Our Blog

Demystifying the Thyroid: Breakdown of the Basics In today’s fast pace and stressful world, thyroid disease is becoming more common and more problematic than ever before.  The function of our thyroid impacts so many biochemical and physiological processes in our body that support our health.  In this series, we are going to talk about the

More Recipes for a Dreamy Restful Sleep during Menopause Loved our last post and looking for more recipes to provide you with restful sleep during the hormone fluctuations of menopause? Read on… Grilled Tofu with Reishi, Shiitake and Wood Ear Mushrooms Firm Tofu – 1 package Wood Ear Mushroom – 16 oz Shiitake Mushrooms –

Recipes for a Dreamy Restful sleep during Menopause and Perimenopause Many women lately are coming to see us for relief from menopause and peri-menopause symptoms.  These symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, dry mouth and throat, joint pain, and insomnia.  Women experiencing these symptoms often have difficulty with sleep, frequently waking up at night and

Welcome Summer of 2021… finally!   Needless to say, I think so many of us have been waiting for this moment, it looks like things are finally getting back to normal and hopefully they will stay that way, getting better and better with each passing day! So as we move into summer, how do we

Allergies and Chinese Medicine: It is spring time, an exciting time for growth and transformation! The flowers are out, the weather is getting warmer, and we can finally go outside and enjoy the benefits of all the rain we have had in the winter.  Then, there is the sneezing.  The itchy eyes.  The runny nose.  The

Happy Chinese New Year, welcome the Year of the Ox! This is the Year of the Metal Ox!  Say goodbye to the Year of the Rat! Oxen are symbols of persistence and honesty. In Chinese culture, the Ox is a faithful friend that makes great contributions!  People born in the Year of the Ox are

Yang Tonic Quinoa Soup by Paz Vizcarra from Tao to Wellness In traditional Chinese Medicine, Yang is warmth, activity, movement & vitality. When yang is deficient there may be signs such as low back ache around the menses, low energy, low libido, low temperature after ovulation or slow growth of the embryo. Common foods that

A Quick Anti-Inflammatory Remedy for our Canine Friends It is Winter Time!  Winter is a time for us to gather together, drink warming teas, meditate and self-reflect.  And it’s also a good time for warming spices – ginger, turmeric, and orange peel.  This remedy below can be used in teas, soups, broths or whatever dish

Acupuncture Detox Program You’ve heard about cleansing or detoxing, but what does it really mean?   A week of nothing but juice?   Or weeks of nothing but maple syrup, cayenne and lemon?   No way! Our Acupuncture Detox Program can help you get the results you want! What:  Our acupuncture detox program is a cleansing (detoxification) regime, based on

How to get ready for Chinese New Year and how to bring luck to the Year of the Rat!  Welcome the year of the Rat!  The rat is the first of all zodiac signs and is a sign that a new day is upon, a fresh start, a new beginning!  “According to one myth, the

“I AM AWAKENING” KEY LIME PIE Recipe from ‘Sweet Gratitude’ by Matthew Rogers and Tiziana Aplio Tamborra, from Cafe Gratitude. I worked at Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley, CA for 5 years, one year as a baker and the other 4 years managing farmers markets, catering, wedding cakes and a line of products in grocery stores. I

Sweet and Spicy Delicata Squash I love Delicata Squash.  It’s so perfect and even better, it’s so easy.  The fact that I can cut through it, with just a tiny bit of muscle AND that you can eat the skin is a game changer!  I’ve wrestled with its sisters, the butternut squash, the acorn, the

THREE reasons why people don’t get acupuncture… Even though, Cigna, Blue Cross, MDs, the Journal of the American Medical Association and the countless research studies all say Acupuncture works!  We still meet the naysayers… Here are the top 3 reasons, people stay away from us! “I’m afraid of NEEDLES!” People are traumatized as young children

What the heck is a Chinese circadian clock? Well, it’s a brilliant thing that was created by the Chinese thousands of years ago.  The Chinese believe that each of your main 12 organs (the ones with meridians) have a 2 hour time period each day where organs are on a strict schedule of self-care and

PCOS Through an Fertility Acupuncturist’s Lens PCOS Through an Acupuncturist’s Lens PCOS is the most common endocrine disturbance.  Many women have no idea they have PCOS until the endocrine disturbance becomes so big that their periods become non-existent. Symptoms: To qualify for a diagnosis of PCOS, a patient must only exhibit two of the following:  Anovulation,

Boost your fertility with food! -Tao to Wellness It is true that women get better with age, there’s no denying that!  And at the same time we can also say that there are things we can do to help us age with grace, especially when we want to boost fertility!  The number one thing… what

Gout… there is a cure – Tao to Wellness A cure for Gout by Tao to Wellness Ouch!  Gout!  If you’ve had a ’bout with gout’, you will never forget it!  It is very painful to say the least! From a Western perspective, Google says, “Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid

Acupuncture can stop you from aging… Period. So, now that we have your attention… What do we mean exactly when we say acupuncture can keep you from aging? We are talking about the relationship between acupuncture and telomeres. Tele what??? Read on… In the world of scientific longevity research, we don’t calculate age by what’s

Having fertility struggles? Two things you can do that are FREE! Having fertility struggles? Two things you can do that are FREE! Tao to Wellness has been specializing in Fertility for over 20 years! We’ve seen many women and couples come through these doors looking for help on their journey to parenthood! It is NOT

A clinical look at two kinds of Anemia Anemia is considered to be an anomaly in either the size or number of red blood cells in the body. Depending on how the disease manifests it can have a number of origins, but the most important causative factors are definitely related to nutritional issues. This decrease

Chinese New Year Dos and Don’ts! The Year of the Pig It is upon us, February 5th marks the beginning of the Year of the Pig!  Get ready ladies and gents! This seems to be the most talked about post we do all year, because who couldn’t use some LUCK!  This is my personal New Year

No-Sugar-Added Sweet Potato Casserole from Nikole I am sucker for Thanksgiving dinner. I like all the classics, but I don’t necessarily like some of the ingredients in the classics. This recipe can easily be made dairy free by substituting almond milk and coconut oil instead of butter, and who needs marshmallows when sweet potatoes are

The Joy and Necessity of Travel Travel is healing, travel is about exploring new places but also ourselves, travel is the best way to shake things up when things are stale or stressed. I recently just got back from Italy, namely Rome, Tuscany and Positano. My first time to Italy and my first BIG trip

How to prevent a cold this season! As my favorite season comes creeping in… “The forces of Autumn create dryness in Heaven and metal on Earth; they create the lung organ and the skin upon the body…and the nose, and the white color and the pungent flavor…the emotion grief, and the ability to make a

SUMMER Hair gets lighter. Skin gets darker. Water gets warmer. Drinks get cooler. Music gets louder. Nights get longer. Life gets better.   Ok, so maybe the summer in the Bay Area is not always warmer (depending on where you live)… but at least the nights get longer, and you may find yourself vacationing in

Combat Spring Allergies! (Berkeley-Acupuncture) All the blossoming and blooming brings with it allergies! Classic symptoms we all know of include itching and watery eyes, nasal congestion, scratchy throat and what seems like the possible onset of a cold.  These symptoms are caused by a histamine release- our bodies attempt to combat allergens that irritate our

Got Insomnia? Acupuncture can help! Got Insomnia? Acupuncture can help! There is nothing worse than not being able to sleep at night. Tossing and turning, watching the clock tick closer and closer to when you need to get up and start your day….its a dreadful feeling.  There are a lot of commercial remedies out there,

It’s an interesting time of year. I always notice how the energy of the holidays is like a can of mixed nuts. There’s the cashews, the sweetness of generosity and giving. The pecans, that wintery nut giving us tradition. The walnuts, ahh, the all knowing ancestors, the family unit, the sense of community. And finally,

How to Decrease Chronic Inflammation with Diet How to Decrease Chronic Inflammation With Diet Chronic inflammation in the body is linked with many serious illnesses: heart disease, numerous  cancers, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, arthritis, autoimmune conditions. We usually think of inflammation on the surface of the body presenting as local redness, heat, swelling and/or pain. It signifies

A real life patient spotlight: Fertility and Acupuncture Sara had been trying to get pregnant for two and a half years now.  She had been pregnant about a year and a half ago, but unfortunately she lost the baby around week 8, they tested the tissue and found no answer.  Her and her husband had

Storytime with Jack Kornfield From a Soul Food, a collection of stories compiled by Jack Kornfield. One of the best examples of the attentive heart came after Gandhi’s death, when the whole Gandhian movement was in disarray. Within a year or two of the establishment of India, a number of Gandhi’s followers decided to have

Healthy Holiday Eating for Pregnant Women Being pregnant over the holidays can be tricky to navigate. Holiday parties display a whole feast of yummy goods, some that we typically only see at this time of the year. Here are some tips for you (or your pregnant friends) when preparing, serving or eating holiday foods. Turkey

Emotions and Chinese Medicine What emotion do you gravitate towards when things are challenging?  Do you tend towards being angry, sad or are you a worry wart when times are tough? Listed below are emotion, the associated organ system, other symptoms that MAY occur when that organ system is out of balance (people rarely have

How to Beat a Cold! It’s that time of year again when everyone around you seems to be catching something. Here at the office, we see many people on the verge of getting sick or dealing with an illness that has gone on way too long. But, somehow, knock on wood, we never get sick.

Storytime with Jack Kornfield From Soul Food by Jack Kornfield Extraordinary Possibilities and the Greatness of the Heart. It happened just a few years ago to two young children in a family from Illinois. The eight year old daughter became ill and was diagnosed with a life threatening blood disease. A search went out to

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Play the Gratitude Gab Game! “Gratitude Gab” – This game is guaranteed to get your guests talking! For the guests that have more to say than just, “I am grateful for food”, this is the perfect game! Get a jar or bowl and have a few questions or topics on folded pieces of

A Real Life Patient Spotlight: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Acupuncture Monica is a videographer and she mostly shoots documentaries.  Her latest project is shooting the homeless and drug users of the Tenderloin in San Francisco, this means she is up at ALL hours.  True, her fatigue set in way before this project, but the project

5 Tools to Surviving the Holidays! The holidays are a joyous time full of family, friends and loved ones. The same people that just may drive you nuts! There’s the rushing around, excessive buying, excessive eating, excessive everything!  Needless to say, things can get hectic.  So, let’s turn the volume down from 11 and simplify

Fudgy Avocado Brownies… OMG! Try this healthy recipe that includes avocado and medjool dates! INGREDIENTS ✨ 12 medjool dates (pits removed and soaked for at least 30 minutes)1 ripe avocado1/2 cup cocoa powder1 cup nuts 1 cup chocolate chipsINSTRUCTIONS ✨ In a food processor, combine all the ingredients until smooth.Line an 8×8 baking dish with

Castor Oil Packs If you grew up in the 70’s you might recall your mother giving you a tablespoon for constipation, but it’s also antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal, it can even be applied topically to treat a variety of skin issues. It increases blood circulation, improves lymphatic drainage, strengthens the immune system and releases trapped

13 Ways Acupuncture Can Change Your Life It will open your mind. Acupuncture requires us to think about health in entirely new ways. In this day and age, we are heavily influenced and encouraged to put all of our faith in Western Medicine, a system that is more reaction based than preventative based. The concepts

Accidental Meditation: You are already doing it! Beginning a new year always brings a desire for change & creating ourselves anew. Exercising, eating well and putting down old habits usually always top the list of New Year’s Resolutions. Beginning a meditation practice is often on those long list of new habits we would love to

Men, Low Sperm Count and Acupuncture… (Berkeley Acupuncture) An excerpt from a London lifestyle magazine. London – Ciaran Hannington and his wife Jennifer had been trying for a baby for a year without success, so decided to go to their GP for help. They were expecting to be told the problem was due to Jennifer

Cheesy Kale Chips (Dairy Free!) Did you hear California is having a shortage of KALE?  Do you know why?  Because it’s just so GOOD!  Kale is found in every restaurant up here in Northern California it was just a matter of time that it was made into a chip!  I’m crazy over Alive and Radiant’s

How to Stay Healthy this Fall How to Stay Healthy This Fall  The end of summer marks a few changes. For those on a school schedule, we/our kids, head back to the classroom. Our gorgeous summer climate starts to shift- it gets darker earlier and starts to feel cooler. Yummy summer fruits are no longer

A real life patient spotlight: Teenage hormones, headaches and acupuncture Zoe is a sweet, sixteen-year-old girl.  She’s like most kids these days, overbooked and overworked.  She’s got tennis on Mondays, violin and soccer on Tuesdays, French lessons and volunteer work on Wednesdays and so on and so on. Zoe gets headaches almost every day, at

Pain After C Section   In this day and age, women are choosing a variety of ways in which to give birth. Some want to give birth at home with a midwife by their side, some choose giving birth to their baby underwater, some want to experience a natural childbirth in a hospital with no

Spring clean your lungs! With these horrible Northern California fires, we need to protect your lungs.  Here’s some foods that can help re-balance and support these billowy organs, admit all this smoke. Top Foods for lung health… Foods With Vitamin C Foods that contain high amounts of vitamin C help your lungs effectively transport oxygen

Feeling inflamed? Eat like this! Inflammation does not discriminate!  We all fall victim to it at one point or another.  Low back pain, neck pain, joint swelling, even stomach issues like anything that ends in an -itis is otherwise known as inflammation. Try this way of eating to reset your body and bring down the

What you shouldn’t eat if you have FIBROMYALGIA! Fibromyalgia can be intense… so much so that a person cannot get out of bed, much less exercise.  Often times, they may gain weight complicating their digestive system, in turn their muscles don’t get fed enough because of their weak digestion and finally, they become depressed.  Suffering

Nurturing your body the Chinese way during the Fall season Traditional Chinese Medicine, believes that fall or autumn correlates with the Metal Element, which are the organ systems of the Lung and Large Intestine. So, the best way to nurture our bodies come fall is to support our Lungs and Large Intestine organs.  The lungs

5 Great Reasons to Eat Avocados They are yummy, satisfying and so, so good for you! Avocados are:  High in Potassium- Avocados actually have more potassium than bananas, a food we often think of initially when we want to increase out potassium intake. Potassium functions to build muscles, synthesize proteins, control electrical activity of  the

Mouth watering GUACAMOLE! Guacamole has quickly become one of my family’s favorite appetizers. They insist mine is the best they’ve had. My secret weapon- A mortar and pestle. You will need 3-4 avocados 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 2-3 scallions, diced (any type of onion will work) 1 jalapeno or cayenne pepper, minced. ¼ cup fresh

Turn on the Turmeric Healthy Turmeric Smoothie, Turn on the Turmeric! I recall many years of patients telling me about their first signs of joint pain, it always seemed to be in the finger joints and usually the pointer or middle finger, a soreness or a feeling of stiffness.  Well, I suppose my time has

Earth Element Dietary Guidelines Earth Element dietary guidelines A short and unrecognized season, the Earth element rules the last month of summer and beginning of autumn.  Or otherwise known as, Indian Summer.  It is the middle of the Chinese year and is the point of transition from Yang to Yin.  To attune to the season,

2017 Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen list released! If you never read any of our posts all year, read this one!  The yearly release of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen report is a list of which foods have the most and the least pesticide residue and will save you money all year.  Who doesn’t

Tips for summer eating!!! Summer is a yang season and is associated with the Heart, Pericardium (“the Heart wrapper”), Small Intestine and the Triple Burner (a Chinese organ that closely resembles the 2nd, 3rd and 4th chakras).Summer is a period of luxurious growth.To be in harmony with the atmosphere of summer, awaken early in the

Tips to having an awesome lymphatic system! The lymphatic system, which is a complicated network of fluid filled lymphs, glands, organs and vessels,  is rarely talked about, but so important.  It’s basically the body’s garbage man or waste management, which in New York is really code word for mafia, but I digress.  For patients who

What’s on the magical Tao to Wellness headphones? I wouldn’t have believed the hype, the website alone makes me cringe, you know those never ending websites with the HUGE “Try Us Now” button.  It just screams scam to me. Guess what?  It’s not a scam.  In 2000 I shared an office with crystal healer, Clifton

Fertility Boosting Foods! At Tao to Wellness we’ve mastered the science behind baby making through acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and nutritional support. Foods have properties just like herbal medicine.  When a patient eats certain foods at certain times of their cycle, there is an impact… sometimes positive and sometimes negative.  Since we want to give

Paleo vs Vegan What’s a girl to do?  There are so many diets out there and I’m not referring to fad diets necessarily.  Just different ways of eating that work for different body types.  How to choose… I personally have been on every single diet known to man (or woman) including the fad ones.  Here’s

The summer season is upon us… Even though the Bay area doesn’t quite have summer like the rest of the country, the energy and properties of summer still apply! Summer is a yang season and is associated with the Heart, Pericardium (“the Heart wrapper”), Small Intestine and the Triple Burner (a Chinese organ that closely

Sunscreen Don’ts and EWG’s 2017 report! EWG who’s motto is Know Your Environment, Protect Your Health has the most comprehensive list of sunscreen reviews out there.  Their site allows you to plug in what you have at home and they even go the extra mile in reviewing, Best and Worst for kids, which ones have

Four foods for FERTILITY! Four foods that are not to be overlooked that will support and assist your journey to parenthood! Raspberries Not only do raspberries register as the lowest fruit on the glycemic index, they are also extremely beneficial for boosting fertility in men and women! They contain high levels of Vitamin C (key

Flying When Pregnant We get asked this question, A LOT!  Since we work with women trying to get pregnant and are at varying stages of the process– some are trying naturally and some are deep into assisted reproductive technology and have been trying for years!  No matter where you are at, most women are cautious

Acupuncture Large Intestine 4 AKA “He Gu” People find it interesting that each acupuncture point has several indications… sort of like a recipe, depending on what ingredients it’s paired with in the recipe this dictates what role it plays in the dish or in this case, treatment.    For example, Large Intestine 4 is great

The NYT says, “Sleep is the new status symbol.” “Sleep today is a measure of success, a skill to be cultivated and nourished.” -says Tim Robinson in a new article in The New York Times.   This is New York City, no more late nights?  No more drinking until 5am?  No more late night greasy burgers after

What is a Dance Break? A dance break is exactly that… a break in your day when you dance. It could be in the morning, at lunch, a break in your intense work day or at night before bed.  It can happen anytime. I first learned of them during long seminar weekends, yeah those… the

One Minute Prep: Brussels Sprouts Tao to Wellness, Berkeley Acupuncture You’ve heard of “4 hour chef”, how about “one minute prep”! I like things done fast and with no fuss, no muss.  I’m efficient and impatient, a constant teetering between positive attribute and annoying anxiety, for pete’s sake someone give her a Xanax!  Just kidding,

Culinary travels to Iceland! I just returned from a bucket list trip to Iceland.  It was enchanting and magical and, well, odd, that being said I now have a better understanding of Bjork.  But let’s stay on track… Being a health conscious gal, I took notice pretty quickly of what they were eating and drinking

Dancing with the year of the Fire Rooster! The year of the Fire Rooster kicked off on January 28th. During the first couple weeks of any new year, it’s a good time to renew relationships ties; gather with friends, family, and dear ones and feel the possibility of renewal and beginnings. Since we’re at the

Why should I get Acupuncture if I’m already doing IVF? The role of Acupuncture and Ovarian Stimulation Utilizing traditional Chinese techniques, such as Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine have not only become popular, but ironically mainstream. As a senior practitioner, I recall just 15 years ago being penned a ‘witch doctor’ and now I’m in

New Year’s Resolution or Intention? The burning question, why use the word resolution as opposed to intention? Resolution is defined as the solution, accommodation, or settling of a problem. Intention is defined as an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result. Is it me, or does it seem like one is

The Wonder of Winter: Five things to know. The way to staying healthy with the seasons is adjusting our daily habits throughout the year. By doing a dance of reflection with the season, our body is better able to ward off illness and recover from chronic ailments. One of the basic systems in Chinese medicine

Golden Slumbers Healing Milk Golden Slumbers fill your eyes Smiles await you when you rise Sleep pretty darling Do not cry And I will sing a lullaby. The Beatles Here’s my lullaby to you… I’ve seen this recipe in a few places just this past week.  Not only does it promise a Golden Slumber, but

Clearing the Clutter for the New Year! Clearing your clutter is powerful, it’s liberating and it’s necessary! Most of you know I’ve been living in New York primarily for the last year and a half, so I decided to clear 10 years of clutter in the upstairs Tao to Wellness loft. Although I’ll never be

What’s your Matcha missing Missy? First of all, what IS Matcha? Well, it’s green tea, but it’s green tea on steroids! One cup of Matcha is the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of green tea and has 137 times more antioxidants than regular green tea. I guess that explains why it’s so darn expensive! Some

What is the deal with Cupping?  Tao to Wellness, Berkeley CA What is the deal with Cupping ?  Ever since Michael Phelps proudly showed his red and purple dots all over his body, we have gotten a ton of calls at Tao to Wellness asking if we do this ancient practice. Yes, we do it!

High Protein, Low Fat Caesar Salad Dressing!  Christina Martin – Tao to Wellness At Tao to Wellness we love protein!  We see the benefit in helping manage and completely eradicate so many illness and ailments. For me personally, I feel like I’m always trying to get enough protein in my day while keeping carbs down…

Tao to Wellness Walnut Pesto One of my favorite things about summer is growing basil and making fresh pesto, my Tao to Wellness Walnut Pesto is to die for! It is so easy, and so delightfully delicious! Pesto’s ability to dazzle you is not at all limited to pasta dishes. It’s wonderful on vegetables, salads,

Self-Care in Times of Stress ~ Deanna Tasi We all go through periods of intense stress in our lives.  How we approach these stresses makes all the difference in how we move through them.  For many people, it is easy to become overwhelmed by these experiences and lose sight of our individual needs.  During times

Feeling BBQ’ed out already?  Awesome Black Bean Burgers!  Tao to Wellness In Chinese medicine, we LOVE protein…  typically acupuncturists are meat eaters.  Meat helps build blood, ground the body and the emotions and regulates the brain (hormones too!) with it’s essential amino acids.  Buuuuut, in my older years I’m feeling like eating less and less

10 Things You Need To Know!!! Berkeley-Acupuncture Juggling a practice, a family and the day to day of living in the Bay area can be a lot… I’ve found these 10 things really help in keeping me balanced, in tune and at the top of my game. Barlean’s Total omega fish oil (Orange cream flavor).

Andrew Weil blasts KOMBUCHA, is he right? I love Kombucha! I drink it as much as I can and when my wallet will allow. Let’s face it, it isn’t the cheapest, but if you compare it to a Starbuck’s or Peet’s drink then it could actually save you money and it’s way better for you…

Straight from New York City, what’s new in Bone Broth? Tao to Wellness Straight from New York City, what’s new in Bone Broth?  Tao to Wellness “Good broth will resurrect the dead” -a South American proverb. So much can be said of the healing properties of broth. Our grandmothers knew best when they gave us

Healthy Fudge! – Tao to Wellness Calling all raw chocolate lovers!  If you would love to be able to take 6 simple ingredients, turn them into the most delicious chocolate treat ever, and do it in less than 10 minutes this recipe is perfect for you! I suggest printing this recipe out and pinning it

how to get more sleep

SPRING CLEANING for your body at Tao to Wellness! SPRING is the BEST time of year for a complete detoxification program. Why? Two reasons… In Spring, the Liver and Gall Bladder energy is at it’s highest making it easier to purge these organs on an energetic and physical level. It’s easier! There are a plentitude

Spring is here!   Foods to eat during this time of year! It’s a new beginning, the time of year to rise early with the sun! In Chinese medicine, Spring is the season when the Liver and Gallbladder work to their optimal level. At Tao to Wellness, we tell our patients to eat naturally, eat

Are you a Wood element personality type? In Chinese medicine, there are five different elements; Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.  Each element possesses certain properties which can coincide or align with a different personality type.  Of course, we just aren’t just one type, most of us posses two, one being a little more dominate

The Basics of Acupuncture Part 5 (Berkeley Acupuncture) A word from the World Health Organization… Should anyone avoid acupuncture? In general, acupuncture is totally safe and well tolerated. One large study found only 43 minor adverse events associated with 34,407 acupuncture treatments. No serious adverse effects were reported. Some health care providers may avoid treatment during

The Basics of Acupuncture Part 4 (Berkeley Acupuncture) What conditions or imbalances can we treat with Acupuncture/Chinese medicine? Chinese Medicine has been used for thousands of years to keep people physically and mentally healthy. We have had a lot of success with many different symptoms and syndromes. Patients are astounded to learn of the many

The Basics of Acupuncture Part 3 (Berkeley Acupuncture) The Basics of Acupuncture Part 3 (Berkeley Acupuncture)  What can I expect during an acupuncture treatment? In addition to asking many questions, the acupuncturist will take your pulse at several points along the wrist.  Unlike Western medicine the last thing we are concerned about it the rate.

The Basics of Acupuncture Part 2 (Berkeley Acupuncture)  How does Acupuncture work? In Chinese Medicine, each organ has a set of symptoms (ie. headaches, insomnia, anxiety, low energy, etc) that will manifest when that organ is “out of balance”. Each organ also has a meridian or pathway. Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles along

The Basics on Acupuncture Part 1 (Berkeley Acupuncture)   Acupuncture is based on ancient Chinese theories of the flow of Qi (Energy/Oxygen) and Xue (Blood) through channels or meridians that run throughout the body very similar to the nervous and circulatory system. Acupuncture itself is the insertion of fine needles into the body at specific

Insomnia and Acupuncture (Berkeley Acupuncture) At Tao to Wellness we certainly see a lot of patients with trouble sleeping. In Chinese medicine, sleep is one of those magical times that you put ‘deposits into your bank account’ or as they say in ancient times, it’s when you replenish your righteous Qi (energy).  Without quality sleep,

New research validates acupuncture and it’s role in treating inflammation In Western medicine, the jury is still out on whether acupuncture delivers health benefits. But now, a new study adds further evidence of its worthiness, as scientists have shown a direct connection between acupuncture and physical mechanisms that heal sepsis, a common condition in hospital

Is this the year to get the flu vaccination? H1N1 is back. This year we have already been affected by scary and deadly accounts of people getting the flu.  The younger generation is particularly susceptible because they have not developed antibodies yet to the virus; whereas most of us who survived the 2009 outbreak already

Patient spotlight:  Heartbreaking miscarriage (Berkeley Acupuncture) Sandrine, a healthy, 41 year old female patient came to us.  She had been trying to conceive for 3 years and had gotten pregnant twice times, but sadly had suffered 2 miscarriages.  Her Western MD team had run many hormone tests, FSH, LH, Estradiol, Prolactin, etc., but they left

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Ahhhh….Being in love…there is nothing quite like it.  The air feels electric, food taste better, every song you hear sounds like the best music ever, little things that bothered you before feel inconsequential, your boss couldn’t possibly penetrate your warm love bubble with demands or upsets, that person that cut you off

THE 5 foods that can boost your FERTILITY! There is so much information out there about which foods hold the most magic when it comes to fertility.  The real answer is eat a balanced, high protein, low carb (no processed food) diet.  And, don’t skimp on the fat!  These 5 do seem to get a

Protein, protein, protein… (Berkeley Acupuncture) As Chinese medicine practitioners we are always concerned about the amount of protein a patient is getting especially if they are trying to have a baby.  As a rule of thumb, a person should consume up 1/2 gram of protein per body weight, some sources even say that should be

What to do and what NOT to do until February 28th! (Berkeley Acupuncture) Here’s the quick and dirty version from Gala!  Be sure not to take things too personally. People will often say offensive things they didn’t mean around this time, because their thinking is clouded and their communication skills are on pause! If your

Yelp and it’s peeps still lovin’ Tao to Wellness From a satisfied patient… “My mom raved about Tao to Wellness for quite some time before I finally made an appointment with Christina, and I really had no idea what to expect. Before I began seeing her twice a week I had lower and upper back

Is sitting too much slowly killing you? Could it be?! Research from Kansas State University shows that people who spend less time sitting and more time physically active have a lower risk for chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer and others. I can certainly attest to the side effects of

Woods…more than just beauty…A powerful stress buster! Stress, stress, stress…… We are surrounded by it. Most of us are so used to it that we no longer realize how stressed out and anxious we really are. Sadly it’s become a way of life. We been conditioned to think that we must always be in constant

Happy Chinese New Year!               Chinese New Year is Friday, January 31st this year, the Year of the Horse. A Chinese proverb states that all creations are reborn on New Year’s day. The Chinese New Year is a celebration of change … out with the old and in with

Is it GMO, Organic or Conventional??? A sure fire way to tell by the skew on your fruit. KEEP READING!! If there are only four numbers in the PLU, this means that the produce was grown conventionally or “traditionally” with the use of pesticides. The last four letters of the PLU code are simply what kind

Acupuncture, the perfect support for chemotherapy. (Berkeley Acupuncture)               I just came across so many wonderful research studies on the Cancer.gov website about Acupuncture and it’s role in supporting Western therapies like chemo and radiation.  Studies have been done for the following and Acupuncture is a recommended adjunct therapy

Particular about the gender of your baby? (Berkeley Acupuncture) Are you particular about the gender of the baby that you are going to have? Then, it will do you well to learn to use the fertility calendar. It lets you check and record the dates of your menstrual cycle. There are many fertility calendars for

5 FDA Approved Food Additives Banned in Other Countries (Berkeley Acupuncture)   Americans have to trust the FDA to decide what can or can’t be added to food products on our supermarket shelves. But in our global era, who’s to say the American FDA should have the last word on what’s OK for us to

Acupuncture for Hair Loss When it comes to losing your hair, there is no discrimination. There are many folks who grieve the loss of their hair, trying many different pills, supplements, creams, gels, lotions and prayers. Great news! It can be as easy as improving your circulation. Enter Acupuncture, our timeless health companion, who once

Is there a room in your house where the energy is feeling sort of… heavy? Sounds like you’ve got a little Qi stagnation.  Just like in the meridians of your body, your Qi can get stuck in areas of your house as well.  It can manifest in different ways, sometimes it’s just a cold area,

Boost your health with Turmeric: Herbal Powerhouse! Eastern cultural traditions, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, have valued turmeric for its medicinal properties and warm, peppery flavor for more than 5,000 years. Curcumin — the pigment that gives turmeric its yellow-orange color — is the active ingredient behind many of the emerging health benefits. Research

How to Enhance Male Fertiltiy  Part 2! Catch up and read Part 1!   Meditate! Patients say, “I know I should meditate, but it’s too hard, I can’t stop thinking and I  don’t have time”… sound familiar?  Christina says, “Too often we think our minds are supposed to be clear during our meditation, but almost always we’re watching thoughts

FOUR Helpful Tricks for a Happier, Healthier Life! In Chinese medicine, STRESS is one of the main culprits for ALL illness and dis-ease.  Stress wreaks havoc on the body, it causes inflammation, it diminishes circulation, it can cause insomnia, it makes hormones go crazy, it can cause emotional mood swings, it can cause headaches, migraines,

Brrrr. Bone broth to warm and rejuvenate! (Berkeley acupuncture) “Good broth will resurrect the dead” -a South American proverb. So much can be said of the healing properties of broth.  Our grandmothers knew best when they gave us rich, chicken broths to cure our common cold, but broth is so much more than that… Why

Part 2: Acupuncture can stop you from aging. Period. (Berkeley acupuncture) If you’re not sure what a telomere is, go back to Monday’s post and read up… So, the big question is:  HOW DO I LENGTHEN MY TELOMERES?   The obvious answer is to get enough exercise and eat a pristine diet, high in organic

Part 1: Acupuncture Acupuncture can stop you from aging.  Period. So, now that we have your attention…  What do we mean exactly when we say acupuncture can keep you from aging?  We are talking about the relationship between acupuncture and telomeres.  Tele what???  Read on… In the world of scientific longevity research, we don’t calculate

Depression and Acupuncture study Acupuncture and it’s role with depression, a chronic and debilitating state of mind, is making headlines once again. “For people who have depression, who have tried various medical options, who are still not getting the benefit they want, they should try acupuncture or counseling as options that are now known to

Something to warm you up and boost your fertility at the same time! A little chilly outside?  Here’s a fantastic recipe that I got from Integrative Fertility who heads the acupuncture program at Pacific Fertility Center in San Francisco.  A yummy little twist on Mom’s chicken soup! Sweet Potato, Cilantro Chicken Soup INGREDIENTS: Serves 4

Animal acupuncture Commonly potential patients ask me, “Do I have to be Buddhist or do I have to believe in acupuncture for it to work?”  My answer is always the same, “Animals have no cognitive recognition and yet they feel better.” Animal acupuncture is very much like human acupuncture, same meridians, different layout, but it

Yelp reviews… Acupuncture and Pregnancy Yelp reviews are blatantly honest and written by your peers.  We love when patients take the time to review our services on Yelp, it lets us know we are doing a great job and gives us a chance to show gratitude. “Honestly, I don’t know how I would’ve made it

Acupuncture and Anti-aging Sandra Bullock knows what’s up…  she gets acupuncture three times and week!  WHY?  I can only speculate, but like everyone else I’m sure Sandra has some stress and utilizes it for that, but I bet she’s been tipped off to the secret of anti-aging as well.  And I don’t mean those acupuncture

Acupuncture needs to be tested for it’s effectiveness… Are you serious? I rarely get angry, but this Steven Salzberg from Forbes magazine really got my goat on this one.  Who the hell does he think he is?  I was sitting in a cafe having tea and as I read on, I could literally start to

Patient spotlight: Food poisoning and acupuncture With something so intense and severe, can acupuncture actually help?  ABSOLUTELY! Patient came in last week after eating something questionable at a favorite, local Chinese restaurant.  They woke in the middle of the night with stomach discomfort.  Soon after waking vomiting and diarrhea occurred every 30 minutes for about

Meditation isn’t just for Monks… it’s for the LA Lakers too! Sometimes the road to success can be a mysterious one, who would think that meditation would assist you in being successful or winning the GAME, but it does.  Just ask sports psychologist and meditation teacher George Mumford… Interview from Mindful magazine. But, wait a second

Fertility and Acupuncture Berkeley, CA A growing trend in Australia, couples are seeking traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) options to boost their chances of conceiving a child naturally (finally!).  What was once considered hippy dippy in the Outback is now being sought after.  Couples are seeking acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine whether they are trying to

Bay area based app to predict FERTILITY launches today! The BUZZ in the fertility world today isn’t about acupuncture or some new-old ancient technique. It’s all about GLOW today, the fertility app that Bay area based and PayPal co-founder Max Levchin has created (and has sunk $1million of his own dollars into, by the way).  Glow

Low back pain relief at Tao to Wellness in Berkeley  At Tao to Wellness, cumulatively over the years, we see more patients seeking pain relief than any other ailment in our practice.  And we agree pain is horrible, horrible thing to go through.  It can compromise your sleep, your mobility and your happiness. As we

Health Benefits of Eggs Well, you already know how awesome acupuncture is for pain relief!  We are so well known for this particular ailment that people commonly think that is all we do…  that couldn’t be farther from the truth, but that’s another post. So, seriously, there are many health benefits of eggs.   WHOLE

Gingko Biloba demystified At Tao to Wellness here in Berkeley we help patients enhance their memory with acupuncture and the magic of GINKGO! As we get older, we forget things.. it’s reality!  I like to think it’s because we have so many wonderful memories that our mental rolodex is getting too full! Here are some

What Constitutes a Good Diet? 10 things to check off What Constitutes A Good Diet? A nourishing diet should be customized to suit each person’s lifestyle, constitution, and particular health issues. Though there is no one right diet for everyone, there are some general principles that can be applied across the board. Here are some:

Kale…your new friend! Kale.. …is one of those things that people love or hate.  I LOVE it! Kale, also known as borecole, is one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. A leafy green, kale is available in curly, ornamental, or dinosaur varieties. What makes kale so exceptional? Here is why it’s a superstar vegetable

Foggy Berkeley and the Crazy Vitamin D Epidemic I wonder if this Vitamin D epidemic is happening in other states and countries.  Here in Berkeley, we get fog year round and our summers are the worst.  In the summer, the sun doesn’t peek through the fog until 2pm every day, otherwise it’s grey, grey and more grey.  Is

Thanksgiving Kale Fig Salad My favorite Thanksgiving Day potluck item! Kale and Fig Salad (I do everything in ounces, that way you can throw it all into one bowl on the scale, so EASY! ) Dinosaur Kale (chopped in small pieces) 3 oz Olive Oil (I love Bariani’s) 2/3 oz Balsamic Vinegar 1/4 oz Roasted

Holiday de-stress meditation techniques!! The holidays can definitely increase ones stress level and meditation is a great way to help one stay balanced. A very common statement I hear from my patients is “I can’t meditate, I’m just not good at that.” That insinuates that meditation is about doing something rather than just being. Consider