Heather Smidt, LicAc LMT & Reiki Practitioner

09/29/2025

Our Executive Director Kate is going to be doing a LIVE TV interview today with Kerry Kavanaugh on Boston 25 News Now at 3, talking about AllPaths and the Walk.

Her segment will air around 3:15PM. 📹 Tune in!

09/26/2025

This beauty had only two leaves when I brought her home from my local Buy Nothing group. She was infested with scale (though I didn’t know it at first), struggling in silence but still holding on.
After some serious pest remediation, a new pot, fresh soil, patience, and a whole lot of love… she’s finally thriving.
It’s wild how plants mirror us. Healing isn’t instant. Growth takes time. With the right conditions and a little care, we can all come back stronger.
From the mud grows the lotus 🌱✨

09/25/2025

09/24/2025

🧡👇GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Ever feel like your fertility journey is completely out of your hands?

Like no matter what you do or how hard you try, the timing, outcome, and getting to the next step, all feels totally out of your control?

If you feel this way, you're not alone! This is one of the most frustrating parts of struggling to build your family.

That’s why we’re so excited to share that we’re giving away a copy of The Herbal Fertility Handbook by Liane Moccia! ✨

Liane is a Registered Clinical Herbalist and AllPaths Board Member, who also leads our TTC support group.

Her book is filled with gentle, grounded, evidence-based ways to support your fertility- from herbs and natural supplements to lifestyle shifts and holistic practices.

It’s not about finding a magic fix. It’s about understanding your body, reconnecting with your agency, and taking small, supportive steps that actually feel doable.

Whether you’re just starting to explore your options or you’ve been on this path for years, this book can help you feel more informed and empowered.

🫶 And we’d love to send you a copy.

💛 To enter the giveaway:

1. Like this post
2. Follow us
3. And tag a friend in the comments who’d love this book too (each comment = one entry!)

✨ Bonus: Share this post to your story and tag us for an extra entry!

Disclaimer: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, or Meta.

Winner will receive a brand new copy of The Herbal Fertility Handbook by Liane Moccia, shipped to address of their choosing.

09/22/2025

PCOS isn’t “just” about fertility. It’s about your whole self.

Polycystic o***y syndrome is one of the most common and most misunderstood reproductive health conditions. And yes, it’s the leading cause of anovulatory infertility…

…but that’s only part of the story.

PCOS can impact your hormones, your mood, your skin, your hair, your cycle, your energy levels and your sense of self.

Symptoms don’t always look the same. For some, it’s irregular periods. For others, it’s acne, hair thinning, excess hair growth, insulin resistance, or anxiety and depression.

The truth? PCOS is wildly underdiagnosed. While the official stat says 1 in 10, many experts believe it’s closer to 1 in 5. That means you almost certainly know someone who’s quietly navigating it, maybe even without a diagnosis yet.

So if you're living with PCOS:
You’re not imagining it.
You’re not alone.
And you deserve care that looks at the whole picture.

Let’s keep talking about it. Let’s keep pushing for awareness, research, and real support.

🧡 Share this to help others feel seen.

09/13/2025

As many of my patients know, AllPaths is a lovely organization that provides resources for people who are on their family building journey. They offer free peer led support groups, education, and advocacy. Their annual walk is one of my favorite events! It’s a chance for people to connect with others who understand the journey. Please considering donating or create your own profile and join us!

Footsteps for Family Building is a community fundraising walk for all people struggling with fertility and family building and those who love them. Raising awareness and important funds, Footsteps for Family Building celebrates AllPaths Family Building's mission of working to ensure that has access....

09/01/2025

🍞 Labor Day Loaf: Gluten-Free Sourdough Moment 🍞

I didn’t create this recipe, but the ingredients spoke to me: buckwheat, sorghum, flax, psyllium. As someone with celiac (and an acupuncturist), I’m always looking for gluten-free options that feel nourishing. This one felt like it had real potential.

A little East Asian medicine lens on what’s in the mix:
🌾 Buckwheat supports the Spleen, aids digestion, and helps transform dampness
🔥 Sorghum is warm and sweet, gently builds Qi and supports the middle
🌿 Flax seeds nourish Yin, move stagnation, and keep things flowing
💨 Psyllium husk adds fiber, promotes regularity, and clears excess

Gluten-free eating was essential for me on my fertility journey, but it’s not a magic fix. Especially when so many substitutes are all starch and no substance.

This loaf felt like real food. It’s fiber-rich, hearty, and honestly, really good with butter.

Happy Labor Day weekend! Here’s to rest, nourishment, and carbs that actually support your body. And a little extra time to make them!💛

08/31/2025

🌸 Luteal Phase / Embryo Transfer Nourishment 🌸

As an acupuncturist, I always come back to the principle that food can be deeply supportive. It isn’t just for the body, but for the mind and spirit too.

This plate was created with the luteal phase in mind and could be good for embryo transfer support too. It is rooted in East Asian Medicine wisdom.

What’s on my plate?

🥩 Grilled beef and peppers – Warm, yang-nourishing foods that support Kidney Yang and build Qi. Beef strengthens the Spleen and nourishes Blood, which is key for implantation and holding. Peppers add gentle warmth and help move Qi.

🥬 Wilted spinach – Cooked greens nourish Liver Blood and support smooth emotional and energetic flow, something we want to encourage during this phase.

🍠 Mashed purple sweet potato – Rich in color and energetics, purple sweet potatoes nourish the Spleen and Kidneys, support Qi and Blood, and help ground the system. The deep purple also resonates with the Kidney system in East Asian Medicine, which governs fertility and our deepest reserves.

🦋 Butterfly pea tea lemonade – This vibrant drink balances Liver-soothing lemon with the cooling, Shen-calming energetics of butterfly pea flower. It is both beautiful and supportive for Yin and emotional calm.

🌿 Why this matters:
During the luteal phase or after an embryo transfer, we aim to warm, nourish, and build. The focus is on supporting the body in "holding" and the mind in softening. Food is one of many tools to help create the most stable, receptive internal environment.

✨ That said, there is no shame or blame in eating differently. Life is complex, and fertility journeys are deeply personal. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about offering the body loving support where we can. Balanced, intentional meals like this one are just one way we can care for the whole self: body, mind, and spirit.

08/26/2025

On my visit to the apothecary at Colonial Williamsburg, I spotted these little heartburn tablets made from ground seashells 🐚💊 and immediately thought: “Wait a second… I’ve done that.”

Throwback to when I was pregnant and in acupuncture school, suffering from unholy heartburn. I bought a huge bag of clam shells and ground them into powder using our coffee grinder, because East Asian medicine uses the same remedy.

Did it work? Yes.
Did I destroy the coffee grinder? Also yes.
Do I still owe my husband a new one? Absolutely.

The best part? The calcium carbonate in those shells is still in heartburn meds like Tums today. History, tradition, and a slightly charred coffee grinder all connected.

08/25/2025

✨Time traveling at the apothecary in Colonial Williamsburg 🏺💫
This mortar and pestle may have once mixed the cures of the day, but in the 18th century, my role in medicine would have looked very different. Back then, my “prescribed” paths were limited: wife, mother, or spinster. (And if I had any questions, I was expected to look to my husband for the answers... thank you, Revolutionary Mothers, for the reminder! 📖)
Today, I’m so grateful to run my own business, practice acupuncture, and help people feel their best. What a gift to live in a time where women can choose their own path.
It was a relaxing, inspiring escape into the past, but I’m happy to return to the present—and back to the work I love. 🌿🌀

08/10/2025

Cultivating joy today at the for $3 a ride! Money well spent to bring out my inner 5 year old.

06/16/2025

🌈 Happy Pride Month! I may be a little late to the celebration, but the love, support, and affirmation are here every day of the year.

As an acupuncturist specializing in reproductive health, I’m honored to support people of all identities and family structures. I believe in calling people what they want to be called, honoring their experiences, and walking alongside them as they build their families—on their own terms, in whatever way feels right.

Acupuncture for ALL walks of Life isn’t just my motto—it’s the heart of my practice.

To my LGBTQIA+ patients, colleagues, and community: you are seen, valued, and always welcome here. 💖