One of the more common questions people ask before starting acupuncture is, “How often do I need acupuncture?” This is a great question! It’s important to know what you’re signing up for, the be able to budget your time and money for your care, and to decide if you’re ready to start this new type of treatment.

Unfortunately, the short answer to this question is often unsatisfying: it depends. There are a lot of factors that contribute to the success of a treatment plan and a lot of variables that can impact the progress! So, let's dig a bit deeper into the question, and then I will give some general recommendations towards the end of the entry.⁠

Early spring often brings a confusing mix of allergies, colds, and just general “throat gunk” (aka postnatal drip). This entry introduces you to how Chinese medicine views colds, allergies, and the immune system, and gives you seven self-care practices to help keep you feeling well during the Spring transition!

In this January 2025 wrap-up post, I’m sharing what’s new in the clinic: new products in the apothecary, new books in the clinic library (and why I love them!), and some information on an updated form that goes into effect February 1, 2025.

This entry is full of ideas on different topics and styles you can try in your journaling practice. Don’t be afraid to mix and match - your journal is for you, and you can fill it however you’d like!

Journaling doesn’t have to be complicated! You can use your journal to reflect on your day, set and review goals, track your habits and how they work for you, or whatever else you may be thinking about. Over time, you’ll naturally gravitate towards writing about the things that interest you. Give the ideas in this entry a try!

Journaling is a great, accessible self-care practice that can help reduce stress, improve mental health (especially depression and anxiety), inspire creativity, improve memory, and more. Some studies even show certain types of journaling can help improve physical health. In this entry, I cover some of the most commonly asked questions about how to start journaling, from what supplies to use (and ideas for what fits your style) to how often to journal.

In this entry, I cover the basics behind insurance terminology and what’s needed to have coverage for acupuncture, the nitty-gritty information of insurance coverage step-by-step, the ways available to save a bit of money on your treatments at Fireweed Acupuncture, and go behind the scenes a bit to give you a glimpse of how this applies specifically to my practice, including how some of the math shakes out (or, in this case, doesn’t!).

Confession: I don’t really like New Year’s Resolutions. Or, more accurately, I don’t like how we usually do them! New Year’s resolutions often feel like just another opportunity to punish ourselves for the person we are in this moment. But I love setting intentions and goals for the year. This year, I’m sharing six ideas to consider when setting intentions to help you create better goals - any time of the year!

Every year around my birthday, I like to take a bit of time to think about the past year - what I liked, what I’d like to change - and think of a few goals for the new year. A few weeks ago, when I did this exercise, I came up with a lot of ideas for the clinic!

This entry covers all the new treatments and appointment types, as well as the price change I am making to one of my appointments. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!

In Chinese medicine, we often say the emotion for Summer is Joy. And, yes, it is. But, as with everything in Chinese medicine, it is not just a concept in isolation; it is joy in connection or in relation to something. Connection to people, to our environment, to nature, to our purpose. We may have a moment of joy when we notice a blooming flower, share laughter with someone, or taste something delicious. Joy is different than happiness: joy is often a fleeting or momentary reaction to something, whereas happiness is more of an emotion or mood. Learn more about the connections between Summer, Joy, and Chinese medicine in this entry!