Whether you're deeply missing your weekly acupuncture appointment, or if you've always been curious about Chinese medicine, now is the time to stay home, stay safe, and learn more about this powerful medicine and how it can help you reach your health and wellness goals.  Here are 5 ways you can learn more about Chinese medicine while you're quarantined this spring:

1. Learn More About Chinese Medicine Theory through Books or YouTube

Are you spending more time than ever in front of screens?  Put Netflix on pause and discover some of our favorite Chinese Medicine resources.  Have you been wanting to try Qigong but aren't sure where to start?  This Youtube video by DAO Practitioner Nick Loffree is not only designed for beginners, it also helps reduce stress.  If books are more your thing, we love "The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life."

2. Dive into Chinese Nutritional Therapy

If you’ve been feeling off during quarantine, you’re not alone. According to principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), certain foods—like dairy, wheat, processed snacks, and alcohol—are thought to affect balance and energy levels.

The Middle Burner Diet by DAO Labs draws on TCM wisdom to help maintain balance by focusing on warm, cooked foods and mindful eating habits. This approach emphasizes digestion and overall well-being.

Here are a few simple tips to get started:

• Skip the row and cold foods
• Pass on foods that are overly "damp" (sorry friends, that means skip the alcohol and the sugar!)
• Pay attention to the physical temperature of your food and try to lightly cook all fruits and veggies

Need some recipes to get you started?  Co-Founder and Chief Culinary Office Travis Metzger creates recipes using Chinese nutritional therapy using common western ingredients.  You can find them all here.

3. Incorporate Herbs in Your Wellness Routine

Like acupuncture, Chinese herbal formulas are traditionally used to support balance and overall well-being. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbs are rarely taken individually—they’re carefully combined into formulas designed for harmony and synergy based on your unique constitution.

While many of us may be missing our regular acupuncture sessions while staying at home, herbal formulas can be a helpful way to continue supporting your wellness. Many people find these blends beneficial for maintaining balance and overall well-being.

Looking for support tailored to your needs? Our team can help recommend a formula that aligns with your constitution—[connect with us here].

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

4. Incorporate Chinese Medicine Inspired "Self-Care"

Yang Shen, or the Chinese art of self healing, means to nurture life.  This important concept teaches that the secret to long-lasting health and happiness doesn't mean extreme diets and impossible workouts -- it means implementing small daily tasks that are simple, pleasurable, and effortlessly fit into your routine.  We're all under immense amounts of stress, so keep things simple and give yourself grace, with the end goal to live a happier, more simple life.  Instead of reaching for that second scoop of ice cream, spend five minutes in a guided meditation, write in your journal, or walk barefoot in nature.

5. Turn to Acupressure 

Feeling anxious or uneasy? Applying firm pressure to 'PC6', located about three finger breadths above the wrist on the inner forearm, is traditionally used to support relaxation and overall wellness. Acupuncturist Dr. Kara MoraMarco writes: "This is one of my favorite acupuncture/acupressure points, traditionally used to support overall wellness and relaxation. Nei Guan or Pericardium/PC6: 

• Traditionally used to support the mind and emotional balance, particularly in times of occasional stress or restlessness.

• Traditionally used to support a sense of relaxation and overall wellness.

• Often included in wellness routines to support general comfort and balance.
  

WWant to chat more about Chinese medicine and how it may support your overall wellness during these times?  We'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us with any questions or thoughts you may have, and the appropriate team member will get back to you. Say home, and stay healthy. 

Care Consideration: Just a reminder that the above information is not a substitute for medical care and is not a substitute for medical advice or recommendations from a healthcare provider. This information is not intended to treat, mitigate, or cure any disease.  That said, we encourage you to connect with an Acupuncturist in your community to learn more about this and other Traditional Chinese Medicine options.  If you’ve got questions about Chinese herbal medicine or getting started with an Acupuncturist, feel free to connect with us at hello@mydaolabs.com.