Sina Leslie Smith LAc MD

10/11/2025

I'm looking forward to keynoting at tomorrow on "Culinary Medicine for Acupuncturists" at your annual meeting! We are gonna really get to know each other over 4 hours of content 😄, but I promise to keep you engaged with demos and fun facts about food! 🍇🍅🥦Can't wait! https://www.acupuncturewisconsin.org/event/wisca-2025-annual-meeting/

📅 Sunday, October 12, 2025 | 🕗 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM 📍 Midwest College of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine 6232 Bankers Rd, Mt Pleasant, WI 53403 Registration & Pricing […]

10/11/2025

10/10/2025

I am deeply grateful each time I hear from readers (like this one!) who have connected with my new book, “Demystifying Acupuncture: Modern Answers About Ancient Medicine”!

My vision was to make acupuncture feel less mysterious by sharing the science in everyday terms, while still honoring its rich tradition.

At its core, acupuncture is a system designed to support balance, healing, and overall wellness, and this book was written to help you see how it can fit into your own life!

Whether you are a patient seeking to better understand treatment options, a practitioner looking for a fresh perspective, or simply someone curious about new ways to support your health, my hope is that this guide provides you with a deeper understanding and assurance of this time-tested approach of supporting your body.

Tap the link to learn more, or order your own copy!

10/08/2025

For so many people, the healthcare system feels like a revolving door. 😞

Quick visits, rushed conversations, and prescriptions that sometimes manage symptoms but rarely address the root cause.

If you’ve ever walked away from your doctor’s office feeling unseen, unheard, compromised, or like you had to submit to the “conventional” way of medicine instead of feeling empowered to explore “alternative” approaches, I want you to know something liberating: you don’t have to choose.

The future of healthcare is integration.

Conventional medicine is powerful. It saves lives every day, and I am grateful for my years of training in surgery, physiology, and medical education.

AND…

What I also learned, both personally and through my patients, is that conventional medicine doesn’t answer every question or solve every challenge. That’s where integrative and functional medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, and other holistic approaches come in. These options broaden the lens, providing us with more tools, perspectives, and pathways toward healing.

Choosing what's best for you doesn’t have to mean “picking sides.” My passion is helping people discover that middle ground where science and tradition, innovation and wisdom, can all work together in harmony. When we integrate, we expand what’s possible for your best health.

If you’re ready to explore what integrative care could look like for you, I invite you to visit my website. You’ll find more about the services I offer and how I can support you on your journey to a healthier life. Of course, feel free to shoot me a DM as well to start a conversation! 😀

10/06/2025

When it comes to nutrition, variety isn’t just aesthetically pleasing on your plate; it’s actually essential for your health. 🌈

Each color in your fruits and vegetables represents different phytonutrients that support your body in unique ways.

🔴 Red foods like tomatoes and strawberries bring heart-healthy lycopene and vitamin C.

🟠 Orange foods are packed with beta-carotene for your eyes and immune system.

🟢 Greens deliver chlorophyll and folate to detox and energize.

🟣 Purples offer anthocyanins that protect your brain.

⚪ Even whites like garlic, onions, and cauliflower provide compounds like allicin and selenium to fight infection and strengthen your heart.

When you “eat the rainbow,” you’re giving your body a full spectrum of tools to thrive, supporting everything from immunity and circulation to memory and skin health.

Plus, eating the rainbow is also a great game to play with kids in the grocery store: "Let's pick something to put in the cart from every color in the rainbow."

Then when it comes time for meal prep, you can ask them what colors they would like to eat for dinner or what colors they have not eaten today. Win-win for making education and health fun!

✨ So, what’s the simplest way to start? Aim to add at least one additional color group to your meals each week. I know for me, this always challenges me to try some new foods that I may not have picked up at the grocery store otherwise!

Your plate is powerful medicine! What colors are on your plate today? 🍽️

10/03/2025

So many of us grow up believing health comes from pills, procedures, or simply just waiting until something goes wrong… ❌

Yet true health is built (or eroded) long before you step into a doctor’s office…and food is where it all begins.

The nutrients (or lack thereof) in our meals affect every aspect of our body, including energy, mood, focus, immunity, and even our risk of chronic illness. This is why so many cultures and healing traditions place food at the very center of medicine!

Our body is designed to respond to proper nourishment. When we give it the right tools, it inherently knows how to repair and thrive. This is why I like to remind my patients that EVERY meal is an opportunity to care for yourself (and your future self) in the most consistent and powerful way.

You don’t have to wait for a diagnosis or prescription to begin feeling better. You can start with your very next bite! The choice is always yours!

✨ This week, I encourage you to try one small upgrade to your meals. Add a serving of colorful vegetables, swap soda for water, or make breakfast something that fuels you instead of drains you (put down the donut, haha!). Notice how your body responds when you treat food as medicine!

🥕 What’s one small upgrade you’re inspired to try this week? Put it in the comments!

10/02/2025

If you only read my “official bio,” you’d know me as a physician, licensed acupuncturist, former Director of Integrative and Culinary Medicine at SIU School of Medicine, and founder of Chicago Healing Center.

You’d also see the degrees, the fellowships, and the board positions. While I worked hard for those credentials, and I’m certainly proud of my success…and it’s only PART of my story!

The juicier part of my backstory is that I started my career in the trauma bay and ICU. I loved the intensity, the teamwork, and the fact that even in the most conventional medical spaces, the whole person was always in view.

My dream was to become a trauma surgeon. After years of training, I was only 14 months from finishing when an injury to my arm made it impossible for me to operate.

In the middle of my own pain and frustration, someone suggested acupuncture. I went in skeptical and came out shocked. Not only did it help me physically, but it also opened up an entirely new perspective on the body and health.

That one experience set me on a path that eventually led me to acupuncture school, integrative medicine, culinary medicine, functional medicine, and more.

Now, over 15 years later, my work is about bringing together the best of both worlds…the precision of conventional medicine and the wisdom of integrative practices. In my practice, we go beyond just managing symptoms to truly healing the root causes affecting body, mind, and spirit.

I share this because while my credentials tell you what I’ve done, what’s more important to me is WHY I do it. My own health challenges reshaped my career and deepened my passion for helping others find healing, balance, and vitality….especially when the conventional medical system has left them without a path forward to their healing.

If you’re curious about how integrative care could support you, or if you’re feeling hopeless on your healing journey, I’d love to connect and explore what’s possible for your health journey. Tap the link in the comments to learn more!

09/29/2025

Right now, trillions of tiny microbes are working around the clock to keep you alive and well. 🦠

This includes bacteria, molds and yeasts, viruses, and other microorganisms. Together, they make up what is known as your microbiome; an intricate ecosystem living on your skin, in your mouth and nose, throughout your digestive tract, and in every place where your body meets the outside world.

When we talk about health, most people think of nutrition, exercise, and sleep. All are foundationally important, but incomplete without considering the microbiome.

This vast collection of microbes actively influences how our bodies function every day. 👇

Bacteria help you digest food and produce vital nutrients.

Yeasts and molds recycle and break down substances.

Viruses interact with host cells in unique ways that influence your body’s processes.

Together, these diverse organisms form an ecosystem that communicates with and impacts every system of your body.

Some researchers even call it the “second brain” because of how powerfully it communicates with the nervous system. When your microbiome is balanced, this communication flows smoothly. You feel more energized, your digestion works efficiently, and your immune defenses are stronger.

On the other hand, when the microbiome is disrupted by stress, illness, medication, or diet, the effects can ripple out widely. Symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, brain fog, sugar cravings, or mood fluctuations often point back to an imbalance in this delicate ecosystem.

The empowering piece is that your microbiome is highly responsive. Small, intentional changes in diet and lifestyle can shift it toward balance, sometimes more quickly than you might expect!

If you’re ready to take the next step in restoring balance and strengthening your health at its core, I invite you to tap the link in the comments to explore my services. Let’s create a personalized approach to help your body and microbiome thrive.

09/26/2025

Call me Curious George! 🐵

One thing I’ve learned about myself over the years is that I’m never done learning.

If a patient brings me a challenge I don’t fully understand, chances are it will end up as my weekend reading. I want to know why something is happening, not just how to put a temporary bandage on it.

This relentless curiosity is what keeps me passionate about the field of holistic medicine. I love the puzzle of the human body, and even more, I love seeing people live in wellness and freedom from the inside out.

For me, that means slowing down, listening closely, and honoring the whole story of someone’s health. 🙏

No two patients are alike, so no two healing paths should be, either. Sometimes that looks like lab testing, sometimes it’s supplements, and sometimes it’s as simple as a slight lifestyle shift, but it’s always personal and never one-size-fits-all.

Each person I meet teaches me something new. Every patient’s story contributes to my understanding and enables me to serve the next one even better. That’s what makes this work endlessly fulfilling: we’re learning and healing together! 👏🏼

When it comes to your wellness, what’s a topic you’re most curious about right now? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️

09/25/2025

“But…doesn’t acupuncture hurt?”

This is THE #1 question I hear from patients who are curious--but nervous--about trying acupuncture for the first time.

I get it! You hear “needles” and your brain immediately thinks of blood draws or shots.

Acupuncture needles are a completely different category from the needles you might be thinking of. They’re about the width of a strand of hair. Seriously. You could fit several acupuncture needles inside the tip of a standard hypodermic needle.

Most of my patients are surprised at how little they feel. Some don’t feel anything at all when the needle goes in. Others describe it as a tiny pinch, a tap, or a quick spark that fades almost instantly.

What they do feel is relaxation and relief. In fact, many patients even fall asleep on the table. The process is designed to be restorative, not painful! So, if you have a “no-pain-no-gain” mentality towards healing, you can confidently leave that at the door (of my practice at least 😉)!

If fear of needles has been holding you back, take a deep breath. You might be shocked at how easy (and even enjoyable) your first session can be.

✨ Curious about trying acupuncture for yourself? Visit my website to learn more and see how this powerful, gentle medicine can support your healing.

09/22/2025

POV: Your patient is sitting in the dental chair. You ask if they’re ready to start with a numbing shot. Their mouth says, “Yes,” but their face says, “No way.”

You already know the truth: dental anxiety is the #1 barrier to care.

39% of patients fear pain

29% are triggered by chemical smells

21% dread the sound of the drill

This can lead to a dangerous ripple effect: appointments get canceled, procedures get delayed, ultimately resulting in patients not receiving the care they need.

What if there were a tool that could help calm the nervous system in real time? A tool that could reduce anxiety, ease pain, and help your patients actually feel safe in your chair?

That tool exists.

It’s called auricular acupuncture.

Auricular acupuncture is the practice of using points on the ear to influence the nervous system. It’s evidence-based, non-invasive, and can be easily integrated into dental care. Research shows it helps patients manage pain, reduces procedure-related anxiety, and even supports recovery.

Imagine this breakthrough: instead of white-knuckling their way through a filling or extraction, your patients experience calm, steady breathing. Their body softens. Their nervous system shifts out of fight-or-flight and into a state where healing can happen.

This is the kind of whole-person care that not only transforms your patients’ experiences but also transforms your practice. Happier, calmer patients are more likely to follow through with treatment, trust you more, and return for ongoing care.

Dentists, if you’re ready to expand the services you offer your patients, I invite you to learn more.

✨ Learn how to integrate auricular acupuncture into your practice at the link in the comments.