Miami Acupuncture and Herbal Solutions

Miami Acupuncture and Herbal Solutions Miami Acupuncture and Herbal Solutions is committed to providing patient-centered, holistic care to the South Florida Community.

Blake Estape is committed to bringing the wisdom and insight of traditional Chinese medicine to the demands of modern life.

TCM DiagnosisTechnology was famously limited 2300 years ago. In lieu of blood draws and computers, the TCM diagnostic me...
02/06/2026

TCM Diagnosis

Technology was famously limited 2300 years ago. In lieu of blood draws and computers, the TCM diagnostic method relies on the senses. We look, listen, smell, feel and inquire .

When I say look I mean LOOK - we examine the color and luster of the face, the condition of the tongue, we examine the ears, and may even look at the channel pathways. Likewise, we listen for very subtle cues in the patient's voice and breathing, note any specific smells, and ask comprehensive questions. Pulse-taking is a unique aspect of TCM where practitioners use the quality of six pulse positions on the wrist to give us clues.

This is why it's important for the doctor and patient to spend time together. It's the only way to really get a sense of what the person is going through and make a proper diagnosis.

The art of diagnosis has been lost in modern medicine, replaced with what we can find on paper. In my clinic, I do my best to sit with each patient and spend time, so that I know the best way to help.

02/04/2026

Li Chun, the first day of Spring.

Li Chun falls exactly between the Winter solstice, and the height of Spring when the sun reaches celestial longitude 315 degrees. It's considered the first day of Spring and thus the beginning of a new cycle. In Feng Shui practice, Li Chun is when the qi energies begin to shift into their patterns for the year to come.

Happy Li Chun! Now that we have come into Spring, consider the words of the Huang Di Nei Jing:

The three months of Spring,
they denote effusion and spreading.
Heaven and Earth together generate life;
the myriad beings flourish.

Go to rest late at night and rise early.
Move through the courtyard with long strides.
Dishevel the hair and relax the physical appearance,
thereby cause the mind to focus on life.

Give life and do not kill.
Give and do not take.
Reward and do not punish.

This is correspondence with the qi of Spring,
and is the Way to nourish life.
Opposing it harms the Liver.
In summertime this causes changes to cold,
and there is little to support growth.

Thank you so much ,  and everyone who attended the event. Here’s to an excellent Year of the Horse!
02/01/2026

Thank you so much , and everyone who attended the event. Here’s to an excellent Year of the Horse!

China's Laba Festival (臘八節) happens on the eighth day ('ba') of the twelfth month ('la') of the lunar calendar, and is c...
01/26/2026

China's Laba Festival (臘八節) happens on the eighth day ('ba') of the twelfth month ('la') of the lunar calendar, and is considered the prelude to Lunar New Year.

The festival is in honor of discipline and sacrifice. It's believed that the Buddha achieved enlightenment on this day, after twelve years of struggle. Traditionally the celebration is observed by eating a special dish called Laba porridge.

The porridge is a rice congee with eight main ingredients, but those ingredients can be changed based on the needs of the person and their environment. Below is an example recipe for Laba porridge you can yourself as a sweet, nourishing treat.

Laba Porridge:
1/3 cup white glutinous rice
1/3 cup black 'forbidden' rice
1/4 cup pearl barley or brown rice.
1/4 cup red beans
1/4 cup black beans
1/4 cup mixed nuts
up to 1/4 cup dried fruit (longan, jujube, or other as preferred)
2 tablespoons raisins

Instructions:
1. For those without an instantpot or equivalent, soak beans for 6 hours. With an instantpot, skip this step.

2. Drain water and put everything except the raisins into a pot/instantpot/rice cooker. Add 3-4 cups of water

3. With an instantpot, press the porridge button and just wait! In a saucepan, bring the pot to a boil. Lower heat to simmer, and simmer for 40 minutes.

4. Add raisins.

5. Add spices as desired. Commonly used are cinnamon and salt.

I'm so appreciative of these posts, where together patients and I can celebrate the amazing work they do for themselves....
01/17/2026

I'm so appreciative of these posts, where together patients and I can celebrate the amazing work they do for themselves.

Thank you for your trust, and for allowing me to do the job I love.

01/15/2026

Gua Sha has been used for thousands of years in China to treat illness. Today, it’s widely known for cosmetic uses, but I use it often in the clinic for a number of issues.

Gua Sha can be an effective tool in the treatment of neck pain, headaches, the common cold, gastric discomfort, low back pain, and other conditions characterized by stagnation. It’s non-invasive, quick, and often quite comfortable.

Join me on January 31st from 2:00 to 6:00 at Peacemaker Studio for the Mariposas Wellness Collective. I'll be speaking a...
01/14/2026

Join me on January 31st from 2:00 to 6:00 at Peacemaker Studio for the Mariposas Wellness Collective. I'll be speaking about how to leverage the energy of the Year of the Horse to manage adversity and promote wellbeing.

The event is free and features several speakers and vendors. Let's prepare together for what promises to be a transformative year ahead.

Thermal Nature: Warming FoodsChinese dietary therapy considers a food's nature when treating illness. These are hot, col...
01/12/2026

Thermal Nature: Warming Foods

Chinese dietary therapy considers a food's nature when treating illness. These are hot, cold, neutral, salty, pungent, sour, bitter and sweet. Each cause the body to react differently, and are employed to counter imbalances. Today, we'll explore the hot thermal nature of food.

'Hot' here doesn't refer to temperature, or even spicy flavor. Perhaps it's better to call them 'warming' rather than hot. Obvious examples of warming foods are ginger, onion, turmeric, black pepper, chilli and cinnamon - things that get you sweating or have that capsaicin kick. However, there are less obvious examples: cherries, dates, pumpkin, beef, lamb and black tea.

Warming foods in a balanced diet support the function of the spleen and stomach, promoting digestion. They're indicated in cold conditions to warm up the interior. Cold conditions can include gastric pain, the common cold, certain types of constipation, muscle spasms, chronic illness and more.

01/09/2026

Huangbai liniment, a traditional herbal preparation from Phellodendron amurense, is an effective herb for many conditions including reducing inflammation and promoting diabetic wound healing.

Recent studies explored how it modulates important cellular pathways (like IL, TGF-β & Nrf2) involved in inflammation and tissue repair. Bioactive compounds such as berberine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine contribute to anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects.

The paper also discusses several secondary effects described in the research, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-fungal activity. Traditionally, the herb is used to treat issues of 'damp-heat' both internally and externally, which can manifest with conditions such as gout, ulcers, psoriasis, slow-healing wounds, and more.

Do not take herbs without first consulting with a professional; improper use of herbs can cause significant harm if not used properly and for the appropriate conditions.

Source:
Singh, Abhishek, et al. “The Multifaceted Therapeutic Potential of Huangbai Liniment: Modulation of IL, TGF-β and Nrf2 Pathways in Inflammation Downregulation and Diabetic Wound Healing.” Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine, vol. 18, 30 Nov. 2025, p. 100731, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667142525001551, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prmcm.2025.100731.

Bridging the Gap in Oncology CareThe process of remission is one of hope, relief - and also anxiety. Patient who receive...
01/07/2026

Bridging the Gap in Oncology Care

The process of remission is one of hope, relief - and also anxiety. Patient who received considerable support through their cancer journey suddenly find themselves adrift. Frequent doctor's visits become stretched, and compassion fatigue wins against many caregivers. Cancer survivors, freshly coem to terms with their mortality, now have to navigate a world that may be radically different than it was prior to their diagnosis.

Cancer is traumatic. Thankfully, psychological care has been increasingly prioritized during treatments, and it's been found that proper mental health leads to improved health outcomes. Similarly, rates of relapse decrease with proper postremission therapies including metanl health. In this way, traditional Chinese medicine can be an important tool.

TCM bridges this gap in care, because treatment focuses on reestablishing homeostasis. Emotional and physical health are given equal weight as part of holistic care. Whereas allopathic medicine thrives during periods of crisis, TCM is most effective in recovery and preventative modes.

Healthcare shouldn't end when symptoms go away; it's a way of living, and support for that goal should be as persistent as you are. Consider a TCM practitioner as part of your care team, to ensure that care continues no matter what phase of the journey you're in.

01/05/2026

Tea is a life saver.

I mean this literally. A 2022 study of tea drinkers in the UK found that people who drank 2 or more cups of tea a day were 9% to 13% less likely to die from any cause.

Green tea, black tea, hot tea, cold tea - it doesn't seem to matter. It makes sense, then, why Eastern cultures treat tea-drinking so seriously. It's life and death!

“Lunar New Year of Jiawu (1714)”Despite thinning white hair,I stayed up for a night to feast on New Year’s Eve.The burni...
01/01/2026

“Lunar New Year of Jiawu (1714)”

Despite thinning white hair,
I stayed up for a night to feast on New Year’s Eve.

The burning candle urges me to drink up;
I emptied my pocket, giving children coins for good luck.

Hearing the noise of firecrackers, I’m cheerful like a child;

Seeing new spring couplets hang, I sense closure of the old year.

Listening to the “Plum Blossom” tune one more time;

Soon, the day breaks and people greet one another with laughter.
- Kong Shangren

Happy New Year to all. May it come with many blessings and opportunity for growth.

Address

7700 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 510
Miami, FL
33156

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+17865143942

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