~~~~~ Mid-August through to the fall equinox on September 22nd is a period of neither-this-nor-that. It’s not really summer, not any longer; but it’s not yet fall, either. Instead, at least according to Chinese medicine, it is a fifth season known as late summer. This is a transition period between yang (spring and summer’s expansive … Continue reading Late Summer: Health, Happiness, & Strategies
Mindfully going with the flow of the seasons is wise, healthy, and surprisingly easy once you make it a habit. As the summer heat increases, being attentive to weather and time change is a matter of safety, too. It is hot here in Austin pretty much all year long, but from about May to August, … Continue reading Living With The Seasons According To Chinese Medicine: Summer Tips For Health And Happiness
The confluence of Men’s Health Month, Pride Month, and Father’s Day resonated with me this year. I don’t know why, but this year it truly did. I usually tread lightly on holidays because we all experience them differently, and for some folks, Mother’s and Father’s Day(s) are challenging. I want to be gentle and inclusive … Continue reading Gay Men’s Health & Why It’s On My Radar (Thoughts From a Holistic Practitioner, Part I)
Assuming that the reader of this particular blog post is male, my question for you, dear reader, is this: do you choose self-care or do you tend towards benign self-neglect that borders on self-sabotage? If you are like most guys I’ve met in the clinical space, your honest answer is going to be that you … Continue reading Men’s Health: Self-Care Or Self-Sabotage? (Your Choice, Gentlemen)
Our emotional scars write a story and we live that story out according to our readings of it. This can be good or bad, depending. When the time comes to rethink the old narratives, though, it can help to have options. Did you know that Chinese medicine can be a resource for you? And that’s … Continue reading Emotional Scars Tell a Story (But You Can Change the Narrative)
Are you sleep deprived? Or are you straight up slumber starved? We all know what it is like to miss out on a night or two of sleep and to feel crabby as a result. Most of us also know what happens if sleepless nights become the new normal, and that would be: nothing good. … Continue reading Sleep: Why You Need It and How To Get It
Allergy season is upon us and, if you’re reading this in Austin, Texas, you know that allergy season is pretty much a year-round thing here. If you’re reading this from any of the top ten cities with the worst allergy rates, you probably feel the same way: allergies are a way of life, and not … Continue reading Seasonal Allergies (And Ways To Resolve Them)
You’ve heard about it. Maybe you’ve gotten to know a few practitioners via their social media. Do you have a health issue and your regular doctor either cannot help you or you go to your appointment and leave feeling like there has to be more to health than just prescriptions for Pharma drugs? The siren … Continue reading Getting Started With an Acupuncturist: Why Wait?
Phenylephrine, the primary ingredient in common over-the-counter allergy medication, is ineffective according to the FDA’s September 2023 pronouncement. This development has wide-ranging implications. What can you do, especially if you have a history of allergy or sinus problems? And what else is important to take into consideration at this time? What you need to know, … Continue reading Decongestant Ingredient Phenylephrine Doesn’t Work Says FDA: Key Points to Ponder
Taking care of yourself during extreme weather requires creativity and self-awareness. One thing is to have a hot summer followed by a cool and rainy fall. Quite another is to endure day after day of 100-plus degree heat interspersed with torrid rain and baseball-sized hail. Next, more heat and after that, huge dips in temperature … Continue reading Extreme Weather: Strategies to Stay Healthy and Keep Your Cool When It’s Wild Outside
Two Hearts Wellness 