Slow Paths Wellness

02/01/2026

Beyond its refreshing sweetness, watermelon has been traditionally valued in Chinese medicine for its cooling and hydrating qualities.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, both the flesh (Xi Gua) and the rind (Xi Gua Pi) are considered sweet in flavor and cooling in nature, and are traditionally associated with the Heart, Stomach, and Urinary Bladder channels. They have long been used to help relieve summer heat, support hydration, and encourage fluid balance during hot weather.

In everyday life, enjoying watermelon as a seasonal food can be a simple, nourishing way to support the body during warmer months. Like all foods, it’s most supportive when eaten in balance and in a way that suits your individual constitution.

More concentrated or therapeutic uses of foods and herbs are traditionally guided and tailored, but thoughtful food choices themselves are a meaningful part of daily self-care.

To learn more about seasonal, food-based approaches rooted in Asian medicine, call 804-683-2979 or visit https://www.slowpathswellness.com

01/31/2026

Here’s something hopeful.

Multiple clinical trials and systematic reviews have found that acupuncture is associated with meaningful reductions in depressive symptoms compared with control treatments. Some research also shows that people receiving acupuncture experience fewer treatment-related side effects than those taking antidepressant medications.

Acupuncture supports the body’s regulatory systems. Treatment helps calm the stress response, support healthy mood signaling, and reduce inflammatory strain—creating less fight-or-flight and more internal stability.

At Slow Paths Wellness, acupuncture is offered as part of thoughtful, individualized care that can complement therapy, medication, or other supports already in place.

To learn more, call 804-683-2979 or visit https://www.slowpathswellness.com

01/30/2026

Many traditional healing systems describe digestion as a kind of internal warmth—sometimes compared to a gently tended fire.

When the digestive system is supported by warmth, it can process food more efficiently. Cooked meals, soups, stews, and warm beverages are often easier to break down and assimilate, allowing the body to extract nutrients with less strain.

Cold, rich, or raw foods can require more digestive effort, especially for people already dealing with fatigue, bloating, loose stools, or low appetite.

Care at Slow Paths Wellness often includes practical lifestyle guidance rooted in these time-tested principles, helping digestion work more smoothly so energy and vitality are better supported overall.

To learn how gentle digestive support can fit into your care, call 804-683-2979 or visit https://www.slowpathswellness.com.

01/29/2026

Auricular acupuncture uses specific points on the ear to influence the nervous system, emotional regulation, and stress response.

This approach is commonly used to support people dealing with trauma, emotional overwhelm, addiction recovery, chronic stress, and sleep disruption. By working directly with the body’s regulatory systems, auricular acupuncture can help reduce cravings, ease withdrawal discomfort, calm the mind, improve sleep quality, and increase emotional stability.

When used as part of a thoughtful treatment plan, this work often helps people feel more settled, resilient, and able to respond to life with greater clarity.

At Slow Paths Wellness, auricular acupuncture is offered as part of individualized care—supporting balance, regulation, and recovery in a steady, practical way.

To schedule, call +1-804-683-2979 or visit https://www.slowpathswellness.com

01/26/2026

It will surprise no one in the local area to hear that Slow Paths Wellness will be closed today due to weather. Stay warm!

01/23/2026

When fertility is a concern, the whole body usually has something to say.

In a randomized study, people receiving acupuncture alongside fertility care had higher live birth rates—about 1 in 3 compared to 1 in 5 in a control group (Chen et al., 2023).

This isn’t magic—it’s physiology. Fertility improves when the body’s core systems are functioning well: steadier hormones, healthier blood flow, better sleep, calmer stress responses, and stronger digestion. These foundations matter for egg quality, s***m health, implantation, and a more resilient pregnancy.

Care at Slow Paths Wellness focuses on supporting the whole system—because healthier parents create a healthier environment for conception, pregnancy, and beyond.

To explore whether this approach fits what you’re working on, call 804-683-2979 or visit https://www.slowpathswellness.com.

Source: Chen J, Xu X, Zhang N, Wang Q. *Medicine*. 2023 (PubMed)

01/23/2026

Using Chinese medicine as part of a treatment strategy for cognitive decline can at worst slow the progression and at best support major improvements.

https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/39899-tcms-potential-in-preventing-and-treating-cognitive-decline

Cognitive decline affects a growing number of individuals each year. In the United States alone, approximately one in nine adults (11.1%) report experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD) – a self-perceived worsening or more frequent confusion or memory loss.1 A comparable percentage will go ...

01/22/2026

Relief doesn’t have to be loud to be life-changing. Sometimes it’s a calmer belly and a normal day.

In a randomized study, people with IBS experienced about 40% fewer symptoms with acupuncture—roughly double the improvement seen in a control group. Participants also reported steadier stools and improved quality of life (Lee, 2021).

Think: fewer urgent bathroom trips, less cramping, more regular mornings. Acupuncture helps restore the gut’s natural rhythm and calm inflammatory signaling so the system has space to reset.

If your week needs that kind of ease, you’ll find care at Slow Paths Wellness.
Say hello at 804-683-2979 or visit https://www.slowpathswellness.com.

Source: Lee J-K et al., World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2021 (PubMed)

01/21/2026

True integrative care looks beyond diagnostic labels to recognize each person’s distinct constitutional pattern.

Two individuals with the same diagnosis may require very different herbal formulas or treatment approaches, based on how symptoms show up in their bodies. At the same time, people with seemingly unrelated concerns may benefit from similar protocols when deeper patterns align.

This individualized approach considers the whole picture—current symptoms, long-standing tendencies, and personal health goals—to create targeted herbal preparations that can evolve as the body shifts and responds.

Care at Slow Paths Wellness centers on constitutional assessment and personalized botanical medicine, tailored to the individual rather than the label.

To explore customized care, call 804-683-2979 or visit https://www.slowpathswellness.com.