Could Your Irregular Periods, Acne, or Energy Crashes Be PMOS (previously called PCOS)?
Irregular cycles, stubborn acne, unwanted facial or body hair, blood sugar swings, fatigue, and difficulty conceiving are often treated as separate issues. For many people, these symptoms may be connected through Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, or PMOS — a common but frequently misunderstood hormonal and metabolic condition. PMOS is not simply a “cyst problem.” The previous name, polycystic …
Perimenopause Weight Gain: Why It Happens and What Actually Helps
If your body feels like it has changed almost overnight, you are not imagining it. Many women enter their late 30s, 40s, or early 50s and start noticing changes that feel frustrating and confusing: weight gain around the midsection, disrupted sleep, heavier or irregular periods, mood changes, brain fog, lower energy, stronger cravings, or a …
Use Food as Medicine: What Actually Works for Blood Sugar, Gut Health, & Hormones
“Food is medicine” is everywhere right now. But what does that actually mean in a clinical setting, and what actually works? At its core, food as medicine means using nutrition to directly influence physiology: blood sugar, inflammation, gut function, and hormones. When done right, these changes show up not just in how you feel, but …
Spring Fatigue: A Classical Five Element Acupuncture Perspective
As the days grow longer and the world begins to bloom, many of us expect to feel energized, inspired, and refreshed. And yet—for some—the arrival of spring can feel surprisingly uncomfortable. You might notice yourself feeling more irritable than usual. Sleep may become disrupted, especially waking between 1–3 am. Old symptoms can flare, or new …
The Hidden Health Risks of Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame-K are widely used as calorie-free sugar substitutes. While they can reduce sugar intake, emerging research suggests they may also influence metabolism, gut bacteria, cardiovascular risk, and long-term disease outcomes. Current research suggests Occasional use may be reasonable, but frequent consumption may not be metabolically neutral. Below is a …
When It Comes to Scents, What Makes Sense?
Is Fragrance toxic? As more public and clinical spaces request that people be scent-free, it is important to understand the reasoning behind this shift. Most of us have had the unpleasant experience of standing near someone with a strong scent, whether from perfume, cologne, or heavily fragranced laundry products. While this can feel merely uncomfortable …
Bipolar Disorder vs Borderline Personality Disorder
Do you experience intense periods of happiness, impulsive behavior, lack of sleep, and restlessness? Do you also go through times of deep sadness, guilt, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death? Is it challenging for you to maintain relationships, and do you often worry that people will leave you? Do your self-perceptions change frequently? Are you …
Understanding Myths About Eating Disorders
Do you spend your days thinking about your body size, or have things you would like to change about your body? Have you ever dieted, skipped meals, used laxatives for weight loss, exercised too much, or vomited after meals? Have you ever eaten past fullness, felt like you couldn’t stop eating, or felt shame or …
Understanding Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Social Anxiety, and OCD
Do you worry about events that haven’t happened yet? Do you struggle to find joy in things you once did? Do you struggle with sleep, either sleeping too much or not enough? Do you perform rituals or routines to prevent bad things from happening? Do you ever have flashbacks of traumatic experiences? Do you avoid …
