What is pain? Pain is an indicator that something is hurt or injured in the body. It is a way of telling you that something might be wrong and needs attention. When your body is injured (say you trip and fall on your knee), inflammation of tissues and nerves occurs in the area that has been hurt. Some key signs of inflammation include swelling, pain, redness, feeling warm to the touch, some loss of normal or typical function. These are all a part of a normal healing response in the body. Sometimes we experience pain for other reasons - we don’t have to trip and fall to feel pain! Sometimes we wake up with a sore back, or the cold makes your hands feel tight and crampy. How can acupuncture treat pain? Acupuncture has long been used as an effective tool to alleviate and treat pain. From a Western perspective and understanding, acupuncture releases neurotransmitters, endorphins and enkephalins, reducing the sensation of pain. It can help build white blood cells, which help to protect your body from injury and illness 5 . It also helps your body to release oxytocin, the hormone that gives you those warm, fuzzy feelings of love, trust, and relationship. From an East Asian perspective and understanding, acupuncture treats the pain by restoring balance to the Qi within the body through activation of various points and channels. Healthy Qi will flow with no issue, cycling through the body without getting stuck or too depleted. Qi or blood can stagnate within the body, or we can be susceptible to external pathogens that can cause pain. If we regulate the flow of Qi, we improve our health (and in this case, reduce or eliminate our pain)! Acupuncture also treats our organs by tonifying or harmonizing them, so our body functions properly. Lastly, it also treats our spirit, or Shen, which is our presence, vitality, consciousness. When we care for our Shen, we live in harmony and health. “...every needling’s method first must be rooted in Shen”. This sentence is usually translated as: “All treatment must be based on the Spirit”. (Ling Shu Chapter 8, Nei Jing) Arthritis & East Asian Medicine Arthritis causes inflammation, pain, and swelling of the joints, and is the leading cause of disability. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which typically affects the hands, hips, and knees. The cartilage in these joints begin to break down, and can change the bone. This is why it is often called “wear and tear” arthritis. Another common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease where your immune system begins to attack your healthy cells by mistake. This typically affects the joints, as well. From an East Asian perspective, arthritic pain often presents as a result of a Bi syndrome. Bi syndrome is a category of disease that is caused by an invasion of a pathogen (wind, cold, dampness, heat) on the meridians involving muscles and sinews. The different types of Bi syndromes present with different qualities of pain 4 . Typically, they present in the following ways: Cold Bi: localized pain, cramping, constricting, tight, better with warmth Damp Bi: joint swelling, heavy, achy pain Wind Bi: moving or radiating pain Heat Bi: burning pain, better with cold Arthritis pain can also involve other patterns, involving our Qi, Blood, and Body Fluids. These all are important to ensuring healthy, normal flow throughout the body, and any disruption may present as pain or other symptoms. Qi/ Blood/ Body Fluid deficiency: This results in dull, lingering pain that is worse with movement. Qi stagnation: This results in distending pain that is better with movement. Blood stagnation: This results in sharp, stabbing, localized pain. Lastly, some of our organs and specific channels can support when we feel pain, particularly related to our bones or muscles. Liver Deficiency: The Liver is responsible for proper flow of Qi, and regulates sinews and muscles. Kidney Deficiency: The Kidney responsible for bones. Sinew/ muscle channels: These channels are good for acute or chronic injuries because you treat the Jing Well points and Ah Shi points along the channel. Ah Shi points are found by reactivity or sensation (it doesn’t have to feel like pain necessarily, but could feel tight or sunken too!) Jing Well points are located on the tips of the extremities and can open up stuck Qi in a whole muscle chain 6 . Acupuncture Points for Arthritis East Asian Medicine treatments can include acupuncture points and herbal formulas specializing in combating and expelling these exterior pathogens, and in turn, reducing or eliminating the pain. There are some common points where you can apply acupressure or massage that can provide some pain relief, but it is always best to speak with an acupuncturist to determine the best course of action for your specific type of pain! Some acupressure body points for various types of pain (see the images below for the specific locations in order to find them!): For general pain , try Large Intestine 4, or He Gu, in the webbing between your index finger and thumb. For neck pain and shoulder pain , try Small Intestine 3, or Hou Xi, on the lateral side of your hand below the joint where your fingers meet the palm of your hand. For wrist & arm pain , try San Jiao 4, or Yang Chi, at the wrist joint. For knee & hip pain , try Gallbladder 34 or Yang Ling Quan, just below the knee joint. For low back, back of the knee, or foot pain , try Urinary Bladder 63, or Jin Men, on the lateral side of the foot. For ankle pain , try Stomach 41, Jie Xi, on the top of the foot near the ankle joint. About the Author Molly Pilloton Lam is a first-year Master's student at AIMC with a background in working with BIPOC communities in education, educational leadership, public health, and trauma-informed youth mental health program settings. She is interested in expanding education and equitable access to acupuncture and EAM in BIPOC and communities, particularly to support people with the impacts of trauma. She is excited to be a student at AIMC for her pathway to acupuncture, and looks forward to uplifting its traditional practices and other BIPOC practitioners' voices. References: Chou PC, Chu HY. Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Mechanisms: A Systemic Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Apr 12;2018:8596918. doi: 10.1155/2018/8596918. PMID: 29849731; PMCID: PMC5925010. Selfe TK, Taylor AG. Acupuncture and osteoarthritis of the knee: a review of randomized, controlled trials. Fam Community Health. 2008 Jul-Sep;31(3):247-54. doi: 10.1097/01.FCH.0000324482.78577.0f. PMID: 18552606; PMCID: PMC2810544. Yang L, Adams J. The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Arthritis Management: Why We Need Public Health and Health Services Research. Front Public Health. 2020 Dec 17;8:597917. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.597917. PMID: 33392135; PMCID: PMC7773773. How Do You Treat Osteoarthritis in Your Practice? Med Acupunct. 2017 Jun 1;29(3):166-172. doi: 10.1089/acu.2017.29053.cpl. PMID: 28736594; PMCID: PMC5512319. Evidence Based Acupuncture: Acupuncture for Pain. Available at: https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/pain/. . Acupuncture Today: The Sinew Channels. Available at: https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32443. .

In honor of Earth Day, we had the pleasure of speaking with one of AIMC’s long-time community members and professors, Dr. Nishanga Bliss, DAIM, DSc, LAc, about her work to educate practicing and aspiring acupuncture and East Asian Medicine practitioners, her call to action to support a healthy environment, and her hopes for the future. Nishanga has been with AIMC since 2008, and has been practicing Chinese medicine since 1999. She has always been interested in the public health aspect of Chinese medicine and health, but felt more drawn to it, especially living in the times that we're living in today. Becoming an Environmental Activist Nishanga watched her father, an environmentalist, work with the East Bay chapter of the Sierra Club in a time of environmental awareness in the seventies. During the eighties and nineties, Nishanga witnessed a “retraction” in our society and culture with regards to the environment. With this foundation of environmental activism, Nishanga was drawn to holistic medicine because of its nature-based approach, which led her to study Western Herbalism. With the roots of Western Herbalism being based in energetics, and studying eclecticism, it was an easy and natural step into studying Chinese medicine. Because of the power of food and plant-based medicine, Nishanga pursued a doctorate in Nutrition to better understand where her food comes from, and how it can support overall health. “We have to look at climate and how it's affecting plants. I mean, we know in agriculture that climate's already affecting the nutritional value of agricultural products. …there's so many ways that we can connect our medicine to the climate crisis, but herbalism is very easy in that way.” TCM & the Environmental Perspective Nishanga described climate change in terms of a TCM perspective, describing the balance (or imbalance) of Yin and Yang. “Human beings are too Yang. So we're heating the planet and… Yin and Yang are beginning to separate, and so we're getting Yin deficiency… More water is mobilized in the sky, and then it's coming down more forcefully.” Let’s break this down a little bit more! When we think about energetics, Yin is slower, quieter, more peaceful, restful, and restorative. Yang energy is very active with lots of movement; it’s faster, consumes more energy. If human beings are too Yang, that means we are using lots of energy, like when we are driving cars, flying in airplanes, movement around the state, country, and planet. Even when we look at political discourse and the social issues we are facing. We are very Yang; we are moving, talking loudly, engaging with others intensely. This creates more energy in the form of heat, which in turn, heats the planet. With this imbalance, we see a lot of Yang energy, with very little Yin energy, causing a deficiency. This leads to an overall degradation of the planet and being, which is how we see these environmental effects, like the 12 atmospheric rivers this winter, compared to three last year! Additionally, she described how fossil fuels, and continuing to extract them, is depleting the Earth’s Jing, or life force. “Oil is like the jing, the deepest reserves of the planet, the most precious. Like in your body, the Jing is the most precious substance that determines your lifespan, and we're like depleting it from the earth.” Actions You Can Take While this may seem discouraging, Nishanga offered many ways people can positively impact the environment and combat climate change. One of her recommendations is actively advocating for political change, especially working to influence the Farm Bill Reauthorization. She uses the Climate Action Now app, which is an easy and quick way to send letters to your local legislators, connect with other community members, and gain points that accumulate toward a tree being planted on your behalf. Also, “The Farm Bill connects to our whole food system in the . It connects to how food is grown, how food is processed. It connects to food in the public schools. It connects to legislation around, so if we bring a climate lens to that and a regenerative agriculture lens to that, it can be really transformative…people need to learn, learn what's going on with it and where specific times to write their legislators.” All of this starts with conversation. Community, education, and continual conversation around these issues will effect change. Climate impacts every aspect of our life, so it is important to talk about it with everyone and at every opportunity. Even in moments of waning motivation, Nishanga reminds us that we can’t ignore the emotion involved in this movement, and drawing inspiration from Chinese medicine as a way to process and re-energize. “It's not just turn your anger into action. But you also sometimes have to just feel the negative feelings and let them work through you… Ideally you feel it, you channel it, you allow it to move you.” Thank you for sharing your beautiful insights and wisdom with us, Nishanga! About the Author Molly Pilloton Lam is a first-year Master's student at AIMC with a background in working with BIPOC communities in education, educational leadership, public health, and trauma-informed youth mental health program settings. She is interested in expanding education and equitable access to acupuncture and EAM in BIPOC and communities, particularly to support people with the impacts of trauma. She is excited to be a student at AIMC for her pathway to acupuncture, and looks forward to uplifting its traditional practices and other BIPOC practitioners' voices.

Treating Winter illness, or 冬病夏治 (dōng bìng xià zhì), during the Summer, or by using 三伏贴(sān fú tiē) What is 冬病夏治 (dōng bìng xià zhì)? 冬 病 (dōng bìng) means illnesses that happen more often or get severe in the winter. For example, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, and Spleen & Stomach deficiency and coldness in Chinese Medicine perspective, etc. 夏治 (xià zhì) means the condition of the illness improves while the yang is rising in the summer. With the differential diagnosis, taking Chinese Medicine internally and externally can prevent the severity of the illness in the winter. What is 三伏贴(sān fú tiē)? 三伏(sān fú) usually appears between Xiao Shu and Chu Shu when there is a combination of high temperature and humid in nature. There are 30 or 40 days in San Fu, depending on the year. San Fu can be divided into Beginning Fu ( 10 days), Middle Fu (10-20 days), and Ending Fu (10 days). San Fu dates in 2023 Beginning Fu: 7.11-7.20 (10 days) Middle Fu: 7.21 - 8.9 (20 days) Ending Fu: 8.10 - 8.19 (10 days) 三伏贴(sān fú tiē) is a type of paste that includes Traditional Chinese herbs. (For example, mugwort, dry ginger, pepper, mustard seeds, and Chinese wild ginger. ) The pastes need to be applied in every Fu (+ 1 if the middle Fu is 20 days). Read more about 三伏贴(sān fú tiē) as a treatment, including recommended point locations, applications, and cautions, below!

Dr. Tolbert Small is a hero of service and healing, as lead physician for the Black Panther Party and one of the first doctors outside of the Asian American community to practice acupuncture in the United States, and is still a practicing physician in the Bay Area. It might be possible you don’t know all of his incredible contributions to his community and the nation when you meet him at his doctor’s office. But in honor of Juneteenth, we want to take a moment to celebrate the activist, the healer, and “the People’s Doctor”, Dr. Tolbert Small. Dr. Tolbert Small was an activist before he was a healer, and began fighting for civil rights in college at University of Detroit in Detroit, Michigan. On campus he co-founded a student chapter of the NAACP, and decided to study medicine. He graduated from Wayne State School of Medicine, and moved for residency at Highland Hospital, here in Oakland, California. Inspired by the activism and connection he found while in Oakland, Dr. Small boldly approached the Black Panther Party. He offered to work pro bono, and became their primary physician in 1970. Dr. Small cared deeply about offering health care to the Black community due to the inequities he saw. He acted as Medical Director at the George Jackson Free Medical Center in Berkeley, and opened The People’s Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, both creating access to health care, support, and education for many Black Americans. With the Black Panther Party, he was invited to join their trip to China. On this trip, Dr. Small and other leaders observed the “barefoot doctors’ movement”, where people trained in basic healthcare, including acupuncture, offer treatments to underserved populations. Dr. Small returned home energized, and taught himself how to treat with acupuncture, becoming one of the first physicians in the United States to practice it. He then went on to practice medicine and acupuncture in a variety of settings in Northern California, including caring for patients in San Quentin and Folsom Prison, and later opening the Harriet Tubman Medical Office in Oakland with his wife, Anola. He stayed at the Harriet Tubman Medical Office from 1980 until 2016 when it sadly closed. Dr. Tolbert Small Today Today, Dr. Tolbert Small continues to offer healing through internal medicine and acupuncture to his patients in the Bay Area. He also continues his activism through poetry and writing, and has published a book, Resistencia, Love, Healing that is available for purchase. Here is one of our favorite poems, that is especially appropriate for aspiring and practicing acupuncturists and healers: To the Healers (and Their Patients Who Have the Right to be Healed) We healers. We toiled for years to learn the mystery of the human body. We nourish spirits from birth to the grave. We mend the bones. We sew the cuts. We kill the pain. We cool the fevers. We soothe the spirits. We are healers. We bring new life. We close old life. We pick the herbs. We needle away the pain. We cut out the cancer. We poison the germs. We calm the troubled minds. We are healers. We treat the whole body as one universe. We treat each part of this universe. We keep the hearts pumping. We keep the lungs breathing. We know, as long as life exists, We will be healers. References: Meng, E. (2020, February 2). "Dr. Tolbert Small." Of Part and Parcel. https://www.ofpartandparcel.com/blog-2/dr-tolbert-small Dr. Tolbert Small: The People's Doctor. (2020, July 27). https://the-peoples-doctor.com/

Summer sunshine, warmth, and longer days are finally here! In East Asian Medicine (EAM), summer is associated with the fire element, which makes sense given the warmer temperatures, longer time that the sun is out, and our overall warmer feelings in our body. Summer is also the most Yang time of the year, meaning it is the time that is most bright, active, warm (compared to winter, which is the most Yin time of year, meaning it is dark, slower, cooler). With all of this in mind, it is especially important to be taking care of our bodies in a way that keeps the fire in balance, not too much, or not too little. According to EAM, there are many ways you can care for your body during summer by balancing and supporting the fire element. This looks like managing heat to stay cool, staying hydrated, and moving the excess heat out of your body. Here are some food recommendations (with a yummy summer-inspired recipe!) and forms of simple movement that can help you keep your cool this summer! Foods that are good for you during summer The flavor associated with summer or the Fire element is bitter. The bitter flavor is good at clearing heat, especially in the organs associated with the Fire element (the Heart and the Small Intestine!). With this in mind, bitter foods, such as kale, bitter greens, radishes, cabbage, and even coffee or chocolate (without sugar), support a healthy balance during summer. Foods that also have high water content, such as watermelon, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, peaches, and other fruits and vegetables can help with cooling your body down during summer. Try out this yummy summer salad, that you can easily find all the ingredients to during summer, and better yet, at your local farmers market! Tomato Watermelon Cucumber Radishes Lettuce Olive Oil Lemon Mint, dill, or any other fresh herbs Salt and pepper Movement to help clear heat In Qi Gong, there is an exercise called "Pulling Down Heavens" that may appear simple, but has profound balancing, cleansing, and descending effects on the body. Depending on your intention there are minor variations on the exercise, but generally this practice gathers earth and heavenly Qi, and then washes over and down the body. This exercise is a great way to start the day by gathering Qi for the day, or even close the day, bringing energy down and let go. Pulling Down Heavens can be a great part of any daily routine, but could help to descend and clear heat or excess energy during summer. Here's a video tutorial on how to do Pulling Down Heavens, and describes three variations you can try! A Note on Global Heat You may have seen the headlines that this week the world experienced the 4 hottest days ever on record. While it's important to know how to say in good health during hot days and beat the heat, the issue of rising temperatures is not an individualized one; the world is poised to see an increase in epidemics and climate refugees in the coming decades. We encourage everyone to do what they can to take action against climate change. For inspiration about how you can help and to read a Chinese-medicine inspired take on climate change, check out this article about Environmental Activist & AIMC Berkeley professor Dr. Nishanga Bliss, DSc, DAIM, LAc. About the Author Molly Pilloton Lam is a first-year Master's student at AIMC with a background in working with BIPOC communities in education, educational leadership, public health, and trauma-informed youth mental health program settings. She is interested in expanding education and equitable access to acupuncture and EAM in BIPOC and communities, particularly to support people with the impacts of trauma. She is excited to be a student at AIMC for her pathway to acupuncture, and looks forward to uplifting its traditional practices and other BIPOC practitioners' voices.

Head to our beaches this summer and you face a stark reminder of today’s plastics crisis as you squish through the sand, increasingly composed of microplastic . As the fossil fuel industry faces growing public pressure, it is turning toward using petroleum to produce ever-more plastic instead of fuel. Plastic and Your Health From a Chinese medicine perspective, the jing (deep energy reserve) of the planet is being tapped and either burned, creating either excess heat/yang and warming the atmosphere, or made into plastic and chemical compounds, which can be seen as pathological yin or phlegm. Chinese medical wisdom teaches that “phlegm is the mother of a hundred diseases.” A growing body of research links chemicals produced in the manufacture, use and breakdown of plastic to myriad health problems, including obesity, infertility and cancer . National Geographic research recently suggested that humans ingest about a credit card’s worth of microplastics a week in food, water and air, while microplastics have been found in human lungs, blood, breast milk and semen. What We Can Do to Turn the Plastic Crisis Around These plastic particles and novel chemicals may or may not be able to be removed or neutralized by the body’s natural detoxification systems. To best protect our personal and our planetary health, we need to both avoid and minimize exposure through opting out of plastics whenever possible and advocate for the removal of plastic from the economy and environment. At the AIMC clinic, we are supporting the global plastic-free movement by offering reusable glass jars for your granule herb formulas. You can purchase a jar with your next herb prescription for $2, wash it at home after you finish your herbs and bring it back for your next herb refill. Also, please re-use the plastic measuring spoon at home or opt out of plastic altogether by using a teaspoon to measure your granules (1 level teaspoon = 3 grams or 1 heaping teaspoon = 4 grams). We are also conducting an inventory of our plastic waste including needle tubes and packaging this month. We’ll be working to find lower-waste alternatives, stay tuned for details. Get Involved Want to get involved with Plastic-Free July? Explore the following: Take the Global Plastic-Free Challenge here. Petition the US government to take a stronger stance in negotiations over the UN Global Plastic Treaty here. Learn more with the animated short The Story of Plastic , or view the award-winning documentary. Plan ahead when you shop by packing reusable shopping bags and cloth bags for bulk items and produce. Stock your car or bike bag with a few utensils, reusable cup and shopping bags to support your efforts to refuse plastic on the go. Try bar rather than liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner, or shop at a refill store like Fillgood in Berkeley or the Re-Up Refill Shop in Oakland. Make your own yogurt, hummus, kombucha and more to save money and skip the containers. Check out the Zero-Waste Chef for recipes and kitchen-greening ideas. Whatever you do, don’t do it alone! We need to join together and magnify our efforts to beat this one. Speaking about the issue in your family, workplace and community has an impact. Food and Water Watch, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, Berkeley’s own Ecology Center and CalPIRG are just a few of the many great organizations working on this issue. About the Author Nishanga Bliss, DSc, DAIM, LAc, is a holistic doctor and educator who believes that personal and planetary health are interdependent. She teaches Chinese and integrative medicine at AIMC, where she practices in the community clinic, offering nutrition consults, herbal medicine and acupuncture. She is passionate about protecting the planet and is active in the climate movement. A former chef, Nishanga loves kitchen medicine and practicing the ancient healing art of fermentation. Her book, Real Food All Year: Eating Seasonal Whole Foods for Optimal Health and All-Day Energy (New Harbinger Press, 2012) dives deeply into the practice of eating with the seasons, weaving the ancient wisdom of Chinese medical nutrition together with nutrition science and real-world culinary know-how. Visit her website at: https://nishangabliss.com

If you’ve ever considered adding microneedling to your acupuncture practice, know that there is much to learn about this effective, lucrative and popular modality. There are a growing number of acupuncturists utilizing microneedling to help their patients look and feel their best. It’s understandable to want to dive right in and offer this specialty to your patients, but taking the time to understand the right tools and approaches to make it the most effective will mean your patients will experience better and more lasting results. And that in turn will lead to more referrals, and an increased income and reputation. What is Microneedling? There are three distinct ways of answering that question - from a Western, Eastern, and Integrative perspective. From a Western perspective: microneedling uses tiny needles to create micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production and promoting cellular regeneration. It’s used to treat a variety of skin concerns, including wrinkles, scarring, acne, enlarged pores, stretch marks and hyperpigmentation as well as to promote hair growth. Microneedling can also be used to improve the effectiveness of topical treatments by allowing them to penetrate more deeply into the skin. From an Eastern perspective: microneedling has its roots in Plum Blossom technique, which has been part of Chinese medicine’s canon for over 2,000 years. Plum blossom technique is a superficial tapping on the surface of the skin with tiny needles to promote qi and blood circulation, disperse swelling and dampness, harmonize the ying and wei, reduce heat and toxic substances and eliminate pathogenic factors. Since microneedling is a form of acupuncture, it can heal the skin locally as well as work systematically through the meridian system. Integrative microneedling synthesizes the modern tools of microneedling, such as dermastampers and motorized ‘skinpen’ devices, with the internal health benefits of Chinese medicine. Beauty Through Health There is nothing wrong with your patients wanting to look their best. Acupuncturists understand that patients will look their best when they are healthy from the inside out. Beauty as a reflection of the health of the zang fu, meridians, emotions and spirit (shen) has been a concept in Chinese history and philosophy for over two thousand years. ​ There are references to how acupuncture improves one’s physical appearance in the Suwen chapter of the Neijing medical text. ​ Balancing the zang fu and regulating the free flow of qi through the meridians can help keep your patient’s skin clear, vibrant, supple and glowing and the shen radiating from their eyes. Acupuncturists are in the unique position of providing a modern aesthetic procedure that actually improves their patient’s internal health. Finding the Right Microneedling Courses With the right education and experience, you can expect to get two to three times more money for each appointment that includes microneedling compared to a standard acupuncture session. But more importantly, a rigorous microneedling course should help you understand: The history and philosophy of the modality The benefits and strengths and what your patients can realistically expect Possible contraindications How to interface with Western aesthetic treatments and facial rejuvenation acupuncture Which facial products and ingredients combine best with microneedling and which should be avoided The different types of devices, including the sliding versus stamping mechanism of actions, types of warranties and quality standards Treatment protocols that incorporate microneedling in the most effective way Pre and post-treatment recommendations for patients Legalities and scope of practice Treatment pricing considerations and how to effectively market A rigorous microneedling course should also give: Ample supervised hands-on practice time to use microneedling devices and practice protocols Customizable forms for your practice and detailed seminar notes. Ongoing community and individual support, such as access to a practitioners’ social media group and opportunities to talk with instructors. Your Experience is a Strength Licensed Acupuncturists in the US are, by definition, needling experts with a minimum of 2000 hours of training, 600 of which are in a supervised clinical setting. Your background and your experience with acupuncture - and possibly facial rejuvenation acupuncture - are why your patients return, so seek out a microneedling course that provides protocols yet allows you to bring your experience and talents to the table, making your patients’ time with you a unique experience. While you don't have to have a background in facial rejuvenation acupuncture to add microneedling to your practice, practitioners without that background may need a more intensive microneedling course to cover all the in-depth information required to understand this modality and practice it successfully. It’s understandable that you may get sticker shock when you see the price of the high-end devices and in-depth classes and courses for microneedling, but the investment will be worth it for your patients’ cosmetic results and health benefits and for your income. Ideally, the point of bringing microneedling into your practice is not just to add it to the list of services on your website. The goal is to be a “microneedling expert.” One who patients are clamoring to see and are telling their friends about. One who has increased their credibility through knowledge, expertise and effective results, leading to a schedule full of happy and healthy patients. About the Authors Diana Horowitz, L.Ac. and Amelia Vargas, L.Ac. and Licensed Esthetician, discovered microneedling independently of each other in 2015 in Colorado. As facial rejuvenation acupuncturists both trained in The Wakefield Technique, they strongly shared a belief in supporting a patient's constitution during any aesthetic acupuncture process. After creating their own holistic integrative microneedling protocol, they developed and now teach in-person and online seminars to acupuncturists around the world. Diana and Amelia are strong advocates for the acupuncture profession, serving as Microneedling Co-Chairs for the Acupuncture Association of Colorado since 2016. Their purpose is to open the door of this primarily western cosmetic specialty to acupuncturists while honoring microneedling’s roots in Chinese medicine. Learn more about their October 2023 Microneedling class at AIMC Berkeley here!

Moving deeper into Autumn we can support the health of our physical and emotional bodies with the elemental logic of Chinese Traditional Medicine. Through this season we depart from the Heart-centered fire of Summer to honor the element of Metal, and the organs of the Lungs and Large Intestines which filter and purge. We have lived through annual peaks in Yang energy and start to distill the lessons we’ve lived through, deciding what is most necessary to carry forward. Energetically, Lungs process through the emotion of grief so the seasonal contraction truly is a gentle nudge towards inwardness, retrospection and release. The Lungs are a delicate organ often needing our support, and especially call in our attention in the Fall during California’s fire season and across seasons as the weather gets colder into Winter. The Lungs rule over the body’s water passages; the energy of the Lungs,  Lung Qi, plays an important role in circulating all body fluids. By “descending and diffusing” - extracting “pure qi” from air and moving it through our bodies in networks under our skin (cou li, interstices) - healthy Lungs catalyze blood circulation and thus assist our  immune defense, or (defensive qi). They can be thought of as the most external of the Zang/Yin organs because of their control over the skin and thus require some priority to protect from exterior pathogens in our environments and/or climatic factors. The Prime Minister and the Emperor The Chinese medicine-lineage uses imperial archetypes to orient understandings of organ energetics and how they relate to other internal systems. The Lungs are commonly referred to as “the Prime Minister” because they are in charge of regulation and work intimately with the Heart (the Emperor). The Lungs and the Heart have an interdependent relationship and we see this on physiological levels as well as the spiritual or emotive lens. The Lungs, which governs qi, and the Heart which governs blood, are connected through the Qi of the chest (Zong Qi) and are often healthy or deficient at the same time. Qi is the commander of blood and blood is the mother/vessel for qi, they are not apart from each other. Spiritually, the Lungs are recognized as the residence of the Corporeal Soul (Po) - the yin counterpart to the Ethereal Soul (Hun) housed in the Heart. Breathing exercises to strengthen and purify the Lungs are often also feedback to calm the heart-mind, the spirit. “Just as through breathing oxygen enters the blood in Western medicine, in Chinese medicine breathing is a manifestation of the Corporeal Soul which affects all psychological functions”. In harmonizing our inner and outer worlds, what is felt and and what is embodied, we can access the most support with a slower pace and moisture to aid gentleness in this “clearing” time. Get to Know Your formulas In cases of dryness inhibiting the flow of qi, the formula Clear Dryness and Rescue the Lungs Decoction (Qin Zao Jiufei Tang) may be prescribed to clear dryness and moisten Lungs. Formula Ingredients Mulberry Leaf/Moli Folium, , (Chief), Clears and disperses dryness from the Lungs. Soft and moist in nature, the harvesting of this herb is traditionally left until after the frost of winter. Gypsum/Gypsum fibrosum, , (Deputy), Clears heat from the Lung (and Stomach) meridians to relieve thirst. The dose of this herb is minimized to prevent limiting the dispersive effect of sang ye. Ophiopogon Root/Ophiopogonis Radix, , (Deputy), Sweet and cooling nature to nourish the yin by generating yang fluids. It assists sang ye  and further protects the Lung by preventing warm-dryness (yang) damage to yin. Gelatin/Asini Corii Colla, , (Assistant), Moisten the Lungs by nourishing Lung yin. Counter and balance heat-clearing and Lung qi dispersal actions from other herbal ingredients. Dry-fried Black Sesame Seed/Sesami Semen nigrum, , (Assistant), Moisten the Lungs by nourishing Lung yin. Counter and balance heat-clearing and Lung qi dispersal actions from other herbal ingredients. Apricot Seed/Armeniacae Semen, , (Assistant), Descend Lung qi and moisten the organ of the Lungs. Honey prepared Loquat Leaf/Eriobotryae Folium, , (Assistant), Descend Lung qi and moisten the organ of the Lungs. Because this component is prepared in honey there is an additional layer of moisture to the decoction. Chinese Ginseng/Ginseng Radix, , (Assistant), Augment qi by harmonizing the middle jiao. Chinese Licorice Root/Glycyrrhizae Radix, , (Envoy), Harmonize the actions of other herbs in the formula. In herbal formulas titles of “Assistant” or “Deputy” work to the same effect to indicate the role of the ingredient and its dose or predominance within the formula. “Emperor, Chief, or King” indicates the power of a primary herb in a given recipe that may have the strongest action or the highest dosage to support the effectiveness of the formula. “Deputy” describes a supportive secondary ingredient that maintains the primary herbs service. “Assistant” herbs will also reinforce the effects of principal herbs while also contributing to balance the system or counteract the toxicity of other ingredients. “Envoy” herbs may help direct the formula’s action to a specific region of the body or harmonize the effects of other ingredients. ( References: Scheid, V. (2015). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & strategies.) *The information provided above is being shared for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. This posting is not intended to facilitate or augment Provider-Patient relationships, please contact your licensed health professional for matters of your personal health.   Want to see the difference that a custom herbal blend can make for you? Check in with one of our Clinic Interns or Professional Acupuncturists at the AIMC Berkeley Clinic to get your custom blend. Book your appointment , where we can offer you individualized treatment advice and create an herbal medicine prescription that is tailored to you. About the Author Wana is a second year master's student at AIMC with groundwork practice in reproductive and public health. They connect to East Asian Medicine through an ancestral root, and believe that land-based indigenous medicines deserve the privilege to supplement or substitute western care practices as conduits of more intimate contemporary healing.

In the Northern Hemisphere, October marks the settling in of our Autumn season, and as our environment shifts - the days getting darker and nights longer - we’re also issued a shift to our daily rhythms. Across lineages and cultures people have ways of recognizing the movement into Fall times, and whether that’s through celebration of the harvest yields, a gratitude towards light’s presence despite darkness, or leaning into the “thinned veils” between the world of the living and the world of the ancestors, there is an importance around holding this turning point. In this space, I’ll hold the responsibility by honoring and uplifting the “Ghost Points” of Chinese Medicine. Spooky in name, but largely exorcized in practice, the Ghost Points are a group of acupuncture points originally issued in prescribed progression as a treatment for illnesses of the spirit - and health disturbances attributed to spiritual possession. Sun Si Miao and the Call for Kind Treatment In the early Tang dynasty renowned herbalist and acupuncturist Sun Si Miao (581-682) collected and formally introduced the treatment through his literature Beiji Qianjin Yaofang, often translated as “The Essential Formulas worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold”. This classic text is composed of 30 scrolls and included case studies of disease and their treatments, rare for publications of the time. While maintaining rank as a major medical study of the Tang dynastic era, it can also be thought of as a compilation of pre-Tang medical texts embodying greater influence and information from preceding culture than pieces produced later in the period. In his following accompanying text Quianjin Yifang, “The Supplement to The Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces”, he further describes clinical applications of acupuncture and herbal traditions conjunct with a broader experience with folk remedies - which were often less systematized and documented. The richness of Sun Si Miao’s contributions to medicine deepen as these two texts are some of the earliest preserved medical texts to discuss ethics and the physician’s active role in uphold dignity through treatment. His essay “On the Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians” opens his first book with pledges to virtuous practice akin to the hippocratic oath. And with emphasis towards standardizing dignity within care distributed widely he formally establishes that the treatment of illness should be held in social and spiritual containers broader than clinical procedures. Gui and Gu Syndrome: Phlegm and Parasitism The ghost points were grouped together to address the presence of “gui”, which translates to both “ghosts” and “excess phlegm”. Phlegm, the so-called “Mother to 100 Evils” for the broad presentation of illness it can manifest, was thought to be the medium for spirits to enter the body as pathogenic accumulation and condensation. In physical assessments phlegm builds up, causing stagnation and swelling, or in heat, causes blood to become turbid affecting our mind, mood and behavior. The ghost point protocol is speculated to have shamanic origins, which follows as many traditions within Chinese Medicine are derived from ancient esoteric and folk practices. Older treatment principles prioritized the expulsion of spirits but in contemporary contexts practitioners will strategize to support psycho-emotional wellbeing. Whether one believes in ghosts or not, gui inhibits the flow of qi to weaken the body, the spirit, and eventually the will (to live). image courtesy of classicalchinesemedicine.org Similarly, Gu syndrome describes disease for which treatment can be challenging because of its nuanced presentation. There are a wide range of symptoms spanning gut problems, neuromuscular, mental, and constitutional signs. In the Hanyu Da Zidian - the great compendium of Chinese characters - the nine definitions for the term “Gu” are listed that reference historical inquiries to stagnancy and degeneration: Infection by a worm in the digestive tract A type of artificially cultivated poisonous bug Ghost of a person (often convicted of Gu-magic) whose severed head was impaled on a stake Evil heat and noxious qi that harms humans Insect pest that eats grain Sorcery that harms humans To seduce; tempt; confuse; mislead Affair; assignment One of the 64 hexagrams of the Yijing, specifically Hexagram 18. It is formed by the trigrams Gen (mountain) over Xun (wind) Originally thought to be derived from poisoning and curses affected through parasites (medical anthropologists cite Gu worms), in the last 2,500 years the concepts forming Gu diagnoses have largely adapted to note the presence of severe parasitic infection that has spread through multiple layers of infection that mutually work to weaken the body. In much of western society there is a common misbelief, compounded by racism, that parasitic infection is rare without travel to foreign countries. However, by denying the presence and clinical magnitude of systemic parasitism health practitioners may also minimize treatment of brain fog and digestive disorders - when inflamed nervous systems and digestive tracts are common signals of deeper developing issues. Treatment The ghost points were once taught in a cadence to address illness at varying levels of severity but because of the esoterism surrounding its origins the ritual of its original prescribed order is rarely taught or held to clinical standard. In modern clinics, the points - Du 26, LU 11, SP 1, PC 7, UB 62, Du 16, ST 6, Ren 24, PC 8, Du 23, Ren 1, LI 11, and YT - are advised to not be over stimulated, with calls to reduce needles to 3 ghost points in a given session. Treatments range from addressing chronic ails to supporting patterns of emotional health. More gently, points on the Yangming channels (Stomach and Large Intestine) can also be used to target gu syndromes - and accompanying herbs to move blood, tonify blood and yin, tonify qi, expel wind and dry damp can reinforce and add flexibility to inflammatory pathogens. Calming the Shen and other spirits will create a sense of peace to bring forward treatment effects of the ghost protocol and harmonize greater wellness at large within TCM frameworks. About the Author Wana is a second year master's student at AIMC with groundwork practice in reproductive and public health. They connect to East Asian Medicine through an ancestral root, and believe that land-based indigenous medicines deserve the privilege to supplement or substitute western care practices as conduits of more intimate contemporary healing.

The phrase “Chinese patent medicine” extends to describe herbal recipes generally composed into pill or tablet form for wider accessibility and streamlined dosing when compared to more traditional raw herb decoctions. Their preparation into prepackaged prescriptions descends from formulations in ancient texts, such as the Shang Han Lun and the Jin Gui Yao Lue, time tested by generations for over 2,000 years. This historical context establishes not only the ingredient herbs, but the preparation required for single herbs before they are mended together, and the harmonizing proportions necessary to bring out the intended effects of the entire composition. Tea pills are made starting with ground herbs mixed into a paste with a binder - water, honey, or a liquid herbal extract - then rolled or spun into small pearls for individual dosage. Traditionally the honey would act with an additional importance to preserve the medicinal properties. Alternatively, larger balls containing multiple servings would be encased by a wax layer to this potency, then be cut to size and taken by patients at home. In China today these formulas are proprietary, highly standardized to monographs in the Chinese pharmacopeia and their production standardized by government pharmaceutical factories. This industry regulation sets the quality standard and leaves a minimal risk margin to cause harm or worsen illness, perfect in tone for over-the-counter purchasing. Taking Illness into Account In colder seasons the cool air brings us an increased susceptibility to viral pathogens. Mucus membranes lining the nose and throat are dried out and weakened, reducing our natural immunity. In TCM, climatic “Wind” can influence both external and internal degeneration and invade our bodies as during its illness. Symptoms associated with wind invasion are often “dry”, and follow a movement pattern of come and go, inconsistent headaches or bodily pain, rashes that move around, even seasonal allergies. A diagnosis of a “Pathogenic Wind-Cold” translates as a common cold with symptoms like an occasional scratchy or sore throat, sudden fatigue, neck or body stiffness, slight headaches and runny nose/congestion. At the first sign of illness it is commonly advised to take Gan Mao Ling. Gan Mao Ling’s proprietary formula is a blend of Ilex asprella root, Evodia lepta (similar to echinacea), Isatis Indigotica Root, Chrysanthemum flowers, and Honeysuckle. This formula can be taken to treat mild wind-cold and early stages of wind-heat to clear toxic heat and disperse wind while regulating and tonifying (Lung) Qi. Gan Mao Ling Ilex asprella root--Gang mei gen: Supports respiratory system Evodia lepta herb-- San cha ku: Supports respiratory system Chrysanthemum indicum flower-- Ye ju hua: Clear wind heat Vitex negundo herb-- Wu zhi gan: Guide to sinuses Isatis indigotica root-- Ban lan gen: clear heat, relieve toxicity Lonicera japonica flower--Jin yin hua: clear heat relieve toxicity Another immune system ally, Yin Qiao San, can be advised for “Wind-Heat” invasions, presenting as an occasional sore throat, red irritated eyes, mild body aches, slight cough, an aversion to wind/cold, with itchy red skin lesions that move around the body. Yin Qiao may be called for, alternative to Gan Mao Ling, when symptoms are more pronounced in deeper stages of illness. Herbs work to clear toxic heat and disperse wind through releasing the exterior - promoting sweating. Yin Qiao San Lonicera japonica flower--Jin yin hua: clear heat relieve toxicity Forsythia suspensa fruit-- Lian qiao: clear heat relieve toxicity Arctium lappa fruit-- Niu bang zi: clear heat, release exterior Platycodon grandiflorum root-- Jie geng: dissolve phlegm Mentha haplocalyx herb-- Bo he: release exterior Glycine max bean-- Dan dou chi: release exterior Glycyrrhiza uralensis-- Gan cao: harmonize, clear heat toxin Schizonepeta tenuifolia-- Jing jie: warmth to moderate cold in formula, release exterior Lophatherum gracile herb-- Dan zhu ye: strongly clear heat It’s worth noting that Gan Mao Ling and Yin Qiao are relatively modern formulas considering the long heritage of Chinese herbal medicine and have origins in the last couple hundred years. Gan Mao Ling was created through contemporary research in Taiwan and then brought to China in 1988. Yin Qiao San, written by Dr. Wu Ju-tong, was published in his Wen Bing Tiao Ban (Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases) in 1798. Both formulations can be taken at the onset of cold-like symptoms, but not earlier as neither should be taken too often as preventative medicine. To help determine which may be most effective, patients that run cold, or first present with malaise or a runny nose - signs of cold - may respond best to Gan Mao Ling. Because the pattern of these symptoms often linger or diminish to reappear this formula may be useful at a reduced dose for milder symptoms at the end of sickness to support extending immunity. Patients that run hot, or first present with redness or a sore throat - signs of heat - may respond quickly to Yin Qiao. Patients should stop use when symptoms disappear. Trust and Transparency to Build an Herbal Confidence Alongside the standardization of medicine, local practitioners may still write specific formulas - more intimate to the needs of their clients - or make modifications to these time rested ratios based on what is available in local markets - as is allowed overseas/outside of the PRC. It is important to remember that in consideration of any existing or potential variation, ingredient lists should be readily available. Items sold at your local herb shop should have legible labels or translations of original labels provided. At the AIMC Clinic our supervisors and student clinicians will be able to advise you transparently around any herbal prescriptions and component concerns. Book your appointment today! About the Author Wana is a second year master's student at AIMC with groundwork practice in reproductive and public health. They connect to East Asian Medicine through an ancestral root, and believe that land-based indigenous medicines deserve the privilege to supplement or substitute western care practices as conduits of more intimate contemporary healing.

During winter there is a seasonal predisposition to slowness. Needs of gentle movement and restoration reflect the time of year when yin peaks, drawing what’s nutritive in closer to claim focus. In Traditional Chinese Medicine winter is associated with the water element and support towards the Kidney organs. As many plants draw back their leaves and send energy into their roots, our qi descends naturally to the energetic reserves kept within the Kidneys. Powerfully, these organs are considered to be generators of our primal essence, , and acts as the seat of our spirit, (will power). and both represent a commitment to this life. While the strength of our provides the material basis for longer life and graceful aging, is the mental or emotional root a person has to be alive and in healthy connection to life. Through this gift of substance, the role of our Kidneys fits beautifully with the archetype of the roots. It’s a hard reality that during winter many struggle through health hardships. Fortunately, the TCM lens loans us a reliable framework towards agency. Sunken temperatures easily coax the Kidneys out of balance, so through this season in order to tonify the Kidneys, preserve our jing, and cultivate the zhi, we fortify against cold damage. The depth and darkness of these days usher folks indoors with weakened immune systems. Seasonal affects to the mood and mind manifest as anxiety, restlessness and fatigue, depression, trouble focusing or on the other side of the spectrum overextending - and burnout. As the kidneys are also related to our adrenal system, and are triggered by fear, straining beyond normal use in stressed conditions. While more solitary introspection like meditation can inspire, it is equally important to hold time in our communities to share to care, or express need that haven’t been met yet. Befriending Winter for our Kidneys To harmonize our personal/internal systems we move in relationship with our environment, layering additional consideration into our lifestyle habits and setting examples of kind choices. Stay Warm To keep warm outside it is important to dress appropriately. Though this may cue images for a variety of cold weather gear, acupuncturists know that necessary points of protection are the ankles (and wrists), the back of the neck, and the stomach. Essential channels run our qi through these crossing points and leaving them exposed to cold for longer periods of time jeopardizes the flow within us. Stagnation affects circulation. Supported by the proper warmth we are able to care for our digestion, mood stability, sleep, fertility, pain perception and healing reception. Move Slowly As the solstice is behind us now, we can look forward to brighter days and broader capacities imbued by the rising of yang tides. This is a good time to slowly (re-)integrate gentle movement practices like qi gong, tai chi, walking or yoga to expand upon sedentary mindfulness practices like meditation and journaling often brought in at the start of colder weather. Rest & Digest The draw to water nourishes life in any season, but especially following the drying climate of autumn honoring our hydration is critical to preserving our immunity because it allows our body to rest. When we are hungry, when we are thirsty, deprived of sleep and nutrients it will become impossible to extend care into broader life. Supplementing with medicinal soup (favorably, bone broths and seaweed bases) and tea invites moisture through our diet beyond our basic water intake. As gift, I offer this informal warming tea blend with approximate ratios and general instructions. In my own kitchen it adapts and becomes modified as my stock shifts, but these herbs are accessible - safe for most bodies at most tea doses - so there is room to tinker. In the spirit of Chinese herbalism this tea is decocted from whole plant parts - simmered on the stove to extract medicinal actions - rather than steeped - as many tea bags and powders have hot water poured over them. You may be surprised, many of these Chinese herbs could already be in your pantry and any additional plant parts could be accessible at your local herb shop. INGREDIENTS Thumb of organic ginger, , washed and sliced - peeling the skin is optional if its organic 2 sticks of cinnamon, gui zhi 6 cardamom pods, bai dou kou , crushed 6 jujubae dates, da zao , – pitted and halved Optional; Qi tonics like Ginseng, ren shen , or Codonopsis Root, dang shen , can be added at equal ratio to ginger to boost primal qi. STEPS Add all ingredients to a small pot of water. The amount of water will depend on your desired concentration, I aim for about 4 cups, or a liter. This will leave 2-3 large servings. Heat while covered. Once the pot is boiling, lower the heat to a simmer and wait for 20 minutes. The longer the tea cooks the sweeter the taste from the dates will be. You can enhance the sweetness by adding Chinese black/brown sugar, or honey, when the pot is off the heat source to avoid cooking out the nutritional benefits. Strain and enjoy. *The information provided above is being shared for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. This posting is not intended to facilitate or augment Provider-Patient relationships, please contact your licensed health professional for matters of your personal health.   Want to see the difference that a custom herbal blend can make for you? Check in with one of our Clinic Interns or Professional Acupuncturists at the AIMC Berkeley Clinic to get your custom blend. Book your appointment , where we can offer you individualized treatment advice and create an herbal medicine prescription that is tailored to you. About the Author Wana is a second year master's student at AIMC with groundwork practice in reproductive and public health. They connect to East Asian Medicine through an ancestral root, and believe that land-based indigenous medicines deserve the privilege to supplement or substitute western care practices as conduits of more intimate contemporary healing.

The Lunar New Year is upon us. Starting February 10th people in China, Tibet, Mongolia, Vietnam, Korea - and across diasporic communities - gather to eat, gift, and set the stage for the oncoming cycle in community. This is a time to call in prosperity, abundance, and good health under a shared new moon. Our oncoming year is the year of the Wood Dragon, which happens once every 60 years. There are 12 zodiac animals and 5 elements that layer over each other to produce 60 unique combinations of energetic predisposition. This year carries affiliation of yang, toward processing our anger, healing the liver, and the color green. As held in ancient myth, the twelve animals and their order in the Zodiac were set by a race called for by the Jade Emperor. The elemental order follows the generating cycle of Chinese philosophy, which characterizes a cycle of nourishment through evolving elemental stages. Wood feeds Fire, Fire enriches Earth, Earth forms Metal (Mineral), Metal (Mineral) enforces Water. Each element gets two years in a row to honor the transitional rising of yang and subduing of yin. OUR YEAR’S FORECAST Dragons are the only mythologic creature to appear in the Chinese zodiac. They are an auspicious symbol through many Asian cultures associated with honor, success, and ambition. Their luck carries the new year with a ruthlessness towards growth and creative innovation. Through this cycle, hold your visions and dreams with high esteem. The spiritual connection of the Dragon cradles the world building of revolutionary motion, and the depth of our capacities to break down and break through. May we all fly free, unbound, and borderless, like the proud dragon. Yang solidifies the strength and power of this Dragon year as a momentum builder. New beginnings progress with the dragon’s type-cast charismatic invitation and develop with a mighty courage. As shifts happen, build favor within your chances by grounding enthusiasm with strategy. This directive is a tool of more refined agency. The discernment towards skill, craft, and tact will accentuate harvest yields later. May we show care to our resourcefulness, and bear humble witness to eachother’s learning of evolution. Moving out of two water years - Tiger and Rabbit - and into two wood years - Dragon and Snake - is a prepared maturation. From the slow paced emotional tuning, we’ve kindled an eager readiness to surges of more qualified generation. The Wood element harmonizes yang energetics by bringing in the support necessary to fulfill desired growth. This helps our momentum continue, paced out naturally amidst our environmental partners. Our actions, our people and our lands are share responsibility for our vital qi. Wood potentiates expression and expansion. With flexibility and cooperation we can give generously to our communities as solidarity efforts build urgency, potency, and preparedness. May we give thanks to the cultural and ecosystemic bridges that ensure our growth and resilience. With the wood elemental association, our corresponding organs are the Liver and Gallbladder. Take as an this invitation to support any existing deficiencies within these organs. For this year, minimizing stressors and harboring confidence and competency through strain will bring ease to the Earth element. Processing though anger or fear to better decision making. Learn with what has stagnated your qi and begin this new year with an unstifled spirit. May we rise form roots of rest and clarity. CULTURAL INHERITANCE The drive for auspicious beginnings leads to many families eating symbolic foods like “long life” noodles, sticky rice balls (for family unity), and classically mandarin oranges - homonymic to good luck in Mandarin (“ju”) and to gold in Cantonese (“gan”). Care in Chinese cultural practices plays out in these home rituals and public performances - like the well-known lion dance or the lighting of fire crackers to ward off unlucky folkloric spirits. Customs like avoiding cutting one’s hair, sweeping your home, or taking out rubbish through the New Year’s threshold work to retain the good spirit embedded in the turning of season. The symbolic reverence around participating this way reflects generations of systematized feng shui practice - “energy work” to navigate health and balance amongst our surrounding environments. However deep you may hold this fortune-telling, superstition, advanced reading of fatedness, prophecies of yin and yang finding balancing through inter-transformation echo through the logic of Chinese society. Beyond the totemized associations this astrology acts as a cultural medicine, distilling protocols for responsible living alive in the same framework as clinical Chinese medicine. Through TCM we philosophize care and navigate the illness-wellness spectrum through a web of interconnected stimuli. Just as our physical bodies are impacted by climactic factors - pollution, darkness, heat - observations of the Tao meaningfully connect the design of our spaces, extending to cycles of the sky, with our quality and condition, inclusive of spiritual and emotional development. To impart this wisdom is to extend a profound responsibility on our interconnectedness. About the Author Wana is a second year master's student at AIMC with groundwork practice in reproductive and public health. They connect to East Asian Medicine through an ancestral root, and believe that land-based indigenous medicines deserve the privilege to supplement or substitute western care practices as conduits of more intimate contemporary healing.