Leah Rainer Acupuncture

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Leah Rainer Acupuncture

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A Whole Body Approach to Health

10/20/2026

Chinese medicine pays close attention to these transitional times of the year, as they can be especially prone to feelings of imbalance and uncertainty. Establishing an internal sense of harmony during this period can lay the groundwork for a greater sense of ease as we move into the next phase of the year. Some of the most basic ways to establish that sense of harmony are things we already know: stick to a consistent sleep schedule, eat meals that feel nourishing without weighing you down, and allow space for unstructured play, where the nervous system can regulate without feeling too quickly jolted into a rigid routine.

How has your shift into the cooler, darker months been going?

10/12/2026

If you feel like you’re struggling with this shift into fall, I have a recipe to share with you.

To help ease the body through the change of seasons, a common classical Chinese herbal formula is Gui Zhi Tang (cinnamon twig decoction).

Traditionally, this formula is used to help regulate the relationship between the internal and external aspects of the body and is associated with addressing patterns of wind and cold. It can be a wonderful formula to think about during times of transition, when the body is adapting to changing conditions.

The traditional formula consists of five herbs: cinnamon twig, fresh ginger root, white peony root, Chinese date (jujube), and licorice root. Some of these herbs can be harder to find in typical grocery stores, though you should be able to find many of them at a local Asian market.

Here is a Gui Zhi Tang-inspired tea recipe using ingredients you may already have at home.

Gui Zhi Tang-Inspired Tea
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
Add:
1–2 cinnamon sticks
4–5 slices of fresh ginger
1 licorice tea bag (or 1 tablespoon licorice root)
Simmer for 10–12 minutes. This should yield a strong cup of tea.
Add 1–2 teaspoons of honey, to taste.

Let me know if you try it!

09/20/2026

I like to take this time not only to prepare for the calm of autumn and winter, but also to reflect on what I want to bring with me from summer. This year, I got to take a trip up to Maine and saw the Dambo Trolls at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden. These are massive sculptures made from reclaimed wood. The trolls are often playful or peaceful, built directly into their wooded environment. The result is that as you wander through the woods, you stumble upon these fantastical creatures playing joyfully in the forest.

You can’t help but pause in awe of their grandeur, their expressions, and the sheer skill it must take to design and build one of these pieces, let alone the over 1,000 of them that exist around the world. I left feeling not only inspired to look for joy in unexpected places, but also to create with unexpected resources. It is this jovial heart and creative spirit that I hope to carry forward into the final months of the year.

08/28/2026

Had such a great time having some pictures taken with Two Blue Eyes Photography ! It can feel a little awkward to be in front of the camera but she did a wonderful job making everything comfortable and highlighting the work that I love to do! Here are a few of my favorite shots, and I’m sure you’ll be seeing more soon!

08/13/2026

Mushrooms are one of my favorite things to spot in the wild and I noticed this “fairy trail” in my own yard today! A fairy trail or fairy circle is something that happens when the mycelium (the underground root-like structure of mushrooms) are breaking down a specific piece of organic material, and the mushrooms that pop up above ground follow the same line. This looks like they’re probably growing off of an old root or branch buried underground.

We use mushrooms medicinally for their power to support the nervous system and immune system. You can see them functioning similarly in nature as the mycelium support healthy “immune” like responses in nature and communicate via electrical signaling like our nervous system. Neat!

07/27/2026

Norah Bones’ Bites:

I’ve been begging my mom to take me to the ice cream place Control Tower & All 4 Fun down the road from my daycare Teresa Weber

After I gave my best puppy eyes, we went last Friday for a pup cup. I had no idea they also have mini golf and go karts! Unfortunately I’m not quite tall enough to drive, but my moms and I all loved our sweet treats.

07/26/2026

While I can’t take credit for the fountain I am grateful to have it welcome my clients into the office.

We have taken our time to make a suite of offices that has a quiet, welcoming, peaceful feeling. I look forward to seeing you there soon.

07/11/2026

Norah Bones’ Bites:

I’ve been excited to check out Treehouse Brewing since it opened. Friends told me about the beautiful and expansive outdoor space and raved about the pizza, which is really all you need to say to get me to show up.

We finally took a drive up today and the place hit every nail on the head: Seemingly endless Adirondack chairs, bocce ball, and great pizzas made fresh to order.

Order when you get there as they were about an hour wait, which leaves plenty of time to enjoy the patio while sipping on any one of their top notch beers. A perfect lunch stop after a walk around Saratoga state park!

07/09/2026

But Does It Hurt?

One of the most common questions I hear from new patients—and from people who are simply curious about acupuncture—is: “Does it hurt?”

The short answer is no. The longer answer is that acupuncture can create a variety of sensations, and everyone experiences it a little differently.

When someone is feeling nervous about needles, the first thing I like to share is that acupuncture needles are incredibly thin. In fact, you can fit about 15 acupuncture needles inside the diameter of a typical blood draw needle. Because of this, the sensation is very different from what most people expect.

Occasionally, you may feel a quick pinch as a needle is inserted, similar to having a hair tweezed. Other times, you may feel nothing at all. Most commonly, the needle goes in comfortably with very little sensation. Once it is in place, you might notice a mild ache, tingling, warmth, heaviness, or even a slight itch around the area. These sensations are normal and are often signs that your body is responding to the treatment.

After the needles are placed, I step out of the room and allow you to rest for about 25–30 minutes. During this time, many people describe entering a deeply relaxed state somewhere between being awake and asleep.

Have you had an acupuncture treatment yet? How did it go for you?

06/30/2026

Another herb I use in my practice:

Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower)
Honeysuckle flower is one of the chief herbs in a very common Chinese formula called Yin Qiao San which is used for treating head colds with fever. It clears heat to reduce inflammation and lessen a fever, with a special tendency to benefit problems in the chest and head. This herb is most often used for the type of head cold that is migrating to the chest and producing a yellow nasal discharge.

The flower is the most potent part of the plant and it is optimal to harvest when the flower bud is just beginning to bloom. While less potent, the vine also has similar actions in addition to being useful in relaxing tendons and easing pain.

Address

21 Everett Road Extension
Albany, NY
12205

Telephone

+15182279782

Website

http://www.leahacupuncture.com/

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