Spring means flower buds, grasses, blooming trees and pollen— and if you're one of the millions of people who have seasonal pollen season woes, it also means sneezing, congestion, a runny nose and other bothersome symptoms. Spring pollen season can make you miserable as these allergens send the body’s immune system into overdrive.   DAO Labs Immunity Support is centuries in the making, and through the power of Traditional Chinese Medicine can strengthen your immune system against airborne, seasonal and environmental invasions. One of the most popular formulas across Asia, i ..read more

Women's bodies are beautiful, amazing and complex. But the monthly menstrual cycle is draining – literally. Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding are even more demanding on the body. In our rush to succeed in school, careers, and the ever-expanding social horizons of our modern world, it is also possible to not fully appreciate the unique physiology of women related to menstruation. Indeed, some women may find their period a hassle, a needless interruption to their schedule, a problem to be managed pharmacologically with birth control pills. Traditional Chinese Medicine & Menstruation In ..read more

The ever-elusive Qi  Like the steam that spirals from a pot of cooking rice (as its Chinese character suggests), Qi is the distilled essence, the fundamental mystery and miracle of life. Qi is the vital quality of being and evolving, the foundation of the cosmos. All the organ systems of the body are imbued with their own unique variation of Qi. While in the broader sense Qi accounts for both substance and function, when we speak of the Qi of an organ we’re mostly referring to the major functions of that organ. Welcome to the realm of Lung Qi: where two worlds meet In resonance with the p ..read more

Are you suffering from pollen season woes this spring?  You're not alone.  According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, nearly 50 million Americans are affected by nasal allergies - and the numbers continue to increase.  To date, allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the United States. Anaphylactic reactions are typically triggered by medications, food and insect stings, with pharmaceuticals causing the most allergy-related deaths. The cost of allergies exceeds $18 billion per year!  There are ways to deal with allergies th ..read more

Looking to shed a few pounds? Do you want to feel lighter on your feet, resilient and healthy? Read on to learn Chinese Medicine’s Secrets to weight loss. Traditional Chinese Medicine views every aspect of health as part of the whole picture, and it offers a unique perspective on weight loss by focusing on the balance of the body, mind, and spirit. Instead of just focusing on numbers on a scale, or body mass indexes, weight management in Chinese Medicine theory focuses on the internal state of the body and the functioning of the digestive system. It speaks about conditions of internal dam ..read more

Based on the 2,500 heritage of Chinese medicine and practiced by acupuncturists and Chinese medicine doctors worldwide, here are 5 simple ways to boost your defensive Qi: 1. Apply Acupressure Below the Knee Acupressure is like acupuncture, in that you’re placing “pressure” on a certain point to elicit a response within your body (like with acupuncture, you are stimulating internal energy within your body.  And a note to the reader: acupuncture does not hurt!).  To boost immunity, you’ll want to place pressure along “acupuncture point 36”, which is described as 4 finger widths be ..read more

Joint pain is a common situation that can significantly impact one's quality of life. While conventional solutions offer various treatments, many individuals are turning to alternative therapies, including herbal solutions, for relief.  Du Huo Ji Shen Tang, a Traditional Chinese herbal formula, is comprised of a unique combination of herbs for joint pain. In this article, we will dive into the components of Du Huo Ji Shen Tang and explore how it may offer relief for those suffering from joint discomfort.  Understanding Du Huo Ji Shen Tang Lower back pain and decreased joint mobi ..read more

As many who follow my recipes know, I Iove making soups, especially those that combine international flavors with a handful of simple ingredients.  Moreover, by combining them with the right amount of Chinese dietary theory, they can be powerful in supporting your health goals - particularly those that help support a healthy digestion. Did I mention that I love squash and that it can be almost medicinal in helping digestive strength? There Are Two Types of Squash... Squash falls into two categories: Summer or immature and winter or fully mature.  Maturation periods vary from a week f ..read more

Most people have just accepted airborne bugs (or for our purposes, "colds") as an unavoidable part of life. However, this acceptance doesn’t have to translate into defeat when approached from the angle of Chinese Medicine. ANOTHER WAY TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS ILLNESS From the perspective of Western medicine, acute mild upper respiratory diseases are caused by viruses. The emphasis is on the external “bug” or bad guy. The treatment strategy typically involves rest, alleviation of symptoms with things like decongestants, and “killing” the culprit (if and when severity warrants su ..read more

Many patients have asked me recently about how our wellness services can help them “detox” in the New Year. Detoxing is a common wellness practice.  In most general terms, it means removing toxins from the body. The New Year is a good time to detox, for many reasons: Usually we have put a lot of crap into our systems over the holidays and detoxing allows us to clear that out. New Years symbolically offers a new beginning, and detoxing allows us to clear the slate, so to speak, for our next year. In the deepest winter months, we are in the most Yin (passive, cold) time of the year, when t ..read more