter my office.

The body is a closed system of information.

In spite of what your specialist (gastro, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, allergist etc.) might lead you to erroneously conclude, that the different systems of the body are independent or separate, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Pain in the knee obstructs the flow or qi to those channels which go through the knee.

• The bladder channel begins on the inner corner of the eye, goes over the head, down the back, traverses the knee and terminates at the pinky toe.

• The stomach channel begins below the eye, into the jaw, across the neck, torso, thigh, knee and terminates at the second toes.

• The gallbladder channel begins at the outer corner of the eye, crosses the temporal region of head, down the neck, into the traps, across the side of the ribcage, down the lateral part of the hip and leg to end at the fourth toe.

As acupuncture needles move qi through the channels surrounding the knee, the entirety of the channel is affected, top to bottom. So not only does treating knee pain improve the circulation in the knee, it improves circulation throughout the body.

Alleviation of pain will be reflected in the spirit of the face, softening the brow, releasing tension in the forehead and eyes, and relaxing the jaw.

I have observed in many of my cosmetic acupuncture treatments the immediate improvement in other ailments throughout the body, such as joint pain, digestive issues, allergies, etc.

This is the beauty of acupuncture; it is systemically beneficial.

No side effects. No addictive qualities. No synthetics or additives.

Are you wasting your own precious resources?

I love seeing the first signs of spring with snow drops and crocuses. I love feeling the intermittently warm and sunny days. But as it predictably goes in March, some days are glorious and others are meh.

There are forever opposing forces in life; what eastern philosophy teaches, is that this is the Tao or the Way. Yin and yang are mutually interdependent. You cannot have one with out the other. There is an ebb and flow, a push and pull, a tensing and releasing.

This is the Way of life. Regardless of how you wish it were, it has always been and always will be this way.

The wisdom in times of uncertainty is not necessarily to resist every little thing. The wisdom of the Tao is learning how to discriminate between when it is appropriate to resist or surrender.

No season is more unpredictable than spring.

Spring energy is Wood energy. Healthy wood needs external pressure or a challenging environment in order to grow with maximal resiliency.

In the absence of wind, like in a controlled environment, trees fail to develop "stress wood" (also known as reaction wood), which is crucial for structural support and resilience, ultimately leading to their collapse. 

The same is true for humans. Without some adversity during the earlier stages of life, we would collapse under the stress of being an adult.

I suspect the stress of being a teenager is a great training ground for developing “stress wood”.

Wood energy is about strength, resilience, and flexibility in all three realms: body, mind and spirit.

When you are feeling particularly stressed or stretched, take a moment to find gratitude for the opportunity to develop psychological and spiritual strength.

Can you find the gift in your most difficult moments? If you can, you have incredible resiliency and mental strength.

Most of us want to wallow in self pity, lash out at the world for being harsh, react with anger and vitriol at the injustices of life.

And maybe those responses have their place and are completely justified. Or maybe they are depleting your vital energy and simply a waste of your precious resources.

If you truly want to be strong, resilient and flexible, you must also find space for surrender.

Surrender is NOT necessarily a sign of weakness, but rather, a sign of wisdom.

If you are having trouble accepting and surrendering to life, I invite you to try acupuncture as a therapy to harmonize your body, your thoughts and your spirit.

If you feel spiritually stretched, mentally overwhelmed, upset, angry, irate or depressed, your Wood energy would be strengthened with acupuncture.

Whether it is a healing energy treatment, a walk in the woods, a battle on the jiu jitsu mat or whatever brings you into harmony, show yourself some love.

I invite you to take care to nourish the parts of yourself that are calling for some it.

Recurrent colds, weak immunity & acupuncture

Optimal immunity is one of my zones of expertise. Everyone has a unique constitution. Some people are simply more hardy and robust than others; they have to “do” less to maintain optimal health.

For those with a weaker constitution, there is a smaller margin of “error” when it comes to behaviors and lifestyle. 

Regardless of your constitution, the number one factor for improving immunity is managing stress. Stress comes in many forms: there is emotional and psychological stress, physical stress, and environmental stress.

Lucky for you, acupuncture is one of the easiest therapies for optimizing the immune system by mitigating the deleterious effects of stress. In my clinic, regular acupuncture treatment has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of acute illness and optimize immunity.

The sauna is another therapeutic tool that was shown in this study to improve immune system function; the catch is, a series of sessions is necessary. Saunas work to improve immunity by increasing leukocyte and monocytel levels to stimulate the immune system. They also produce heat shock proteins to activate immunity.

Whether you are recovering from a recent illness, or want to avert getting sick, I have the tools to support you at the Sunset Healing Collective.

Reconnecting the heart spirit

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we can observe the relative health of the Heart and the animating spirit of the Shen through the complexion, the brightness of the eyes, the movements of the body, the vitality of the person.

What we don’t always talk about is the importance of the Heart and Shen in our ability to experience joy. The emotion of the Heart in TCM is joy. 

We feel joyful when we feel connected.  It could be a deep connection with ourselves, other humans, nature, God and to life itself.

Qi is the energy of relationship.  When two or more things have enough resonance with each other a connection is made. The Heart qi is the energy of communication, relationship and connection.

When the spirit of the Heart is intact, the mind is clear, behavior is socially appropriate, one can relate and connect with others, responses are logical, thoughtful, and the demeanor is appropriate. 

With regard to how we relate to others, when the Heart/mind is disturbed, signs include; being socially awkward, missing social cues, avoiding eye contact, difficulty with coherent speech.

In TCM, it is understood that the tongue is the sprout of the Heart.  As such, speech is governed by the Heart.  

Many people struggle in their interpersonal relationships to speak from the Heart, to say their Truth, and find the words to convey their “Heart’s desire”.   

When people have trouble finding their words to express their feelings, this points to an imbalance of  Heart qi and Shen.  To feel joy, we must be able to experience love, both giving and receiving love. Joy is the byproduct of love.   It is the reciprocity of love in our relationships, as well as the relationship with ourselves, that joy is experienced.  

When we feel loved, we feel joyful, connected, abundant, worthy, whole. When we cannot give nor receive love, we feel separate, other, disconnected, unworthy, alone.  

In order to live life filled with joy, we must begin with love.  For many people, this is easier said than done.  For those who were not properly loved and accepted unconditionally in childhood, the Heart may become self-protected, wall-off and disconnected.  The Heart and Shen are imprinted with this wound, and Heart imbalances ensue.  

Those who struggle to give and receive love, will in variably have difficulty finding true joy. 

So how do we open a Heart that is protecting itself? We must heal the wounds of our Hearts, clear the pain of our past, and reconnect the energy of relationship. 

And how do we do that? Simply by nurturing body, mind and spirit. Begin with the Self. 

Self-care of the body through behaviors that are nurturing, supportive and healthy creates a physical basis for healing the Heart.  Consider the ways in which you nurture the physical: food, water, exercise, and rest.

These are pretty basic, yet fundamental. 

• Choosing foods that are wholesome and nutritious gives us the material Qi to optimize Heart health. When we inundate the body with food and substances that are devoid of nutrition, but high in  “satisfaction” or alter the chemistry of the brain in unhealthy ways, we undermine the physical demands of the body and disrupt a healthy mind/spirit.

• Exercise and rest are foundational for optimal health.  Sacrificing either of these will leave you feeling unwell. Whether you burn the candle from both ends or neglect to move, strengthen and stretch, either will leave you feeling disconnected on some level.

• Certain activities ignite all three, body, mind and spirit. So find activities that light you up. Remember, it is connection that allows for love and joy.  

• Self-love, self-compassion, self- worth. This process can be supported through positive self-talk…remember speech is a function of the Heart.  In order to do this, we must be present in the moment and consciously aware of the dialogue in our minds and the feelings in our bodies. 

• We must be conscious in questioning the merit of negative self-talk and actively re-train the negative thought patterns to positive ones. 

Once we have taken care of Self, it is imperative we connect with the world around us.  Whether it is in relationship with other humans, connection with God or a higher power, or connection with the natural world and its inhabitants and rhythms.  

Remember, qi is the energy of relationship, and the vitality, connectedness, and health of that energy determines our ability to experience joy.  For when we recognize that we are all connected, and separation only exists in the mind, can we truly find joy and love in life.

The ultimate remedy for what ails us in body, mind and spirit is…

Love is universal. Love goes beyond space and time. Love is the highest frequency on which we can vibrate. Let’s celebrate all those we love, and most especially, ourselves.

The Heart is the seat of the spirit…the Shen, which governs our mind and consciousness.

When we allow ourselves to give and receive love, we nurture the very essence of our being, our spirit.

In fact, we nurture the source of our human experience, the collective consciousness, when we operate on the frequency of love.

When we hold hate, anger, resentment, spite, and other low vibration emotions in the heart space, we impede our own ability to thrive and feel healthy.

The spirit becomes stifled. Our thoughts darken and take us to unhelpful and unhealthy places.

We see the consequences of a negative thoughts, a rigid mind and a hardened-heart in the body too; heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and neurodegenerative and cognitive diseases, just to name a few.

Learning to soften the heart space from hard feelings and attitudes takes practice, mindfulness and intentionality.

This is where a meditation practice can be particularly helpful in regulating the mind and it’s thought patterns.

We can use acupuncture too, for harmonizing the mind. Acupuncture is pure magic in its ability to heal the Heart Spirit and soften rigid feelings.

I love the acupuncture point combination Heart 7, Yin Tang, Shen Men and Kidney 6 to balance the mind.

But the ultimate remedy for what ails us in body mind and spirit is Love.

Love is the great salve for the suffering of the soul.

A soft and open heart is essential to transcend the mundane and experience the all-encompassing, eternal bliss that love has to offer.

Open your heart to love. Give and receive without hesitation.

The #1 thing you must do to protect your bones

As we age, starting around 35 years, we begin to lose bone density. For women, this process is accelerated during menopause with the drop in estrogen. I’m focusing on this now because winter is the season of the Water Element and thus the Kidneys.

In Traditional Chines Medicine (TCM), the Kidneys are vitally important for a variety of functions:

• regulate gestation in utero

• growth, sexual maturation and development

• brain health and cognition

• bone marrow

• hormones

• reproduction and fertility

• the bones, teeth, head hair

• hearing

• sexual function and libido

• everything below the naval

Zeroing in on the energy of the season and the functions that Kidneys regulate, I want to place a special attention on bone health.

While diet and nutrition are important for bone health, those alone are inadequate in preventing osteoporosis.

Weight bearing, high impact and plyometric exercises are crucial to bone density and bone health.

Plyometrics are exercises that stretch and contract muscles quickly so that power is generated; activities like squat jumps, broad jumps, box jumps, jumping rope etc. Some people refer to it as “jump training” since jumping exercises are very much a part of plyometrics.

Heavy resistance training and weight lifting are an excellent way of improving bone density. Lighter weights won’t do it, which is why hiring a trainer may be important to get you started.

A return to the light

If everything around seems dark, look again, you may be the light.
—Rumi

I am always observant of how time can feel distorted around the winter holiday season.  With shortened days and longer nights, time has a way of slowing down. Yet somehow, this slowing of time is juxtaposed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays; it may feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. 

Whatever your rituals and celebrations may entail, it is no doubt a busy and social time for many of us.   

Winter corresponds to the Water Element, the emotion is fear, the tissues are the bones and teeth, the flavor is salty, and the organs are the Kidneys and the Bladder. 

One way to support the body is to use a quality salt when preparing food. Steer clear of iodized salt, it is energetic poison. Try Himalayan or sea salt instead.  The Kidney energy needs the salty flavor; be liberal in using it.

It’s also a great time to make bone broth loaded with marrow, tendons and ligamentous tissue.  Dishes like osso buco and oxtail stew are incredibly nourishing to Kidney energy.

Although the winter solstice marks the first day of winter on the Gregorian calendar,  winter solstice is essentially the middle of winter in Chinese traditions. 

On the Chinese calendar, winter began around November 1, which is also a significant day on the pagan/Celtic calendar known as Samhain. 

Can you remember how things around and within you feel at the beginning of November?  

You may recall feeling that everything was in decline; the plant world, the angle of the sun, the temperatures, the mood.  A time of energetic free-fall, and thus the season is called fall .  The sinking/falling/waning that happens in the northern hemisphere as the sun reaches toward the southern hemisphere has distinctive qualities and characteristics.

The Chinese calendar is energetically aligned with the pagan calendar. For example, Chinese New Year marks the beginning of spring, which falls around Ground Hog day, also known as Imbolc on the pagan/Celtic calendar.  Imbolc and Chinese New Year both mark the midway point between the winter solstice and the Spring equinox. 

These ancient systems of marking time are attuned with the energies of the natural world and the stars of the heavens.  They reveal not only what is happening to the world around us, but also within us.  The ever-shifting dynamics of the human landscape physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually is connected to cosmos.

As above, so below.

Now that we have fully arrived in the energetic depths of winter, how do we move through the watery unknown with grace and surrender?  

The Kidneys govern the Zhi, also known as will power, and allow us to have trust in ourselves and our destiny. Through faith, intention and determination, we can move through these dark, unknowable times because of Kidney energy.
This is a reminder, from me to you: take precious care of yourself during the holiday season and into the new year.

Your Kidney energy especially needs the support for you to germinate, gestate and manifest your vision for the future.

Common questions from expecting mothers

Is this safe during pregnancy and other FAQ

We treat dozens of health conditions at the Sunset Healing Collective, including care for pregnant women. Here are some questions our expecting mothers want to know about acupuncture and pregnancy.

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?

Yes. Acupuncture is not only safe during pregnancy, but it can be an excellent therapy to help both mom and baby have a harmoniously regulated nervous system.

Additionally, acupuncture can be used throughout pregnancy to treat common complaints like nausea, morning sickness, headaches, carpal tunnel, sciatica, insomnia, pre-eclampsia, anxiety, sinus issues, immune weakness, and the list goes on.

Is acupuncture good for my developing baby?

I have been treating pregnant women for 20 years, and while I have zero scientific “proof” acupuncture is “good” for the fetus, I have made some observations based on treating dozens of expectant mothers.

Mothers who received consistent acupuncture treatments throughout the second and third trimesters, were all spared colicky babies.

I developed a treatment protocol called Happy Baby Acupuncture specifically for this.

Can acupuncture turn a breech baby?

Yes! In about 80% of cases, in my 20+ years of experience, acupuncture and moxibustion have supported the successful turn from breech to a head-down position.

In those cases that were unsuccessful, there was common thread…the mother was beyond 37 weeks of gestation.

It is recommended to attempt the repositioning of the baby between 34-37 weeks gestation.

Can acupuncture induce labor?

It depends.  I always tell my patients that the baby is going to come when it’s good and ready.  Trying to induce labor early, before 40 weeks almost always fails.

However, if you have a history of needing an induction, I have seen acupuncture in the weeks leading up to the induction date help to hasten the labor and delivery.

In patients who have crossed the 40-week mark, acupuncture has much higher outcomes of success in inducing labor.

Why is breath work all the rage?

For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth.
—Sanskrit proverb

If you have been feeling stressed, irritable, frustrated, or even erratic with your emotions, breathwork can be a powerful tool to help you move energy and emotions through the body. 

Remember, spring is the season of the Wood Element and anger/frustration (its myriad manifestations) is the corresponding emotion. 

We breathe approximately 22,000 times per day, and unless you are breathing fully, and mind-fully, you are missing out on some critical benefits.

As a result a result of shallow breathing, the diaphragm becomes restricted. The diaphragm sits on top of the liver, and as we breathe, it gently massages the liver.

The massaging action of the diaphragm on the liver helps to promote the smooth, unencumbered flow of Liver qi.

Shallow breathing creates Stagnation of Liver qi, which may create a cascade of negative health effects. 

When the Liver becomes stagnant, imbalances manifest as erratic emotions, anger, irritability, frequent sighing, asthma, headaches, digestive issues, PMS, insomnia, muscle tension, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, ability to focus and seasonal allergies.
There are many different breathing techniques that can help manage stress, insomnia, regulate the cardiovascular system, reduce chronic anxiety, ease negative emotions (particularly anger and its manifestations), decrease blood pressure, improve pulmonary function, and the list goes on.  

Finding a daily practice that works for you is key to helping regulate physical and emotional stress.

Acupuncture is another great therapy to address stagnation of Liver Qi and to help with all of the symptoms associated; a breathwork practice will greatly enhance your wellbeing and the benefits of acupuncture.

There are many different breathing techniques that will help you regulate Liver Qi and decrease stress. 

Ready to try on your own?

A simple practice is to set a timer for 5 minutes and do what is called box breathing.

Here is a guide to box breathing: 

• inhale for a count of 4, expanding fully into your chest from front to back and into your abdomen

• hold for a count of 4, releasing slowly all of the air from your lungs,

• hold the exhale for a count of 4

• repeat the cycle 

It helps to be in an upright seated position or standing. 

I have also done this lying down with therapy balls behind my back to give an added massage to tense and tight back muscles, which may inhibit our ability to breathe. I place two balls on either side of my spine starting at the level of my bottom ribs. I take three deep breaths at each level and then move them up incrementally until I get to the top of my thoracic spine. 

Try it for yourself!

Mental health issues do NOT begin in the brain

Acupuncture has shown in clinical studies to be beneficial and supportive for managing stress, anxiety, depression, and hormone related mood swings.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a very unique interpretation of mental health disorders: they arise from organ imbalances of the heart, lungs, liver, gall bladder, stomach, spleen, large intestine, or kidneys.

In the view of TCM, mental health issues aren’t a dysfunction of the brain.

Whether it’s anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, or any other diagnosis, there is an inherent imbalance of at least one of the organ and channel systems.

We know that our DNA can carry the information of trauma from one generation to the next.

The study of epigenetics has shown that the encoding of DNA doesn’t necessarily determine the gene’s expression, but rather the environment in which our genetic material exists.

Our DNA floats in a sort of cellular soup. What we eat, how much we exercise, how we process emotions, and many other behaviors and choices determines what is in the soup, which determines which genes get switched on and off.

TCM understood this long before the study of genetics or epigenetics. The wisdom of Chinese medicine offers a roadmap for how to have vitality in the body and mind.

I have found acupuncture is a fantastic compliment to talk therapy, CBT, plant medicine, supplement, herbs and lifestyle changes when it comes to improving mental and emotional health.

We recommend a 12-week course of acupuncture along with some simple lifestyle and nutritional changes to support the process. Reach out to us if you are interested to learn more.

Do this now for Spring allergies

For seasonal allergy sufferers, early Spring is the time to take action…as Benjamin Franklin famously said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Why do we begin treating allergies before they begin? The simple answer is to keep histamine levels in check. Not only do holistic practitioners approach allergies this way, but mainstream medicine does as well.  

What are histamines?

Histamines are chemical messengers that mediate cellular responses.  Histamines are responsible for symptoms in the respiratory system like runny nose, itchiness, and sneezing. 

Histamine intolerance in in the digestive system can cause symptoms like abdominal pain and distention, diarrhea, constipation, and a feeling of fullness. 

There is a lot to unpack on the topic of histamines, but here are a few tips to get your body ready for spring and early summer allergies.

1. Avoid inflammatory foods: processed and ultra-processed foods, especially refined grains and vegetable oils

2. Detox your body. Plants and supplements which help cleanse the liver and colon, as well as through sweating from exercise or the sauna

3. Stop histamine reactions through acupuncture. It has been shown that acupuncture has better antipruritic effects than third generation antihistamines in one study.‍ ‍Another study comparing acupuncture and second generation antihistamines found that acupuncture demonstrated a greater effect during peak itch intensity.

4. Prevent histamine build-up: begin supplementing with quercetin and nettles now.