How “just stress” can show up almost anywhere in the body It is rare for someone to book their first acupuncture appointment simply because they want help with stress. Usually, they come in because their jaw hurts. Their digestion is off. They cannot sleep. Their headaches are back. Their period has changed. They cannot lose weight despite doing all the “right” things. Or their shoulders seem to be inching closer to their ears. Stress comes up almost as an afterthought: “Work

It feels very appropriate that it is July 30th, and I am only now sitting down to write this month’s blog. Summer has a way of doing that. Our days get longer, our calendars fill up, and our usual boundaries become a little more fluid. Dinner happens later. Bedtime gets pushed back. We travel, socialize, spend more time outside, and say yes to things we might not say yes to in February. Many patients have recently told me that they feel frustrated with themselves because they

The inspiration for this blog comes from a box on our new patient intake form. Among a long list of symptoms and concerns, there is one that simply says: "Lack of joy in life." It pains me how often that box gets checked. Not because there is anything wrong with the people checking it, but because it reflects something I think many of us are feeling right now. In my own life, and in conversations with patients, friends, and family, I've noticed that an extraordinary number of

We get a lot of compliments on the energy of our clinic space. Patients often say things like, “I instantly relax when I walk in.” Creating spaces that feel calming, grounded, and peaceful has always mattered deeply to me. As I’ve explained to many patients over the years, if I weren’t an acupuncturist, I think I would have become an interior designer. One of my absolute favorite things to do is rearrange furniture, decorate, redecorate, or furnish a space. I love taking a ro

I read somehing recently that made me pause: “It takes courage to be happy.” At first, that sounds a little strange. Isn’t happiness what we all want? So why does it feel… hard? Why is it so difficult to do the things we know are good for us? We know we feel better after a walk, after a yoga class, after slowing down for even a few minutes…Taking a few deep breaths before we eat.Hanging in a forward fold for 30 seconds. Stretching our neck and shoulders in the middle of a bu

When patients say things like: “I’ve been feeling better overall… but I can’t quite put my finger on why. I’ve been doing acupuncture, but I’ve also been stretching more, paying attention to my posture… I’m not sure what’s doing it.” I smile, because this is exactly the point. What makes the soup taste good? Is it the salt? The garlic? The broth? The vegetables?Or is it all of it—working together? Acupuncture Is Powerful… But It’s Not the Whole Soup At Basic Balance, I believ

Each February, Chinese New Year invites us into a new energetic chapter. Rather than following a simple calendar year, Chinese New Year is based on the lunar cycle and marks a shift in the overall energy of the year ahead. In this system, every year is guided by one of 12 zodiac animals —and paired with one of the Five Elements : Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. Think of the animal as the personality of the year, and the element as its tone . This framework has been use

Structure, Wu Wei, and the Practical Art of Vitality Think of Qi as a currency. The universe is full of it—we’re immersed in it all the time. We can access it, but often we’re unknowingly closed off to it, or spending it faster than we replenish it. In Chinese medicine, we gather Qi from food (Gu Qi), air (Kong Qi), and from our environment, relationships, and thoughts. But we also lose Qi—through tension, overthinking, emotional strain, poor boundaries, and constantly reacti

✨ Have You Heard of The Telepathy Tapes ? A couple of years ago, a patient told me about a podcast called The Telepathy Tapes. I remember thinking, I need to listen to that, and then… life happened, and it fell off my radar. Fast-forward to Thanksgiving this year: plenty of solo driving, plenty of time to listen — and I finally pressed play. Within minutes, I was completely hooked. Hours went by in the car, and I barely noticed the miles passing. The podcast follows non-sp

If you’ve been reading my recent blog posts, you know that mindset is, above all, one of the most powerful tools we have in the healing process . How we speak to ourselves, what we focus on, and the small internal shifts we choose each day can create more change than we often realize. November — with its quieter, reflective energy — is the perfect time to explore a practice that blends mindset, emotional wellness, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Gratitude. It’s also t

The Timing of Qi: Understanding the Horary Clock Timing and cycles are all around us — the moon, the menstrual cycle, the changing seasons. Nature moves in rhythms, and so do we. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the body’s vital energy, or Qi, moves through its own 24-hour rhythm called the Horary Clock . Every two hours, Qi concentrates in one of the twelve main organ systems, supporting that system’s functions at its peak time of day. When Qi is strong in one channel,

Ollie on the front steps of Basic Balance As the warmth of summer fades and autumn’s crisp air settles in, the world around us begins a...

What Does It Really Take to Stay Healthy? Recently, a patient asked me, “How do you stay so trim? You must exercise all the time.” I...

Part 1 of 2 A cozy corner in the Basic Balance waiting room When I named my clinic Basic Balance , I did it with a very intentional...

When new patients ask how many acupuncture sessions they’ll need or how to space them out, I often explain it in terms of neuroplasticity...

As the days lengthen and the earth stirs with life, we enter the vibrant energy of spring—a season that, in Traditional Chinese Medicine...

Common Misconceptions About Acupuncture Over the years, I've had countless conversations with people who express genuine curiosity about...

At Basic Balance Acupuncture, Tracy and I almost always incorporate 1-3 auricular (ear) acupuncture points into treatments. The ear is a...

After spending two weeks exploring the mountains of Peru and the depths of the Amazon, I can confidently say that my emergency medicine...

As the year comes to a close, we at Basic Balance Acupuncture extend our deepest gratitude to you, our cherished patients. Your trust and...