Laughing Tao Acupuncture

Laughing Tao Acupuncture Laughing Tao is a nonprofit healing center providing Chinese medicine acupuncture and herbal medicine in East Peoria.

We offer acupuncture treatments, herbal medicine, qi gong classes, and self defense classes.

Seasonal depression often isn’t just “in your head” — it lives in the body. Less sunlight, colder weather, and quiet nig...
11/17/2025

Seasonal depression often isn’t just “in your head” — it lives in the body. Less sunlight, colder weather, and quiet nights can slow our Qi (energy) and weaken Yang (warming) energy. Acupuncture supports the emotional body by regulating the nervous system, balancing Yin and Yang, and helping the spirit feel anchored and supported.

At-home winter nourishment:
-Create light — candles, warm lamps, salt lamps. Get outside for natural light, too, even if it's cloudy.
-Gentle acupressure between the eyebrows (think of this point as your "third eye") and the very top of your head. Stimulate these areas with knuckle a few times a day, especially when you're feeling low
-Nourish with warm, cooked meals and mineral-rich broths as a signal to your body and mind to align with the season

You are not meant to be bright summer sunshine in the middle of cooler seasons — you are allowed to be slow, deep, and soft.

There is a path that belongs only to you.Not the one others expect, not the one you think you “should” walk — but the on...
11/13/2025

There is a path that belongs only to you.

Not the one others expect, not the one you think you “should” walk — but the one that rises naturally from your bones, your breath, your becoming. In Taoist thought, "forcing the river only muddies the water." The Tao (your own unique path) unfolds when we soften our grip and listen. Healing, too, unfolds this way — not as a race to “fix” yourself, but as a return to your own rhythm.

You don’t have to know the entire path. You don't have to know how it all turns out. Stop putting that pressure on yourself. It's futile.

You only need to be here for this breath, this step, this moment of honest attunement. The Tao isn’t somewhere you arrive — it is walked in everyday choices, in gentle course-corrections, in remembering who you are beneath the noise.

Today, on Veterans Day, we give our deepest thanks to those who served. As someone who served as an infantryman for 10 y...
11/11/2025

Today, on Veterans Day, we give our deepest thanks to those who served.

As someone who served as an infantryman for 10 years - four deployments, intelligence partner, staff sergeant, Glenn knows first-hand what it means to protect and to heal.

At Laughing Tao, our mission is to support healing - not only for injuries of battle, but for the unseen wounds of service: chronic pain, PTSD, transition back into civilian life. ☯️

To all veterans and military families: thank you. Your service matters.

11/09/2025

Gratitude isn’t a concept we force; it rises naturally when the nervous system feels safe, the breath deepens, and the heart has space to soften.

And yet, between the gatherings, the cooking, the planning, the doing…our bodies can forget how to rest. Tension accumulates. Digestion tightens. Sleep grows shallow. The mind begins to buzz instead of breathe.

To support you during this season of transition and gratitude, we’re offering a gentle reset for new patients:

✨ Two acupuncture treatments — $215
✨ Plus $15 off a future visit

Because peace is the greatest gift you can give yourself —and it radiates outward to everyone you love.

Offer available through November 22. Head to www.laughingtao.com/book and look under our packages section for this limited time special.

If you’ve noticed your shoulders creeping up toward your ears lately, or that achy, tight feeling in your neck, it might...
11/08/2025

If you’ve noticed your shoulders creeping up toward your ears lately, or that achy, tight feeling in your neck, it might not just be stress — it could be what Chinese medicine calls Wind-Cold. This “Wind” sneaks into the body when temperatures drop, causing tension, stiffness, and even headaches.

Acupuncture helps by opening the channels, releasing the trapped wind, and improving circulation so your muscles can relax again. It’s also a great reminder to keep your neck covered when you’re outside (a scarf really can prevent pain!). Stay cozy, keep your Qi moving, and keep your shoulders relaxed all season long.

🍂 Between the gatherings, the cooking, and the full schedules… sometimes your body just needs a moment to exhale.🍂 New P...
11/05/2025

🍂 Between the gatherings, the cooking, and the full schedules… sometimes your body just needs a moment to exhale.

🍂 New Patients Only: Treat yourself to our Thankful Body, Peaceful Mind special — two acupuncture treatments for $215 + $15 off a future visit.

Designed to help your body unwind, your mind settle, and your heart reconnect to gratitude. Because peace is the best gift you can give yourself.

Offer runs until November 22.

In Chinese medicine and Taoist philosophy, holding on—whether to old emotions, regrets, or rigid thoughts—creates stagna...
11/03/2025

In Chinese medicine and Taoist philosophy, holding on—whether to old emotions, regrets, or rigid thoughts—creates stagnation. Just as autumn invites the trees to fully release their leaves, with the change of seasons, we too are asked to let go of what no longer nourishes us. The Lung channel and organ in Chinese medicine, associated with the Metal element, teaches us the art of release—grief, self-judgment, and clinging, when released, can give way to clear breath, inspiration, and presence. When we exhale fully, we create space for new Qi to enter.

To live fully is to move in harmony with the elements always surrounding you: allowing life to flow through us rather than holding it tight. As you breathe today, notice what thoughts no longer serve you. Exhale them gently, like falling leaves, and trust that by letting go, you create room for peace and simple joy.

Healing isn't a solution. It's attunement. Sometimes we move through life on autopilot, running from one task to the nex...
11/03/2025

Healing isn't a solution. It's attunement.

Sometimes we move through life on autopilot, running from one task to the next, thinking that exhaustion and tension are just “part of the process.” What if there was a way to pause, really listen to your body, and restore the balance that’s been quietly slipping away?

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine aren’t just treatments — they’re invitations to reconnect with yourself, to notice the subtle rhythms and signals your body has been trying to send you all along.

I’ve seen how small, mindful shifts can ripple into profound changes: calmer minds, more energy, deeper sleep, and a sense of alignment that goes beyond the physical. It’s humbling and inspiring to witness, and it reminds me that wellness isn’t about perfection — it’s about paying attention, nurturing what’s already there, and creating space for your body and mind to thrive.

And, by the way, PS - These shifts are lifelong. We are never perfect, but always perfecting

In Chinese medicine, trauma disperses Heart Qi (energy) and disturbs the Shen, or the spirit housed in our hearts. Acupu...
11/01/2025

In Chinese medicine, trauma disperses Heart Qi (energy) and disturbs the Shen, or the spirit housed in our hearts. Acupuncture helps re-anchor the Shen (spirit), soothe the nervous system, and allow the body to feel safe again.

By regulating the Heart, Kidney, and Pericardium channels in the body, treatments help integrate your spirit and body - bringing rest to a system that’s been on alert for too long.

At-home tip: When you take a bathroom break, save an extra minute to do some deep breathing. Instead of closing your eyes, you may actually find it helpful to unfocus your eyes on a calming object, like a candle or a vase of flowers. This simple but powerful act ensures that you do a self-check in throughout the day, and rebalances the flow between Heaven (breath) and Earth (body).

Just your local acupuncturists doing our part to keep the Qi flowing and the Halloween spirit alive. 🎃🧡 No tricks here! ...
10/31/2025

Just your local acupuncturists doing our part to keep the Qi flowing and the Halloween spirit alive. 🎃

🧡 No tricks here! Just treats.  

If you’re feeling a little witchy, a bit creaky like a skeleton, or your stress is creeping up like a ghost in the night…

Don’t worry — we’ve got needles for that. 😉🪡👻

Come in for acupuncture, leave feeling FANG-TASTICALLY relaxed!

Happy haunting, Central Illinois 🕸️✨

This season, you may notice that the Spleen and Stomach need a little extra care. Especially as we switch over to heavie...
10/30/2025

This season, you may notice that the Spleen and Stomach need a little extra care. Especially as we switch over to heavier, rich foods! Acupuncture helps strengthen digestion, reduce bloating, and calm the nervous system - especially when stress or worry affect the gut (think: IBS!)

🥣 At-home tip: Choose cooked, warm meals over cold salads. Add warming herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom to support the Spleen and digestion.

In Chinese medicine, digestion is more than food — it’s how we process life itself. By balancing the Earth element, we support both clarity and nourishment.

Autumn invites introspection and stillness — qualities essential to both healing and conception. Many of our patients co...
10/28/2025

Autumn invites introspection and stillness — qualities essential to both healing and conception. Many of our patients come to us after years of fertility treatments, miscarriages, or hormonal imbalances like thyroid issues or PCOS.

Acupuncture supports these journeys not by forcing the body to do something, but by helping it remember its natural harmony — calming the stress response, improving blood flow to the uterus, and supporting the mind-body connection that prepares for new life.

🍂 As the trees let go of their leaves, you, too, can release old narratives of “brokenness.” The body can heal. Hope is cyclical — like the seasons. 🍂

Address

209 Keayes Avenue
East Peoria, IL
61611

Opening Hours

Monday 8:15am - 4pm
Tuesday 8:15am - 8:30pm
Wednesday 8:15am - 4pm
Thursday 8:15am - 4pm
Friday 8:15am - 4pm

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