Sina Leslie Smith LAc MD

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United States
Chicago, IL
Sina Leslie Smith LAc MD

Medical Doctor, Acupuncturist, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Homeopathy, Nutrition, Pain Expert Practicing in Illinois and via telemedicine/telehealth.

Holistically-minded modern medicine: Japanese and Chinese acupuncture; medicinal herbs, supplements, and nutraceuticals; integrative medicine; functional medicine; homeopathy; and manual therapies. Physical offices in Chicago are currently closed but look for reopening Fall 2022.

02/21/2026

It was truly a delight to meet and care for SO many and at the this year! Can’t wait to train you in acupressure so you can treat your patients’ dental anxiety, pain, TMD, gag reflex, and dizziness/vertigo—and your (each other’s) neck and shoulder pain. See you at summer and fall 2026 for coursework! 💞🤩🦷🥰

02/17/2026

Dentistry is harder when patients are already apprehensive.

Dental anxiety, gag reflex, TMD, clenching, procedural pain, vertigo, back and neck pain…these are not side concerns; they are daily clinical obstacles for dental providers. They slow treatment, strain schedules, and sometimes prevent patients from getting the care they need.

That is why I created Oris Dental Academy.

Oris offers focused, practical clinical training in auricular acupuncture and acupressure specifically for dentists and allied dental professionals. This equips you for chairside application, tailored to the dental operatory.

It was designed to give dental teams alternatives for anxious patients and clinically relevant techniques that integrate into your practice.

Inside the course, you learn how to:

• Reduce anxiety before it escalates

• Improve patient tolerance in the chair

• Support patients who are sensitive to pharmaceuticals

• Increase comfort without sedation

• Maintain a calmer operatory for both patients and staff

The training includes self-paced online modules, an in-person practicum, all necessary instruments and supplies, AGD-PACE-approved CEUs, chairside reference support, and practical guidance on documentation and workflow.

I have spent years practicing acupuncture in clinical settings, including chairside within dental offices. The outcomes are measurable. When the nervous system settles, patients feel regulated and supported, and treatment acceptance improves. The shift is both clinical and relational, building trust and setting your practice apart.

If you are curious how this training can equip your team and elevate the experience you provide, tap the link in the comments and explore the full details. I would be honored to support you in bringing this level of care into your practice.

02/14/2026

If chocolate is part of your Valentine’s plans, I have good news for you. Dark chocolate is the one that actually loves you back. 😍

Dark chocolate comes from cacao beans, which are naturally rich in flavanols. These are powerful antioxidant compounds that help reduce inflammation and improve blood flow throughout the body.

Flavanols are naturally bitter, which is an important detail most people do not realize. When chocolate is made sweeter and milder, it is not just that sugar is added to mask the bitterness. The flavanols themselves are often removed during processing. That means the bitterness goes away, but so do the health benefits. This is why milk chocolate and very sweet chocolates cannot compete with darker varieties when it comes to supporting health.

The higher the cacao percentage, the more flavanols remain in the final product. These compounds support cardiovascular health by improving circulation and helping blood vessels function more efficiently. This is one reason dark chocolate is consistently associated with heart health when consumed in moderation.

Dark chocolate may also support brain health and mood. Improved blood flow to the brain can enhance focus, while cacao stimulates the release of endorphins and serotonin, which play key roles in pleasure, stress regulation, and emotional balance.

There is also evidence that flavanol-rich dark chocolate can support metabolic health by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing oxidative stress. It is no GLP-1, but the right kind of chocolate can absolutely be more than just a treat.

If you are not a big fan of dark chocolate, I encourage you to try a high-quality, single-origin option before writing it off. Single-origin chocolate allows the natural flavors of cacao to shine. My favorite is a 70 percent Peruvian dark chocolate with subtle berry notes.

No matter what kind of treats you are enjoying this weekend, I am sending all my love to you this Valentine’s Day. 💕

02/12/2026

In 1997, global and U.S. health authorities formally recognized Acupuncture as an effective treatment for a wide range of clinical conditions and called for its integration into mainstream medicine. (BIG day!)

Nearly 30 years later, that integration remains an ongoing process.

Patient use of acupuncture has since more than doubled, with pain management being the primary use for this treatment. Hospitals, clinics, and policymakers are increasingly acknowledging acupuncture’s safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness (YAY for all of this forward movement!)

What often stands in the way, though, is not results, but communication.

As acupuncturists, our ability to clearly and effectively articulate our strengths using current data and shared clinical language is essential.

This is most apparent in pain care. Conventional treatments have defined limits, and integrative medicine offers meaningful relief without reliance on addictive therapies.

The integration of acupuncture into modern medicine extends beyond assimilation. It requires collaboration, transparency, and shared confidence.

Want to learn more? Tap the link below to read the full article!

https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/39796-the-state-of-21st-century-acupuncture-in-the-u.s-pt-2

Oris Dental Academy

02/10/2026

Most people TRY acupuncture to treat pain…they STAY because everything else starts working better! 😉

Here are a few of the whole-body benefits of acupuncture that people are often surprised by:

Sleep. Acupuncture can calm an overactive nervous system, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep without relying on medication.

Digestion. By supporting gut motility and reducing stress-related digestive symptoms, acupuncture may help with bloating, reflux, constipation, and IBS-type patterns.

Hormones. Acupuncture is often used to support menstrual health, PMS, fertility, and perimenopause by influencing blood flow and stress hormones.

Mood. Anxiety, irritability, and low mood are frequently linked to a nervous system imbalance. Acupuncture can promote regulation and improve emotional resilience.

Immunity. Regular treatments may help support immune function by reducing inflammation and improving overall physiological balance.

Recovery. From workouts to chronic stress, acupuncture can speed recovery by improving circulation and reducing muscle tension.

Acupuncture doesn’t chase symptoms; it is a whole body system of care. If you’re ready to help your body do what it was meant to do more efficiently, tap the link. Let’s talk!

02/07/2026

Winter can feel heavy on the body and mind…

Here are a few small adjustments that can make a BIG difference!

If the winter blues have been getting to you, here are a few simple ways to support your nervous system and your mood.

Start with your light.

Swap the bulb in the room where you spend most of your time for a brighter one. This small change can make a noticeable difference in how alert and regulated your brain feels. If you work at a desk, consider adding a full-spectrum light nearby to mimic natural daylight.

Vitamin D also matters more than most people realize.

42% of adults in the US are deficient, and it can have major effects on how you feel. For many adults, 1,000 IU per day is a reasonable maintenance dose. If you are unsure, have medical conditions, or want to be precise, getting your level checked is always a good idea.

Movement plus daylight is a winning combination.

A short walk at lunchtime, even bundled up and mildly uncomfortable, helps reset circadian rhythms and improves circulation. You don’t need a whole workout plan, just get outside!

On the days when it really is too cold (I’m looking at you, generational ice storm) stand near a window for five to ten minutes. Look outside. Let your eyes take in the light. Breathe slowly. Notice the trees, the sky, the weather doing what it does. This does your nervous system a great deal of good.

What did I miss? I’d love to hear your winter self-care tips in the comments!

02/05/2026

I need your help!

I have been thinking about turning my book, Demystifying Acupuncture, into an audiobook.

Same book, just in a format you could listen to while driving, walking, or going about your day.

So! Before I dive in, I would love to hear from you first:

👉 Would you actually listen to an audiobook version?

I truly want to create resources that fit into real life, and would love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you for supporting this work, and for helping me make acupuncture a little less mysterious and a lot more accessible!

02/02/2026

Cold plunges are everywhere right now, and it’s no wonder why so many people are drawn to them!

From a Chinese medicine perspective, cold exposure creates contrast in the body. That contrast stimulates movement. Movement of circulation, movement of qi, and movement between yin and yang.

When things move well, the body tends to feel more awake and more regulated.

This is why many people experience confirmed benefits from cold plunges, including improved circulation, a clearer and more focused mind, increased energy, and a greater sense of resilience to stress. That temperature shift can also support nervous system regulation, helping the body move out of stagnation and into a more responsive state.

The value of cold plunges isn’t in how long you stay in. It’s in how the body responds afterward. Short, consistent exposure can improve resilience while still supporting overall balance.

As with most things in health, an intentional approach goes a long way. Let the cold wake your system up, not overwhelm it. Be sure to pay attention to how your body feels afterward and adjust accordingly.

Have you ever done a cold plunge? I’d love to hear your experience!

01/30/2026

If the last year clarified things for you, this next one will solidify your follow-through.

We are currently wrapping up the Chinese Year of the Snake, which favors reflection, observation, and introspective decision-making. Progress tends to happen beneath the surface. Many people spend Snake years refining their thinking, clarifying priorities, and shedding what no longer fits.

In a few weeks, we will be transitioning into the year of the Horse. Horse years move outward. They are faster, louder, and far less patient. What was considered during the Snake year now wants action. Ideas want momentum. Decisions want follow-through.

I often see this shift show up in the body before people can name it consciously. Restlessness. A sudden intolerance for routines that once felt manageable. A sense that something has to change, even if the mind is not yet clear what that is. When the body is preparing for movement but cannot yet act, symptoms often emerge.

This is not a year that rewards overthinking; it rewards decisiveness. The Horse does not ask for perfection. It asks for commitment.

Clinically, the goal is to help them regulate this movement/momentum so energy does not scatter or burn out. That means identifying and supporting the structures, physiological, emotional, and practical, that allow change to unfold without depletion.

This same transition shows up clearly in symbolic time as well.

The Snake helped you figure out what matters.

The Horse asks whether you are willing to act on it.

01/29/2026

I’m presenting this Thursday at Speaker Friends Live!

I’ll be sharing a short presentation on health during the event, between 6:00-8:30pm.

If you’re in the Boston area, I’d love to see you there!

Tap the link below for more info:
https://tinyurl.com/speakerfriendslive

01/29/2026

Recently, I had the honor of speaking with the Maryland Association of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine on translating East Asian medicine for Western ears. (I know, BIG concepts! Not as scary as it sounds, I promise!)

My goal in every lecture is to make complex medicine accessible without diluting it, while also protecting the integrity of our medicine.

This talk focused on practical communication with patients. We dug into actionable topics like how to build trust during intake, how we can use the five-element theory as a shared language with patients rather than a barrier, and how informed consent, clarity, and narrative medicine improve patient care and professional credibility.

The audience feedback affirmed that intention! 100% of respondents found the session valuable, and 100% said they would attend another lecture. Nearly all rated the content as engaging, relevant, inspiring, and actionable.

If you are looking for a speaker who can thoughtfully bridge East Asian medicine and biomedicine with rigor, warmth, and clinical relevance, I would love to collaborate with your organization.

Reach out to talk about your next lecture, workshop, or professional training.

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https://SinaSmithMD.com/

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Dr. Smith is now practicing as a part of her new position with SIU School of Medicine in Springfield as Director of Integrative and Culinary Medicine.

Should you need to contact her directly for a non-patient related issue, please call 217-545-2103 to speak with her administrative support.

To make a clinic appointment, please call 217-545-4692.

Sina Leslie Smith LAc MD

02/21/2026

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