In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), food is more than fuel—it is daily medicine. One of the most important dietary principles in TCM is eating warm or cooked foods, especially for digestion, energy, and mental clarity.
This idea centers around a concept known as digestive fire—the body’s ability to break down food, absorb nutrients, and turn what we eat into usable energy.
Cold or raw foods require the body to spend extra energy warming them before digestion can even begin. Over time, this drains digestive fire.
Warm foods, on the other hand:
Are easier to digest
Support nutrient absorption
Help maintain steady metabolism
Reduce bloating and stagnation
This is why TCM strongly favors soups, stews, porridges, and cooked vegetables, especially in the morning and colder months.
The Importance of Hot or Warm Foods in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Does Acupuncture Work? Let’s Talk Terrain, Not Magic Wands
If you’ve ever typed “Does acupuncture work?” into Google while wincing in pain, battling a stubborn symptom, or navigating fertility struggles, you’re not alone.
This question shows up in my treatment room all the time — usually followed by:
“So… will this fix me?”
“Will I be pain-free after today?”
“Can you make me pregnant?”
“Can you cure me?”
Ah, the magic wand myth.
Let’s break this down together. Acupuncture isn’t pixie dust. It’s not a one-time fix. It doesn’t “treat” disease in the conventional Western sense. What it does do — beautifully, powerfully, and consistently — is shift your terrain.
Burnout, Adrenal fatigue and Hormone health: Restoring harmony with TCM
In today’s fast-paced world, burnout and adrenal fatigue are increasingly common as people juggle high-pressure jobs, constant digital connectivity, and life’s many demands. Symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, low motivation, sleep disturbances, and irritability are telltale signs that your body is struggling to maintain balance. This state of depletion is often linked to chronic stress and overworking your body’s natural energy reserves.
Hormone Health & Beans
Looking for simple ways to improve your health? Then look no further than the magical bean! Beans are high in fiber and nutrients essential for digestive health and hormone health. Beans play a significant role in supporting hormone health due to their nutrient and fiber rich profile. Fiber is essential for maintaining stable blood sugar levels, which directly affects hormone regulation.
The Concept of Blood Deficiency in TCM
Blood deficiency is a condition where the blood is insufficient to nourish the body, particularly the organs, tissues and mind. It is not merely about the quantity of blood but also its quality and ability to fulfill its functions, such as nourishing and moistening the body and maintaining mental clarity. Blood plays a crucial role in anchoring the Shen. Shen is closely linked to mental and emotional health, and it is said to reside in the heart. Sufficient blood nourishes the heart and allows the Shen to be calm and stable, promoting clear thinking, emotional balance and restful sleep.
Honor Your Yin: Navigating Perimenopause and Beyond
Yin deficiency occurs when the body lacks the cooling, calming, and nourishing qualities that Yin provides. This deficiency can lead to a range of symptoms that reflect a state of internal heat, dryness, and agitation. Yin deficiency is marked by a sensation of heat, restlessness, and depletion. Symptoms include dry eyes, hot flashes, dry skin, dry throat, insomnia, ringing in the ears and agitation.
Understanding Minerals
Minerals are the essential nutrients which play a crucial role in maintaining our overall health and well-being. However, in today's fast-paced world, mineral deficiencies have become increasingly common. From soil depletion, chronic stress and the widespread use of medications, minerals are missing from our bodies.
Women’s Health Featured
Why Yin Matters in PeriMenopause & Beyond
Yin is the body’s cooling and nourishing foundation. It includes:
Fluids and Blood that moisten tissues and joints
Essence (Jing), our deep reserves tied to hormones and aging
The ability to rest, repair, and sleep deeply
When Yin is sufficient, we feel calm, grounded, hydrated, emotionally steady, and resilient.
Perimenopause and menopause are closely linked to the Kidney system in TCM, which governs hormones, aging, bones, and long-term vitality.
As women move into midlife, Kidney Yin naturally begins to decline. This is not a failure of the body—it’s a normal transition.
Think of it like a pond slowly receding.
When the water level drops, the sun feels hotter on the land.
In the body, this looks like less cooling Yin to balance Yang, which can create sensations of heat, dryness, and restlessness.
This stage is often called the “Second Spring” in TCM—a shift away from fertility and toward longevity, wisdom, and preservation. The key is learning how to protect and replenish Yin during this transition.
Blood Deficiency: The Hidden Root of Dry Skin, Hair Loss, & Fatigue
In TCM, Blood is one of the body’s essential substances. It works closely with Qi (energy) and plays a central role in physical strength, mental clarity, skin, emotional balance, and reproductive health.
Blood in TCM is about quality, circulation, and function, not just volume.
Blood also anchors the Shen (mind and spirit), promoting emotional stability, clear thinking, and restful sleep. In women especially, healthy Blood supports menstruation, fertility, and hormonal balance across all life stages.
Blood deficiency can look different from person to person. Common signs include:
Pale complexion or lips
Fatigue and weakness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Dry skin, hair, or eyes
Brittle nails or hair
Poor memory or concentration
Anxiety or restlessness
Difficulty falling asleep
Numbness or tingling in limbs
Scanty, delayed, or irregular periods
Fertility challenges
