Acupunktrix: Acupuncture, Apothecary, Birth and Death Guide

12/17/2025

Two years ago today, I was settling in to watch tv with my partner, when my whole world changed.

The searing pain, the absolute terror, the confusion…seems simultaneously remote and imminent.

I think I’m still trying to grasp everything that happened.

But what I do know is that my partner (especially him) and kids and community stepped up to support me at a time when I could not support or feed or dress or bathe myself.

Healing has been long and slow and also miraculous, in many ways.

I no longer need a wheelchair and take care of most of my basic needs, and even see a few patients a few days a week.

But I’d be lying if I said that I’ve returned to who I was before.

I still struggle with severe fatigue and long lasting neurological and physical complications both from the sudden mostly unexplained subarachnoid hemorrhage and stroke and from the fractures in my spine and shoulder from having a massive seizure in the ER.

It can be frustrating to not be able to do all the things that I want to do, not to think or speak or write as quickly or clearly, not to be able to sit for long, or lift things.

But I will never take for granted what I CAN do. I am so proudly thankful for continued life and relationships and JOY.

As an acupuncturist, it can be hard to have to work so little or cancel when my brain and body refuse to cooperate. But I take such enormous pleasure in my work and treasure my patients and the time we have together.

Thank you for trusting in me, even when I am still in the process of healing.

I am in the middle of deciphering some new neurological symptoms, so your continued patience with me is appreciated. I am doing my absolute best to get myself back to optimal health.

Thank for the acupuncture, the body work, the meals, the errands run, the music, the listening ears, and the love.

May we all continue healing together, rising powerfully, and growing kinder and stronger every day.

12/17/2025

Hanukkah night three.

Fireplace roaring, dinner by the light of the menorahs (hanukiyahs), twinkling lights on our winter tree, a soft soundtrack of old Hasidic niggunim. Just my youngest three (of 4 kids), my youngest’s boyfriend, my partner, and me.

We painted dreidels and talked and laughed and rested together.

I’ve been facing a host of new neurological and physical challenges, but being able to have this time with my little family was an absolute joy. (Missing my eldest in CA!)

I’ve had some weird encounters with folks saying some grossly antisemitic stuff today, and this felt like the best revenge. Just happiness, just togetherness, just thriving.

We left two sets of hanukiyahs on the table and put two in the windows. It felt like defiance and a connection to the heart of tradition.

While Zionists put emphasis on the story of the Maccabees’ military victory, the actual Talmud and pre-Israel tradition actually put the emphasis on the miracle of the oil in the Temple lasting for eight days ( whe there was only enough for one night). It was a story that deemphasized violence and made miracles of hope and light the center of the story.

We are, all of us in this house, advocates for a Free Palestine. And we know that our liberation is bound together. We must find the common light within us and hold that aloft. Only when we see the humanity in one another can we be free. Though our governments display cruelty, let us be kind. But kind enough to know that allowing prejudice and hatred to flourish is not kindness at all.

I think I said it 2 days ago, but it’s worth repeating Micah 3:8 “seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly.”

Amen.

12/15/2025

12/14/2025

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah. This morning 15 people were murdered and nearly 30 hospitalized after two terrorists opened fire on Jews gathered to celebrate on the beach in Australia.

Today, I got a message from FB that my post about Sh*tler was removed for going against community standards. Man, I have reported countless posts of people threatening harm, using the N word, threatening r #%e, using antisemitic, anti trans, and racist slurs and “jokes” and EVERY time I reported I was told their vile comments did not go against community standards.

But today, on the first night of Hanukkah, THIS truth telling, this historical fact was removed from my personal page.

Things are dark in the United States right now. They are darker than they have been in many years. The government said this week that they won’t rule out EXECUTIONS of activists they deem to be domestic terrorists (which apparently is anyone against fascism, pro DEI, pro human rights, pro Palestinian freedom, supportive of trans and q***r rights, or against the horrific violence and oppression of the ICE Gestapo).

I will not be silenced.

I want to be as brave as the family who lit their menorah and put it in the window right across from the ss flag. (See picture 3 taken by Rachel Posner, wife of Rabbi Akiva Posner in Germany in 1931/32).

Let us be light.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel?
NO. I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

May the memory of all who have ever fought for dignity, equality, and freedom SHINE. May the memory of those who died on the beach in Australia shine. And may the courage of Ahmed Al Ahmed, a Muslim shopkeeper who rushed in to disarm the terrorists and was shot himself, be held up as we hold up the shamash, the light that lights all the other lights on the menorah/hanukiyah. May we be inspired to reach across manufactured divides and do good.

Love mercy, do justly, walk humbly.

Amen. 🙏

12/06/2025

Life with no filter. It’s almost my 49th birthday.

On December 17, 2023, while settling in to watch tv, I had a sudden unexplained subarachnoid brain hemorrhage, a stroke in my language center, and a seizure so bad it dislocated my shoulders and caused part of my spine to shatter and my right shoulder to break in 3 places.

In December 2022, I had a stomach tumor removed with a long incision down the center of my body.

Clearly, the month of my birth has been historically rough for me.

Yet, here I stand, having fought my way back from being bed ridden or in a wheelchair, once unable to even dress or bathe myself, now functioning almost like before.

Almost. I am in pain 24 hours a day. I become easily fatigued. When I become too fatigued my brain goes blank and I lose the ability to communicate. No speech or slurring and stuttering.

But if I rest in between activities or patients, it can look as though I am just another healthy middle aged woman.

Yet, my function has been deeply curtailed and I have had to learn to adjust to and accept my limitations while simultaneously trying to expand what I can do and what is possible.

So, here I am a few days before my 49th birthday, no filter, aging without cosmetic procedures, more lines, more sagging, more spots, thinner hair…but proud of this face, because I earned it. In the nearly half century that I have been alive, I have birthed four children, fought hard against injustice, and continued to actively learn and grow and educate myself.

There is still so much I need to learn. So much I want to do.

I am grateful for my life. I am grateful for my work. I am grateful for healing. I am grateful to all those who have supported me and helped me to thrive.

Winter brings introspection and a strange vigor. We balance the robust chill and beauty of snow with the need to go inward, to nest, to gather with others for celebrations that remind us that light and warmth will return. And until then, we become the light and make the warmth ourself. Here’s to the hope this Dec will be generous and kind.

11/30/2025

If you are using AI to generate your words and ideas, you’re a liar and a thief.

I said what I said. When AI image generators first came out, I ignorantly played around with them and had fun with the ghost in the machine feeling they gave. But as I learned about how AI is unethically trained, the massive ecological impact, and the way it affects human artists, writers, workers, and even consumers as we lose our critical and creative thinking skills…I changed my tune.

Yesterday, someone proudly posted to an acupuncture group I’m in about using a new service for acupuncturists that generates your social media content, even creating talking points or scripts that scroll on your phone when you record a video, so that it looks as though you are authentically speaking your own words. The app even talks about building trust with your patients. 🤮

I find this DEEPLY troubling. How can you build trust when a computer is crafting the face you show to the world? We used to call this plagiarism and it was a fireable offense. Now we call it a clever use of technology.

AI makes mistakes all the time. This is especially dangerous when we are talking about medical information. Yes, you have the ability to vet and approve the posts, but if you’re busy and tired and something “sounds” ok, but turns out to be false information, you might not notice until someone ends up in the hospital.

These apps also literally learn from accounts like mine, and could be stealing my (or your) authentic words and ideas.

I was basically called a bully for bringing up how problematic this is. I was told that I need to “chill out.” I think, instead, people need to be way less chill about this.

Our use of AI started out by turning us into cute cartoons or generating weird poems. This was by design. It seemed like harmless fun and desensitized us to the serious threat and harm AI is causing. People are being replaced by algorithms. Jobs are being lost. The environment destroyed (Google the impact of ai). Our ability to discern real from fake is degrading.

We must reject this stealth assault on our basic humanity. I will never post AI generated content. People over machines. Always.

11/29/2025

I could have done a huge hullabaloo for small business Saturday. Lord knows I could use the cash. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

Instead, I bundled up my youngest (now adult) human, made a last minute right instead of left, and went on over the border to escape this nightmare fuel government for just a little while.

We popped into my friend’s incredible used bookshop in Fort Erie, Ontario. Watched our friends set up an old Commodore computer, and then went walking on the snowy, fossil encrusted beach, looking back at buffalo across the Niagara.

When your adult kids call and ask for some quality time, you drop everything to share that time with them.

I don’t know how many days I’ll have on this earth, and the most important thing to me in this world right now is family.

Family, my patients, my community, and fighting tooth and nail for a country that just might be worth trying to save from the monsters who are trying to destroy it.

The rest is gravy.

Happy small business Saturday. I’ve got gift certificates (email and physical) available for holiday giving. And if you’re in Fort Erie, do stop into Bridgeburg Books…it’s a delight.

11/26/2025

Give your loved ones an experience that will increase their health and wellbeing this year!

Gift certificates to ACUPUNKTRIX can be purchased in any amount and are good towards acupuncture, cupping, doula services, herbs, and custom teas.

Shop local and small this year! Less stuff more experiences!

DM me or Text 716-427-4321 to purchase via Venmo, cash, Zelle, or Cash App.

Digital gift cards available and physical cards can be picked up at Acupunktrix (schedule a time to grab yours)!

#716

11/23/2025

ICE has been kidnapping our neighbors from the local Walmart parking lots. I was honored to spend a couple cold days with some amazing people this week distributing information in the Walmart parking lots on how to keep members of our community safe.

We peacefully handed out flyers, had important conversations, held banners and signs, and raised awareness.

Buffalo is rich in diversity and has a vibrant immigrant community. Folks from Sudan, Rwanda, Burma, China, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Laos, Mexico, Central America and beyond are integral parts of this city.

The majority of neighbors I spoke to yesterday were immigrants. They were overwhelmingly touched and happy to receive info and numbers to call to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe. One East African man broke into such a wide grin when he read the flyer. He thanked me profusely and gave me the most heartfelt fist bump of my life.

Real people just like you and me are being disappeared, tortured, denied basic human dignity. Asylum seekers, refugees, people doing things “the right way”, and even many US citizens. They say they are coming for criminals, and less than 7% of detainees have violent criminal convictions. The right wing narrative is a LIE. ICE is behaving in obscenely racist ways, targeting people of color and ignoring white immigrants.

We cannot let ICE go unchecked and unanswered.

We must keep each other informed and empowered and help our beautiful neighbors stay safe.

Immigrants make America great.

Some tips:

Do what you can to help. Hunting human beings and violating rights is egregious. ICE are behaving in violent and criminal ways.

Never let them in without a warrant signed by a judge. Don’t talk to them unless it is to ask for that warrant (through the door), invoke your right to remain silent, and invoke your right to an attorney.

As a bystander, you have a right to record as long as you don’t physically interfere. You can ask for badge numbers, names, and if they have a signed warrant. Depending on the situation, if the person being detained is alone, you can ask for their name and a contact so you can help advocate and let their loved ones locate them. If there is concern that identification could further incriminate them, do not reveal that information. Focus recordings on the actions of the agents. Do not post the video to social media until after consulting with an attorney and getting permission from the person being detained.

To help out in Buffalo contact at 716-222-2190 .

11/21/2025

Decanted and bottled some ultra strong digestive bitters elixir today. 1/2-1 tsp before you eat. Just leave it on the dining table. All organic. Burdock, calamus, gentian, dandelion, turmeric, and ginger roots. Cinnamon, fennel, orange peel, chamomile, hibiscus, schizandra, and Reishi I harvested with my kiddos. Plus some raw local honey.

Food used to be a lot more naturally bitter, but we’ve bred a lot of the bitter flavor out of it. Digestive bitters help get digestive enzymes flowing so that your meal is more easily digested and the nutrition better utilized by the body.

The warming spices are especially helpful for cold bellies and cold season.

11/12/2025

reached out to me to ask if I’d do another trans acupuncture night for their Trans Corps and, of course, I was thrilled to do so.

What a gorgeous group of folks not only trying acupuncture for the first time, but coming together in community for mutual support and JOY.

Trans Joy trumps MAGA hate every time.

Last week the Supreme Court passed anti trans legislation undoing the right to use the gender marker that reflects your gender identity…even if you’ve already legally had your name and ID and birth certificate changed. It’s cruel and it singles out trans people for discrimination.

But in my parlour last night, there were smiles, laughter, meditation, tea and cookies, sharing, trust, hope, and beauty so profound it brought tears to my eyes.

Trans health matters. Trans safety matters. Trans hope matters. And Trans JOY is the root of resistance.

May this lovely, kind, intelligent, gorgeous group of humans be safe, blessed, and able to fulfill every dream they hold in their heart.

I love my job. I love our community. I love Buffalo. We are the city of good neighbors, and I am so happy to have met and served more of mine.

Reach out to Buffalo Friendship Club to find out more about their awesome programming that fosters connection for all folks in the greater Buffalo area.

11/08/2025

Rest in the gentleness of this creek, in the flow of water and time and the memory of every adventure and transformation this water has been on from raindrop to spring.

Breathe deep. Relax your jaw. You are held and loved.