Quan Yin Healing Arts Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine

07/24/2025

In Chinese Medicine, the Heart doesn’t just pump blood—it houses the Shen, or spirit. During summer, when Heart energy is most active, anxiety can rise if the Shen is disturbed.

Symptoms may include racing thoughts, restlessness, insomnia, or a sense of being ungrounded. Often times, exercise can help, but if you are having trouble finding ease, acupuncture can help settle the Heart, calm the mind, and restore inner peace.

Just like the sunflowers turn toward the light to flourish and grow, you, too, can find alignment and ease.

07/23/2025

Great information on how activity positively impacts people with Parkinson's Disease:

07/23/2025

https://share.transistor.fm/s/91c3c2bf

Recent research has illuminated how acupuncture alleviates knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms by targeting key pain and inflammation pathways. A study involving rabbits with induced knee OA revealed that daily 20-minute acupuncture sessions at specific acupoints, including Neixiyan, Dubi, Xuehai,...

07/22/2025

A true star of summer, watermelon is a powerhouse in Chinese Medicine for clearing heat and relieving thirst. It enters the Heart, Stomach, and Bladder channels—cooling the body, hydrating the tissues, and supporting digestion.

Feeling irritable, overheated, or sluggish in the heat? A slice of watermelon may be exactly what your body needs. Just don’t overdo it—too much cold or fruit can dampen digestion.

Balance is key. Food is medicine!

07/17/2025

Pain in Chinese Medicine is caused by a blockage of flow results of qi, blood, or both. This blockage can be a result of injury, overuse, improper diet, or the body's reaction to the environment, such as cold, hot, windy or damp weather. Acupuncture helps restore flow, reducing inflammation and encouraging the body’s natural healing process.

Whether it’s chronic back pain, shoulder tension, or that stubborn knee ache, pain is the body’s way of asking for attention. Acupuncture listens, gently but precisely.

Restoring you flow can relieve your pain!

07/15/2025

Summer is the season of yang energy, abundant, outward, and fertile. In Chinese Medicine, this makes it an ideal time to support your reproductive health.

Acupuncture can help regulate menstrual cycles, improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, reduce stress, and support hormone balance. Whether you're trying to conceive naturally or working with assisted reproductive techniques summer offers a powerful opportunity to align with nature’s rhythm.

Supporting your fertility is about restoring balance—inside and out.

07/10/2025

In Chinese Medicine, summer is the season of the Heart—governing joy, sleep, and circulation. The Heart thrives on light, cooling foods that help us balance the external heat and internal fire.

Think watermelon, cucumber, mint, and lightly cooked greens. Add a splash of lemon or chrysanthemum tea to keep your system hydrated and calm. Avoid excess spicy or greasy foods which can aggravate heat and create internal disharmony.

Stay cool and nourished—your Heart and the rest of your body will thank you.

07/08/2025

We are officially in summer, and that means vacations, long days, and lots of time to get outdoors. If we can manage the heat, bodies and minds tend to be more energized and active this time of year. It's a great time to take advantage of longer days and spend time outdoors, perhaps exploring a national park, but definitely recreating. We are lucky to have so many wonderful places to walk and enjoy nature. Here in West Hartford, we have the hiking and walking trails at the Reservoirs, as well as beautiful parks. I recently strolled through Spicebush Swamp Park on Mountain Road, scouting out grape leaves for cooking. I found them, along with plenty of poison ivy and bittersweet, but also was impressed by the lovely walking trails, and the pollinator and bird gardens. Finding these places where one can walk or sit quietly in nature nourishes the soul and brings us back to our true selves. It is a gift in turbulent times, and always.

07/04/2025

Happy Independence Day!

07/03/2025

We've already experienced dog day heat in June, but the official dog days of summer start today. Many of us are lucky to live and work in air conditioned environments, but there are steps you can take to help yourself and your family be in tune with the heat. Eating seasonally of fresh cool foods from the garden and farmer's market is the way to go to keep from taxing the digestive system in summer heat. Summer squashes, lettuces, berries, watermelon and cucumbers are all cooling in nature, light and easy to digest, and can keep us hydrated. It's always nice to fire up the grill, but fish is energetically cooler than beef and other animal proteins, and legumes like chickpeas, green beans, and lentils, cold and prepared as salads, can be a cooling alternative as well. Cold soups, like Gazpacho are delicious and refreshing. Don't forget to keep your electrolytes up with cooling coconut water, citrus fruits and salts. Summer is a joyous time of warmth and long days. Happy Dog Days of Summer!

07/01/2025

Everyone knows that the beautiful blueberry is full of antioxidants and wonderful health properties. In recent years, western science has acknowledged the blueberry as a fruit that boosts health, longevity, and mental acuity, recently sited as a key element, along with other berries, in the MIND diet. But you might not know that Chinese Medicine has touted the benefits of blueberries for centuries. According to Chinese medicine, blueberries are sweet and sour and tonify the blood. They benefit the lungs, spleen, stomach and kidneys and help to clear internal dampness and toxins. In Chinese Medicine, weakness of the Kidney organ is a cause of urinary frequency and cognitive decline. Blueberries are delicious and easy to eat. Eating a handful of blueberries every day for breakfast can help with concentration. For cognitive decline due to aging (and kidney deficiency), mix blueberries with walnuts, pine nuts, goji berries, and pumpkin seeds for a mind healthy snack. You don't really need an excuse to enjoy blueberries, but since they are in season in July, it's a great time to dig in!

06/26/2025

If you are experiencing bloating, indigestion, irregularity your gut might be trying to tell you something — and acupuncture can help you listen.

In Chinese Medicine, digestive health is the foundation of overall wellness. When your digestion is strong, your body can absorb nutrients, maintain energy, and support immunity.

Acupuncture helps regulate the digestive system by:
✔️ Reducing inflammation
✔️ Improving motility and absorption
✔️ Calming gut-related anxiety
✔️ Balancing the gut-brain connection

Whether you’re dealing with IBS, acid reflux, or sluggish digestion, acupuncture offers natural, gentle support to help restore harmony from the inside out.

Let’s get your gut back in balance.