Blog

The pre-summer vibes have started.  Picnics, BBQs, kids are almost out of school, pool parties, planning for travel…it’s common for people to be more social and have more fun plans as we start to feel the pre-summer vibes.  Several patients have asked me lately what I recommend to stay healthy for their trip that they’ve been looking forward to, the upcoming girls weekend, or the busy weekend with lots of fun plans.

I get it. I struggled with my immune system from age 11-25 and I had to be careful about doing too much and being too social because I got sick a lot and it was a big Bummer with a capital B!  I know what it’s like to get sick right before an event that I’ve been looking forward to–Bummer.  Or to go on vacation and the moment I relax I get sick–Bummer.  Or to come home feeling rejuvenated from an adventure and then get sick and all that it takes to try and get better and not fall even more behind on life–Bummer.  In order to try to manage not getting sick at an inconvenient time I tried not to get run down or be around too many people–in other words I held back on all the fun I wanted to have so it wouldn’t ruin my fun.

I turned that all around with Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and some other good natural self care tools and now I don’t worry about getting sick.  I love sharing this with patients so they can get sick less often and have more fun! 

Here’s a review from a patient who had 2 young kids and was always getting sick when we started working together.  I love that she says that she now knows what to do to stay healthy and that makes her life more enjoyable.  I get super excited when patients realize this kind of freedom–self care can be easy and fun!  

In recent years more and more people have been interested in not getting sick and it’s come up a lot in the office lately.  My advice hasn’t changed that much in recent years because humans fighting off viruses is not new.  But we do have a lot more information about what is working and how because people have been looking at this more closely since the pandemic.

So here’s my top 4 tips for not getting sick and having more fun:

1. Boost Your Vitamin D Ahead Of Time

The quick advice is take 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily.

For those that want more details: There was a legit study in Israel during the pandemic that showed that people that had higher levels of Vitamin D when they got sick had a dramatically reduced occurrence of significant illness.  In recent years advice about Vitamin D has changed based on updated information like this.  The current recomended target for optimizing your immune system is a blood level of 50-60 ng/ml.  You can get your numbers from a blood test and supplement accordingly.  But the good news is that current information shows that we don’t need to be as careful as they used to think about taking too much Vitamin D–you’d have to super-mega-overdose for a long time to experience any negative side effects.

And don’t assume that you get enough sun to make enough Vitamin D just because we live in CA.  This far North you’d need to have frequent full body sun exposure for at least 20 minutes in order to make enough Vitamin D to get your blood up to the optimal level.

On average the supplement dosage to achieve the optimal target range in your blood is between 5,000-10,000 IU/Day of Vitamin D3.  I’ll be honest that until the past 5 years I wasn’t consistent with taking Vitamin D and I didn’t get consistent results.  I used it more as a super dose when I got sick and I wasn’t sure if it helped.  But once I started taking it daily I get sick less often and if I start to feel like I am run down or fighting something off it’s easy to kick it quickly with the below support.

2. Nasal Spray–Xlear

The quick advice is use Xlear after you’ve been extra social or traveling to stop those viruses in their tracks. 

For those that want more details:  Xlear did a study during the pandemic that showed that using it helps people not get sick from respiratory viruses after exposure.  They weren’t allowed to share it because things were weird.

Xlear has xyletol and grapefruit seed extract in a metered pump that gets a fine mist far into your upper respiratory system.  The xyletol opens up the biofilm to allow whatever is stuck in there to wash out and soothes the membranes.  The grapefruit extract is antiviral and antimicrobial.  A lot of people use Xlear during allergy season after exposure to allergens and it works just as well after exposure to viruses.  It also helps to make your upper respiratory system a better first line of defense when used regularly.

With my history of sinus issues I use Xlear morning and night pretty much year round–2 sprays each nostril, wait a bit, then blow your nose to clean it out.  And I use it a couple more times a day if there’s something going around, I’m feeling run down, or if I just want to stay healthy.  Yup even 15 years ago you could have seen me using this on the plane b/c my sinuses would get so uncomfortably dry when flying .

If you’re motivated to stay healthy for a trip for example, I recommend you start using it twice a day the week leading up to the trip.  You can also simply use it or increase it if you’re run down, around more people, on the plane, or if someone you are traveling with gets sick.

3. Throat Spray–Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis Immune Support 

The quick advice is to use the throat spray similarly to the nasal spray–after you’ve been extra social or traveling to stop those viruses in their tracks because viruses like to hang out in the nose and throat.

For those that want more details: There have been some recent studies showing that just as the nasal spray stops viruses that have entered your nose and sinuses, propolis throat spray stops viruses that have entered your throat.  Propolis is antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory so it also helps your throat be a better first line of defense.

My throat gets run down easily from talking a lot so I use this morning and night–1 spray on the left and 1 on the right of the back of the mouth into the throat.  I use it extra anytime my throat feels run down which is a lot since I talk to people all day long.

Similarly to the nose spray I advise people to use it morning and night if your motivated to stay healthy.  Or simply use it or use it more if you’re run down, around more people, people around you are sick, or your throat is tired from talking, presenting, or singing.  

4. Antiviral Chinese Herbs

The quick advice is have some Antiviral Chinese Herbs on hand to take if you’ve been extra social or traveling.  We have pills (easy) and powders (stronger and coat your throat). 

For those that want more details:  Chinese Herbal Medicine has been used for thousands of years to treat viruses from every day colds to pandemics.  Because the herbs help humans fight viruses, classic formulas work on modern viruses.  During the pandemic I took a class from the owner of our main supplier of Chinese herbs–John Chen, Pharm.D., Ph.D., O.M.D., L.Ac.  He’s a pharmacist and herbalist from Taiwan and he had information on what the hospitals in China were using to treat patients and what the staff was taking to prevent getting sick.  I diligently took notes for 4 hours.  At the end he summarized “For prevention use “this kind of formula” and add this.  At the first stage of disease use “this kind of formula” and add this.”  I laughed at all my notes because this was what I had been doing for years for me and my patients for any cold, flu, or virus. 

As someone who had a history of getting sick a lot and treating a lot of patient like me, I have always believed that the herbs work best if you have them on hand so you can start them ASAP.  Before the pandemic some US Chinese herbal medicine practitioners thought this was a bad idea.  I think they were not confident or scared and hadn’t experienced it themselves.  I’m actually not quite sure because in China everyone has antiviral herbs at home and they sell them over the counter like we buy cold meds.  Fast forward to today, and all the US Chinese Herbalists are on board with a have-some-antiviral-herbs-on-hand approach.

We have a pill or a powder (my custom formula that I have been using for years, updated with what I learned in the class at the start of the pandemic) that anyone can get to have on hand.  For some patients I make a custom formula if they have a thing they are more prone to and we want to dial in the herbs for them.  I am prone to ear issues so I add herbs to treat them to my formula.

I take Chinese Antiviral herbs at a low dose for prevention if there is something going around, I have something coming up I want to stay healthy for, or I’m extra social.  I increase the dose to a pretty big dose if I start to feel run down.  I always have some handy in my travel bag, at work, etc.

Staying Healthy Is FunMy husband is now one of those people that barely gets sick and knows that self care can be easy and fun.  During the very start of the pandemic I set him up with a simple don’t get sick routine.  He doesn’t like feeling like he has to take things (even if they are just herbs or Vitamin D) but after a while of him not getting sick he said “I didn’t want to keep taking those things, but I can’t stop–because I just don’t get sick.”

If you want a testimonial from someone other than my husband (OK but let’s be real family is the hardest to treat) here’s a quote from a patient:

If you are looking forward to some more social fun, or have a trip coming up, and want to have some simple supplies on hand to stay healthy you can pick them up at your next appointment.  If you don’t have an appointment you’ll want to reach out ahead of time so I can ask some simple questions to get you the right antiviral herbs for you, and then we’ll set up a pickup time.

You can also check out our longer list of recommendations we’ve been sharing for the past 5 years called “The Golden Window For Treating Viruses”:   https://thrive-acupuncture.com/the-golden-window-for-treating-viruses/.

If you have a more complicated struggle with your immune system or want to get truly customized full support, schedule an appointment through our online booking system or get in touch via phone or email.  Even if your health feels complicated I know we can support you so that you can get to the point that self care is easy and you can have more fun.

Price Update For July 1

In order to continue providing the best care possible, starting July 1 our prices will be:

Follow up Acupuncture Treatment (time of service/non-insurance rate):

• $120 Per Treatment

-OR-

• Packages that work out to be $100 per treatment:
  • $600 for 6 Treatments (Buy 5, get 1 Free)
  • $1200 for 12 Treatments (Buy 10, get 2 Free)

Packages never expire so you can buy one before July 1.  Let us know next time you are in or reach out by email or phone and we’ll be glad to help you.

No Change For the Missed Appointment Fee: $75 for cancelling less than 24 hour before a follow up appointment or less than 48 hours before an initial appointment.  We do not charge the missed appointment fee if you are sick/contagious, but we appreciate an early heads up.

We appreciate your commitment to your health and wellbeing and we’re honored to share the journey with you.  Thank you for being the best patients around!

Product Highlight

Each box of Nature’s Poison ivy Relief contains dried leaves from the sweet fern plant which grows near poison ivy.  Poison ivy is on the east coast and poison oak is on the west coast, but they have the same oil that causes the rash.  It’s a common truth in herbal medicine that the remedy grows near the problem, so someone along the way discovered that sweet fern treats poison oak/ivy rash.  You brew the dried sweet fern leaves into a tea, store it in the fridge, and then apply it topically to the rash.  If you’re a mountain biker, like me, or nature lover who gets frequent poison oak exposure, you can keep it in the fridge for 6 months to have on hand.

I had been hearing colleagues rave about it so my expectations were high, but I was still really excited when patients told me how well it worked to stop the itching instantly and help clear up the rash.  Here’s what one patient said:

Since we’re mountain bikers in my house we have a box at the ready so we can brew it up and start treating it asap.  Let us know if you want a box to have on hand and we’ll make sure we have one for you at your next appointment or arrange a time for you to swing by and pick it up. 

I’ve unintentionally become a poison oak treating expert for those that can’t or don’t want to take prednisone.  For bigger cases I treat poison oak with acupuncture, herbs that you drink, and supplements.  3 years ago I updated the foundation of the formula with info from a dermatology herbal mentor and started getting even faster results.

And then a year and a half ago I got an allover histamine reaction while I had poison oak that made me itch all over.  That was way worse than the poison oak.  I can’t take prednisone because I don’t sleep AT ALL when I’m on it and Benadryl didn’t touch it.  It was so much worse than the poison oak that I woke up in the middle of the night and started crying.  I reached out to another herbal mentor because I was not thinking clearly enough to be able to treat myself.  His herbal prescription worked so fast.  In less than an hour the all over itch had calmed down.

Well this year I got the all over histamine reaction before the poison oak actually broke out.  (I’m not a fan of my new pattern, but once again I’m always learning and doing product research )  The herbs worked great again.  I’ve talked to few people in the past year and a half that also get this all over histamine over reaction when they get poison oak.

So if you know you’re prone to a histamine over reaction I can help you have herbs on hand for that or if your poison oak goes haywire, make an appointment through our online booking system or get in touch via phone or email because I’d love to help you.

Are You Feeling the Spring Fever Positive Vibes?

It feels like Spring just started in Sonoma County even though technically we only have about another month (summer starts on June 20 in the northern hemisphere).  I know that Spring in Sonoma county IS warm…then cold, then warm…and then cold AGAIN, which can make the transition feel a bit rocky.  Plus in our busy world we often don’t take the time to hibernate in winter as well as nature does.  So around this time each year patients start coming in feeling frustrated, irritable, or in a low mood wondering why they aren’t feeling the Spring fever positive vibes.

Spring is Liver season in Chinese medicine—the time to refresh, restore, and get energy moving again after winter’s deep rest. The Liver governs smooth Qi flow, blood circulation, and detoxification; supports healthy tendons and ligaments; and is in charge of the smooth flow of emotions, creativity, and fresh thinking!

Here’s my top 3 tips to get the Spring back in your step by supporting the Liver to nourish blood, improve circulation, help the body clear out what it no longer needs, and keep emotions flowing:

1. Eat Foods That Support The Liver: leafy greens, beets, sour foods (lemons, sauerkraut, fermented pickles), pungent foods (garlic, green onions), turmeric, and berries.  Start your morning with warm lemon water.  Eat a big leafy green salad with beets and dressing with garlic and green onions.  Enjoy a cup of turmeric tea–my favorite is Tulsi brand Turmeric Ginger tea.  Snack on berries–have you been to one of the local strawberry stands yet?  Add sauerkraut and pickles as a side to the whatever you grilled on the BBQ.
2. Move More (It’s Ok To Start Gently):  It’s time to stretch, walk, breath in fresh air.  Stretching in the morning as you start your day to wake up your body can help you check in with your body and notice where you are holding tension and let it go.  A walk after dinner sounds refreshing as the light lasts longer.  Dancing, often in the kitchen, is one of my favorite ways to keep my energy and emotions from getting stuck.
3. Cultivate Compassion–Start With Yourself First:  In Chinese medicine, the Liver is deeply connected to emotional flow. When the Liver is healthy, we feel flexible, adaptable, and able to move through challenges with ease. When it’s stagnant, we can get frustrated, impatient, or overly critical of ourselves.  Self-Kindness is the antidote to this kind of stagnation.  Breaking the pattern of being hard on yourself will soften tension, reduce stress and inflammation, and open the door for fresh thinking and change.  Giving yourself a little grace isn’t just enjoyable, it also allows space for insight and real change.

Spring is a season of renewal, movement, and flow and in Chinese medicine it’s a great time to support the Liver, clear out stagnation, and embrace fresh energy.  There are so many ways to do this so what is the most important one?  Keep it simple.  Commit to one thing.  And do it consistently.  Self care doesn’t have to be complicated to work.  Small, steady actions create the biggest shifts.  Simple is powerful.  You don’t need a massive detox, a brand-new workout routine, or a complicated plan.  Just commit to doing one thing every day to help your Liver keep things flowing and let that be enough.

We’d love to help you get the Spring back in your step!  If you want support with the transition to Spring–especially if you wake up dragging and wondering when you’re going to start feeling the Spring fever positive vibes–schedule an appointment through our online booking system or get in touch via phone or email.  Acupuncture is the fastest deepest way I know to regulate the nervous system and get us back into the flow.  And I’ll be honest that our modern lifestyle is so hard on the Liver that at least 50% of the custom formulas I prescribe have herbs to support the Liver and all it does for us!

Welcome Our New Office Manager Darien

Please welcome our new Office Manager, Darien Gostas, to the Thrive Acupuncture and Wellness team! I am very excited to have him join us because he comes to us with a wealth of valuable management and care experience gained from his years working in memory care facilities for the elderly.

Darien says he’s excited about transitioning to a different facet of healthcare and is eager to apply his skills, which include team leadership and management at a Director level, within our practice. Those who have already met Darien have said they appreciate his warm and welcoming demeanor. He also brings a keen focus on streamlining processes to enhance our behind-the-scenes operations. In addition to his professional skills, Darien is known for his creativity and a great sense of humor, which are already contributed positively to the qi in our office!

Please give him a warm welcome and introduce yourself the next time you’re in the office.

What We’re Treating In The Clinic

Allergies–they are a little late and extra windy this year!

While May is the height of allergy season for a lot of people in SOCO, it’s hitting a little bit later this year and symptoms are a little confusing. This is because on top of the usual pollen, this year we also have a lot of wind. In Chinese Medicine we call this wind invasion and it can make symptoms travel, go deeper, cause more pain and stiffness, amp up the drippiness, effect the skin, or make us feel hot and bothered. So you’ve been having a lingering thing and you can’t figure out why (cough, eye irritation, skin sensitivity, headache, etc) consider that it might be allergies. 

I’ve always had a special interest in treating allergies. I found Chinese Medicine because of my chronic sinus issues and poor immune system. With a lifetime of curiosity and over 18 years of treating them as an acupuncturist and herbalist, I can say I’m ready to help even the weird allergies!

I practice a style of acupuncture that is renowned for quick relief for allergy symptoms. The best time to treat allergies for prevention is 3 months before they start. But let’s be honest–most patients come in when their symptoms are at their worst so I’m used to starting the treatment from that place. And by quick relief I mean that patients normally feel relief on the table as soon as some of the points are placed. I love it when I come back after a patient’s 30 minutes acu nap and they tell me they can feel their sinuses, throat, and lungs opened up.

I highly recommend Chinese Herbal Medicine for treating allergies right now since we are in peak allergy season.  After one apt you get a weeks worth of a potent custom formula that you take twice a day for symptom relief and to stop your body’s immune system from overreacting. It’s the best use of your time and money when you consider what it would take to get acupuncture twice a day. Sometimes I treat allergies with just herbal medicine, it’s that effective.

We also recommend xlear nasal spray. We carry it in the clinic but you can pick it up just about anywhere they have a pharmacy section. 2 Sprays in the nostrils, wait a bit, then blow your nose. It cleans things out, soothes the membranes, and helps make your nose a better first line of defense against pollens.

If you want support treating your allergies, make an appointment through our online booking site or get in touch. We’d love to help you get through the rest of allergy season so you can enjoy Spring!

Here’s to Happy Spring and Soothing Liver Vibes!
Christina and Team Thrive

P.S. Please share this with anyone you think could benefit from any of this info.

Happy Lunar New Year!

How is 2025 going for you? Have you made time for rest and reflection or are you just trying to get through? Do you already wish you had a do-over for your New Year’s fresh start? If so, you’re in luck. Not only is every moment a chance for a new beginning, January 29 is the start of the Lunar New Year. Because it starts with the second new moon after Winter Solstice, it begins on a different date every year between January 21 and February 20.

And the Lunar New Year kicks off the 15 day celebration of the new year called Spring Festival. You can think of Spring Festival as Christmas, New Years, and Spring Cleaning all rolled into one. It’s a time of celebration, visiting family and friends, gift giving, and preparing for the next year with personal reflection and letting go.  While the celebrations start on January 29 this year, the Wood Snake officially emerges on February 3.

It’s not part of the Lunar New Year traditions to make resolutions, but instead Chinese astrology encourages reflection. Chinese astrology has a lot of symbolism and is used to explore your inner nature and unconscious instincts. It’s often used to help reflect on how to navigate your inner life and relationships.

Year of the Wood Snake

The Chinese zodiac has 12 years in its cycle, each one represented by an animal, which interacts with the cycle of the 5 elements. 2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, the sixth animal in the cycle

Astrologers say that people born in the Year of the Snake are creative and have a unique balance of intellect and intuition which makes them great strategists.  Snakes are known for being tenacious and attaining what they want, but their real power doesn’t come from working diligently, instead it comes from having patience and instincts to easily know when to strike.  Snakes are known for quietly illuminating spiritual paths and fostering deep emotional understanding.  Snakes often enjoy engaging in a mix of both inward spiritual exploration and striving for outwards success.  The snake sheds its skin of the past and has the ability to both shed old belief systems that are no longer serving them and pare down material goods that are causing feelings of chaos and stress.

In Chinse astrology, Wood Snake energy is said to be fiery in nature but that is balanced out with compassion which transforms anger, irritation, and aggression.  Last year it may have felt like you went on a wild ride as Dragon energy is impulsive.  In order to ride the snake energy smoothly it’s helpful to bring mindfulness, warmth, and connection to interactions with others.  Some snakes have venom but adults don’t release it until they are seriously threatened.  They know to give warning with a dry non-venomous bite first.  Snakes can get caught up in hunger for more and seeking thrills but they get back in balance by remembering to pace themselves, cultivate enjoyment and the appreciation of elegance and art. 
 

Commit to Creating the Experience You Want to Have

Those that celebrate Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival do not traditionally make New Year’s Resolutions, however they do celebrate the transition from winter to spring. It is a good time to reflect and plant the “new idea seeds” that will sprout in spring. You can start by asking yourself: How do I make time and space to bring out my best sense of reflection? What is the new direction and experience I want to have?

If you’re having trouble, maybe it’s time to take a lesson from the Snake. If you want to avoid the out of balance fiery aggressive snake energy, make sure to start with some compassion for yourself (no shame, no blame) and see what old beliefs you can shed that aren’t serving you.  Snakes know how to pace themselves, when to coil up, turn inward and listen to their intuitive instincts, and then when to move forward with a smart plan that allows for transformation and growth.

Ask yourself how can I combine both enjoyment and achievement.  Can I listen to both intuition and intellect? What inward reflection brings about compassion and the healthy expression of emotions?  How can I cultivate true curiosity and creativity?  What action can I take to clean things out and allow room for flexibility so I can achieve my goals with the greatest good for all in mind?

Get Some SupportIf your intentions in 2025 include improving your health and well-being so you can accomplish your goals while enjoying the journey, get in touch to schedule an appointment for acupuncture and herbal medicine that supports pain relief, stress reduction, immune boosting, or finally tackling that health issue that’s holding you back. You can book online or reach out by phone or email.

What We’re Treating In The Clinic

The number one thing we treat in the clinic is back pain.  It’s partially because in the US acupuncture is well known for treating back and it’s partially because we’re good at it—with the style of acupuncture we do most people get relief as soon as the treatment starts.  And when I say we’re good at it it’s not my ego.  I was lucky to be exposed to this style of acupuncture that gets quick relief for pain when I was in school and committed to studying it deeply.  I even just did some more continuing education on it this month!

Back pain often flares up during the colder months, whether from old injuries that don’t like the cold, from sitting too much, eating more sugar, or the busy holiday cooking, wrapping, and family time activities. Acupuncture helps ease back tension, improve flexibility, and support long-term healing.  

We also have several truly effective topical herbal liniments, balms, creams, and patches.  Or we can mix you up a custom herbal formula to treat joint pain and help prevent it from flaring up again.

By improving circulation and calming muscle tension, acupuncture and herbal remedies relieve pain naturally, helping you feel stronger and more supported. Many patients notice symptom relief at the start of the first treatment and overall reduced stiffness and better mobility after just a few treatments.

Types of back pain we commonly help with:

• Sciatica (pain radiating down the leg)
• Lower back stiffness or chronic pain
• Muscle spasms or tension in the back
• Herniated or bulging discs (non-surgical relief)
• Postural pain from long hours sitting or working

If you want support so you can enjoy life again, without your back calling all the shots you can make an appointment at our online Online Booking System or get in touch.  

New Product In House

We’re excited that we’re carrying a new product in house.  It’s our favorite super effective digestive enzymes.  We had them available through our online dispensary, but when you need them to get your digestion back on track you, you need them now.  We decided to make it easier on patients because telling them to pick something up in the meantime until they could get the good stuff was a bummer.  Plus the stuff they got for “in the meantime” wasn’t nearly as effective.

I often recommend digestive enzymes for a variety of reasons including:

• sluggish digestion
• bloating
• gas
• acid reflux
• slow recovery from a stomach bug
• post viral lingering digestion blahs
• the occasional overindulgence
• difficulty digesting fats
• a flare up of bad breath
• post gallbladder removal

If you’re curious if you could benefit from digestive enzymes and how you should take them, ask us at your next appointment.

Gong Xi Fa Cai! (Happy New Year)!
Christina and Team Thrive

Happy New Year

I’m not a big new year’s resolution kind of person—at least not the kind of resolutions that call for making dramatic changes to strive to be better in ALL-THE-WAYS.  Every moment is an opportunity for fresh thinking and insights, and that’s where real change comes from, not the turning of a calendar. 

So instead, I enjoy the new year greetings as a reminder that a fresh start is available at any moment.  And I embrace the kind of reflection that happens naturally around the start of the year.

If you picture living in harmony with the seasons, here in the northern hemisphere the season of the new year is midwinter which feels more like the time for rest, stillness, presence, and inward reflection, not making grand resolutions, future planning, or major goal setting. Everything is organically a little more contracted so it’s not time to go crazy with exploding out into the world.  It’s ok to be cozy, take some time to reflect, and say no to the requests that don’t feel nourishing to you.

In support of wintertime reflection, and because it feels like a lot of us are still in that space at the end of year transition where we don’t know what day of the week it is and it would be nice to use that time for reflection, I’m sharing with you the gifts of the 12 Officials of Chinese Medicine.  

The Gifts of the 12 Officials of Chinese Medicine

The 12 Officials is how Chinese Medicine refers to the 12 organ systems and the functions they oversee in our bodies.  Each organ system does so much to keep getting our body back into harmony ,over and over.  It’s an everyday miracle that our body is always doing self healing and rebalancing every time we breath in air, drink water, eat food, stand up, sit down. 

According to Chinese Medicine each of the 12 Officials supports both our physical and mental/emotional wellbeing.  Here’s some reflections on the gift of each organ system.  Read them all now and see what percolates up for you.  Or read one each over the next 12 days and appreciate each system and all it is doing for you. 

1.The Gift of the Lungs 💨

The gift of the lungs is breath and inspiration. Moment by moment, our lungs offer us the gift of life, with breathing, with the rhythm of inhaling and exhaling. Expanding and contracting. Taking in fresh air, oxygen, and getting rid of the stale–carbon dioxide. Each breath is a tiny cycle of life, and breath can be used to re-set one’s nervous system–immediately. Anywhere.

Take this gift of a nervous system reset from the lungs: put your hands on your lower abdomen, and inhale deeply, feeling your belly rise. Then exhale, feeling your belly fall back in. Inhale, exhale. Count each inhale and each exhale, to ten. There, you’ve just had a breath massage, a breath time-in, time out, a replenishment to your perspective and patience. Thank you, lungs, for this sweet breath.

2. The Gift of the Large Intestine 💩

The gift of the Large Intestine is in Letting Go. As in, Letting That Shit Go. Literally and Figuratively. What have you been carrying around that no longer serves the person you know you are, the person you want to be, the person you respect and admire? Is it material possessions that could be put to use by someone in need? Is it a long held assumption that could use some re-examination? Is it a story you’ve gotten used to telling yourself? Is it a health problem you’ve just “learned to live with”?

Feeling constipated about it all? Take some breaths, honor that there’s been some holding on that isn’t serving you, and consciously, and lovingly, ease up. Let go. There will be flow. With one tiny intention, release will make its way.

3. The Gift of the Urinary Bladder 💧

The gift of the Urinary Bladder is in Regulating. The bladder holds urine, and knows when to release it. The Urinary bladder acupuncture channel is the longest channel of all, and it is used to regulate the immune system, to help regulate the nervous system, and points along this channel can balance all of the internal organ systems.

Where in your life could you use more regulation? Where do you need to hold back a little, and where could you assert yourself more? If you’re not sure, try this urinary-bladder exercise: stand with your legs wide apart, and lean forward so that you’re comfortably stretching your hamstrings and the muscles along your spine. Feel that sense of aaaaahhhhhhh…That’s your urinary bladder channel relaxing a little.

By stretching the back of your body, you make a little more space. Space for regulation. Space for knowing when to wait and when to go. It doesn’t take long, and your whole back will thank you for it! TLDR: hang forward and relax. You’re welcome!

4. The Gift of the Kidneys 😴

The gift of the kidneys is resourceful-ness, will, motivation and power. The kidneys teach us that power is gathered not by aggression, but by a balance of rest and thoughtful action. That rest and replenishment fuel the resources for will and motivation. That too much doing and action will drain our kidneys and adrenals.

Sleep is medicine for the kidneys. Can you give yourself a little more sleep during this dark time of the year? Can you unplug for 15 minutes, and tend to your kidneys, tend to your will and motivation by NOT doing one. More. thing.? Rest fuels the power of the kidneys. This season, when in doubt, take the nap. Your kidneys will thank you for it–all year long.

 5. The Gift of the Pericardium 💟

The gift of the pericardium is in emotional boundaries. In Chinese Medicine, we call the Pericardium the heart-protector. This doesn’t mean we need to cut people out or off from our lives. But it does mean that we can practice Compassionate Detachment. I like the phrase, “you don’t go to the hardware store for a loaf of bread.” It means, stop asking for things from others that they are not capable of giving.

This knowing is the gift of the pericardium: “I can love you, but I don’t have to participate in dynamics that don’t feel good to me. ” Compassionate detachment or healthy attachment.

 6. Gift of the Liver 💖

The gift of the liver is Compassion. Compassion for anyone begins with compassion for oneself. Can you practice “Gentle, gentle, my precious human” with yourself? Can you walk around treating yourself like a six month old, a three year old, a thirteen year old? Can you give yourself the kind of kindness you’ve been craving your entire life?

Can you gently hold the precious being that is YOU, with love and understanding? If you can, the gift of your self-compassion with radiate out to all you encounter. Let the softness of loving-kindness begin with you.

7. The Gift of the Gall Bladder 🤔

The gift of the gall bladder is clear decision making. Physically, the job of the gallbladder is to squirt bile out to break down fats. It breaks down rich things into absorb-able nutrients. Decisions do the same. Big decisions start with tiny decisions. When faced with the freeze of indecision, the thing to do is to simply rest, let go of NEEDING to decide right now. Soften, let go. The decision will arise from that moment of rest. As a matter of fact, your body will likely reveal to you what the best decision is.

Listen to your shoulders (part of the gall bladder acupuncture channel!)–when they drop, and you feel ease–that’s the decision that your body tells you is the right one. The one that sits right in your gut, sits right in your shoulders, sits right in your heart. Next?

 8. The Gift of the Triple Warmer 🔥

The gift of the Triple Warmer (an organ system that represents all of the interstitial spaces in the digestive system and the whole body, in Chinese Medicine), is the gift of interconnectedness. You can use your mood as a test case. Feeling optimistic, joyful, and delighted? Watch that mood spread like a bowlful of holiday cheer! Feeling down, cranky and like a killjoy? Watch that mood damper spirits faster than a wet blanket.

You can design your mood any time you like. Choose a word that is big enough to meet ANY situation that comes your way in a day. I like to use the words “ease” and “flow” a lot. Lots of disruptions, unexpected things happening? No problem, you’ve chosen to live in flow. Your living in “flow” sets an example, or possibility, for others to do the same. See, we are all interconnected beings. How do you want to do that? With intention or by happenstance? You know which one will feel better…

 9. The Gift of the Small Intestine 🍲

The gift of the Small Intestine is discernment. In Chinese Medicine, the Small Intestine is in charge of extracting nutrients from your food, or as we call it “sorting the turbid from the clear” Where in your life could you use some more discernment?

What is nourishing to you these days, and what could be better left sent on it’s way? What does your body need to feel nourished? This can be extended into any area of your life–the food you eat, the company you keep, the work you do, the words you say. What is nourishing and what is not? Receive the gift of the small intestine to sort it all out for you.

10.The Gift of the Heart 😍

The gift of the heart is love, joy and connection. And open heart is a gift in and of itself. What keeps your heart open? Is it talking with loved ones? Connecting to nature? Listening to music?

If it’s hard to think of something that opens your heart, take a moment and put your hand over your heart. Close your eyes, and imagine your heart filling with beautiful golden light. Smile into your heart, breathing in clear, red light, and exhaling anything that doesn’t belong there-any bitterness or hatred. Inhale love, exhale bitterness. Inhale clear red light and smile into that amazing pump. Exhale any stale, gray, old energy out and release it into the earth. Do this 9 times. 9 inhales, 9 exhales. There, you’ve just done a round of healing heart qi gong.

You can also smile into your heart and forgive anyone who has hurt your heart. Smile love and forgiveness their direction, not for their sake, but for yours. More heart healing. There, isn’t that feeling better already?

 11. The Gift of the Spleen 🌎

The gift of the spleen is nurturing and grounding. What does nurturing look like to you? It’s not a one size fits all thing–it’s whatever you feel tended-to by.

One way to connect with the gift of the spleen, and to get feeling grounded REAL quick, is to get on the floor. Yup, all the way down there. Do some gentle stretching. Feel the muscles of your body get a little longer, feel a little more spacious. There, there. Feeling a little more connected to earth? A little less rushed, a little more head on straight? Keep going. That’s spleen medicine–stretching, take a little time, listening to the wisdom of those muscles. You don’t have to know that you’re doing, just listen to what that body of yours says, one little floor-stretchy move at a time. Aaaahhhhhhh. Two minutes, thank you spleen.

 12. The Gift of the Stomach ☺️

The gift of the stomach is digestion–and I’m not talking about just food. I’m talking about breaking down and understanding all of life’s experiences. You’ve heard of “rest and digest”? That’s the function of the parasympathetic nervous system, and that’s the state in which healing happens (and the state your body gets into during acupuncture). Do you have time to rest and digest? Or is fight and flight your default mode setting?

Can you give yourself the gift of the stomach, which is digestion. Here’s the secret–you don’t have to “do” anything for your body to digest, except to give it space and rest to do so. Same thing with experiences. Been through a stressful one lately? Take a little more time for sleep, for laying low, for tending to. That’s digestion. And tending to digestion now, in the moment, prevents so many problems down the line. Rest. Digest. It really can be that easy.

Thanks for all you do body, for me, for my loved ones, for community.  

Want some help with finding deep rest, appreciation for your body, nurturing and nourishing yourself, finding flow, finding your spark, or getting one of these systems back to harmony?  Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine help bodies remember how to heal and function efficiently by enhancing homeostasis. If you need some help regulating the systems in your body, reach out and let us know that you could use some support with. We are here to help.

We’d love to help you start the year off right, with lovingkindness to your body, mind, and spirit.  You can book through our Online Booking System or get in touch.  

Want to Know a Secret?

We’re not seeing patients until Monday, January 6, but our office manager Megan is in the office this week getting it ready for a great start to 2025.  She can help you with appointments, herb refills, or other questions.

She is managing some projects (yay clean carpets for the new year!) so email or leave a message and she’ll get back to you and coordinate.  In lovingkindness and appreciate for our bodies!

Christina and Team Thrive

The Rhythm of the Season

We hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday and found some ways to celebrate and recharge that fed your soul.  Thanksgiving was late this year so we’re in the clinic for just 2 more weeks, treating all the smart patients who come in to keep healthy and sane for the holidays and end of year transition.

Here’s our popular Holiday Healthy Gift Guide, with a few updates.  Take a look and see if you find anything you want to gift to loved ones, or yourself.

And we want to let you know what we’re treating in the clinic lately (curious minds want to know) and our end of year schedule–so you can plan when you’re gonna come in and be one of those smart healthy, grounded patients.  We have our calendar open through March for those of you that know you want to plan to start the new year off right!

I invite you to make some time to take care of yourself, whether it’s in our clinic or by simply carving out some time to quiet your mind in your favorite way.  It’s the rhythm of the season–quiet, slow, dark, reflection, hibernation–and it’s important make some time for recharging in between the busyness so that you have the energy and inspiration for the fresh start of the new year.

Holiday Healthy Gift Guide

Give The Gift of Health to Loved Ones & The Gift of Sanity to Yourself
Don’t stress about gift giving!  Gifts are supposed to be about appreciation, celebration, and fun after all.  We’re here through Thursday, December 19 so you can pick up a gift of health for your loved ones plus give yourself the gift of sanity, all while supporting a small business❣️

You might ask: “A gift of health, how is that fun?!” 

We think it’s fun being healthy, having less pain, and feeling more calm so we can be present and enjoy our lives.  And it’s fun sharing the lesser known natural remedies that actually work!

Here’s 7 healthy gifts that are favorites among patients and staff:

1.  🎁 Gift Certificates:  The gift of health is the gift that keeps on giving, for the recipient, and all the others in their life.  You can suggest this as a gift for YOU, or give the gift of stress relief and a nap.  Or pain relief, digestion support, hormone balancing, immune support… ok you get the picture.  We’re a holistic clinic that treats the whole body so we treat all kinds of acute and chronic health issues.  A lot of times people don’t know Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine are options.  We’d love to show them how it can help them.  We’ve been seeing more and more patients who come in just for our custom herbal medicine, so even if your loved one doesn’t want to try acupuncture, we can help them.  Let us know what you want to cover with your gift certificate, and we’ll help you choose an amount.

2.  🦴 Evil Bone Water Liniment:  A super-premium liniment that’s good to put on anything that is painful and needs to heal: injuries, joint pain, muscle pain, broken bones, sprains, cuts, insect bites.  We got a few fun 2 oz frosted bottles that make great gifts.  They only make the small bottles in a limited run once or twice a year so they are only available while supplies last, but you can refill them from the regular 4 oz bottles–because we know you’re gonna love it.  PS – there are no bones in the formula.  The Chinese name translates as Rectify Evil Bones Water (aka Heal Your Broken Bones), but the acupuncturist/herbalist making it in Florida has a good sense of humor.

3. 🌿 Rapid Pain Relief Balm: High quality herbs and oils in natural skin-nourishing butters to quickly treat muscle pain, headaches, injuries, bruises, post-workout pain, menstrual pain, and more.  We love that this balm doesn’t have any menthol or mint, which is unusual for a fast-acting topical treatment for pain relief.  Plus the owner has sensitive skin, and makes it so clean you could practically eat it.  We have regular and sample sized jars for sale.

4. 🦶Herbal Medicinal Foot Soaks: Wild-crafted and small-farm cultivated herbs make up these effective and relaxing foot soaks.  They help with inflammatory pain, promote circulation, support the immune system & metabolism, and are super calming to the nervous system.  It may be surprising to hear that medicinal foot soaks treat the whole body because there are thousands of capillaries in the feet which serve as highways to the rest of the body.

5. 🧴 Emily’s Skin Soothers: Natural and effective skin care powered by herbs to treat dry skin, chapped and cracked hands and feet, burns, eczema, psoriasis, and any other irritated, red, rough or flaking skin.  The original formula was created by an acupuncturist/herbalist for his baby who had eczema, so the whole line is free from anything synthetic and great for sensitive skin.  This is the balm that got us through the extreme amounts of hand washing at the start of the pandemic and still keeps our hands smooth.  Let us know what skin condition you want to treat and we can help you choose the best formula.  We have regular and sample size jars for sale.

6. 🐝 B. Immune Throat Spray: Soothe and treat the throat with this tasty spray that’s antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and immunomodulatory.  This is the most fun way to support your immune system!  Great for people who travel, give talks, sing, or otherwise find their throat dry and sensitive, as well as those who want to prevent and treat colds, flus, and sore throats.

7. 📘 Do You Want To Know A Secret Book:  A little book of resilience and clarity, whatever your age.  Everyone who picks up this little children’s book with a big message gets a smile on their face.  Some even get tears of joy.  People don’t tend to spend much time in the waiting room here, but when they do and they pick up this book, they often buy a copy right away.  Plus, we have it shipped here directly from the author in England, so it’s a truly unique gift.

You can pick any of these up at your next appointment.  If you don’t have a scheduled appointment, please reach out by phone or email so we can answer any questions, get it ready for you, and make sure we’re not at lunch or otherwise busy in our small business when you swing by.

What We’re Treating in the Clinic

In addition to stress from the busyness that ramps up this time of year, so many patients have been coming in with stiff achy joints, especially knees and hands.  It could be the colder weather, a change in exercise patterns, the increase in sugar and treats, all the stress and busyness, or just one of those coincidental patterns we see in the clinic.

We’ve been treating joint pain from:

• arthritis
• old injuries
• repetitive use
• post surgical pain
• ligament sprains or strains
• tendonitis

The good news is that Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine are great at treating joint pain by improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and helping restore movement so you can get back to your day without discomfort.  I practice a style of acupuncture that is renowned for pain relief.  Most patients report a reduction in pain as soon as a few points go in.  Yes to more walks, your new health routine, more chopping and stirring, more time enjoying your day rather than figuring out how to manage doing the things you need to do. 

We also have several truly effective topical herbal liniments, balms, creams, and patches.  Or we can mix you up a custom herbal formula to treat joint pain and help prevent it from flaring up again.

If you want support treating joint stiffness and pain or want some preventative care, you can make an appointment at our online Online Booking System or get in touch.  

End of Year Schedule

🌟🎄🥂 We’ll be here through Thursday December 19 then Christina is taking 2 weeks off to rest, reflect, and recharge.  We have appointments in the new year starting Monday, January 6.  Megan will be in the office the week before (Dec 30-Jan 3) to get us ready for the new year and she’ll be available to help with scheduling and herb refills.

Book Your Appointments

📅 We Can’t believe that we only have 2 weeks in the clinic before we take our end of the year break!  We are busy before and after the break, so now is a good time to get yourself on the schedule, especially for the new year so you have a plan before all those new years resolutions patients!  You can book through our Online Booking System or get in touch.  If you can’t find an appointment online–call, email, or put yourself on the waitlist and we’ll keep an eye out for you.  This time of year we have some cancellations because people are sick (thanks for keeping your germs to yourself) so we are pretty good at getting people scheduled off the waitlist.

Stock Up on Herbs

🌿 Now is the time to plan to stock up on herbs to carry you through the new year.  Let’s make a plan to make sure you have:

1. your custom formula
2. digestion support
3. immunity support and/or supplies for treating a virus if you or your loved ones catch one

Herbal Pills To Support Digestion

😋🌿💊  Don’t forget to stock up on simple Chinese herbal pills to get your digestion back in balance through all the end of year celebrations.

We have 2 options: Microgard Micropills or Ease Digestion Pills. They’re both so helpful for any kind of digestive upset that every acupuncturist and herbalist has one of these ready in their medicine cabinet, first aid kit, purse, and in the car. I always have extra around the holidays–yes I’m the one that brings the digestion pills and sets them out with the drinks, at the end of the buffet, or even just on the dining table–and my friends and family have learned to do the same.

👉🔗 You can read all the details that we shared in our last newsletter here.

Immune Support

🤒🌿💊 Stock up now before we are on vacation so you can be prepared with herbs and supplements in case you or those around you get sick.

Check out our recommendations we’ve been sharing for the past 4+ years called “The Golden Window For Treating Viruses” and let us know if you want help creating a plan that will work for you:
👉🔗  https://thrive-acupuncture.com/the-golden-window-for-treating-viruses/. 

We’re finally getting hip and are posting on instagram as well as facebook–whoops I think I just dated myself by saying that we’re getting hip.

Find us here for something positive, helpful, and sometimes funny in the socials:

• https://www.instagram.com/thrive.acupuncture/
• https://www.facebook.com/ThriveAcupunctureAndWellness

We’ve recently recommitted to posting regularly in hopes of sharing a little Chinese Medicine Wisdom and spreading good vibes.

Here’s to having fun being healthy as we celebrate through the start of the new year!
Christina and Team Thrive

Don’t Wait To Feel Good

I hear it a lot at this time of year…In the new year I’m gonna…eat better, exercise, make time to relax, spend more time with friends, take a break from drinking… (you get the picture).  But why wait?  Every moment is a chance for a fresh start and a chance to make choices to support you.  Because the world needs a balanced resilient you to contribute whatever it is that you contribute in your way.

Don’t wait for the new year to start some new habits or to do more of the things you already know make you feel great.  Don’t let stress, anxiety or overwhelm stop you from choosing to do something good for yourself.  Life is too precious to wait on doing something so you can feel good.

This was a big lesson for me when I was done with undergrad.  When I was in college I struggled with my sinuses, immune system, low energy, and back pain.  The story in my head was that when I was done with school, THEN I would be able to do the things to enjoy my life and help myself feel better.  Once I was done with school I woke up out of that story and I told myself I’d never do that again–put off living the life I want to live or go to school.  The never go to school again part is funny because I went on to get my Master’s in Chinese Medicine.  Of course it wasn’t school that was stopping me from enjoying life and being healthy, it was my gripped stressful thinking that made it sound like a good idea to put off doing things I enjoy and contribute to my wellbeing. 

All this is to say you are worth making time for doing things for your wellbeing, even as the end of year holiday activities ramp up.  Not only does it feel good, but the world needs more people who are in balance and contributing to what they feel called to, in their special way.

Holiday Eating & Drinking Support

A lot of patients have been telling me that they are focusing on cherishing time with family, friends, and community right now, and looking forward to the end of year holidays.  As we enter holiday time it’s good to set ourselves up for success for all the abundance headed our way–gratitude, gifting, celebrations, and especially abundant eating and drinking.  Here at Thrive we think one of the benefits of being healthy is that you can consciously choose to indulge here and there, and still come back to balance easily.  If you are working on a specific health challenge or goal, now is not the time to indulge.  But if you’re feeling pretty good, moderation of all things, including moderation sometimes, is healthy.

Folks that are overly rigid about what they eat don’t get all the benefits because stress undoes a lot of the benefits of healthy eating.  And folks that eat whatever they want, but then beat themselves up also have stress degrading their body.  So it’s good to be real about where you are at, make conscious decisions for health and pleasure, and then make sure you have support so you can come back to balance easily.

If you are going to consciously indulge in that rich holiday meal, treat, cocktail, desert–or all four–how do you plan to support your body?  Here’s 5 tips that will support you through celebratory eating:

1. 💧 Stay well hydrated.  Aim to drink between 80 ounces to 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water a day.  And make sure you get some electrolytes or natural salts in there so all the water doesn’t just wash through you.
2. 🍽️ Don’t starve yourself in anticipation of big meals.   That will make it harder to make any good decisions and cause your blood sugar to spike.  Make sure to eat some fat and protein in the meals leading up a to a big meal to help stabilize blood sugar.
3. 🫖 Fresh ginger tea is supportive to digestion before and after rich meals.  Cut a few slices of fresh ginger and boil it in water for 5 minutes.  The fibers from the ginger are really good for your digestive system so that’s why it’s worth it to use fresh ginger.
4. 💪 Keep moving.  Plan some exercise to start the day and you’ll not only feel like you’re starting the day healthy, you’ll also most likely make better choices throughout the day.  Exercise is funny that way.  The more we exercise, the more we tend to make healthy choices.  Invite friends and family to go for a walk after a meal together.  You may be met with some resistance at first, but I’ve never heard anyone say “I wish I didn’t take that walk after dinner.”
5. 🌿💊 Stock up on simple Chinese herbal pills to get your digestion back in balance.  We have 2 options of our favorite pills to support digestion: Microgard Micropills or Ease Digestion Pills.  They’re both so helpful for any kind of digestive upset that every acupuncturist and herbalist has one of these ready in their medicine cabinet, first aid kit, purse, and in the car.  I always have extra around the holidays–yes I’m the one that brings the digestion pills and sets them out with the drinks, at the end of the buffet, or even just on the dining table–and my friends and family have learned to do the same.

Option 1: Microgard Micropills

What are they?  They’re a Chinese Medicine herbal pill that’s good for all kinds of digestive imbalances that are common during the holidays including: upset stomach, indigestion, heartburn, overeating, hangover, bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and even food poisoning (hopefully that’s not happening during the holidays).

If you’ve been with us for a while you probably know that we used to sell Curing Pills. We’ve replaced them with Microgard because it’s higher quality with imperial grade herbs (the highest grade) and we’ve found them to be more effective.  

How can they be good for so many things?  Unlike western medications that are specific for certain kinds of digestive imbalances, Microgard Micropills don’t move your digestion in a specific direction, instead they regulate your digestion back to harmony.  That is why their traditional Chinese name translates to Preserve Harmony Pills.  The modern herbalists say they are so effective they will absolve you of your dietary sins.

Here’s how we recommend taking Microgard:

• Prevention (I know I’m going to eat a bunch of rich food or My eyes were bigger than my stomach): 10-20 Micropills before or after a meal.
• Upset Stomach (As soon as I can tell something I ate or drank did not agree with me or I realize I really overdid it):  10-20 Micropills now, 10-20 More every hour for the next 3 hours if things aren’t feeling good yet.
• General Digestive Imbalance (My digestion is moving slower or faster than normal and I just realized it’s been happening for a few days): 10-20 Micropills 3 Times/Day for a day or two, often right before one of your meals.

10-20 Pills?!?!?!  Yup they are teeny tiny MICROpills.  Microgard micropills come in a vial of a bunch of teeny tiny round micropills, because if you have digestive upset you might not want to take a bigger pill.  They are so tiny that we recommend to make it easy on yourself you count out your desired dosage (10 or 20 micropills) in the cap and notice how much they fill up the cap; then in the future you can simply poor them into the cap until you can see it has your dose without having to count them each time.

Pro-Tip: This product is minimally processed and has no preservatives so to keep it potent it’s best to keep it in a cool dry place, or refrigerate it if you’re not going to use it up within a month or two.
 
Option 2:  Ease Digestion Pills

They are similar to Microgard but they are larger pills that are shelf stable for longer and less expensive, because it’s good to have options. The Microgard is a stronger product, but it’s a little more finicky to use and store and if that is going to prevent you from using it, it’s not going to be effective.

Ease Digestion comes as a bottle of medium pills that you take as 2 pills at a time.  We have small and large bottles–yup some patients love it so much they buy the large bottle.  So everywhere above that it says the dosage is 10-20 micropills, you instead take 2 pills of Ease Digestion.

Stock Up Now

We have Microgard and Ease Digestion Pills in stock.  They’re so good for any kind of digestive complaint that they’re great to have on hand any time of year, and especially around the holidays, for you or your family and friends to bring you back to digestive harmony.  Christina likes to bring them to share and sets them out with the holiday spread.  You might be surprised who’s interested in herbs to support their digestion.

Just tell us you want some and ask us any questions at your next appointment.  Or swing on by to pick some up.  If you’re coming by without an appointment, it’s best to call or email ahead of time with your ETA to check that we won’t be at lunch or out running an errand.

Instagram

We’re finally getting hip and are posting on instagram as well as facebook–whoops I think I just dated myself by saying that we’re getting hip.

Find us here for something positive, helpful, and sometimes funny in the socials: https://www.instagram.com/thrive.acupuncture/
https://www.facebook.com/ThriveAcupunctureAndWellness

We’ve recently recommitted to posting regularly in hopes of sharing a little Chinese Medicine Wisdom and spreading good vibes.

What We’re Treating In The Clinic – Fall Allergies, Recovery From Colds & Flus, Boosting Immune Systems

This fall so many patients have reported a flare up of allergies recently–congestion, post nasal drip, cough, itchy eyes, foggy head…  I think it’s due to the dramatic shifts from the extra late extra hot heat wave, to cold dry fall weather, to rain rain rain.  In the past few weeks I have seen several long lost patients who came in saying they were so congested they had to do something.  The good news is that they all had really quick symptom relief.  Acupuncture and herbs are great at treating allergy symptoms and changing the pattern of overreaction from your immune system so you can get back to balance.

And there’s a cold going around that often has lingering congestion and cough.  Patients report they think they are done and then it flares up again and they worry they got something else.  Of course Covid is also going around and some people have lingering symptoms of all sorts after that.  While you are sick and contagious get in touch so you can get some herbs to take at home, and once you’ve turned the corner and are not contagious anymore, come on in for acupuncture and more herbs to clear out that phlegm and get your energy back.

Then there are those extra smart patients that know they want extra support for their immune system as the seasons change, they have travel plans, or they start to feel stress or overwork wearing them down.  A little secret–acupuncture and herbs work best as preventative medicine!  

If you want support treating allergies, recovering from colds and flus, or want some preventative care, you  can make an appointment at our online booking site or get in touch.  

If you want to be ready with herbs and supplements on hand, check out our recommendations we’ve been sharing for the past 4+ years called the Golden Window For Treating Viruses–because if you treat viruses preventatively or as soon as you feel symptoms it’s surprisingly effective for preventing a virus from taking hold or reducing symptoms and duration.

👉🔗 You can find the link for the Golden Window For Treating Viruses Handout here: https://thrive-acupuncture.com/the-golden-window-for-treating-viruses/.  The handout includes a link to our online pharmacy for the things you can’t get in our clinic.  Take a look and let us know if you want help creating a plan that will work for you.

Happy Lunar New Year! Bring on The Powerful & Heart Centered Dragon Spirit

How is 2024 going for you? Have you made time for rest and reflection or are you just trying to get through? Do you already wish you had a do-over for your New Year’s fresh start and resolutions? If so, you’re in luck. Not only is every moment a chance for a new beginning, February 10 is the start of the Lunar New Year. Because it starts with the second new moon after Winter Solstice, it begins on a different date every year between January 21 and February 20.

And the Lunar New Year kicks off the 15 day celebration of the new year called Spring Festival. You can think of Spring Festival as Christmas, New Years, and Spring Cleaning all rolled into one. It’s a time of celebration, visiting family and friends, gift giving, and preparing for the next year with personal reflection and letting go.

It’s not part of the Lunar New Year traditions to make resolutions, but Chinese astrology encourages reflection. Chinese astrology has a lot of symbolism and is used to explore your inner nature and unconscious instincts. It’s often used to help reflect on how to navigate your inner life and relationships.

Year of the Wood Dragon

The Chinese zodiac has 12 years in its cycle, each one represented by an animal, which interacts with the cycle of the 5 elements. 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon, the fifth animal in the cycle

Astrologers say that people born in the Year of the Dragon are powerful, intelligent, charismatic, and have good fortune. Dragons are known for their leadership but their real power doesn’t come from control, instead it comes from having heart and the ability to empathize with everyone.  The mystical dragon is a synthesis of a variety of animals with a strong snakelike body with wings, scales, horns, and claws.  Being part everything, they have the ability to bring about cohesion and societal organization.  Dragons see the big picture of interconnectedness and the vastness of our experience that helps broaden our view.

In Chinse astrology, Wood Dragon energy is said to start out enthusiastic and impulsive, but as it matures it becomes more grounded and stable while still fueled by passion.  Last year it may have felt like you got bunny kicked a few too many times as Rabbit energy is a paradox of quick forward momentum and cautiously avoiding risk by running back to safety in your burrow.  In order to ride the dragon energy smoothly it’s important to slow down and find a balance between bold action and allowing circumstances to unfold naturally.  Without stability Dragon energy can get out of balance and turn into selfish fantasy and ruthlessness.  Dragons get back in balance with self-reflection and remembering to connect with how things can work together.  Patience and remembering to take action that is dedicated to the benefit of others allows for big energy and dynamic change and innovation that leads us towards the future we dream of.

Commit to Creating the Experience You Want to Have
Those that celebrate Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival do not traditionally make New Year’s Resolutions, however they do celebrate the transition from winter to spring. It is a good time to reflect and plant the “new idea seeds” that will sprout in spring. You can start by asking yourself: How do I make time and space to bring out my best sense of reflection? What is the new direction and experience I want to have?

If you’re having trouble, maybe it’s time to take a lesson from the Dragon. If you want to avoid the out of balance impulsive dragon energy that can charge ahead blindly and cause chaos, make sure to pause and reflect on your deepest values and heart’s desire.  Dragons know when to be patient, relax and let life-force energy lead, because the most powerful actions are those which arise naturally.

Ask yourself how can I combine both power and gentleness, strength and flexibility, to encourage true alchemy and transformation that is that’s dedicated to the benefit of others.  What brings about a sense of connection to the universe?  What action can I take to for innovation and new solutions that support coherence and move us forward in a unified direction?

Get Some Support
If your intentions in 2024 include improving your health and well-being so you can support your heart’s desires, get in touch to schedule an appointment for acupuncture and herbal medicine that supports pain relief, stress reduction, immune boosting, or finally tackling that health issue that’s holding you back. You can book online or reach out by phone or email.

We’re Hiring–Pass It On!

Change is in the air and I’d love your help. We’re hiring a Front Desk Receptionist (28-32 hrs/wk) and an Administrative Assistant (14-16 hrs/wk) to join our cheerful and serene Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine clinic and help us grow.

Please share our job postings with the people you think would enjoy making a difference in people’s lives with our kind of enthusiasm, care, and humor.

Victoria will be around for a bit longer to help with training, but the faster we find the right people the more time we’ll have for training.  She’s going to be pursuing some other opportunities related to long term career goals.  It’s the start of the Dragon energy and changes that support following your hearts desires are best for all.  So now we just need your help to connect with the people you know who would enjoy the Thrive vibe and mission to make the world a better place one acupuncture treatment at a time.

All the details and how to apply are inside the job postings:

Front Desk Receptionist:
https://www.indeed.com/job/front-desk-receptionistacupuncture-clinic-6771117b3ac9d381?_gl=1*aoe2a8*_gcl_au*NjA3OTY5MjEzLjE3MDAxNjU5Mjk.

Administrative Assistant:
https://www.indeed.com/job/administrative-assistant-part-timeacupuncture-clinic-ccf58b0d254a43d8?_gl=1*aoe2a8*_gcl_au*NjA3OTY5MjEzLjE3MDAxNjU5Mjk.

What We’re Treating In The Clinic

The Gallbladder 
It’s one of the things I’m super passionate about and so you might think I’m seeing lots of people with gallbladder problems because I’m human and I see what I’ve been thinking about. Yup when I started dating my husband I had a mini cooper and after driving my car he started noticing mini coopers everywhere. It became a joke that if we pointed out every one we saw we could not finish a sentence.  But the week that 3 people came in and talked about how they think their gallbladder was the root of their problem I knew it wasn’t just my bias, I am seeing a lot of people who need gallbladder support.

I’ve helped so many people reduce gallbladder related symptoms, avoid gallbladder surgery, and recover digestive function if they had their gallbladder out and their body is struggling.  Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine often give immediate relief.  And there’s lots of things you can do with diet to support the gallbladder staying stable. I can help you find the most effective things for you to help you feel better and stay feeling like your best self.

If you want support treating your gallbladder or getting back in balance now that you have had your gallbladder removed: you can make an appointment through our online booking site or get in touch.

Immune Support

It’s still cold and flu season so it’s still a great time to stock up so you can be prepared with herbs and supplements in case you or those around you get sick.
“Christina, I just have to tell you that your magic herbs are the real deal!  I started to get sick, and remembered I had squirreled away herbs to take if and when that ever started to happen.  I rarely get sick, so it had been awhile.  So I went to the box, got them out, took them as recommended and WOW, the next day I was no longer ill!  I have no idea what’s in those but they really worked for me.  Thanks for the recommendation that I should always have them available –  and for knowing about them.  You are the best!”

–J.G.
Check out our updated recommendations we’ve been sharing for the past 2+ years called “The Golden Window For Treating Viruses” and let us know if you want help creating a plan that will work for you:

👉🔗  https://thrive-acupuncture.com/the-golden-window-for-treating-viruses/. 
Gong Xi Fa Cai! (Happy New Year)!
Christina and Team Thrive