Sunnyside Acupuncture

08/17/2026

It’s that time of year, Folks! Come out to Bluffs 2 Backwaters this weekend at Prairie Island!There is something for everyone. Paddle your buns off or take your kids to the fishing event on Saturday!

07/17/2026

I'm definitely more of a long-form writer than a short-form creator. If you like diving a little deeper, come join me on Substack. This is an expanded version of yesterday’s post about smoky skies and wildfire season. 🤍

A licensed acupuncturists response to wildfire season.

07/16/2026

Take care of yourself.
Take care of our world.
The two have never been separate.

And if the effects of wildfire smoke are feeling like too much (mentally, physically, or emotionally) acupuncture and Chinese medicine may offer support.

07/01/2026

Watermelon rind is truly overlooked.

Whether it’s simmered into a cooling summer infusion like this or added into a stir fry, it has long been used in Chinese food therapy to help cool the body, generate fluids, and support the body through summer dampness and heat.

The recipe is simple:

Blend and strain fresh watermelon juice.
Peel the dark green skin from the rind, keeping the white portion, then add it to a pot of water and simmer gently for 15–20 minutes. Strain, then add about 1/4 cup of the rind infusion to a mason jar or glass along with 1.5–2 cups of fresh watermelon juice.

Optional, but recommended:
• a splash of honey
• a pinch of sea salt
• a little lemon juice

OR add sparkling lemonade, butterfly pea tea, etc. with the watermelon and rind combo for even more flare ✨

And honestly, the ✨“magic”✨of watermelon rind isn’t really magic at all. The rind contains compounds like L-citrulline and electrolytes that support hydration, circulation, and nitric oxide production part of why it can feel so replenishing in hot weather.

A few interesting papers if you’d like to read more:
DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2005.05.009
DOI: 10.1007/s11883-021-00978-5

Chinese food therapy doesn’t always need to be complicated. Sometimes it’s simply learning how to use more of what we already have in our kitchens.

✨✨✨
FYI-
While traditionally considered hydrating and damp-draining in Chinese food therapy, cooling foods are not one-size-fits-all and may not be ideal for those who run very cold or have chronic digestive weakness.

(You’ll notice the version in this video has a higher ratio of rind infusion to juice. That’s because I was making it for my significant other who works outside in the summer heat every day.)

06/29/2026

Maybe needles don’t feel like your thing, but you still want to experience Chinese medicine. Fire cupping can be a beautiful place to start. Chinese medicine is so much more than just needles.

I offer 30 and 60 minute cupping sessions for everything from work and stress tension to sports recovery, chronic pain, and acute injuries.

A chance to let the body soften, release, and breathe a little easier.

Come see me. ✨🌞

06/02/2026

You can’t biohack your way into sustainable energy.

In Chinese medicine, energy isn’t built through hacks or trends- it’s built through consistency and how well the body is generating, transforming, and regulating Qi.

Good sleep doesn’t automatically equal energy. Coffee doesn’t automatically equal depletion. It’s never one factor. It’s the overall state of Qi (and all its forms) in the system.

When Qi is being properly generated and regulated, energy feels steady. When the system is strained, even “good habits” don’t feel like enough.

We’re living in a pace that often exceeds the body’s ability to restore what it’s expending mentally, physically, and emotionally- which is why depletion is so common today.

In Chinese medicine, energy support is less about optimization and more about regulation: are we allowing the body to replenish what it is constantly being asked to use?

The most effective shift is not adding more, but removing what is continuously pulling from the system.

05/28/2026

Get your tickets for the House-Raising Hootenanny! You can bid on an acupuncture package to our clinic and lots of other amazing things. Let’s raise some money for an amazing organization in our community!

The countdown is ON!

We are just TWO WEEKS away from the House Raising Hootenanny and we cannot wait to celebrate with this incredible community! Get ready for:
✨ Live music
🐂 Mechanical bull riding
🍴 Delicious BBQ from Backwater BBQ
🎁 Silent auction fun
❤️ A whole lot of community spirit

Every dollar raised helps Habitat Winona build safe, affordable housing for local families.

Mark your calendars, grab your boots, and get ready for a night of fun with purpose! Purchase your tickets at: bit.ly/houseraisinghootenanny2026

05/28/2026

Caffeine is false Qi.

In Chinese medicine, stimulants don’t truly create energy- they temporarily mobilize what is already there. Helpful at times? Absolutely. But long term, constantly relying on stimulation instead of restoration can slowly chip away at our deeper reserves.

That being said, I also believe we need to be realistic and kind to ourselves. We all move through different seasons of life.

Right now, I’m a mom of two (one under a year old) and yes, I still have a cup of coffee most mornings. My goal isn’t perfection. It’s awareness. Making sure I’m not relying on stimulants all day long, and supporting my body in other ways so I’m not constantly borrowing my Qi from tomorrow.

Chinese medicine isn’t about rigid restriction. It’s about understanding what supports the body long term and what slowly depletes it over time.

I’ll share some of the things I personally use to support steadier energy soon 🤍

05/06/2026

A quick scheduling update from Sunnyside Acupuncture 🌞

We will be closed Sunday 5/10 for Mother’s Day and Sunday 5/17 while I take a little time away for my birthday.

If you normally book on Sundays, feel free to reach out and we’ll do our best to find another appointment time that works for you. Otherwise, we’ll be back Sunday 5/24.

Thank you so much for your understanding and support 💛

04/27/2026

A lot of modern medicine didn’t come out of nowhere…
it came from plants.

Willow bark is a great example.
Traditionally, it wasn’t used on its own. It was part of formulas, combined with other herbs to balance its effects and match what was going on in the body.
Modern pharmacology took that same plant, identified one of its active compounds (salicin), and refined it into Aspirin- a concentrated, standardized version.

That shift matters.

When you isolate and concentrate one compound:
• you get something powerful and predictable
• but you also lose the buffering, balancing, and multi-layered effects of the whole plant and formula

And this isn’t just about willow bark.
To this day, pharmaceutical research continues to study herbs from cultures all over the world- isolating compounds, refining them, and using them in a different context than they were originally practiced.

Same source.
Different philosophy.
•Whole systems, patterns, relationships
•Isolated compounds, targeted effects

Both have value, but they’re not the same thing

(Please excuse my pinyin pronunciation. It’s been a few years since taking courses in classical Mandarin. 😅)