Conquering Your Sugar Cravings

My sister sent me a rum cake. She makes them every year; the recipe, I believe, involves super-moist cake mix, vanilla pudding mix, and a lot of butter and rum poured over the top. It’s loaded with everything a self-respecting acupuncturist would avoid putting in her body. It’s obscenely delicious. And, in the name of … Read more

Late Summer: Harvest, Abundance, and Nurturing

It’s hard to believe it’s already the end of September! If you aren’t quite ready for it to be fall, have no fear: there’s a fifth season in Chinese medicine, late summer, that gives us a little buffer zone. “Late summer” roughly corresponds to harvest season: it’s the time of year when things are cooling … Read more

Smoothing the Winter ~ Spring Transition

Happy Spring, and Happy Daylight Savings Time! Turning the clocks ahead is one of the best events of the year, in my book — I just love the longer, lighter evenings and the promise that spring really is coming. In that erratic, New England way, but it’s coming. As I write this, it’s April 1, … Read more

Get Ahead of Your Allergies

Anyone who has seasonal allergies knows: if spring is coming, so is pollen season. If you’re looking for an alternative this year to the usual round of antihistamines, inhalers, and other drug therapies, Chinese medicine is a very effective way to get allergy relief. And right now — before allergy season really kicks in — … Read more

Dealing with the Darker Months: Wisdom from Chinese Medicine

When I was in college, I did a 6-month off-campus study program in India. Being so far south, the hot season was can’t-move hot, and during the “cold” season you might need a light sweater in the evening. Living near the equator also meant that the length of the days didn’t change much at all … Read more

Holiday Prescription

Here we are, smack in the middle of the holiday season. It’s still hard for me to register 50 degrees as a December day, but as I’m writing this it’s 4:15 and the sun has already gone down, so it must be true. In just a week the days start getting longer again, and we’re … Read more

Keeping Cool in Summer

Summer heat can feel great; or, sometimes it can be a bit much. If you’re feeling cranky, exhausted, lethargic, yucky-all-over, or just plain too hot these days, you’re not the only one! Try these suggestions for keeping you happy, healthy, and cool when it’s hot and muggy outside: 1. Check out the list of cooling … Read more