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
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.
Boosting Immunity with Acupuncture
As autumn approaches, it's important to focus on strengthening our immune system to stay healthy during the colder months. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a unique perspective on immunity, viewing it through the lens of seasonal energetics and the Five Elements theory. One of the key elements associated with autumn is the Metal element, which governs the Lung and Large Intestine organs, both crucial for maintaining a strong immune defense
Why do i Feel so tired after acupuncture?
After an acupuncture session, your body begins the process of rebalancing Qi. This rebalancing can demand a lot of energy, particularly if your Qi was significantly blocked or deficient. As a result, you might feel fatigued. Your body is working hard to move and redistribute energy, which can temporarily leave you feeling tired or weighed down. Acupuncture often induces a deep state of relaxation, which can lead to feelings of sleepiness or heaviness as your nervous system shifts from a state of stress to one of rest and recovery. The fatigue is also a sign that your body is beginning to heal.
Acupuncture for Drug and Alcohol Addiction: A Path to Recovery
The NADA protocol is a standardized acupuncture treatment that involves the insertion of needles into five specific points on the ear. Developed in the 1970s by Dr. Michael Smith at Lincoln Hospital in New York, the NADA protocol was originally intended to treat opiate addiction. Over time, it has become widely adopted for treating various forms of addiction, including alcohol, nicotine, and even behavioral addictions.
Acupuncture for autoimmune disease
Acupuncture has been increasingly studied as a complementary treatment for autoimmune diseases, with research suggesting several potential benefits such as reduction of inflammation, improvement of pain, enhanced quality of life and immune system regulation.
Long COVID Symptoms & TCM
The lung and kidney are viewed as a paired organ system playing a crucial role in maintaining respiratory health. This concept is rooted in the theory that the lung governs the qi (vital energy) and respiration, while the kidney is responsible for grasping the qi and ensuring its smooth flow throughout the body. Acupuncture points are selected to treat shortness of breath, diminished lung function, fatigue and allergies.
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
