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! Many of the ideas had been percolating in the back of my mind for a while, and reviewing the past year gave me a nice little push to get started. The new services I am offering starting November 1st are just some of those changes!

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!

COVID is really spreading right now in Iowa! I've talked one-on-one with people but haven't addressed it in newsletters, so I will take this opportunity to share what I always do to protect you when you're in the clinic, and share a few requests I have of you when you come into the clinic.

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.

One of my favorite parts about Spring is the rush of creative energy that seems to come along with it! After the quiet hibernation of winter, the rush of new energy and growth often makes us want to start new projects, start fresh, or try something new. It may not be surprising that In Chinese medicine, Spring and its associated organ, the Liver, is connected to creativity!

This post is a copy of the email I sent to let everyone know that Fireweed Acupuncture is changing the software used for booking appointments/classes and visit summaries for patients. Hopefully, the new software will make the patient experience much easier, including a better patient portal. (More details on the new features below!) This is a bit long but has important information on the software switch!

Conversations around privacy, especially in a healthcare setting, have come up often lately, and I wanted to share some of the thoughts and philosophy I have around it as a practitioner - and a journal entry here seemed like the easiest way. (It definitely isn’t a topic that I can boil down to an Instagram caption!) Some of this may seem like a bit of an odd topic, coming from an acupuncturist, but I hope the information is useful to you, and also gives you an idea of what I am thinking about while operating my practice!

A common sight in Iowa are Chiropractic offices that offer “chiropractic & acupuncture” - but this can be confusing to consumers! I often field questions from people asking what the differences and similarities are. So, continuing down the potentially controversial path, here is information that (I hope!) can help people sort out what they are looking for in their acupuncture practitioner.

I’ll say right up front - this is a hot issue in both acupuncture and physical therapy (providers who do dry needling) fields, with a lot of opinions on each side. But, as patients, what is important is to know the difference and how each can help you! So, my hope with this entry is to clear up some confusion and answer some common questions.

Many of us (including me!) like to start the new year off with resolutions, goals, or intentions. There’s something a little bit magical to me about milestones like a new year or a birthday - a chance to reflect and think of things you’d like to change going forward. While I don’t think there is a need to design an entirely new person every January 1st, I do think there is a lot of value in striving for changes we’d like to see in our lives! After all, life is about movement, and if there is no movement or change, we tend to stagnate - and stagnation in Chinese medicine is never a good sign. But, our goals and intentions can often quickly fall by the wayside.

Not knowing what to expect when seeing a new practitioner can be a big source of anxiety, especially if you’ve never gotten acupuncture before! This entry describes the process of your first appointment, from start to finish.