Happy New Year
I love a fresh start, but if you’ve been around here for a while, you also know I believe every moment is an opportunity for a fresh start — not just January 1st.
This year, I’ve been really honoring the energetic stillness of winter: hibernation, reflection, integration. I let go of the idea that I needed to send New Year’s greetings ASAP, do more, create something new right now. Because who is disappointed that their New Year’s well wishes arrived a little later? And I know I’m happier (and truly more productive) when I get to spring more well rested, with a better regulated nervous system. And I’ll be honest—my nervous system needs extra support right now. Our nervous systems are always listening and these are not easy, breezy times.
“I do not plan to start anew in January.
That is for Spring.
This is the night, in the dead of winter, where I pare back the excess to reach the bones of my life, so when I am reborn, it is as only my most essential nature.”
–David Gate, Slow Down. Winter Has Questions for you
A quick PSA: Lunar New Year isn’t until mid-February. That’s a better time for spring cleaning and creating newness.
So if you haven’t felt the momentum to jumpstart into 2026 yet, that’s totally ok. Give yourself some grace. You’re actually in tune with the season. Maybe you’re feeling stress and tension from the news, or trying to avoid it altogether. You could be still recovering from the holidays, travel, being sick, last year, tidying up end of year finances, preparing 2026 schedules. There’s nothing wrong with that. Join me in going easy right now. That’s often how real momentum builds.
If you’re ready to leave behind New Year’s resolutions that require sheer effort and discipline, and instead give your body more of what winter asks for (rest, reflection, restoration) we’ve got you. What I see every year is that when we don’t overdo it in winter, we’re far more ready to spring forward with ease.
Below you’ll find a simple experiment for more restful sleep, an invitation to let us help you rest more deeply the Chinese Medicine Way without feeling groggy, and a seasonal product highlight.
Insomnia & Restless Sleep During Hibernation Time?
Can I tell you what we’ve been hearing in the practice the past few weeks?“
I fall asleep fine. But then I’m wide awake at 2 am with my mind spinning.”
Different patients. Same story. Same exhausted look in their eyes. Are you dealing with this too?
This time of year—about 5 weeks after Winter Solstice—something shifts. The darkness starts to lift, and yet it’s still time to rest. But instead, we’re up at 2 am, staring at the ceiling, replaying everything we didn’t get done and everything still ahead.
Here’s what’s actually happening:
In Chinese Medicine, every organ has a time when it’s most active. Between 1-3am? That’s your liver’s time—and your liver needs rest.
But when it’s overworked—from stress, rich holiday food, extra drinks, too much on your plate, not enough time to just move freely through your day—it can’t rest. So it wakes you up.
Not to torture you. But because it’s overwhelmed.
Here’s the thing I wish everyone understood:
This isn’t a sleep problem. It’s a flow problem.
When your days are busy and your mind is noisy—with constant input and more stimulation than our systems evolved for—there isn’t enough space to listen and move through what’s happening. That stagnation shows up at 2 am as a racing mind.
We see this every winter. And we know how to help.
Acupuncture releases the places where you’re stuck. It restores flow so your liver (and your whole body) can actually rest at night. Most of our patients sleep better within 1-3 treatments. And with a series of treatments? We’re not just getting you through the week—we’re building the kind of deep resilience that supports restful sleep all winter long.
Chinese Herbal Medicine excels at supporting the kind of flow that allows for deep, restful sleep—and it’s one of the best values for your time and money. With one appointment, you receive a custom formula for a week based on your body and patterns, taken twice a day wherever you are. It’s potent medicine to support your ability to rest, without feeling groggy. We are all so busy that being able to treat yourself twice a day in the time it takes to drink a cup of water is an everyday miracle.
We’d love to help you sleep through the night again.
Let’s help your body remember what that feels like. Let’s get you back there.
Try this experiment tonight:
Go for a 10-minute walk. Even in the cold. Even in the dark. Just move. Your liver needs flow during the day so it can rest at night. It’s simple, but it works.
PS If going outside feels like too much, dance inside, stretch, or my easy go to—put on a 10 minute video of your favorite movement (pilates, yoga, functional strength). Just move.
PPS This Sunday I almost talked myself out of my bike ride. Then I remembered we live in California! We’re not stuck inside for a few days because of freezing rain like my family in North Carolina, so I can put on my layers and get on my bike. Yes, we really can.
What the darkness teaches us:
Winter reminds us that rest isn’t optional. In times like these, rest isn’t retreat — it’s resilience. Not only do we all deserve to feel as resilient as possible, the world needs balanced, resilient humans who are connected to what they’re truly moved to contribute.
The darkness isn’t something to push through with more coffee and willpower. It’s an invitation to go inward. To restore. To trust that the light will return.
Your body knows this. Let’s help it do what it’s trying to do.
Here’s your permission slip to come and receive some extra support this season. Yes, you deserve it. You can make an appointment at our online Online Booking System or get in touch.
Know someone else who’s exhausted from sleepless nights? Forward this to them. We’re here
to help.
Product Highlight
Virus-B-Gone! Stay Well, Recover Fast
2 Weeks ago, I think we set a record for most cancellations in 1 week because patients were sick—maybe an exaggeration, but maybe not. Patients often apologize when they cancel because they are sick with a cold, flu, or virus, but we mean it when we say Thank You! When we stay healthy, we can keep helping people.
If you’re sick and need to cancel, we offer herbs to help you get better faster, and avoid lingering symptoms. And if you’re sick and you don’t have an appointment, give us a call. Our front desk team will ask your symptoms, check with an acupuncturist, and let you know whether an over the counter type remedy is appropriate or if a telehealth consult would be better.
The most common formula we prescribe is our Virus-B-Gone powder, formulated by Christina from her personal search and years of helping patients. It’s perfect at the start of any cold, flu, or virus with symptoms like a sore throat, runny nose, congestion, cough, body aches, fever, or fatigue.
You can also keep it on hand and use it for prevention if you’ve been around sick people, start feeling run down, or want support right at the first hint of symptoms. It’s our secret to staying healthy.
If your virus turns into something more, or if you have a thing that always happens when you get sick (asthma, headaches, bronchitis, sinus infections) we can create a custom formula just for you.
You can pick up Virus-B-Gone and ask us any questions at your next appointment. Or swing on by to pick some up. If you’re coming in without an appointment, please call or email ahead with your ETA to make sure we’re available.
Here’s to embracing your inner Winter and recharging in a way that feeds your soul,
Christina and Team Thrive
