Tranquility Base Acupuncture

11/18/2025

I suppose now would be a good time to publicly announce: I’m pregnant! Baby due in February. The pregnancy has had its ups and downs, its joys and challenges. For those of you on the same journey and struggling with how your body is changing day by day, sometimes hour by hour, I feel you. Some days I feel like a goddess, and some days I feel like a meatball. A good friend of mine (shoutout to ) reminded me: this is all temporary. Your body is being borrowed as it creates and grows new life. It is doing so much, so give yourself some grace.

Prenatal Exercises, such as specialized one on one sessions by , and prenatal Pilates (photographed here by courtesy of ), help so much. To me it is a form of physical nourishment, even if I can’t lift anywhere as much as I could pre-pregnancy.

Food has also been interesting! I often remind myself as I do with my patients: focus on what you can eat, rather than what you cannot. Food aversions and “prohibitions” are also temporary. Focus on what nourishes your body (proteins, iron rich foods) and the baby, and you’ll feel so much better.

And with that said, I’m off to Taiwan 🇹🇼, my ancestral homeland, to nourish myself with time with family, beautiful landscapes, hot springs, and all the culinary delights the island had to offer. Will return to office on Tuesday 12/2.

I hope you enjoy a nourishing Thanksgiving holiday, too.

11/17/2025

Out of Office 11/19-12/1

Hi! I’m writing to share that I’ll be out of the office—and getting wonderfully nourished in Taiwan—from November 19th through Thanksgiving. I’ll be back in the office and resume regular hours on December 2nd. During this time, I won’t be checking or responding to emails until I’m back in the U.S.

If you’d like to book an appointment while I’m away, the easiest and fastest way is through my online scheduler (just click the button below). If the time you want isn’t available, feel free to add yourself to the waitlist — it will automatically notify you if a spot opens up. Once you make an appointment and create an account, you’ll also be able to view your upcoming sessions and reschedule anytime.

My friend and colleague Sze Chan will be covering for me here at my office on Tuesday November 25th between 2-7pm. If you'd like to book an appointment with her, please email her directly at kunjitang@gmail.com. She will reach out to me directly for treatment prescriptions. As a courtesy, please do not request an appointment less than 48 hours beforehand, so we both have time to prepare the treatment plan. If you already have an appointment with her and need to reschedule, please let her know and CC me in the email.

During this time, I hope you are nourishing yourselves as well! See you when I get back :)

Prisca

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10/20/2025

It might feel surreal, especially after the journey that brought you here. While there’s no shortage of information out there about every stage of pregnancy, much of it overlooks one important piece: you, the mother to be. Your body’s needs and aversions may shift week to week, sometimes hour to hour, and self-care becomes challenging. In traditional Chinese medicine, we think of self-care more as self nourishment, a foundation of your well-being and your baby’s growth. From a TCM perspective, mindful nourishment, and gentle balance, are key to supporting a healthy pregnancy and smooth postpartum recovery. Here are a few examples of foods I recommend for my patients to eat in the first trimester, when it can be the most challenging time for nourishment:

• Congee 🍲: soups, stews, and congee are easy to digest, especially if you’re experiencing morning sickness, and help your body absorb nutrients efficiently. Add a slice of fresh ginger root to help reduce nausea and support digestion.

• Lemon 🍋 juice and vinegar: in the first few weeks of pregnancy, the body is storing what would’ve been menstrual blood in the body, and circulating it in womb to support the growing embryo. The organ system associated with this time is the liver, and the flavor associated with the liver is sour, the energy is inward. Drizzle some lemon juice or vinegar over your food, eat citrus or tart fruits that are in season, add some pickled vegetables to your food.

• Nut butters: nuts are blood nourishing foods, and happen to be high in folate, essential for fetal development. Sometimes nut butters are easier to consume than eating whole nuts. If you’re experiencing nausea, you can have a little bit of nut butter with a cracker or a piece of fruit. Snacking on proteins and complex carbohydrates can help curb nausea, which can be worse when your stomach is empty.

• Lentil soup: Lentils and other beans are highly nutritious. One cup of cooked lentils equals 1/2 of your daily folate requirement, a great source of iron, contains fiber, to help with constipation.

The list of foods is actually much longer; these are just a few examples.

10/08/2025

The temperature is finally dropping 🍂! And this means flu 🤧season is approaching. In TCM, when the weather fluctuates between cold 🥶 and warm 🥵, and humid 🌧️ and windy 🌬️ , our bodies are more susceptible to exterior “wind“ a.k.a. viruses when immunity is weak.

There are many wind-entering 💨 points around the neck, so it’s important to keep the back of your neck covered with a scarf 🧣or wearing a sweater or a 🧥jacket with a collar. Acupuncture on points on the back of the neck can help kick out the first signs of a cold and aid in faster recover.

09/29/2025

Breaking News!

Nico and I are happy to announce: we're pregnant! We are expecting the little bao in February 2026 - we are excited and a little nervous. I appreciate any advice, wisdom, and your support and patience in the coming months as we prepare for its arrival. I do not plan on reducing my regular office hours for as long as I can physically manage, and if/when there are any changes I will of course give you a heads up.

Here is the first change:

📅 New Weekend Hours

Starting October, we will be offering weekend hours! Treatments will be administered by my associate Chia-Ti Wang. She is going to help see some of my patients during this transitional period as I prepare for maternity leave and beyond. You can read her bio in the introduction below.

Hours: Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 2pm

These will be for follow-up treatments only, based on your prescribed treatment plan. She is not offering cosmetic treatments or Guasha at this time.

Freya Movement
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Tranquility Base Acupuncture

Are you pregnant or know anyone who's pregnant? Help spread the word! I'm collaborating with our friends at Freya Movement Studios for a Q&A after their Signature Prenatal Pilates class on October 1st. The Q&A is free, and you can RSVP here (https://www.freyamovement.com/event-details/meet-the-pros-prisca-chen-lac-dipl-om-faborm-mei-zen-preferred-provider) . I highly recommend attending the class at 6pm as well, which you can book here (https://www.freyamovement.com/book-with-us) .

When: Wednesday, October 1st at 6:45 PM

Where: Freya Movement Studios
134 W 29th St #607, New York, NY 10001
Google Maps directions (https://maps.app.goo.gl/V7XYGfz3zJu6UdYE7)

Autumn Skin & Hair Health

As we transition into fall, many of you may notice an increase in skin dryness and hair falling out, a common symptom for those with Blood Deficiency. To help combat these changes, we’re excited to remind you that our cosmetic treatment packages are available! Plus, when you book a cosmetic acupuncture session, you'll receive a 15% discount on all skincare products and supplements to nourish your skin and hair this season. Every hair restoration session comes with a free refill of Mermaid Hair, and every facial rejuvenation session comes with a free Yina face mask.

Online Booking

A reminder that the easiest and fastest way to book an appointment is online! Click the button below to book.

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09/18/2025

📣🎉I’m excited to announce that starting October, Tranquility Base Acupuncture will be open on weekends for follow-up treatments by Chia-Ti Wang!

Chia is a dedicated healer with a deep belief in the body’s natural ability to heal when given the right support. As both a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist, she takes a holistic approach to wellness, blending Eastern and Western healing techniques to help her patients find relief from pain, stress, and chronic conditions.

With a warm and compassionate nature, Chia-Ti meets each patient where they are on their wellness journey, creating personalized treatments that address their unique needs. Her expertise spans a variety of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies, including acupuncture, Tui Na massage, fire cupping, and moxibustion, all of which help restore balance and promote long-term well-being.

In her massage therapy practice, Chia-Ti combines Swedish massage, deep tissue, trigger point therapy, and acupressure to relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and enhance circulation. Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, injury recovery, or everyday stress, her skillful touch and deep understanding of the body’s energy flow will leave you feeling rejuvenated and restored.

Her ultimate goal is to help each patient achieve lasting relief and a renewed sense of vitality, using gentle yet effective treatments that harmonize the body and mind.

Hours: Sat-Sun between 10am-2pm