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

It’s not so much WHAT you eat…

A number of years ago I took a nutrition class taught by a macrobiotic counselor. He told us a story about two women who were so excited about their results with macrobiotics that they gave gift certificates to their husbands, whom they were sure would feel so much better if they just ate better. These … Read more

Worrying, Studying, Sugar, and your “Spleen”

Somehow I’d expected acupuncture school to be a place where we learned healthy habits and practiced balance; but, dealing with the same time-and-money constraints as any other graduate school program, it looked more like this: Back to back classes. Late night studying. Constant testing (and I mean constant, several exams a week, many of them … Read more

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Acupuncture

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is an increasingly common digestive complaint. People with IBS suffer from abdominal pain, cramping or discomfort, along with diarrhea, constipation, or both. They may also experience a number of other gastrointestinal symptoms. People often feel worse when under physical or emotional stress, before or during the menstrual period, although sometimes … Read more

Late Summer, Humidity, and Digestion

The summer is flying by! In fact, in Chinese medicine land, it’s already a new season: Late Summer. In my estimation, Late Summer begins right around the time the 7-year-olds start practicing football in the field near my house. It’s an amazing thing, seeing these little kids fully decked out in football padding. Late Summer … Read more