Tao to Wellness

10/24/2025

The Five Spirits in Chinese Medicine: Nurturing the Soul for Balance and Wellness

https://berkeley-acupuncture.com/2024/11/06/the-five-spirits-in-chinese-medicine-nurturing-the-soul-for-balance-and-wellness/

Discover how the Five Spirits — Shen, Hun, Po, Yi, and Zhi — guide your emotional, mental and spiritual landscape.

Learn how each spirit is connected to an organ and a facet of your being (heart = Shen; liver = Hun; lungs = Po; spleen = Yi; kidneys = Zhi).

Find out how ancient Chinese medicine offers tools — acupuncture, herbal support, breath & body practices — to bring those spirits back into harmony.

Feel pulled in a seasonal shift? Book an appointment with us today!

🔮 Takeaway: Healing isn’t only about the body—it’s about the soul. When we support the Five Spirits, we awaken deeper presence, stronger will, clearer focus, and a rooted sense of self.

The Five Spirits in Chinese medicine can give additional insights into how the organs and emotions are interconnected.

10/13/2025

Menopause isn’t an ending — it’s a powerful transformation.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menopause is a rite of passage. It’s a time when the body, mind, and spirit shift into a new phase of wisdom and balance.

Instead of just suppressing symptoms, TCM asks: How can we nourish, harmonize, and flow with this change? Acupuncture, herbs, diet, and gentle lifestyle practices help support kidney yin and yang, balance internal heat, and soothe emotional turbulence.

If you’re ready to meet this transition with more grace and vitality, dive deeper (link below) or DM us if you want to chat about what this path looks like, we'd love to support you in any way we can!

https://berkeley-acupuncture.com/2025/09/15/embracing-menopause-a-traditional-chinese-medicine-perspective/

Rather than resisting change, TCM teaches us to flow with it—embracing menopause as an opportunity for growth and renewal.

09/08/2025

Tao to Wellness in West Berkeley is seeking a new acupuncture associate to complete our thriving team! We’re looking for someone who is friendly, motivated, dependable, and eager to build a thriving practice. You should have a genuine passion for both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and must hold a California State License.

Our clinic specializes in:

Women’s Health & Fertility
Pain Management
Emotional Wellness
Digestive Health
And much more
***Experience with Dr. Tan’s Balance Method and/or ABORM certification is a plus!

We are looking to fill 2 of the following 3 shifts (Saturday is our busiest day): Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM, Thursday: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM, Saturday: Flexible (ideally 5 hours anytime)

Why Tao to Wellness?

We are a Berkeley staple, serving the community for over 25 years. You’ll be joining a supportive, collaborative team with a long-standing reputation for excellent patient care. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming the right practitioner to our family!

Email your resume and why you think you’d be a good fit for us to: christina@berkeley-acupuncture.com.

08/26/2025

Not all heartbreak shatters. Sometimes it lingers—quietly. A name. A memory. A question with no answer.

This 7-day course was created for those moments.

For the ache that’s hard to explain. For the tender ones who are still learning how to lay things down. Each day offers a short guided practice—5 to 7 minutes—with space for breath, reflection, and becoming. No pressure to fix. Just permission to feel.

If you or someone you love is moving through the quiet weight of letting go, this course is a gentle place to begin again.

🕊️ “A 7-Day Course for Moving On After a Breakup” is now available on Insight Timer.

https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/healing-from-heartbreak-7-days-to-release-and-renewal

08/14/2025

☀️ Nothing says summer like a scoop of ice cream, an iced latte, or a fruity smoothie. They cool you down instantly… but in Chinese Medicine, they can also slow you down.

Your digestive system — especially the Spleen and Stomach — thrives in warmth. Cold, raw, and overly sweet foods make it work harder to “warm up” before it can digest, which can lead to bloating, heaviness, brain fog, and low energy.

Late summer is the season of the Spleen, the organ system at the center of your health. If it’s bogged down now, you may notice lingering sluggishness, immune dips, and even seasonal allergies when fall arrives.

3 Ways to Support Your Digestion This Summer:
🥗 Lightly steam or sauté vegetables instead of eating large raw salads
🍵 Choose room-temperature water or herbal teas over iced drinks
🌿 Add warming spices like ginger or cinnamon after enjoying cold treats

Acupuncture can help clear that sluggish “dampness,” strengthen digestion, and restore energy — so you can enjoy the season without the slump.

https://berkeley-acupuncture.com/2025/08/05/summer-treats-weigh-you-down/

📅 Book your late summer tune-up today and walk out feeling lighter, clearer, and more energized.

08/06/2025

Summer looks relaxing in theory — long days, warm weather, vacation time. But for many people, it’s one of the most stressful seasons.

Between kids out of school, constant schedule changes, big life transitions like teens heading off to college, and even dehydration from busy, hot days — your body and mind can feel out of sync.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, summer is the season of yang — active, bright, outward energy. Too much yang can throw off your yin‑yang balance, leading to poor sleep, irritability, body tension, and a harder time recovering from daily stress.

Acupuncture can help by:
💤 Encouraging deep, restorative sleep
💆‍♀️ Relieving muscle tension and calming the nervous system
🌿 Balancing yin and yang for sustained energy
💧 Supporting hydration and fluid balance

📅 Special Offer: End‑of‑Summer Stress Reset acupuncture session for just $100 (normally $145).

Only 10 spots available

Must be booked and completed by August 13th

For returning patients only

👉 Book your Stress Reset now and finish the season lighter, calmer, and more centered.https://patient.unifiedpractice.com/tao-to-wellness/booking/previous-visit

07/31/2025

Boost Vitality & Digestion in Older Adults — Timeless Wisdom from Traditional Chinese Medicine

Digestive health is core to aging well. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes gentle, nourishing habits that support digestion, energy, and well-being in seniors.

Here’s a refined daily routine:

🌅 Start with warmth: Begin the day with warm water (lemon + optional apple cider vinegar) to gently awaken digestion.

🥄 Nourishing breakfasts: Choose soft congees, porridges, or oats with a hint of ginger to strengthen spleen-stomach functions.

🥗 Meals with intention: Include warm soups, steamed veggies, quality proteins, and root-packed bowls to support nutrient assimilation.

🌿 Include ginger daily: Adds circulation and digestive fire—use in teas, broths, or cooking.

🧘‍♂️ Gentle post-meal activity: A short walk or tai chi routine helps move Qi and improve digestion.

🌙 Keep a steady rhythm: Consistency in meals, hydration, movement, and rest promotes better sleep, immune resilience, and energy.

By weaving small, consistent TCM-inspired habits into daily life, older adults can unlock improved digestion, vitality, and overall well-being. Are you ready to incorporate these into your wellness routine?

🔗 Discover the full guide here: berkeley-acupuncture.com/2025/07/21/vitality-digestion-tcm-older-adults/

07/24/2025

Supporting Joint Health & Hydration as We Age — Through the Wisdom of Chinese Medicine

As we get older, joint stiffness, dryness, and discomfort can become more common. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers gentle, time-tested strategies to keep the body moving fluidly and pain-free.

Here are a few ways to support joint vitality, especially for those 60+:

💧 Hydration is foundational
Warm water with fresh lemon throughout the day helps nourish connective tissue and flush metabolic waste.

🌿 Use food as medicine
Ginger, in teas or cooked meals, improves circulation and helps ease inflammation—naturally warming the body from the inside out.

🥣 Electrolytes matter
A simple recipe: warm water + lemon juice + a pinch of sea salt + a bit of honey. This supports hydration and post-activity recovery.

🧘‍♂️ Movement is medicine
Gentle, low-impact practices like tai chi, qigong, or mindful walking help circulate fluids and keep joints mobile.

🌙 Daily rhythm matters
When hydration, nourishment, and movement are consistent, joint resilience improves—and so does energy, sleep, and mood.

For more on this topic, read the full article:
🔗 https://berkeley-acupuncture.com/2025/07/21/tcm-joint-health-hydration-older-adults/

07/16/2025

🔥 Warm the Womb to Boost Fertility 🔥
Trying to conceive? Skip the smoothies, raw salads, and iced drinks—for now.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cold = contraction. And we want flow, warmth, and nourishment to support your womb like the softest, coziest blanket. ✨

🍲 Eat warm, cooked foods (think soups, stews, roasted veggies)
🍵 Sip herbal teas instead of iced anything
🧦 Keep your feet and belly warm—no bare ankles in winter!
🌿 Embrace warming rituals: moxa, hot water bottles, gentle movement

A warm womb is a receptive womb.
Let your body feel safe, held, and ready.

https://berkeley-acupuncture.com/2024/10/07/warm-the-womb-why-to-skip-cold-foods-raw-diets-and-surprise-ice-when-youre-trying-to-conceive/

07/10/2025

✨ First Trimester = Sacred Groundwork ✨
Pregnancy isn’t just growing a baby—it’s becoming the soil that nourishes them. 🌱

The first trimester is wild: hormones surge, emotions rise, and your body becomes a sacred construction site. Our new Grounding Guide written by Tao to Wellness acupuncturist, Marny Culpepper offers exactly what you need to feel held during this tender time.

🌿 Acupuncture for calm + circulation
🍳 Superfoods for baby’s early development
🛁 Rituals to slow down + settle in
🌀 Emotional support for the big changes

This isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.
You don’t have to do it alone.

https://berkeley-acupuncture.com/2025/06/16/first-trimester-grounding-guide/

06/25/2025

🥗 Eat with the Season, Heal with Every Bite 🌞

Summer is the season of fire — and your body craves cooling, hydrating, heart-nourishing foods. 💧❤️ According to Chinese Medicine, eating in alignment with the season keeps your Qi flowing and your mood light.

In this blog, we share 3 simple, healthy recipes to help you stay cool, nourished, and vibrant all summer long:
🍗 Grilled Ginger and Lime Chicken
🍉 Watermelon & Mint Cooler
🍋 Creamy Key Lime Bars (dairy-free & dreamy)

Each one supports your Heart and Small Intestine — the ruling organs of summer — while delighting your senses. 🍽️🌿

📖 Read the full post:
https://berkeley-acupuncture.com/2025/06/05/healthy-summer-recipes/

06/18/2025

☀️ Summer is the Season of the Heart 💖

In Chinese Medicine, each season brings its own rhythm — and summer is all about expansion, joy, and connection. It’s ruled by the Heart and Small Intestine, the Fire element, and the color red. 🔥❤️

But with all that outward energy, it’s easy to burn out. This new blog is your gentle guide to staying balanced and radiant through summer — with seasonal foods, lifestyle tips, and insight from ancient wisdom. 🍒🌿🌞

✨ Learn how to align with the season so your spirit can shine — not fry.

📖 Read the full post:
💻 https://berkeley-acupuncture.com/2025/06/04/align-with-summer-chinese-medicine/