Tao of Wellness

07/08/2025

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Supports Radiant Skin
By Dr. Shannon Lawrence

In the age of social media, the pressure to maintain flawless, youthful skin is more intense than ever. While Botox and dermal fillers can offer quick cosmetic results, they may come with unwanted side effects—muscle weakness, headaches, vision issues, and even long-term structural changes or chronic facial pain. Fortunately, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a holistic, time-tested approach to skin health that nourishes from the inside out—naturally and safely.

A Time-Honored Tradition

Traditional Chinese Medicine has supported skin health for over 3,000 years. As early as the 11th century BCE, texts describe the use of ground rice and herbal powders applied topically. Over time, internal herbal remedies became essential for addressing more complex skin conditions.

According to TCM theory, the Lungs govern the skin, helping distribute moisture and warmth to its surface. When Lung Qi becomes imbalanced—either deficient or excessive—skin issues can occur. The Lungs are also paired with the Large Intestine, which plays a crucial role in skin health. Inflammation, blockages, or microbiome imbalances in the intestines often manifest as skin problems. In this view, the intestines are considered the “internal skin” of the body.

The Tao of Wellness Approach

At Tao of Wellness, we use a noninvasive, whole-body approach to skin health. Our treatments not only improve the skin’s surface but also enhance the body’s inner harmony, promoting healthy Qi, Blood, collagen production, and longevity.

read more at Taoofwellness.com/blogs

06/24/2025

Managing Diabetes with TCM and Herbal Medicine
By Albert Vaca, L.Ac.

Summer is a time of renewal—an ideal season to refocus on your long-term wellness. One of the most transformative steps you can take is naturally managing or preventing diabetes using time-tested principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), combined with modern lifestyle science.

While diabetes is often treated with medication and diet changes, few people realize how deeply stress, poor sleep, and inflammation impact blood sugar regulation—and how TCM offers powerful, personalized tools to support healing from the inside out.

TCM sees diabetes as a blood sugar problem and a systemic imbalance involving digestion, energy metabolism, emotional tension, and organ vitality. At Tao of Wellness, we use acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and stress-reduction techniques to create a personalized plan to restore your body’s natural harmony.

Read more at TaoOfWellness.com/blogs

05/27/2025

Reducing Inflammation Naturally
By Dr. Dao

Inflammation is your body’s natural defense mechanism. It kicks in when the body senses an injury, infection, or harmful substance and works to heal and protect. When it happens in a localized area, inflammation can cause symptoms like swelling, redness, heat, and pain, such as a sprained ankle or sore throat.

However, when inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to more serious conditions, such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders. Chronic inflammation can simmer quietly in the body for years, damaging tissues and accelerating aging.

Thankfully, there are natural ways to reduce inflammation and restore balance. By focusing on your diet, lifestyle, and stress management and incorporating supportive natural therapies, you can control inflammation before it takes control of you.

How Do You Know If You Have Inflammation?

Aside from physical symptoms, your doctor may run blood tests such as:

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) – A general marker for inflammation in the body.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) – Indicates how quickly red blood cells settle, another nonspecific sign of inflammation.

While these tests don’t reveal the cause, they’re useful in monitoring chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease.

Top 3 Ways to Naturally Reduce Inflammation


1. Clean Up Your Diet

Certain foods fuel inflammation, while others calm it down. Here’s how to eat smart.

Foods that Fight Inflammation:

Fruits & Vegetables: Leafy greens, tomatoes, and berries are high in antioxidants

Whole Grains: Choose brown rice, oats, and quinoa over white rice or refined flour

Fatty Fish: Salmon, tuna, and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Nuts & Seeds: Walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia are great anti-inflammatory snacks.

Herbs & Spices: Turmeric and ginger are natural inflammation fighters.

Dark Chocolate & Green Tea (in moderation): Contain flavonoids with antioxidant effects.

Foods to Avoid:

Processed snacks, white bread, and sugary cereals

Fried foods, red meat (especially fried), and processed meats

READ MORE -> www.taoofwellness.com/blogs

05/21/2025

Anxiety & Depression Support with Traditional Chinese Medicine
By Albert Vaca, L.Ac.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a meaningful time to reflect on our emotional well-being. Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health challenges today, affecting millions of people across all ages and walks of life. While conventional treatments can help, many are searching for natural, holistic solutions with fewer side effects. That’s where Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comes in—a time-tested system that addresses not just symptoms, but the root causes of emotional imbalance.

Understanding Anxiety & Depression in TCM: The Emotional-Organ Connection

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotions are not seen as separate from the body. Each major emotion is linked to an internal organ system, and emotional distress is often a sign of organ imbalance or disharmony.

Anxiety: A Heart–Kidney Imbalance

Anxiety typically involves a disharmony between the Heart, which houses the spirit or consciousness (Shen), and the Kidneys, the root of our constitutional vitality.

This disharmony may result in symptoms like restlessness, racing thoughts, insomnia, palpitations, or panic.

From a Western perspective, these symptoms often correlate with dysregulation in the sympathetic nervous system, elevated cortisol, and imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA.

Read more at Taoofwellness.com/blogs

Depression: Liver Qi Stagnation and Spleen Deficiency

Depression in TCM is often rooted in Liver Qi stagnation—when the Liver fails to regulate the smooth flow of Qi (vital energy), emotions become stuck. Symptoms include mood swings, irritability, PMS, or a constant feeling of being emotionally blocked.

Over time, stagnation can affect the Spleen, which is responsible for digestion and mental clarity. This leads to Spleen Qi deficiency, which manifests as fatigue, foggy thinking, lack of motivation, and heaviness.

From a biomedical standpoint, this might relate to low serotonin and dopamine levels, chronic inflammation, and gut-brain axis dysfunction.

05/14/2025

Alert: Hepatitis A Outbreak in Los Angeles!

By Dr. Mao

Recently, I diagnosed and treated a patient with hepatitis A who happily recovered completely. It so happened that Los Angeles County had just declared a community-wide outbreak of hepatitis A, a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). In 2024, 165 cases were recorded—triple the number seen the year prior. As of early May 2025, 29 cases have been confirmed this year, with a notable increase in cases among individuals without traditional risk factors such as homelessness or recent travel.

What Is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is an acute viral infection that affects the liver. It is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, often via contaminated food or water, or close contact with an infected person. My patient got ill shortly after eating out at a restaurant that most likely had a food handler who harbored the virus. Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease, but it can lead to severe complications in some cases.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A Include:

Fatigue

Sudden nausea and vomiting

Abdominal pain, especially in the upper right side

Clay-colored stools

Loss of appetite

Low-grade fever

Dark urine

Joint pain

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

Intense itching

Symptoms typically appear two to seven weeks after exposure and can last up to two months.

Medical Consequences

While many individuals recover fully from hepatitis A without lasting liver damage, the infection can cause significant discomfort and, in rare cases, acute liver failure, particularly in older adults or those with preexisting liver conditions. In the case of my patient, he suffered symptoms for almost three weeks before recovering with acupuncture and TCM treatments.

Prevention Strategies

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Approaches

Traditional Chinese Medicine offers complementary strategies to enhance liver health and bolster the body’s defenses against infections like hepatitis A.

Read more -> www.taoofwellness.com/newsletters-blog/2025/5/13/alert-hepatitis-a-outbreak-in-los-angeles

05/06/2025

Improving Your Respiratory Health with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

By Dr. Shannon Lawrence

Spring is in full bloom, and while the warmer weather and blossoming flowers are a joy for many, they can trigger uncomfortable symptoms for those with asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the Lungs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s caused by inflammation and constriction of the airways, leading to shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing with phlegm, chest tightness, and fatigue. Common asthma triggers include smoke, dust, perfumes, smoking, genetics, obesity, and respiratory viruses.

Unfortunately, asthma often goes undiagnosed or inadequately treated, contributing to issues like insomnia, fatigue, lowered immunity, and even memory problems. Rising pharmaceutical costs and limited access to pulmonology care only add to the challenge.

At the Tao of Wellness, we offer natural, holistic support for asthma through Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)—addressing not just the symptoms, but the root causes of respiratory imbalance.

How TCM Approaches Asthma

In TCM, asthma is linked to dysfunction or imbalance in several key organ systems:

Lung: The lung governs Qi (energy). Weak Lung Qi leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty speaking, and phlegm accumulation, which causes coughing and wheezing.

Spleen: Helps produce Lung Qi. Weak Spleen Qi results in improper fluid transformation, creating phlegm that invades the Lungs.

Kidney: “Grasps” the Lung Qi. Weak Kidney Qi causes breathlessness, difficulty in inhaling, and often low back pain.

Liver: Regulates smooth emotional flow. Stress or frustration can cause the Liver to “attack” the Lungs, resulting in chest tightness, cough, and breathing difficulties.

Read more here-> https://www.taoofwellness.com/newsletters-blog/2025/5/6/improving-your-respiratory-health-with-traditional-chinese-medicine-tcm

05/02/2025

Boost Fertility Naturally: TCM Increases IVF Success by 40 - 60%
By Dr. Dao

Struggling to conceive? You may have an undiagnosed ovulatory imbalance.

In our clinical practice at Tao of Wellness, more than 30% of infertility patients show subtle ovulation dysfunction—delayed or early cycles, pelvic pain, or irregular bleeding, which are often linked to:

*Poor egg quality that often shows up with low AMH and high FSH

*Hormonal asynchrony with either early or late ovulation

*Inflammation, which may include endometriosis, ovarian cysts (PCOS), and pelvic inflammatory disorder.

The Solution

According to several studies, including one in which I was a co-lead, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can increase IVF success by 40-60% while also enhancing natural conception. (Hullender Rubin et al., 2018)



Our Proprietary 3-Pronged Fertility Protocol


Acupuncture

40-60% Higher IVF Pregnancy Rates

Pre-IVF: Improves ovarian response, resulting in more follicles produced

Transfer Day: 25% thicker uterine lining (Fertility & Sterility)

Post-IVF: Reduces miscarriage risk by 50% for women over 35 who suffer from recurrent implantation failure



Herbal Medicine

61.5% Pregnancy Rate in Patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)

Clinical results from the YJZY formula (Zhao et al., 2020) showed:

Increased egg quantity and slowed ovarian reserve decline

Increased egg quality and balanced FSH and LH ratios

Decreased inflammation and reduced endometriosis-related pain

Read more here-> https://www.taoofwellness.com/newsletters-blog/2025/5/1/boost-fertility-naturally-tcm-increases-ivf-success-by-40-60

04/23/2025

Acupuncture for TMJ, Headaches, and Tinnitus

By Albert Vaca, L.Ac.

Headaches, TMJ disorders, and tinnitus affect millions and can significantly diminish quality of life. Often triggered by stress, poor posture, or internal imbalances, these conditions respond exceptionally well to the time-tested wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

These conditions often share common root causes, including chronic stress, poor posture, jaw clenching or teeth grinding (bruxism), and imbalances in the body’s internal organ systems. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, these symptoms are frequently linked to Liver Qi stagnation caused by emotional stress, which disrupts the smooth flow of energy and leads to tension and pain.

Structural imbalances in the jaw or neck, as well as deficiencies in Kidney energy—responsible for nourishing the ears and bones—can also contribute to tinnitus and TMJ dysfunction. Additionally, digestive imbalances and damp accumulation may create pressure and blockages that intensify these conditions.

At the Tao of Wellness, we offer an integrative approach to treat the root causes of these conditions with acupuncture, herbal therapy, and stress management techniques to relieve pain, restore balance, and support long-term healing.

Read more at www.TaoofWellness.com/blogs

04/17/2025

Calm the Mind, Heal the Body: How TCM Relieves Stress and Restores Gut Health

By Dr. Shannon Lawrence, DAOM

Are You Feeling the Weight of Stress? From racing thoughts and anxiety, to fatigue, insomnia, and gut issues, stress affects every corner of your health. It’s more than just a feeling—it’s a biological storm that floods your body with cortisol, suppresses your digestion, and deregulates your nervous system. What are the long-term effects? High blood pressure, mood swings, nausea, immune dysfunction, and even severe digestive disorders like IBS and SIBO.

Stress is now considered the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the average American reports feeling stressed over 32 hours per week. Even teens and young adults are increasingly struggling, with rising rates of anxiety, PTSD, and disconnection from social life.

But here’s the good news—Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a safe, holistic, and effective way to calm your mind, reset your body, and regain emotional harmony, without side effects.

How TCM Helps Reduce Stress and Heal the Body

In TCM, stress is viewed as disrupting the smooth flow of Qi, especially in the Liver meridian, which governs emotions. When Liver Qi becomes stagnant, it can throw off the balance of your Heart (joy), Spleen (digestion and intellect), and Kidney (fear and adrenal function). This explains why stress often affects your digestion, mood, and sleep—all at once.

Acupuncture: Rewire Your Stress Response
Acupuncture has been clinically shown to:

*Reduce cortisol (stress hormone)

*Boost endorphins for natural mood elevation

*Stimulate the vagus nerve, shifting your body out of “fight or flight” into “rest and digest”

*Improve Qi and blood circulation throughout your body and brain
..
Read more at www.taoofwellness.com/blogs

04/02/2025

Understanding and Healing SIBO: A Tao of Wellness Integrative Approach
By Dr. Mao

What is SIBO?

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition characterized by an abnormal increase in the population of bacteria in the small intestine—where relatively few bacteria should reside. This overgrowth disrupts digestion, nutrient absorption, and the delicate balance of the gut ecosystem. I can be diagnosed either with a breath test detection of elevated levels of methane and hydrogen sulfate gases or by symptom pattern. It often results in chronic symptoms like bloating, gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, brain fog, and fatigue.

Prevalence and Hidden Epidemic

Though underdiagnosed, SIBO is increasingly recognized as a root cause of chronic digestive issues. Studies estimate that up to 80% of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) actually have SIBO. And countless others suffer from SIBO without being diagnosed or treated. Factors contributing to this rise include overuse of antibiotics, consumption of processed and low-fiber foods, chronic stress, and impaired gut motility—often stemming from vagus nerve suppression.

Tao of Wellness SIBO Protocol: A 3-Phase Healing Journey

Our proprietary approach at Tao of Wellness blends Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with evidence-based Western and nutritional therapies. We view SIBO not only as a bacterial issue but as a disruption of gut ecology and rhythm. Our three-phase protocol addresses root causes and supports long-term healing. We have successfully treated hundreds of patients with SIBO with a very low relapse rate.

Read more at taoofwellness.com/blogs

03/27/2025

College of Tao 2025 Annual Retreat. In-person, live and recordings. Sign up now to revitalize your mind, body, and spirit.

😊 Take advantage of this Opportunity for your personal Transformation Today! Join 3 ways: In Person, Zoom and by Recordings. College.Tao@gmail.com for any question or go to Collegeoftao.org

03/25/2025

Chronic Pain Awareness: Finding Relief Beyond Medication

By Albert Vaca, L.Ac.
Pasadena Office

Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact one’s quality of life. For many, the first line of treatment is medication—often NSAIDs or even opioids. While these may provide short-term relief, they can lead to long-term dependence and come with a host of side effects, from digestive issues to addiction. Worse still, they rarely address the root cause of pain.

Fortunately, there are time-tested, holistic alternatives that offer both relief and long-term healing. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a comprehensive approach to managing chronic pain by focusing on restoring balance in the body, enhancing circulation, reducing inflammation, and supporting the body’s innate ability to heal.

**Understanding Pain Through the Lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine**

In TCM, pain is not just a symptom—it’s a signal that the body’s internal harmony has been disrupted. Chronic pain is often attributed to:

• Qi Stagnation – when the body’s vital energy is not flowing smoothly
• Blood Stasis – poor circulation or blockages in the vessels
• Organ Deficiencies – especially in the Liver, Kidney, or Spleen systems, which are responsible for nourishing the muscles, joints, and tendons

When Qi and Blood fail to flow freely, it leads to pain, inflammation, and stiffness—whether it’s in the back, joints, or muscles.

Read more at TaoofWellness.com/blogs