Balance Acupuncture & Wellness

09/11/2026

09/06/2026

Are you using a GLP-1 medication? Your treatment plan may need to support more than the number on the scale.

GLP-1 receptor agonists have transformed metabolic healthcare, but for some people’s the benefits come with challenges - nausea, constipation, bloating, fatigue, reduced appetite, changes in eating patterns, sleep disruption, and concerns about maintaining lean muscle mass.

Acupuncture can be considered as part of a whole person approach to help address some of these symptoms.

I’m currently exploring this topic through a research review examining the potential role of acupuncture and East Asian Medicine. There is still a significant gap in research and that’s why this conversation matters.

The goal isn’t simply weight loss. It’s helping you feel WELL while working toward better health overall.

09/02/2026

If you have a chance to read this article in Psychology Today it is really interesting!

A new, body-wide tissue has been discovered that may provide a new pathway for the gut-brain axis. Surprisingly, it may help to explain aspects of traditional Chinese medicine.

09/01/2026

Same needle. Different methods. Different level of training.

Many people think dry needling and acupuncture are the same.

Both use very thin needles, but they are not the same treatment and the education behind them is quite different.

Licensed acupuncturists complete years of graduate level education in acupuncture and East Asian medicine, including diagnosis, treatment planning, acupuncture points, anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical practice.

Physical therapists are trained primarily in movement, rehabilitation, anatomy, and musculoskeletal care. They may pursue additional training in dry needling but that is typically a weekend certification course.

Neither approach has to be better. They are simply different approaches with different training and methodology behind them.

So when you are choosing a provider, please ask:

📚 What is their education?
🤓What are they trained to assess?
⭐️ And which approach might best fit your needs? (And it very well could be a combination of both!)

08/31/2026

I’m back from Indianapolis after attending the Jaseng Medical Conference at Indiana University on August 28–29, and I’m still processing just how much I learned.

As a Doctor of Acupuncture, one of the things I value most about this medicine is that there is always more to learn. Conferences like this give me the opportunity to step outside of my everyday clinical practice, learn from other practitioners and physicians, and bring new ideas back to my patients at Balance Acupuncture & Wellness.

Here are 5 of my biggest takeaways from the conference:

🌿 1. Acupuncture continues to evolve, yet is still rooted in the traditional medicine principles & practice.
The more we learn about the mechanisms behind acupuncture, the more we can appreciate how traditional medicine and modern science can work together.

🧠 2. The nervous system matters.
Pain isn’t simply about a structure that hurts. The nervous system, brain, stress response, inflammation, and our overall physiology all play a role in how we experience pain and recover from it.

🦴 3. Movement and musculoskeletal health are a huge part of what we do.
I loved seeing the continued emphasis on treating the whole person while addressing orthopedic and movement-related problems. This is especially meaningful to me given my background in exercise science, personal training, and corrective exercise.

🤝 4. Collaboration makes us better clinicians. Bringing together acupuncture, conventional medicine, research, rehabilitation, movement, and other healthcare disciplines gives patients more options and a more complete approach to care.

📚 5. Never stop learning.
This may be my biggest takeaway of all. Becoming a Doctor of Acupuncture wasn’t the finish line—it was the beginning of another chapter of learning.

I came home with new ideas, new questions, and even more excitement about what I get to do every day.

Thank you to everyone who made the Conference such a valuable experience.

Now it’s time to take what I learned and bring it back to the treatment room. 💚

08/24/2026

The transition to autumn is in full swing and you may be feeling the effects physically, mentally, and/or emotionally.

Dry cough? Feeling sad for no apparent reason? Feeling nostalgic? Dry skin? Dry eyes?

Do yourself a favor and try steaming a pear 🍐 and goji berries and a touch of honey 🍯 before bed and see if helps the dryness!