Four Flowers Wellness

07/07/2025

Your Period Pain Isn’t Going Away On Its Own

You down advil, take magnesium, try the herbs that helped your friend - and your period pain still screams every month. It keeps you from staying on track with your self-care, let alone your job. It keeps you from fully enjoying your vacation or summer - a hailstorm on your parade.

Not all period pain is created equal—and that’s why the treatment that worked for your sister isn't working for you. There are many different root causes of period pain, each requiring a different approach.

We tailor our treatments to YOU. We help our clients kick all kinds of period pain:

🔴 Dull, achy cramping that starts before your period and comes with a mood that makes your loved ones cower in fear. (We call this Stuck Qi)
🔴 Sharp, stabbing pain on the first days of your period. (We call this Stuck Blood)
🔴 Squeezing pain with clotty flow that can be as bad as labor pain. (This one requires all the kinds of turmeric)
🔴 Persistent cramping that gets better with warmth. We know how much you love your heating pad. (We call this one Cold in the Uterus)
🔴 Dull, lingering pain towards the end of your period and comes with fatigue and dizziness. (We'll call this Blood Deficiency)

When we switch from chasing pain to trying to hear its message, we help our whole body release the underlying pattern. Eastern and holistic medicine supports your whole system so you can move through your cycle with ease.

Doesn't that sound lovely?

Would you like to meet with us in our Chicago clinic to learn more about how we work? Comment CONSULT and we'll send you a link to book a free consultation.

Prefer to learn online? We've got some great info in our women's health resource library (in the FREE community). Comment COMMUNITY and we'll send you an invite.

04/07/2025

When our internal systems are out of sync, they often signal their distress through pain or discomfort.

Whether it's constipation, painful periods, perimenopause symptoms, headaches, exhaustion, insomnia, irritability, depression, anxiety, weight gain, back pain, or neck and shoulder tension—each is a clear indicator that a system isn't functioning optimally. While we can't eliminate all external stressors from our lives (that's just part of living!), we can take steps to support our internal systems, helping them function more efficiently and reducing the daily load.

One effective way to establish regularity within our internal systems is by setting rhythms in our daily, weekly, and monthly routines:

🌙 Establish a consistent bedtime and wake-up time to regulate your sleep cycle.
🌙 Opt for regular meal times to help your body manage blood sugar levels effectively.
🌙 Commit to exercise regularly throughout the week.
🌙 Dedicate time to mindfulness each day.

We're not advocating a dull, overly regimented life but one in which the systems flow in an orderly fashion.

Within structure lies freedom—a sense of security in knowing that your systems are working to keep you healthy. Regular acupuncture treatments can contribute significantly to establishing optimal health flow for you and your body. This approach addresses symptoms while supporting the entire system, leading to improvements in every aspect of your well-being.

Interested in learning more about how we can help you achieve better long-term health? Comment CONSULT, and we'll send you a link to schedule a free consultation.

30/06/2025

14/05/2025

You Might Be Sabotaging Your Fertility (Without Even Realizing It)

We work with so many thoughtful, proactive women who’ve done *everything right*—but are still stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next in their fertility journey. If that sounds familiar, know this: it’s not your fault, and you’re not alone.

Here are five patterns we often help our clients gently unwind:

1️⃣ Doing all the things (and exhausting yourself in the process).

It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying every supplement, protocol, or trending diet. But fertility isn’t about doing more—it’s about balance. When we slow down and get clear on what your body actually needs, things start to shift.

2️⃣ Seeing fertility as only a medical issue

Yes, your labs matter. But fertility is so much more than numbers on a page. It reflects your overall vitality—how well your body is nourished, how resilient your nervous system is, and how safe your body feels to conceive.

3️⃣ Not understanding your body's uniqueness

Your friend’s IVF timeline, that influencer’s supplement stack… none of that tells the story of *your* body. And your body’s story deserves to be honored with care that’s just as unique.

4️⃣ Searching for a single solution to “fix” the problem.

Fertility challenges are not failures. They’re your body’s way of asking for support. Healing is rarely linear—and never one-size-fits-all. It’s not about fixing what’s broken; it’s about creating the right conditions for your body to thrive.

5️⃣ Carrying it all alone.

Let’s say this louder: fertility is not solely a woman’s responsibility. Male fertility matters just as much, and emotional support is essential. You were never meant to do this by yourself.

✨ If this resonates, know there’s a gentler, more holistic path forward. At Four Flowers Wellness, we support the whole you—body, mind, and spirit—with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and individualized care that meets you where you are.

12/05/2025

Reframing Meditation: What If You’re Not Doing It Wrong?

If the idea of meditating makes you feel more stressed, you’re not alone.

Many women I work with say they’ve “failed” at meditation because they couldn’t stop their thoughts or quiet their minds. But there's a reason we call it meditation "practice".

🧘‍♀️ Meditation isn’t about stopping your thoughts.
🧘‍♀️ It’s about creating the internal conditions that help your nervous system shift into a more calm, balanced state.

When you sit or lie down and bring your attention to your breath—or to the sensations in your body—you’re helping your brain shift from a high-alert Beta state into slower Alpha and Theta brainwave patterns.

These are the brainwave states that may promote the release of:
✨ Serotonin — your natural mood stabilizer
✨ GABA — calming and anxiety-reducing
✨ Endorphins — your body’s natural pain relievers
✨ Growth hormone — which supports repair and regeneration

You don’t have to clear your mind or reach some mystical state of stillness. Just 10–13 minutes of practice each day can help your body feel safer—and your stress response begin to recalibrate.

Over time, your baseline state of stress can shift. Not because you’ve learned to “do meditation right,” but because you’re regularly giving your body what it needs to unwind, reset, and feel supported.

Your presence is more powerful than perfection.

💛 Double tap if this makes meditation feel more doable for you.

17/04/2025

If you feel like your body is a lemon—glitchy, unreliable, or working against you—you’re not alone. So many women come to us carrying this belief, and honestly, it makes sense. We've been conditioned to see our bodies, especially women's bodies, as problems to be fixed, machines that should perform perfectly, or unpredictable forces that need to be controlled.

But what if that story is wrong?

At our clinic, we see things differently. In the world of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, symptoms aren’t failures—they’re feedback. Whether it’s pain, anxiety, digestive issues, irregular cycles, or fertility struggles, your body is trying to tell you something. Not to sabotage you, but to protect you, to guide you back to balance.

What happens when you stop fighting your body and start listening to it instead? That shift—from frustration to curiosity—can be a turning point. It opens the door to deeper, more sustainable healing. Not just symptom relief, but the kind of care that reconnects you with yourself.

You don’t need to be “fixed.” You deserve to be heard.
We’re here to listen—and to help you listen, too.

16/04/2025

Elderberries aren’t just a seasonal trend—they’re packed with powerful compounds that can support your overall well-being in some amazing ways. Here are five key reasons to include elderberry in your routine:

1️⃣ Antioxidant Powerhouse
Elderberries are loaded with anthocyanins—potent antioxidants that help protect your cells from oxidative stress. Over time, oxidative stress contributes to aging and chronic disease, so giving your body a daily dose of antioxidants is a smart move.

2️⃣ A Natural Vitamin C Boost
Just one cup of elderberries provides over 50mg of vitamin C—an essential nutrient for immune support, skin health, and tissue repair. If you’re looking for an easy way to up your vitamin C intake naturally, elderberries are a great option.

3️⃣ Supports a Strong Immune System
Elderberries have been linked to enhanced immune defenses, with research suggesting they may help reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu. That’s why elderberry is a go-to during cold season!

4️⃣ Naturally Antiviral
Compounds in elderberries have been shown to inhibit viral replication—especially when it comes to influenza. While they’re not a cure-all, they can be a great tool to support your body’s natural defenses.

5️⃣ Helps Combat Inflammation
Thanks to their rich anthocyanin content, elderberries offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Chronic inflammation is at the root of many health issues, so adding anti-inflammatory foods like elderberries can be a helpful step.

✨ How to Use Elderberries
Elderberries can be enjoyed as a syrup, tea, tincture, or even in gummies! Just remember—raw elderberries should not be consumed, as they can be toxic.

Do you use elderberry as part of your wellness routine?

18/03/2025

20/02/2025

Ever get to the end of the day and just crash?

Or maybe you feel “wired but tired”—your nervous system is on overdrive, but you’re running on empty. Sound familiar?

The problem might be that you’re not giving your nervous system a chance to rest and reset throughout the day. And honestly, I get it. Society expects us to be constantly on-the-go, but our bodies—especially our nervous systems—weren’t built for that.

One of the best ways to support your nervous system is by building intentional rest into your days. This doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It’s about finding simple ways to pause and recharge. Here are a few ideas:

✨ Get up from your desk every hour to stretch.
✨ Press your ear seeds (more on that later!)
✨ Close your eyes for two minutes and just breathe
✨ Schedule regular acupuncture for the ultimate weekly reset
✨ Allow 5 extra minutes on your lunch break to sit in your car and listen to music or a guided meditation

The point is to schedule these little breaks into your day. Think of them as hitting a reset button for your nervous system. These moments of rest can help you feel less fried and more grounded by the time evening rolls around.

Which have you tried? What’s your experience with incorporating intentional rest? I’d love to hear. ⬇️

14/02/2025

Let’s talk about the other big hormone ride.

Not puberty - I’m talking about the adventure that is perimenopause and menopause. It’s a season of transition that might feel overwhelming — or even downright pathological — but here’s the truth: it can be a joyous stage of life.

That said, If you're having a hard time finding the joy in your transition, you may need some support for the uncomfortable part of this ride.

You don’t have to just “power through” symptoms like:
🌿 Hot flashes
🌿 Fatigue
🌿 Irritability (let’s be clear: this is a symptom, not a character flaw)
🌿 Insomnia
🌿 Brain fog
🌿 Irregular cycles
🌿 Low libido
🌿 Night sweats

Here’s the good news: there’s all-natural support to help you feel like yourself again.

In Eastern Medicine, perimenopause and menopause are seen as a shift toward wisdom. It's a chance to care for yourself on a deeper level, stepping into this new chapter with balance and strength. (I’ll take that wisdom, thank you!)

Wherever you are on your hormonal journey, we’re here to support you. Whether you choose an integrative approach with HRT or prefer an all-natural route, we work to bring your body into harmony—so this transition feels more like smooth sailing and less like a rollercoaster.

Prioritizing your health isn’t just about you—it creates a ripple effect for everyone around you. When you feel balanced and whole, it uplifts the people and spaces in your life.

Let’s get started. Book a free 15-minute consultation, and let’s work together to help you feel your best.