Sina Leslie Smith LAc MD

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United States
Chicago, IL
Sina Leslie Smith LAc MD

Medical Doctor, Acupuncturist, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Homeopathy, Nutrition, Pain Expert Practicing in Illinois and via telemedicine/telehealth.

Holistically-minded modern medicine: Japanese and Chinese acupuncture; medicinal herbs, supplements, and nutraceuticals; integrative medicine; functional medicine; homeopathy; and manual therapies. Physical offices in Chicago are currently closed but look for reopening Fall 2022.

01/08/2026

It’s that time of year when resetting and starting new health goals feels natural.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I am big on shifting your eating to turn meals into medicine. The problem is that this time of year, our culture often sets people up for failure. Here’s how…

Most diet trends are built around short-term control; cut this, eliminate that, try harder.

What they rarely address is the physiology underneath. Your metabolism, hormones, gut, nervous system, and inflammatory pathways are constantly adapting to what you eat and how you eat.

When you dramatically restrict food, demonize entire macronutrients, or swing between extremes, your body does not interpret that as health, but as stress.

Stress alters blood sugar regulation, increases inflammation, disrupts gut barrier function, and shifts the microbiome. Over time, this makes your body more efficient at holding onto energy rather than releasing it.

Fad diets don't fail because you didn't try hard enough; they fail because they ignore how your body actually works.

Your body needs consistency, nutrient density, and signals of safety to function well. Adequate protein to maintain tissue. Fiber to support the microbiome and blood sugar regulation. Healthy fats to calm inflammatory pathways. Micronutrients to support detoxification and repair. Water to move waste out of the system. None of this is flashy or trendy, but it is how human physiology thrives.

If you’re ready to make a change with food this year, I encourage a more supportive resolution; a reset in how you relate to food, stress, and your body, guided by physiology.

This is the work we do in my R3Set course. We focus on inflammation, gut integrity, metabolic flexibility, and building meals that support healing instead of creating more stress.

If you’re tired of starting over, it’s time for a different approach. Tap the link to learn more about my R3set course, to give your eating habits a makeover without the crash.

01/05/2026

Starting 2026 with a new list!

What’s out:

👈 Medical anxiety that starts before the appointment even gets booked.

👈 Vague symptoms you’ve been told to ignore, normalize, or live with.

👈 Unanswered questions, rushed visits, and leaving care feeling more confused than when you arrived.

👈 Waiting until things get “bad enough” to give it attention.

What’s in:

👉 Clarity about what’s actually happening in your body.

👉 Doctor’s appointments you look forward to because you feel seen, heard, and understood.

👉 Answers, thoughtful explanations, and a plan that makes sense for your life.

👉 Preventative care, curiosity, and investing in your health before burnout forces your hand.

Your health is an investment in your future self! You deserve it, and you need it.

If 2026 is the year you stop guessing and start getting answers, I’d love to be a part of that!

Tap the link in the comments to learn more about how functional medicine and acupuncture can help you address the root causes, so you no longer have to mask the symptoms.

Let this year be a year of hope for you!

01/03/2026

Before you write another New Year’s resolution that fades by February, I want to invite you to pause for a moment.

Most resolutions fail not because you lack discipline, but rather because they ask your body to override its biology.

We tell ourselves to hustle harder, do more, wake earlier, push through, all while our nervous system is already living in a state of chronic stress.

Chronic stress shows up as symptoms like poor sleep, brain fog, jaw clenching, gut issues, irritability, and burnout. Your body does not differentiate between a true physical threat and a packed inbox. To your nervous system, stress is stress.

There is one system in your body that is both automatic and under your conscious control, and that is your breath.

Fast, shallow breathing signals danger. Slow, intentional breathing signals safety. When you slow your breath, especially your exhale, you tell your nervous system that it is okay to stand down.

Try this: inhale through your nose for four. Exhale slowly for six. Longer exhales activate your body's calming response, and you can feel it almost immediately.

This year, I invite you to consider resolutions that work with your nervous system instead of against it.
Happy New Year!

01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

As we step into 2026, I just want to say how grateful I am for this community.

Thank you for trusting me with your questions, your stories, and the parts of your health you’re learning to approach with compassion instead of frustration.

It’s an honor to walk alongside you as you learn, grow, and take better care of yourself.

My hope for you this year is simple. May 2026 bring more health, more steadiness, more joy, and more moments where you feel aligned with the person you’re becoming.

I encourage you to keep listening to your body, keep asking questions, and keep giving yourself space to evolve on your own journey.

I’m excited for everything this year has in store for you. Cheers to a healthy, grounded, and hopeful 2026.

With abundance and love,

Dr. Sina

12/29/2025

The holidays are joyful, but they are also a lot for the body to process!

The holidays often bring stress, and that stress can take a real toll on your immune system. When that happens, it’s easy to look for something that helps you take the edge off.

Instead, I often encourage patients to choose something that supports their body through the season.

One simple option is an adrenal-supporting mocktail. It lets you enjoy the festive feeling of a drink without the added strain alcohol can place on your system.

Alcohol weakens the immune response at the exact time you are hugging relatives who have flown in from all over, bringing their favorite seasonal viruses with them. It also interferes with sleep, which makes it harder to manage stress and emotions. Combine that with the sugar load, the shifts in mood, and the effect on metabolism, and that casual holiday drink has more impact than most people realize.

A good mocktail offers the opposite. Consider combining coconut water (restores electrolytes), citrus (vitamin C that supports immunity), fresh herbs (calms digestion), and adaptogens like ashwagandha (calms stress). It feels celebratory but still helps your body stay steady and present.

That presence comes in handy when your uncle makes his yearly off-color comment or when nostalgia tries to convince you that texting your high school ex is a good idea. (Hint: It was not then, and it is not now.)

And if you decide to have a real drink later, make it intentional. A + B complex before you go out, a solid carb-heavy meal, water between drinks, and an anti-inflammatory before bed (if it is safe for you) all support your liver and help you avoid a rough morning.

Enjoy the celebrations, take care of your body, and save the champagne for a moment that truly deserves it.

Happy holidays, friends!

12/26/2025

If you have ever wondered why one sweet treat can spiral into an entire evening of cravings, I have the answer!

When we talk about food as medicine, we are really talking about the daily chemical conversations taking place inside our gut microbiome.

Here’s how that looks…

Every meal influences the conversation in the body. Some foods stabilize the system by supporting microbial diversity, slowing glucose absorption, and nourishing the immune cells that guard the intestinal wall (good!).

Other foods create a very different internal environment… one that encourages inflammation, erratic energy levels, and negative microbial overgrowth (bad!).

What often surprises people is how quickly these shifts occur. A high-fiber meal changes the way your colon harvests energy within hours. A low-fiber, high-sugar meal does the same, but in the opposite direction, draining you of energy.

The microbiome responds to its environment with remarkable speed.

When the colon becomes saturated with simple sugars (found in those yummy cupcakes), organisms that thrive on those sugars gain an advantage. As those sugar-loving organisms become more dominant, they produce metabolic by-products that can irritate the gut lining, alter local immune activity, and influence chemical signals that travel from the gut to the brain. Those signals can affect appetite, cravings, and reward responses.

This is why every meal matters. When you frame food as a therapeutic tool, the act of eating becomes an intentional practice rather than a reactive habit.

I invite you to choose meals that work for you rather than against you! Your body responds to that investment with better energy, clearer thinking, and a quieter, more balanced microbiome.

12/24/2025

One thing is certain: the holidays bring up memories.

When I look at my Christmas pictures from last year, I am reminded that nothing in that photo is mine anymore.

The view and the apartment were left behind when I separated from my husband. The tree too. And of course, the 25+ years of memories that went with it and with him.

So if the holidays are hard for you, my friend, I understand.

Winter is a time for turning inward and reflecting. It is a season of stillness. In East Asian medicine, it is the Water season, associated with the Kidney and Urinary Bladder systems, and it represents being the seed…looking toward the potential that lives inside you and what you may become in the new year.

It follows the season of Metal, a phase of letting go, allowing the leaves to fall so the roots can settle deeply and the plant can survive the winter and be reborn in the spring.

The dark nights of the solstice can also mirror the dark nights of the soul. Grief can feel overwhelming. Release does not always come easily. Sometimes we sit with it quietly, respecting that the loss feels big because we loved big. We committed fully. We showed up without reservation. Grief allows us to honor the passage of people and animals, seasons of our lives, and moments that were precious. It is one of the ways life finds meaning.

When I am in a time of darkness, I try to embrace it. I settle into a chair with tea, a blanket, and a book.

If I can light a candle or a fireplace, I do. Fire brings light, warmth, movement, fascination, and wonder. It is the counterbalance to darkness. I imagine carrying that small flame into my heart and letting it warm me, even when the tears come, even when fear or loneliness rises, even when joy is present.

I am here if you need a hug. I love you. I hope your holidays offer fulfillment and help you become the seed again, restoring yourself and preparing for spring by allowing yourself to be still.

12/22/2025

When someone comes to me with fatigue, bloating, headaches, or that vague feeling of “something just isn’t right,” I don’t see random symptoms…

I see puzzle pieces.

Each one is trying to explain what the body has been carrying, compensating for, or managing behind the scenes.

Even more personally, I see a precious person who deeply desires relief and doesn’t know where to turn…

Most people have learned to push through their symptoms. Life gets busy, routines get full, and it’s easy to treat discomfort like background noise. But your body never sends signals without a reason. Even the subtle ones are meaningful when we slow down enough to notice them.

That’s why listening is such an essential part of healing. Not just listening to lab results or diagnoses, but listening to YOU and your story.

I listen to the way you describe your energy, how long your symptoms have been present, what makes you feel better or worse, etc.

Maybe you think these parts of your story don’t matter, but they can actually provide clues that guide us to the roots of what’s going on.

When we put your story and your symptoms together, we can uncover patterns you may have missed and create a plan that makes sense for your real life, not just a textbook.

You deserve someone who doesn’t rush you, who takes your concerns seriously, and who helps you understand what your body has been trying to say.

Your symptoms are speaking. I’m here to listen to the whole story.

12/20/2025

Pop quiz time. If you keep saying “I’m tired all the time,” is it:

A. Malnutrition
B. Walking pneumonia
C. Cancer
D. All of the above
E. None of the above

If you’re a symptom googler, you know which one the internet will tell you it is!

Fatigue is one of the most common complaints I hear, and it can point to many different things.

Sometimes it’s something simple like low iron, inconsistent meals, or stress overload. Sometimes it’s a lingering infection or your body asking for better sleep hygiene.

And yes, in very rare cases (read that again, my overthinking friend), fatigue can be a sign of something more serious. That range is exactly why it’s so easy to spiral when you’re scrolling online at 11 p.m.

Dr. Google can help you learn, but it can’t tell you what’s true for you and your body. That’s where a trained clinician like me comes in.

My job is to help you explore your symptoms, connect the dots, and figure out what your body is really trying to communicate.

You deserve answers that are grounded in your actual health, not in worst-case scenarios. So if you keep saying “I’m tired all the time,” consider this your reminder that your body’s message matters, and you don’t have to decode it alone.

Let’s figure out what’s going on together.

12/18/2025

Fibromyalgia often arrives long before it has a name.

By the time someone reaches my clinic, they have usually carried pain, fatigue, and brain fog for far too long.

If this is where you find yourself today, I want you to know that this condition is real and very deserving of care. The symptoms you're experiencing are not imagined, and the exhaustion of seeking answers is valid.

Once we have a diagnosis, we focus on restoring stability in the nervous system. The core areas I address first include:

Sleep: Improving restorative sleep often reduces pain sensitivity and supports clearer thinking.

Gentle movement: Walking, tai chi, and yoga help regulate the nervous system without overwhelming it.

Acupuncture: This can quiet the “wired and tired” stress response and ease muscle tension.

Nutrition: Steady blood sugar and reduced inflammatory triggers meaningfully decrease flares.

You do not need to take on everything at once (deep breath!). Choose one area, start with small changes, and let your body build momentum.

Healing with fibromyalgia is gradual…and it is absolutely possible.

I am here if you need support along the way. Just reach out.

12/16/2025

Holiday baking season is here, and with it comes the big question: natural or artificial sweeteners? If you’re sorting through sugar bags and syrup bottles in the grocery store (or Amazon), wondering what actually supports your body, let’s make it simple.

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin are calorie-free and FDA-approved, but ongoing research continues to raise concerns.

Some studies link them to weight gain, changes in blood sugar regulation, and shifts in the gut microbiome. Some people also notice headaches or digestive discomfort. They work for some, but they’re not always the easy swap they’re advertised to be.

Natural sweeteners offer a gentler approach and bring their own benefits:

Stevia is plant-based, calorie-free, and incredibly sweet, so a tiny amount goes far.

Honey adds antioxidants and a warm flavor that works well in soft-baked treats or drizzled over yogurt.

Maple syrup contains minerals and gives a rich, cozy sweetness to breads, muffins, and glazes.

Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index and can replace white sugar 1:1 with a light caramel taste.

Agave nectar is sweeter than sugar and has a lower glycemic impact, which can help with blood sugar balance.

Fruit-based sweeteners like dates, bananas, and apples add natural sugars plus fiber and other nutrients. They’re great for energy bites, smoothies, and dense baked goods.

Natural sweeteners aren’t “free foods,” but they’re often easier on the body and add nutrients instead of just sweetness.

This season, give yourself space to experiment! Try coconut sugar in cookies, maple syrup in muffins, or blended dates in holiday treats. You don’t need rigid rules to support your health. You just need choices that feel good, fit your lifestyle, and keep baking fun!

12/12/2025

Feeling a little (or a lot) sluggish after all these holiday meals?!

‘Tis the season for cookies, charcuterie boards, and all of the deliciousness! I'm not here to ruin your foodie fun - just help you bounce back faster.

Lots of people reach for a generic green juice when they want to reset, and while green juice is great for adding vitamins, it doesn’t offer the ONE thing your body is truly craving when it is trying to find its rhythm again…

That missing piece is fiber.

Fiber plays a central role in the body’s detox process. It’s made of carbohydrates that your body can’t fully break down. Instead of being digested like starch, these carbohydrates move through the small intestine and arrive in the colon completely intact.

This is where the magic happens!

Some types of fiber are fermented in the large intestine. They act as prebiotics, which means they feed the beneficial bacteria that support your gut health. Inulin and pectin fall into this group. When your gut bacteria are well fed, they help maintain a healthy environment that supports detoxification.

Other types of fiber do not ferment. They add bulk to your stool and help keep things moving. Purified cellulose is one example. As we all know, movement through the digestive tract is essential for removing waste products your body no longer needs.

When you give your body the fiber it needs, you help restore balance after an indulgent season like this one.

It is a supportive, sustainable way to help your body feel lighter, more energized, and more in its natural rhythm again.

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Chicago, IL
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http://ChicagoHealingCenter.com/

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Dr. Smith is now practicing as a part of her new position with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield as Director of Integrative and Culinary Medicine.

Should you need to contact her directly for a non-patient related issue, please call 217-545-2103 to speak with her administrative support.

To make a clinic appointment, please call 217-545-4692.