Balboa Park Holistic Wellness Center

Balboa Park Holistic Wellness Center Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, functional nutrition, craniosacral therapy dedicated to helping people get back to doing what they love!

I want to take a moment BEFORE we get into Thanksgiving week to give everyone a reminder. It seems that at this time of ...
11/21/2025

I want to take a moment BEFORE we get into Thanksgiving week to give everyone a reminder. It seems that at this time of year, every diet "guru" and health "influencer" is talking about how to do the holidays "healthier". And so much of the message is around keeping weight off, avoiding over eating, limiting sweets and alcohol. It starts to feel punitive, and for ME, it takes all the fun out of the celebration.

I'm going to throw out a different message this holiday season. Many of us have had a challenging year. If you feel like it's time to celebrate, go all in. Have those appetizers. Sip that cocktail. Savor dessert like it's the best bite you've ever had. One day of indulgence doesn't have to derail your meal plan, your weight loss goals, or your self esteem, and the benefit of relaxing and enjoying the holiday far outweighs (pun intended!) the downside.

Moderation is a great thing to strive for. And moderation is useful in all things including moderation.

Here are my recommendations for balancing indulgence with daily life so it doesn't undo the hard work you've put in all year:

πŸ‚ Remind yourself that it's a treat, and not your new pattern.

πŸ‚ When you're looking at the buffet table, ask yourself "Will I enjoy this item?" If the answer is "yes", take a reasonable portion and savor it without guilt. That goes for everything INCLUDING dessert.

πŸ‚ If you have food sensitivities, do your best to avoid eating the things you know will make you feel awful. Otherwise, let your senses be your guide to what goes on your plate.

πŸ‚ Take a gently paced walk after your meal and before the football game to help stimulate digestion and lower your blood sugar.

πŸ‚ If you feel overly full later in the day, movement is helpful. And when all else fails, a good dose of digestive enzymes can help you process the extra bulk in your guts.

πŸ‚ The next morning, drink your warm beverage, eat a normal breakfast, and return to your pre-indulgence routine without beating yourself up. Remember, you're worth it!

This month I've had two amazing bodywork sessions which I REALLY needed. Moving has been tough on my body, and it's been...
11/19/2025

This month I've had two amazing bodywork sessions which I REALLY needed. Moving has been tough on my body, and it's been my turn to be taken care of.

These sessions got me thinking about how special it is that I GET to take care of myself in this way. I see both of these providers almost every month. Sometimes my body needs the work, and sometimes it's just nice to be supported even when nothing hurts. Yes, I really do practice what I preach where self-care is concerned!

I'm grateful for self-care. I'm grateful for being privileged enough to be able to design my life to include both time and resources for self-care, and for the knowledge I've amassed so I know what I need when I need it - whether it's a workout or extra sleep or time on another practitioner's table. And I'm grateful for the resources and practitioners who are there when my body or mind or soul are crying out for support. No matter how resourced we may be, nobody can do everything on their own, including me.

I know how hard it can be to carve out the time and the funds for self-care, and I'm honored to be able to be the trusted support person for so many patients who rely on ME for their self-care. Thank you for your trust and your continued support of my practice. I promise, I'll keep on taking care of myself so I can truly be there for YOUπŸ’•

Thankful for....GOATS!These little critters are so gentle and fun to be around. Last weekend, I got to spend a morning m...
11/15/2025

Thankful for....GOATS!

These little critters are so gentle and fun to be around. Last weekend, I got to spend a morning meditating and stretching with goats and llamas for companions, complete with snuggles, feeding, and of course, πŸ’©. Because when you're playing with farm animals, πŸ’©happens.

If you happen to be in San Diego when Sugar Sweet Farm is hosting one of their Zen experiences, do it!

As my theme of THANKSgiving continues this month, I'm taking a moment to breathe and be thankful for opportunities like these to get out of my normal routine and spend time with my husband doing unusual stuff like playing with GOATS.

Kindness. Patience. Grace.Seems like lately our world has been a bit short on the small, everyday acts of kindness and g...
11/13/2025

Kindness. Patience. Grace.

Seems like lately our world has been a bit short on the small, everyday acts of kindness and generosity which keep society functioning even when the world seems crazy.

Today, I challenge you to do at least one small act of kindness. Make it deliberate and intentional. Here are just a few suggestions, but feel free to do what feels good to YOU:

🌸 Buy a coffee for a stranger
🌸 Don't honk your horn when that slow driver annoys you
🌸 Drop off some unneeded food or clothing at a donation site
🌸 Volunteer your time at a food pantry or homeless shelter
🌸 Smile at that random soul who makes eye contact with you in the library
🌸 Drop a few extra "high fives" on your Peloton workout
🌸 Give your partner a hug, just because
🌸 Bring lunch to that un-homed person you pass on the way to work each day

So many little things which cost next to nothing to do, but can make someone's day. How can be be more kind, not just today, but every day?

I was one of the first acupuncturists in San Diego to provide care to veterans outside of the VA system in what is now t...
11/11/2025

I was one of the first acupuncturists in San Diego to provide care to veterans outside of the VA system in what is now the Community Care Program, and my father served in the Army during the Vietnam War. I've known a lot of men and women who have sacrificed their physical and mental health while following their dreams of serving our country, and I appreciate everything these dedicated humans have given in that service.

I think about the veterans I've known not just on Veteran's Day, but everyday. Today I want to give an extra shout-out to all the people who have served in our armed forces, honoring the sacrifices they have made and their dedication to everything they do on behalf of this experiment in democracy we call the United States of America. If you are a veteran, thank you for your service ❀

November means the change of seasons is really here.  Evenings are darker and colder.  Harvest is nearing its end. Novem...
11/07/2025

November means the change of seasons is really here. Evenings are darker and colder. Harvest is nearing its end. November always feels like the pivot between fall and winter when yin predominates, drawing us into quiet contemplation. Something about the approach of "Thanks" giving makes me want to take time out and give thanks, not just for the turkey, but for all the things which are going right in my world.

This year, it seems like there's so much stress and uncertainty everywhere. More people are hungry, more people are worrying about whether they'll be able to afford health insurance. Flights are being cancelled as plans are being made to visit family and friends for the holidays. While these worries are very real, there is still a lot we can be grateful for. The sun continues to rise and fall. We have access to clean water, fresh air, and our phones. Communities are rallying to help provide food to people who are struggling, bringing people together in new ways. These things which stress us out are also things which can bring our communities together, and the antidote to division is coming together for common good.

No matter how dark the times, there's always a spark of light somewhere, a flicker of yang within the darkness of yin. And when we reach for the light, we eventually find it. The "ick" will still be there, but when we can see the things which light us up, the ick is a little bit easier to bear. We could all use a little bit of ease this season!

This month, I invite you to focus not on the things which are stressing you out, but on the things you are grateful for. My favorite way to do this is to end each day by making a list of 5 things I'm grateful for which happened that day. Will you join me in focusing on gratitude this month?

May your Halloween be spooky, witchy, fun, delicious, indulgent, and safe. And don't forget, I can help you feel better ...
10/31/2025

May your Halloween be spooky, witchy, fun, delicious, indulgent, and safe.
And don't forget, I can help you feel better after that sugar hangover πŸ˜›

October 29 is National Cat Day. Show me your cats!!! The image is Percy-Kat, my semi-feral bundle of teeth, fur, claws, ...
10/29/2025

October 29 is National Cat Day.
Show me your cats!!!

The image is Percy-Kat, my semi-feral bundle of teeth, fur, claws, and purr, who's likeness was captured mid-yawn - a definite opinion about my working rather than paying homage to his highness when this photo was taken πŸ˜‚πŸ’•πŸ˜»

😺

This week is all about learning. So far, music and art therapy in cancer treatment, and the neuroscience of mindfulness ...
10/28/2025

This week is all about learning. So far, music and art therapy in cancer treatment, and the neuroscience of mindfulness training for managing anxiety. And it's just the beginning of the 2nd day. At the Society of Integrative Oncology annual conference, and loving all the talks and connections.


When we think about breast cancer, most of us think it's a single disease with only one treatment plan. But there are se...
10/18/2025

When we think about breast cancer, most of us think it's a single disease with only one treatment plan.

But there are several types of breast cancer, with very different treatments and equally different outcome statistics. Diagnosis is the same for all of them, typically imaging by either a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, or some combination of these, followed by a biopsy. From there, things become unique to each patient.

Breast cancer can be fed by hormones (estrogen or progesterone), or not (triple negative, HER2+). They can involve cells in the ducts or in the lobules. At a molecular level, their growth can be supported by a variety of enzyme and immune pathways, all of which can be targets for treatment.

Breast cancer can be local disease - limited to the breast tissue, and tumor size and the way the cells look determine the stage and grade. If the cancer is also in lymph nodes, it's more serious, AND still very treatable. If there is cancer outside the breast in other organs like the lungs or bones, it's called metastatic cancer (Stage IV) which is the most challenging to treat.

Treatment is no longer one-size-fits-all, and the trend has been "de-escalation" - a term which means doing less to achieve the same result. A diagnosis is no longer a guarantee of surgery plus chemo plus radiation, and immunotherapy has grown as a treatment strategy.

Breast cancer is no longer a death sentence, and today's treatment is not what your Mom or Grandmother experienced. Please don't let fear of the treatment stop you from getting checked out if anything seems unusual with your breasts. Early detection is still the key to the best possible outcome!

I bet most people reading this have never considered how acupuncture might help someone with breast cancer. For the last...
10/16/2025

I bet most people reading this have never considered how acupuncture might help someone with breast cancer. For the last 8 years since I went through treatment myself, I've dedicated my acupuncture practice to working with other breast cancer patients. I never "treat" the cancer, that's your doctor's job. I help my patients sleep better, feel more relaxed, and experience fewer and less intense side effects during their treatment.

Acupuncture can help with:

🌸 Managing pain after surgery or during radiation
🌸 Reducing nausea and stomach upset during chemo
🌸 Calming anxiety and mood swings relating to cancer and treatment
🌸 Decreasing risk of neuropathy while going through chemo (this is a BIG one!)
🌸 Improving sleep
🌸 Relieving side effects of medication including muscle/joint pain & headaches

If you're in the San Diego area and are going through treatment for breast cancer, hit me up for a free consultation and we can chat about your specific situation and how I can help YOU. Call or text (619)772-4002 to reserve your slot.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month seems like a great time to remind you that lumps are not the only early warning signs of b...
10/13/2025

Breast Cancer Awareness Month seems like a great time to remind you that lumps are not the only early warning signs of breast cancer. Other things to watch for include:

πŸ₯‘ Any change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast
πŸ₯‘ Ni***es turning inward
πŸ₯‘ Redness or swelling in the breast
πŸ₯‘ Dimpling or puckering of the skin over the breast
πŸ₯‘ Ni**le discharge, especially if it's bloody or clear
πŸ₯‘ Swelling or pain in the armpit or around the collar bone

Whenever anything feels unusual or has you worried, be sure to get checked out by your doctor. Early stage breast cancer is nearly 100% treatable, and early detection is the key.

Address

2310 6th Avenue
San Diego, CA
92101

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 1pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 7pm

Telephone

+16197724002

Website

http://linktr.ee/acupuncturegeek

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Our Story

At our acupuncture clinic our philosophy is that every person has the capability to heal deep within themselves, and we know that modern life leaves most of us disconnected from our bodies so we forget how to tap into that power within us. We offer services such as acupuncture and herbal medicine in order to give your body everything it needs to turn on its powerful healing capabilities. Call us today to book your free consultation and learn more about how we can help you!