What We Wrap Ourselves In Matters

A reflection on how clothing touches the body, community, and environment

Before my path led me back to traditional Chinese medicine and the healing arts I was raised with, I was a young woman working in the fashion industry in Los Angeles. What I witnessed on those factory floors left me shaken. The promise of fashion was freedom of self-expression and artistry… yet the reality on the production floor gutted me. When I left the industry, what I saw stayed with me.

Years later as a mother, even with organic food, filtered water, and natural baby products, my children struggled with itchy skin and rashes. I began replacing synthetic fabrics with soft, natural ones ~ and their skin responded. When I did the same for myself, I realized I had never actually been comfortable in my own clothes.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the Lung governs the skin and its pores ~ our first interface with the outside world, and a pathway into the body. Natural fibers honor our skin’s need to breathe.

This doesn’t have to mean overhauling your wardrobe or spending a fortune. The industry doesn’t make it easy for us, but here are some of the things I’ve been attempting over the years in my own life. Thrifting designer pieces has allowed me to buy things I truly love in natural fabrics ~ like silk, wool, linen. I try to fill in the gaps with basics I’ll wear for ages that feel good and are ethically made. Those are the brands I save for, and hit when their sales come around.

I long for clothing that lets us breathe ~ breathe into our freedom of expression, and the art of dressing who we envision ourselves to be ~ while honoring the hands that craft it and the Earth that provides its materials.

Second Spring:

What if we see menopause and perimenopause as a shift in your internal rhythm, not a decline?

Beyond hot flashes, menopause can show up as brain fog, disrupted sleep, bladder changes, mood shifts, and joint pain. These are signs your system needs support. This is where traditional Chinese medicine offers a different lens.

We see menopause as a transition, not a disorder. Symptoms are signs of imbalance: Yin or Blood deficiency, Liver Qi stagnation, Kidney essence depletion. traditional Chinese medicine helps your system adapt with more ease.

You might be noticing:

• Trouble focusing

• Waking at 3am

• A little leak when you sneeze

• More anxiety or less patience

• Feeling overstimulated by noise, light, or emotion

• Vaginal dryness or discomfort

• Less interest in sex or feeling disconnected during intimacy

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it. Some of this is just now being recognized in research. But you’ve probably known it in your body for a while.

You can trust what your body is telling you. You’re not alone. And no, you don’t have to just “push through it.” I tailor acupuncture and herbs to your specific pattern so you can feel more like yourself again.

I came to this medicine in the middle of my own hormonal struggles. Decades of difficult periods had already shaped how I understood my body, and when I began my studies I found language and treatment for things I had never been given real answers about. My own transition through menopause was easier than I expected, largely because I was already receiving support.

This medicine has been addressing what so many have carried alone, or had waved away as insignificant. I empathize with the struggles of menstruation and menopause because of my own lived experience. I’m here to help ease the transition into what this tradition calls your Second Spring.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Spring's Vision Carries Forward

As spring winds down, we shift into a new rhythm. But the vision seeded in spring still guides us.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Liver houses the Hun 魂 (ethereal soul). It governs our ability to dream, plan, and imagine new possibilities, even as the season changes.

The work of the Hun 魂 isn't rushed. Growth unfolds in cycles. Some seeds sprout quickly; others take time. Flexibility allows us to adapt.

As summer approaches, ways to support the Hun 魂: gentle movement, reconnecting with your intentions, acupuncture for harmony, and space for both patience and momentum.

Embracing Spring: the Season of the Wood Element

In Chinese Five Element theory, Wood represents energy of emergence, creativity, and the will to grow, like the first notes of a new melody.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Liver houses the Hun 魂 (ethereal soul). It is the part of us that dreams, imagines, envisions. The Hun 魂 gives us direction and helps us reach beyond the present moment. When the Liver is in balance, the Hun 魂 moves freely.

This is the season to nourish Wood, to plan, to imagine what's next, working with the quiet momentum that rises when we allow space to feel, to move, to create.

New to Acupuncture? Here's What to Expect.

Your first visit includes a one-hour consult and treatment. We’ll go over your main concerns, then move into your tailored acupuncture treatment.

What does it feel like? Acupuncture is deeply relaxing for most people. Sometimes you might feel a slight prick, but the needles are very fine and placed with care. Most sensations fade quickly. Many people feel warmth or heaviness around the needle, and an overall sense of calm.

Wear something comfy. You’re welcome to stay in loose clothing or undress to your level of comfort. You’ll be under sheets and the table is heated to keep you cozy. You’ll get a weighted eye pillow, if that feels comforting.

My treatment room is quiet and peaceful. A space to exhale. You’ll have time to rest while the needles are in. Often patients tell me they come in anxious or wired and leave feeling grounded, super relaxed and restored.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​