Body Positive Acupuncture

09/22/2025

Autumn carries a unique energy in Five Element Acupuncture—it’s the season of the Metal element. Just as the trees let go of their leaves, we are invited to reflect on what we might release in our own lives.

The Metal element connects us with refinement, clarity, and the emotion of grief. This season can bring a quiet seriousness, asking us to honor what we have lost, what we have learned, and what matters most moving forward.

In my latest blog, I share how autumn can guide us in letting go, creating space for what is to come, and supporting ourselves through seasonal transitions.

Read more by clicking below

Discover how autumn, the Metal element in Five Element Acupuncture, teaches us about grief, letting go, and creating space for renewal.

08/28/2025

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Did you know Chinese medicine recognizes a fifth season?

✨ Late Summer ✨ arrives between the peak of Summer and the crispness of Autumn.

This season is linked to the Earth Element — nourishment, stability, and grounding. It’s a time of harvest and ripening—in nature and within ourselves.

🌱 When Earth is balanced: we feel centered, cared for, and steady.

🌪 When Earth is out of balance: we may feel worry, rumination, or “ungrounded.”

💛 Tips to live in harmony with Late Summer:

Enjoy seasonal foods like squash, corn, and root veggies

Eat slowly & mindfully

Rest after activity to integrate

Reflect on what in your life is “ripe” and ready for harvest
Acupuncture during this season can support digestion, calm the mind, and strengthen immunity—helping you step into Autumn with resilience.

Grief is a vital part of this seasonal transition. In Five Element theory, grief belongs to Autumn and the Metal Element, but Late Summer (Earth) helps us prepare to move into that season by grounding and nourishing us so we can process loss.

Discover the wisdom of Late Summer in Five Element Acupuncture. Linked to the Earth Element, this season supports digestion, grounding, and emotional balance. Learn how acupuncture and seasonal practices can help you transition smoothly into Autumn.

07/17/2025

Why You Might Sleep Worse in Summer (According to Chinese Medicine)

Struggling to fall asleep or waking up restless during the summer? Chinese Medicine—and specifically Five Element Acupuncture—offers some insight.

In this system, summer is ruled by the Fire element, which governs:

* The Heart (our emotional center and home of the Shen, or Spirit)
* The Small Intestine (helps sort thoughts and emotions)
* The Pericardium (protects emotional boundaries)
* The San Jiao (regulates body temperature and internal communication)

When Fire becomes excessive—due to longer days, emotional stimulation, social overextension, or external heat—it can disturb the Shen and affect sleep.

Common signs include:

* Trouble falling or staying asleep
* Restlessness or racing thoughts
* Vivid or intense dreams
* Feeling emotionally overwhelmed

How to support sleep in summer:

* Create calming evening rituals
* Drink cooling teas like mint or chrysanthemum
* Limit heavy, spicy, or stimulating foods at night
* Use acupuncture or acupressure to soothe the Heart and Shen

Balance the Fire, calm the Shen, and restore restful, nourishing sleep—even in the height of summer.

Link in Bio for full blog post!



07/17/2025

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Why You Might Sleep Worse in Summer (According to Chinese Medicine)

Struggling to fall asleep or waking up restless during the summer? Chinese Medicine—and specifically Five Element Acupuncture—offers some insight.

In this system, summer is ruled by the Fire element, which governs: The Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, and San Jiao

When Fire becomes excessive—due to longer days, emotional stimulation, social overextension, or external heat—it can disturb the Shen and affect sleep.

Common signs include:

Trouble falling or staying asleep
Restlessness or racing thoughts
Vivid or intense dreams
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed
How to support sleep in summer:

Create calming evening rituals
Drink cooling teas like mint or chrysanthemum
Limit heavy, spicy, or stimulating foods at night
Use acupuncture or acupressure to soothe the Heart and Shen
Balance the Fire, calm the Shen, and restore restful, nourishing sleep—even in the height of summer.

Discover why sleep disturbances are common in summer through the lens of Five Element Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. Learn how the Fire element, Heart, and Shen impact rest—and how to restore balance for better sleep.

06/25/2025

Feeling Fried by the Summer Heat? Chinese Medicine Has Your Back

Summer, in Chinese medicine, is ruled by the Fire element—connected to the Heart, joy, and outward energy. But when the heat cranks up (outside and inside), it can leave you feeling:

Restless
Overheated
Sleepless
Irritable
Drained

This seasonal pattern is known in TCM as "Summer-Heat", and it can affect your mood, digestion, energy, and sleep.

Acupuncture can help you:

Clear excess internal heat
Replenish fluids and nourish yin
Calm the mind and Heart
Support healthy digestion
Restore balance and vitality
Quick Summer Tips from Chinese Medicine:

Eat cooling foods like cucumber, watermelon, and leafy greens
Drink herbal teas like chrysanthemum or mint (room temp or warm is best)

Prioritize rest—summer yang energy can push us toward burnout

Avoid excess iced drinks unless your taste buds are calling for them, which can weaken digestion

Acupuncture is a powerful seasonal reset. If summer’s throwing you off, let’s help you realign and restore your natural rhythm.

Email robin@bodypositiveacupuncture.com to schedule or learn more.

Click below to check out the full latest blog post on summer heat!

Stay cool this summer with acupuncture in Baltimore. Learn how Chinese medicine supports energy, mood, and digestion during hot weather.

06/09/2025

Being a Weight-Inclusive Provider in the Era of GLP-1s
(Yes, it’s complicated—and necessary.)

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are everywhere right now—praised as breakthroughs, pushed by doctors, influencers, and even insurance companies.

They’re reshaping how people relate to their bodies—and how providers need to show up.

As weight-inclusive providers, our role is not to dictate choices.
It's to contextualize them.

We don't tell people what to do with their bodies.
We explore why certain choices feel necessary.
We talk about systems, stigma, trauma, and survival.

Because in a society that marginalizes fat bodies, decisions about food, weight, and medication are never just personal.

They're shaped by fear, shame, access to care, and the desire for safety.

Body Positive Acupuncture holds space for clients who:

✨ Are on GLP-1s and feel conflicted
✨ Are grieving lost hunger cues
✨ Are tired of fighting for dignity
✨ Just want peace with their bodies

No shame. No judgment. Just care.

Read the latest blog post by clicking here.

Being a weight-inclusive provider has always meant standing in contrast to dominant narratives about body size and health. But in the wake of the rapid rise of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro, that work has become even more layered, even more emotional, and—honestly—even mor...

05/16/2025

When someone in your social circle posts something that highlights their body, health habits, or appearance, it often feels closer to home than content from influencers or strangers. You may unconsciously compare yourself to them because they’re in a similar age group, community, or lifestyle—and that perceived closeness creates a stronger emotional response.

You might think:

“She’s a mom too—how does she have time to look like that?”

“We’re the same age, but I look nothing like him.”

“If everyone I know is on a fitness kick, should I be doing something too?”

"Why is her house always that clean?"

Even if there’s no intent to show off, our brains can still interpret these posts as cues about what’s “normal” or desirable. Over time, this can erode body confidence.

When someone in your social circle posts something that highlights their body, health habits, or appearance, it often feels closer to home than content from influencers or strangers. You may unconsciously compare yourself to them because they’re in a similar age group, community, or lifestyle—an...

03/25/2025

Acupuncturists and healthcare providers! I've partnered with Mend Acupuncture - Baltimore to offer this Implicit Bias course on Anti-fat Bias and Weight Stigma. This course fulfills the NCCAOM Ethics requirement for 2 PDAs. Please share with acupuncturists, and ALL other healthcare providers.

03/20/2025

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Weight stigma in healthcare isn’t always obvious. While blatant fatphobia—like a doctor openly blaming every symptom on body size—is easy to spot, weight bias often lurks in more subtle ways. These hidden signs of stigma can impact the quality of care patients receive, leading to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and, in many cases, avoidance of medical care altogether.

So, how do you know if weight bias is affecting your healthcare experience? Here are some of the less obvious—but just as harmful—signs of weight stigma in medical settings.

Weight stigma in healthcare isn’t always obvious. While blatant fatphobia—like a doctor openly blaming every symptom on body size—is easy to spot, weight bias often lurks in more subtle ways. These hidden signs of stigma can impact the quality of care patients receive, leading to misdiagnosis,...

02/27/2025

Latest blog post!

In a world filled with diet culture, body shame, and weight-focused healthcare, intuitive eating offers a refreshing alternative—one that prioritizes listening to your body rather than controlling it. Acupuncture treatment aligns beautifully with this approach, helping to restore balance, improve ...

02/06/2025

No Shame On U interviewed me for this week's podcast episode about Body Positive Acupuncture and my journey as an acupuncturist and a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. They are an amazing organization that aims to end mental health stigma. Listen to it via the No Shame On U podcast on Spotify, Apple, or anywhere you choose to listen to podcasts. What an honor, to be interviewed by Wendy Reichman Singer

Is There an Exit Ramp from Diet Culture? Yes. An Acupuncturist's Journey to Body Liberation with Intuitive Eating

09/16/2024

Noticings on the interconnectedness between a positive body image and being a sensory being. Click on the blog piece to read the full post:

"What I noticed was that I was having a hard time feeling good about my body because it didn’t feel good. My legs and feet were swollen and tired from walking so many miles for ten days. My internal thermometer was doing its best and also felt stressed and confused by the job of regulation. My hair did not give me one good day, not one. I refrained from make-up which made me feel physically better and also highlighted some insecurities. I have a long history of body image issues which are interconnected to my disordered eating history. I had done well the first ten days with going with the flow, choosing things to eat from foreign menus. I allowed myself to sink in and immerse the culture around me. And on that tenth day…I started to find myself wanting more control. I was tired. I found myself wanting food from home. I wanted more vegetables. I also became more critical of myself."

I thought about all that I have learned about myself through my recovery. What I remember most is that none of these feelings about my body have anything to do with my actual body. We are sensory beings. When we are tired, hungry, hot, cold, challenging ourselves to adapt to new environments—it is...