Touchstone Acupuncture

12/22/2025

12/19/2025

Greetings to all my precious people!!

Sunday December 21 is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Known as the longest night, it is the turning point, the moment when darkness reaches its peak and light begins its slow return.

This is the hinge point of the year, when Yin begins to shift to Yang. The threshold between the old cycle completing and the new one germinating in the dark soil of winter. We stand in liminal space—between what was and what will be, between who we've been and who we're becoming.

And here, in this tender in-between, I want to talk about something essential: we don't do this alone.

The journey of awakening—of remembering who we are, of reclaiming our fire, of coming home to ourselves—is not a solo ascent to enlightenment. It is not about transcending our humanity or escaping into spiritual bypassing.

It is about walking each other home.

This is Ram Dass's most beautiful teaching, and it captures something the ancient wisdom traditions have always known: we are interconnected. Our awakening is mutual. We cannot remember alone.

👉 Head to my blog
(link in bio) to read my latest post: Walking Each Other Home

Photo by Van Williams on Unsplash

12/18/2025

These easy-to-make, no-bake snack bites are the perfect seasonal tonic for cold December days. Designed to warm the middle Jiao, nourish Blood, strengthen the Kidneys, and calm the Shen, they’re ideal for that mid-afternoon lull or as a sweet, restorative treat alongside a cup of herbal tea.

In TCM, jujube dates (da zao) are sweet and warm, tonifying the Spleen and Stomach, nourishing Blood, and calming the Shen. Walnuts strengthen Kidney Yang, support Jing, and warm the body. Fresh ginger disperses Cold, promotes digestion, and enhances circulation, while a touch of cinnamon warms the channels and boosts metabolism.

From a nutrition perspective, jujube dates are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and polysaccharides that support immune and adrenal health. Walnuts provide omega-3 fatty acids for brain and heart health, while ginger and cinnamon offer anti-inflammatory, blood sugar-stabilizing, and digestion-supporting properties.

Ingredients (Makes ~12 bites):
- ¾ cup pitted jujube dates (or Medjool if unavailable)
- ½ cup walnuts
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch sea salt
- Optional: 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions:
1. Soak jujube dates in warm water for 10 minutes to soften, then pit and roughly chop.
2. In a food processor, pulse walnuts until crumbly.
3. Add jujube dates, ginger, cinnamon, flaxseed, and salt. Blend until mixture comes together into a sticky dough.
4. Roll into bite-sized balls. Optional: Roll in black sesame seeds for added Kidney-nourishing benefits.
5. Chill in fridge for 20 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Modifications:
- Gluten-Free & Vegan: Naturally
- Protein Boost: Add 1 tablespoon h**p seeds

12/16/2025

❄️ Winter is the season of deep rest, reflection, and renewal. ❄️
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is connected to the Water element, the Kidneys, and your deepest reserves of energy: your essence or jing. It's the perfect time to slow down, nourish your body and spirit, and align with nature’s rhythm.

This is your invitation to embrace stillness, sip warming herbal teas, receive acupuncture, and support your inner transformation in order to emerge into spring replenished and radiant.

Rest is not lazy. It's medicine.

12/12/2025

Greetings to all my precious people!!

Last week, we remembered: you are made of stardust. You carry ancient wisdom. You've always had the magic.

This week, we turn our attention to what the Daoists call Shen—the spirit that lives in your heart. The light of consciousness. The fire that makes you uniquely, unmistakably YOU.

We are in the deep darkness of December now. The Winter Solstice approaches on December 21—the longest night of the year, when the sun seems to disappear entirely, and we are asked to trust that the light will return.

This is not accidental timing. The darkest night of the year is also the turning point. From this moment forward, the light begins its slow return. The days lengthen. The fire comes back.

But only if we tend it.

👉 Head to my blog
(link in bio) to read my latest post: Tending the Fire that Sparks You

Photo by Alex Shuper on Unsplash

12/11/2025

This earthy, aromatic dish is a grounding, Kidney-nourishing meal ideal for December’s deep Yin season. It gently strengthens Yang, replenishes Qi and Blood, and supports the Spleen and Stomach through winter’s cold months.

In TCM, chestnuts are sweet and warm in nature, tonifying the Kidneys, strengthening the lower back, and nourishing the Spleen. Shiitake mushrooms support immune function, nourish Qi, and dispel Dampness. Ginger and scallions warm the Stomach, promote circulation, and dispel Cold.

Nutritionally, chestnuts are rich in complex carbohydrates, vitamin C (unusual for a nut), and potassium. Shiitakes provide beta-glucans that support immunity, as well as B vitamins and antioxidants. This dish offers anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, and immune-boosting benefits in a cozy, digestible form.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3):
- ¾ cup fresh or vacuum-packed chestnuts (peeled)
- 1 cup fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tablespoons avocado or sesame oil
- 2 slices fresh ginger
- 2 scallions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tamari or light soy sauce
- ½ cup vegetable or bone broth
- 1 teaspoon rice wine
- Pinch of white pepper

Instructions:
1. In a pan, heat oil and sauté ginger and scallions until aromatic.
2. Add chestnuts and stir-fry for 3–4 minutes.
3. Add shiitake mushrooms, stir to coat.
4. Pour in tamari, broth, rice wine, and white pepper. 5. Cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chestnuts are tender.
6. Serve warm as a side or light main dish.

Modifications:
- Gluten-Free: Use tamari
- Vegan: Use vegetable broth

12/05/2025

Greetings to all my precious people!!

We have crossed the threshold into December. The darkest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. We are in deep Water season now—the element of winter in Chinese Medicine, the time of maximum yin, when all of nature turns inward to rest in the fertile darkness.

This is the season of incubation. Of seeds held in the dark soil. Of potential waiting beneath the frozen ground. Of wisdom so deep and ancient that it needs the quiet of winter to be heard.

November asked us to clear the way—to release what had completed, to make space for what wants to emerge. We practiced homecoming: returning to ourselves by letting go of physical clutter, emotional weight, mental noise, and the stories that no longer fit who we are becoming.

Now, in December, we remember.

Not in the nostalgic sense—not looking backward with longing or regret. But re-membering in the deepest sense: putting ourselves back together. Reclaiming the parts of ourselves we forgot. Recognizing the wisdom that was never actually lost—only buried beneath years of conditioning, trauma, and the relentless noise of a culture that profits from our forgetting.

👉 Head to my blog
(link in bio) to read my latest post: The Wisdom That Was Never Lost

Photo by Robert Lukeman on Unsplash

12/04/2025

A gently sweet, warming tea to calm the Spirit, nourish the Blood, and support digestion on cold nights.

In TCM, sweet potatoes strengthen the Spleen and nourish Qi, while longan fruit warms the Heart, nourishes Blood, and calms Shen.

Nutritionally, sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, fiber, and vitamin C. Longan berries (often dried) offer natural sugars, antioxidants, and gentle sedative effects.

Ingredients (Serves 2):
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 10 dried longan fruits
- 3 cups water
- 1-inch ginger (optional for extra warmth)

Instructions:
1. Combine sweet potato, longan, and water in a small pot.
2. Bring to a boil, simmer 20 minutes.
3. Strain (if desired) and drink the tea, enjoying sweet potato pieces as a snack.

Modifications:
- Vegan & Gluten-Free: Naturally
- Add warmth: Include ginger

12/02/2025

Acupuncture points are gateways. Tiny but powerful spots that regulate energy (Qi), balance organ systems, support emotional healing, and restore your body's natural rhythm. Each one holds potential for transformation.

百会 (Baihui) – “Hundred Meetings”

Located at the top of your head, this point connects all Yang energy in the body. It lifts mood, clears brain fog, and anchors you back to your higher self.

印堂 (Yintang) – “Hall of Impression”
Between the eyebrows lies your inner calm. This point soothes anxiety, resets the nervous system, and invites peaceful sleep.

膻中 (Shanzhong) – “Chest Center”
A release point for grief and tightness in the heart. It supports emotional openness and lung function, especially in stressful times.

内关 (Neiguan) – “Inner Gate”
Found on the inner wrist, it calms the heart, eases nausea, and opens emotional flow. A favorite for anxiety, digestion, and travel.

大椎 (Dazhui) – “Great Vertebra”
At the base of the neck, this immune-boosting point clears heat and tension. Use it for colds, flus, or inflammation.

气海 (Qihai) – “Sea of Qi”
Just below the navel, this is your energetic battery pack. It supports fertility, digestion, core strength, and long-term vitality.

足三里 (Zusanli) – “Leg Three Miles”
Below the knee, this point fuels the whole body. It boosts immunity, aids digestion, and is legendary for restoring stamina.

Curious how acupuncture can help you feel more energized, grounded, and at peace? Let’s connect.
👉 Book your next session today.