Stevia rebaudiana, a shrub native to South America, has been used for centuries by indigenous peoples to sweeten beverages and foods. Its leaves contain compounds that provide intense sweetness without calories, making it a popular alternative to sugar. In countries like Japan, Brazil, and China, stevia has long been approved Read more
Ahh… the leaves are changing, the air is crisp, and anywhere you go you will likely see something-something pumpkin spice. In Chinese Medicine, the changing of seasons are deeply intertwined with our health. Each season corresponds to a specific organ system, and during autumn, the Lungs take center stage. This Read more
According to the Center for Disease Control an estimated 30.3 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes. That’s 9.4% of the U.S. population. About 7.2 million of those cases are undiagnosed. As Acupuncturists we see these types of patients daily, sometimes for help with Diabetes and its symptoms and sometimes for Read more
Every January many of us resolve to make changes to better our health. One of the most common of these goals is to eat right in order to lose some extra weight. Sadly, only about 8% of us actually manage to achieve this goal long-term. There are a few ideas Read more
It’s that time of year again: the weather is getting colder; jackets and scarves are coming out… Many patients have been asking us about what they should be eating this time of year. Oriental Nutrition—the second branch of Oriental Medicine—is based on the same theory as Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Read more
One very important concept in Oriental Medicine is Five Element theory, which describes basic elements (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood) in the body and the inter-relationships of those elements similar to those same elements found in nature. Each element corresponds to specific organs, flavors, emotions, colors, seasons, etc. One Read more
This is understandably a topic of interest currently. Many theories exist regarding what immunity is and what makes one’s immune system more or less effective. One theory that eloquently describes immunity comes from Chinese Medicine…..as it turns out, this theory appears to be quite accurate when applied clinically with Acupuncture, Read more
Ever observe another person walk out of a bathroom, PAST the sink without stopping to wash his/her hands and gasp in horror? We all have seen it, sadly. It seems some folks consider the hands “clean” if dirt is not visible. Commonly, the real dangerous stuff of life is not Read more
Patients are often surprised when we discuss the need for adequate sleep to maintain the immune system. We are all used to thinking about our diet, computer/screen habits, and supplements or herbs as having a lot to do with building a strong immune response, but – sleep? Yep! Sleep (and Read more
Acupuncture and Chiropractic are both widely used forms of Complementary Medical care utilized by a large number of Americans to treat specific health complaints and maintain a level of functionality in the body. Both offer non-pharmaceutical solutions for a variety of health issues and, in light of the growing opioid Read more