Boosting Immunity with Moxibustion at Home

Many of you know that I am a fanatic when it comes to moxibustion.  In my 21 years of practice, I have seen many miracles with moxa.  Moxibustion has been around for thousands of years and one of its best attributes is its ability to boost immunity.  In the video below I will demonstrate how to boost your immunity … Read more

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Inspired Breakfast

So often I find myself struggling with what to eat for breakfast. Breakfast is my favorite meal, but I get tired of the same thing …yoghurt and granola, poached eggs, smoothies etc.  Last winter I had the good fortune to travel around Hong Kong and parts of Southeast Asia. I kept a photo journal of … Read more

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October is Eczema Awareness Month

There’s nothing more disheartening than witnessing a child scratching so intensely they bleed, itching so badly they can’t sit still or sleep – not to mention excel in school. For some the unsightliness of atopic eczema can inhibit interactions leading to isolation. In the US , 50% of the 9.6 million children with atopic eczema … Read more

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Returning to My “Hometown”

I just returned from Sichuan Province in Southwestern China. In 1993 I lived in Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan. This was my first trip back to China in 23 years. Needless to say, a lot has changed in China. It was shocking. A small shop where I once bought barely edible sweets is now … Read more

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Bone Appetit

Remember the welcoming smell of your grandmother’s kitchen- the comforting aroma of bone broth simmering gently on the stove? Well, Grandma was smarter than you might realize and I’ll explain why. Oftentimes, the healthiest foods aren’t the fancy ones we purchase at Whole Foods. Sometimes, the simplest foods, the ones’ reminiscent of our grandmother’s kitchens … Read more

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Establishing Healthy Eating Habits in Children

My kids were born in the sleepy town of Lyons Colorado, population 1500.   Our house was 1/2 block from a peaceful park with a beautiful, meandering river.  This was quite different from the suburban Connecticut town where I grew up.  It took me some time, when I moved to Lyons from Seattle Washington, to get … Read more

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On Turning Fifty and Skiing Across Finland

I’m not one to make a big deal out of my birthday.  At least, not since I turned 18.  On my 40th birthday, for example, I bought a new vacuum cleaner.  That wasn’t a bad choice, given the circumstances.  But I decided I wanted to do something memorable for my 50th year.  I’ve always wanted … Read more

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Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

By Julie Smith Our endocrine system consists of the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands. These glands manage and produce hormones.  Endocrine disrupting chemicals are a class of chemicals that mimic hormones and confuse the body. These chemicals disrupt a very delicate balance by binding at receptor sites, preventing the real hormones from doing their job. … Read more

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Fascinated by All things Ancient and Sometimes Magical

By Julie Smith Early human civilizations, ruins, and all things ancient fascinate me. I sat in my favorite high school course, “Ancient Civilizations,” mesmerized by my teacher’s descriptions of embalming methods in ancient Egypt, the building of the pyramids, and Roman gluttony.  I fancied myself an archeologist while in college. When on an excavation near … Read more

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Julie’s Journey: Falling Into Acupuncture & Moxibustion

  When Julie Smith arrived in China in her early 20s, she didn’t know what to expect. But while teaching English in Chengdu, she lived across the street from The Sichuan Institute of Traditional Medicine. There, she took a few classes, her teachers and fellow students convinced her to study acupuncture, and, she said, she … Read more

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