Left to right: Amaranth (Callaloo); Resident Egret at Lake Janse, Perilla (Shiso)

I was walking past the pond on campus and saw a beautiful egret enjoying the views. During the winter the great egret can fly as far south as Central America, and during the summer can be found around marshes and other bodies of water throughout . Just like the egret, I spent a few moments of contemplation at the pond. The past few weeks have been eventful, reflective and emotional, as I am moving into my new apartment, submitting final paperwork, and saying goodbye to both patients and professors. To my contemporaries, I urge you that as we graduate into professionals, we must remember why we have chosen alternative health care careers. We must consider what makes us unique as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners. To us, all symptoms are important and share a valuable piece of the story in what our bodies are telling us. As TCM practitioners, we treat the individual and not the disease.

One of my favorite roles thus far is that we have had the opportunity to guide patients in reconnecting with their own bodies and even help them become excited about their own health and healing journeys. I’ve enjoyed blogging, and I hope that you have read something along the way that encouraged or inspired you into action. I would like to conclude with a quote from the Tao Te Ching:

“The Master observes the world but trusts his inner vision. He allows things to come and go. His heart is as open as the sky.”*

I hope that we all can learn to trust our inner vision a little more each day.

*Source: Tzu, Lao. 1996. Tao Te Ching. Translated by Arthur Waley. Wordsworth Classics of World Literature.

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In addition to classes, clinical hours, and various competencies, we are also required to complete volunteer hours in the surrounding community. So, this weekend the Acupuncture club (AOMSA) hosted a service event at an organization called (FMSC). FMSC is a local non-profit organization that is dedicated to: “Feeding kids. Feeding spirits. Empowering  communities¹â€ť. FMSC has developed meals with the help of food scientists and nutritionists that are packed with supplements that fight malnutrition. These meals are combined, sealed, and packed then distributed globally. This weekend the meals we packaged were being distributed to Cambodia. The time went by fast, and we had lots of fun chatting while preparing the meals. By the end of our shift, collectively the volunteers packed 120 boxes, which feeds 71 kids for an entire year! Have a great week!

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Another common therapeutic action, in addition to warming Yang, is tonifying blood and regulating the Ren & Chong channels. The Ren and Chong channels are mostly tied to one’s reproductive organs, but they also have the ability to revitalize the blood and are connected to channels all over the . Indications would be infertility, uterine bleeding, severe anemia, a cold womb, and chronic ulcerations or sores. There are multiple preparations of this herb, powdered, gelatin, soaked in alcohol, ossified, and they each have a slightly varied function.

Generally, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas are composed of multiple herbs used in concert with each other, in order to maximize their synergy. However, is one that can be taken alone in certain situations. If you are interested in adding more TCM herbs into your life, schedule an appointment on the acupuncture side at the Whole Health Center, we would love to discuss it more with you!

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On another note, guess who is back?! I took a walk around the clinic, and I saw that an American robin couple selected that empty bird’s nest that I’ve been watching from a far. It appears that she has already laid her eggs, because the female bird is firmly seated and not budging. Here on campus, it is week 9 of the term, which means midterm exams. Make sure you include movement and rest into your schedule as self-care is integral in your long-term health and success.

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I had a chance to travel to Michigan this weekend, I visited family, friends and my fruit trees. At our family friend’s farm, I had a chance to help feed one of the newest calves, she was so sweet. My plum tree is doing well and is filled with fruit this year; the mulberry trees are looking lovely too! Studying is important, but making time for joy and rest is equally as such.

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The beginning of the program goes by slowly, but eventually things begin to pick up speed. One thing that I tried to remind myself is that life is about being fully present in the moment and the experience. Yes, as students it’s important to us to do well in our classes, but there is so much more to this graduate school experience. I encourage you to join clubs, go to the museum, volunteer, go for a walk, and sit in at the presentation in Janse Hall during lunch, because all of those experiences are valuable.

Take a look at this adorable snail I found on one of my walks. As we enter Week 5 of the Summer 2022 term, make sure you are taking care of yourself, go and schedule an appointment for yourself in the Whole Health Clinic. Have a great week and good luck to all the students on this upcoming week of exams!

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During one of my acupuncture clinic shifts at the 911±¬ÁĎ Lombard Whole Health Clinic, I went for a quick walk between patient visits. I was really curious to see if the same bird family was going to re-nest in that tree on campus. It doesn’t look like it so far, but I will check in a few weeks to see if that changes. Last week I took a visit to , which is about two miles from campus. What a good decision! The lilacs and tulips were in full bloom, and it was fragrant and quite beautiful. I think I found my new favorite study area for the summer.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is often in alignment with the cycles of nature. So as trees begin to come alive and expand, we must also mirror their energy and begin to increase our physical activity. To my fellow students, make sure you are spending some time outside each week, as a student balance is integral for our success. 

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Allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance — such as pollen, bee venom or pet dander — or a food that doesn’t cause a reaction in most people. Your immune system produces substances known as antibodies. When you have allergies, your immune system makes antibodies that identify a particular allergen as harmful, even though it isn’t. When you come into contact with the allergen, your immune system’s reaction can inflame your skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system. The severity of allergies varies from person-to-person and can range from minor irritation to anaphylaxis.¹

Acupuncture can address seasonal allergy symptoms, but also help support your body’s immune defenses. So basically, you should schedule a visit with an acupuncturist. For more information about how to survive allergy season, click here.

Good luck to all the students on this upcoming week of final exams!

1 – The Mayo Clinic

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This week was homecoming at the Illinois campus, due to my clinic and work schedule I couldn’t attend as many events as I would have liked. Throughout the day there were speakers affiliated with various companies and organizations, who lectured on various topics. The lecture I attended was titled, “The Neuroendocrine Immunology of Mucosal Immunity”. The lecture discussed how integral the gut microbiota is in understanding human health. In fact, the “disruptions of the intestinal ecosystem equilibrium are associated with a plethora of human diseases, including autoimmune and allergic disease, colorectal cancer, metabolic disease, and bacterial infections¹â€ť.Ěý

After the lecture, Apex Energetics had some samples of their newest supplement formulations, I sampled their newest pineapple liposomal glutathione which was actually palatable. We are in the home stretch of the spring trimester, with our final examinations just around the corner. So, I must go and get back to studying, until next time.

Learn more about AOM as an exciting career!

1. Biologics. 2011; 5:71-86

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This season is also a great time for planning out your garden. This season I hope to make a contribution to the , I petitioned last season to add more TCM herbs and unfortunately my request was denied. This year the garden has a new faculty advisor so hopefully I will have a better result this year. I was speaking with one of the AOM clinicians, in the Whole Health Clinic, and he was so kind to provide us with TCM seeds to plant should my request be granted.

Thankfully I still have time, because in the Midwest Zone 5 planting schedule, most varieties cannot enter the ground until the chance of frost has passed. Get outside if you can and feel the energy of the season!

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