Beachside Community Acupuncture

08/15/2025

Yin and Yang are arguably the most fundamental aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine ☯

They represent opposites in nature and have implications in health.

Yin correlates roughly to coolness, moisture, and rest in the body, while Yang covers heat, energy, and activity.

Read the full blog post for more details and for which diet and lifestyle adjustments we recommend for imbalances.

Next week's posts will dive more into diet therapy for Heat and Cold conditions, so follow us to be in the loop!

Yin and Yang are THE central principles in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and we can use them to explain events in nature as well as our state of health. If you thought the yin-yang symbol was just a cute icon for balance, read this blog post to learn what it truly represents!

08/08/2025

Back to basics!

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are twelve main organs in the body, each having special functions. They are classified as being either Yin or Yang in nature ☯

The Yang organs are characterized as being hollow, meant to either store a substance (e.g. bile in the Gallbladder) or allow substances to pass through (e.g. urine through the Urinary Bladder). They can have other special functions, but for the most part they're pretty straightforward.

The Yin organs, on the other hand, tend to differ much more. Scroll through the photos and/or read our latest "new old" blog post for more information: https://www.beachsideacupuncture.com/blog-organ-systems

08/05/2025

Make fun of emotional support water bottles all you want - they're one of the best things you can do for your health and budget!

If you're hungry, thirsty, or craving caffeine while you're out and about, you're very likely going to purchase quick and convenient food, water, or coffee. By planning ahead and packing snacks, water bottles, and a thermos of tea or coffee (not pictured here), you'll ensure the the quality of what you're consuming and save money.

P.S. This sturdy jute carrier makes it easy to carry multiple bottles and costs less than $20 on Amazon :)

07/29/2025

Allopathic medicine has four options when it comes to treating chronic pain:

1. Medication
2. Injection
3. Surgery
4. Physical therapy

While we love physical therapy, the others may come with side effects and/or complications. (Always evaluate the potential risks and benefits before any type of medical intervention, including those in holistic health!)

Many people only consider acupuncture as a last resort when all of the standard treatments fail, but it's very beneficial for any type of pain: Sports injuries, overuse from work or hobbies, post-op recovery, tension due to stress, etc.

Book an appointment with us if you've had trouble finding relief - we'd love to help you feel better!

07/16/2025

We see quite a few fertility patients at our clinic, ranging from those wanting to regulate their cycles before even thinking about having a baby to those deep in assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Some of our patients have shared that they were overwhelmed when listening to their doctor discuss the various fertility treatment options. Our most recent blog post was written to clear up some of the confusion!

If you've ever wondered about the difference between IUI and IVF or wanted to know what other options are available before getting to that stage, this post is for you:

https://www.beachsideacupuncture.com/blog-fertility-treatments/

Western fertility treatments can be very helpful for couples struggling with infertility, but they can also be very confusing! Read this post for an explanation of common options.

07/02/2025

We don't close the clinic very often, but Kathleen will be in Finland all of next week. Beachside will therefore be closed from this Friday - Happy 4th of July! - through Friday, the 11th, and return to our normal hours on Monday, the 14th.

Some fun facts about saunas because Finland invented them:

🔥 "Sauna" is the only Finnish word commonly used in the English language, and most of us pronounce it incorrectly. (It should sound like "sOWna".)

🔥 Saunas traditionally have steam even though most in America are dry. The steam is such an important element that the Finnish language has a word for it ("löyly").

🔥 There are a host of health benefits associated with regular sauna use, including cardiovascular and respiratory improvements, pain relief, and stress reduction.

06/16/2025

Beachside moved to McKinney in December, and our Licensed Acupuncturist is finally moving here as well!

We will close early tomorrow - last follow-up starting at 12:00 - and be closed all day on Wednesday.

We'll be back to our regular hours for Thursday and Friday, though, so there are still plenty of appointments available this week.

06/10/2025

The number of people with blood sugar issues has increased over the years, and we see plenty of patients whose doctors warn them about their blood sugar, even if they do not yet have an official diagnosis of diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Blood sugar regulation is heavily influenced by diet and lifestyle, but sometimes the recommendations given by health professionals can seem overwhelming or incomplete.

Use our latest blog post to gain a basic understanding of blood sugar and use that information to comprehend why adjustments to eating and day-to-day activities can help with its balance.

https://www.beachsideacupuncture.com/blog-blood-sugar/

Blood sugar issues like insulin resistance, diabetes, and pre-diabetes are heavily influenced by diet choices. Simple nutrition principles can go a long way in managing blood glucose.

05/29/2025

Cravings can sometimes give you information about what is going on in your body, so they're worth noticing 👀

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), different "tastes" correspond with different organ systems, so if you find yourself gravitating toward salty foods, bitter foods, etc., tell your acupuncturist!

From a Western nutrition perspective, every food has a unique array of nutrients (e.g. if you're craving oranges, maybe you need vitamin C). Often the craving will go away if you eat enough of the food to meet your body's needs.

Of course, the cravings we're discussing are ones for whole/natural foods and beverages. Sugar is physiologically addictive, as are a lot of chemical additives. Once you've cleaned your diet of these addictive substances, the "true" cravings can kick in.

That being said, keeping track of the "bad" cravings can help identify patterns and triggers. If you can't get by without a candy bar every afternoon, you probably need to adjust your breakfast and lunch for more sustained energy... If you have to have a glass of wine at the end of the day to relax, it might be a good idea to investigate stress management techniques...

Your body is constantly trying to adapt to the challenges it meets, and it's also constantly giving you clues as to what it needs. Pay attention to these clues to accelerate your journey to better health!

05/20/2025

Our world today often exists out of communion nature. Commuting on highways, walking in paved-over cities, and spending free time indoors on screens have become a norm.

Unfortunately, this disconnect can take its toll on health as nature provides healing benefits from multiple angles...

🌱 Sunlight
🌱 Negative ions
🌱 Blue Mind state
🌱 (Many others!)

Getting back in touch with nature doesn't have to involve extremes, and can be easily accomplished even while maintaining modern conveniences. Read our latest blog for examples:

https://www.beachsideacupuncture.com/blog-nature/

The human body has an innate healing response, and spending time in nature can help restore it.

04/25/2025

A "wild" foot is one that doesn't have structural or functional inhibitions.

🦶 Can you lift your toes from the ground?

🦶 Can your toes splay like your fingers do?

🦶 Are your toes curled or squished when your foot is at rest?

If your answers to these questions indicate restrictions, it's worth researching exercises, stretches, shoe modifications, etc. Some of our favorite accounts are:

Gait Happens
The Foot Collective
Anya’s Reviews

If that's too much right now, you can simply start by kicking off your shoes and walking around your yard barefoot this weekend :)

04/22/2025

We live in a beautiful world ❤️🌎