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!

It may not be surprising that Spring is connected to creativity in Chinese medicine! After the quiet hibernation of winter, the rush of new energy and growth that Spring brings often makes us want to try new projects, start fresh, or try something new. In this entry, learn more about the connection between creativity, Spring, and Chinese medicine - with lots of ideas on ways to use that creative energy!

This post is a copy of my email to patients about the new software I’m rolling out for booking appointments/classes and patient visit summaries. Hopefully, the new software will make the patient experience much easier, including a better patient portal and an app! Check out the entry for more info on the software features.

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. 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!

I often field questions from people asking about the differences and similarities between acupuncture from a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) and a Chiropractor (DC). It’s common to see Chiropractic offices in Iowa advertising “chiropractic & acupuncture” - but this can be confusing to consumers! 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.

People always ask me what the difference between dry needling and acupuncture is! 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 so you can know how each can help you! So, my hope with this entry is to clear up some confusion and answer some common questions.

I don’t think there is a need to design an entirely new person every January 1st, but there is a lot of value in striving for changes we’d like to see in our lives! After all, life is about change and 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. This entry gives you 8 offbeat ideas to consider when setting goals for the new year - or any time of year!

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.

Not knowing what to expect for your appointments can be a big source of anxiety for people! This entry walks you through the step-by-step of what to do before your first appointment.