Welcome the season of Autumn! Fall until winter pertains to the Metal element Metal controls the organs of the Lungs & Large Intestine Metal Characteristics: Taste: Spicy/ Pungent Organs: Skin Emotion: Sadness or Grief Metal hates being dry Metal and Chinese Medicine: The functions of the lungs in Chinese medicine are to direct the body's energy downward. If the lungs are weak, Qi cannot descend. Pathologies from Lung Qi not descending can be the feeling of a tight chest, irr

An inside look at Jackie Parra L.Ac and how she came into a life of alternative medicine and using acupuncture.

How to make a traditional Chinese congee

How everyday posture is creating your pains

Overthinking keeping you awake? In Chinese Medicine the Spleen organ is responsible for pensiveness, and is directly affected by poor diet and over work. Pensiveness in the body knots the energy, making normal functions slow down. Signs that your Spleen is weak are: overthinking, craving sugar, weight gain, feeling heavy, muscle weakness, poor memory, difficulty falling asleep, menses pain or irregularity. TCM view of the Spleen In Chinese Medicine the Spleen has a big role i

ACUPUNCTURE THEORY: Acupuncture is a 3000 year old medicine based originally from China. The theory is based on the flow of energy through meridians which has mapped out through 12 channels of energy through the body. Each meridian corresponds to a different organ and has specific points selected for treatment. Some points open the chest, others calm the mind, some relax tendons or open the spine, but each point has it’s own use due to the location, channel it is on and the s

Gut Health: The gut is often thought of to digest food, churn it, and pass it out. But in Chinese Medicine it is thought that all disease can be started or should we say starts with the health of the digestive system... Here's Why: 80-90% of the immune system lives in the gut! This immune system is compose of billions of microbes and bacteria that fight off disease. The number one way to address a poor immune system and disease is to address gut health. When you hear the term

Fall and Winter time or the dreaded "flu season" brings cold weather along with all the stuffy noses and boxes of tissues. There is one easy trick you can use this season to prevent common colds and flu's. In Chinese Medicine the immune system is assisted by proper opening and closing of pores. You've heard the old "sweat it out" trick to try and kick the flu. But lets start with preventing it in the first place. Cold Fall and Winter air traps your pores shut, not allowing f

Winter time is full of snow, outdoor skiing, and chilly sleigh rides. Don't let this seasons cold get into your bones. Many spices have a warming nature, when added to your foods or drinks, they provide the body with warmth and energy to stay warm during the winter season. Try adding these to your daily meals such as oatmeal, teas, soups, meat roasts: black pepper, cardamon, clove cinnamon, coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, nutmeg, orange peel, onion, paprika, saffron, star a