If you are pursuing an education in integrative medicine, you may wonder what kind of degree might benefit your career goals the most. Check out our article on the different types offered at Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College, Berkeley (AIMC), and how to decide for yourself.

Methylation: Too much of a good thing? 

When looking at methylation disorders, a lot of emphasis is placed on health challenges that come with hypomethylation or not methylating enough. While this stands to be a valid concern, especially for those with an MTHFR mutation, it is equally important to consider the flip side. Excessive methylation or hypermethylation can also lead to its own set of health issues.1 As with most things, more is not always better. With this in mind, what steps might we take to work towards balancing methylation by utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine dietary wisdom? 

The *magic spark* of methylation 

A good place to focus dietary support to improve methylation is the liver organ system. The liver provides a spark of yang energy that is mandatory …

Our AIMC Herbal Pharmacy is continuing to expand its inventory of local, organic herbs and products!

Sourcing our herbs sustainably is an important part of healing for ourselves and for our planet. We also are excited to welcome the use of  native California plants in our traditional Chinese Herb Pharmacy. As we move forward into the future, we envision a truly integrative, sustainable, eco-friendly Herbal Pharmacy here at AIMC. Thanks for  taking the first steps with us.

Come by the Pharmacy and Check out our new Local, Organic Herb Section!

Local Certified Organic herbs: Bo he (field mint), Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum), Yi Mu Cao (Motherwort)

Local, Organic Herbal Products: Herbal Alchemists CBD Cream

Window of the Sky Wild High Sierra Botanicals: Arnica Salve, Indian Warrior Liniment

AIMC Herb Garden …

What is acupuncture? What can it treat? Our guide goes through some of the history behind this ancient technique and what it is used for today.

Fall marks the transition from the yang bright, active time of year to the yin quiet, dark time of year. Now is the time to begin storing our reserves and vitality for the winter to come.

Believe it or not, according to the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, we are already full swing into the season of Autumn!

The shift from summer into fall is important because it marks the transition from the yang bright and active time of year to the yin stillness and darkness time of year. The temptation to continue to living a Summer lifestyle in Fall can be easy here in California, when it is still so sunny out. However, now is one of the most crucial times to begin conserving ones energy for …

What Is Methylation? 

The methylation cycle. It’s a process that involves passing a methyl group (one carbon atom plus three hydrogen atoms) to something else (a gene, neurotransmitter, etc.) in the body.3 While seemingly simple, methylation is “mind-bogglingly fundamental”.1 In fact, this critical process occurs billions of times every second to control the genetic expression of virtually every cell in the body.1,3

As if operating our switchboard of genes wasn’t a big enough job, methylation plays a huge role in detox, neurotransmitter modulation and cell defense. Additionally, it has a hand in the regulation of sympathetic and immune responses and supports brain, cardiovascular and muscle health.3 With involvement in such a broad range of homeostatic processes it’s not surprising that genetic mutations related …

The movement to grow Chinese herbs organically and locally is an important step towards creating a sustainable herbal medicine on our planet.

For many Chinese trained herbalists here in the West, the question of the ethics and sustainability of using herbs grown in China and flown to the US, rather than local herbs, is a big one. The Chinese Herbal Materia Medica has an incredible array of amazing healing plants. However, as the popularity of Chinese herbalism is rapidly growing throughout the world, we need to examine whether or not is sustainable for us to continue using them. Right now, the vast majority of Chinese herbs are grown in China, and supplying the whole planet with herbs grown in just one country is not feasible in …

Now that we’re in the height of summer, many of us are looking for ways to stay cool and beat the heat. One classic summer food that can help us do just that is watermelon. Everyone knows how sweet and refreshing a juicy slice of watermelon on a hot day can be, it’s a summertime ritual for many of us.

In Chinese Medicine, watermelon is used medicinally to help cool and clear summer heat. It nourishes fluids and helps promote urination, making it an excellent medicine for clearing heat from the body. It also has a sweet calming nature for the spirit.

Here’s a cooling summer recipe for a Watermelon Salad:

1 small watermelon, sliced into cubes and seeds removed
½-1 cup jicama, sliced
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

“Please lie face down,” Dr. W instructed before exiting the room. The big wooden door swung shut, and I scrambled up to the treatment table feeling a twinge of excitement, as I scurried to shed my sweater. My first face down treatment, I thought, the white table paper crinkling beneath me in anticipation. I’d sought out Dr. W primarily for his orthopedic expertise, but as I filled out the intake form that evening, a nagging pain in my lower abdomen compelled me to include a brief saga of some persistent digestive issues I’d experienced since childhood. To my surprise, not once during the back and forth of our consult was I questioned about my intestinal woes. As I lay there waiting for him to return, …

We all think hydration is simple, right? Just drink plenty of water. But staying well hydrated also means our bodies need to actually ABSORB all the water we’re drinking. Imagine a dry, cracked piece of earth in the desert. When it rains, that earth is so parched and hard that it cannot absorb any water. It all runs off the surface.

Our bodies are the same. If we don’t “prepare our soil” properly, all the water we drink just runs right through, and our tissues are still parched and dry. In TCM, we use yin tonics- herbs that are moistening and demulcent, in order to help moisten the body on a deep level and help it to “hold” the water. On a cellular level, yin tonics …