I was first introduced to Chinese medicine and acupuncture in high school when I was searching for alternative treatments to help with debilitating pain from Endometriosis. I had exhausted all Western medical options, including surgery, and still was unable to control my symptoms. I had read that some women were using acupuncture to manage their pain and I was immediately drawn to trying it.

My acupuncturist changed my life and I have been essentially pain-free for the last 14 years with the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine. It is crazy to think back now and see how Endometriosis, something I used to see in such a negative light, was the driving force behind my career and my ability to connect with patients. Even if they have a different diagnosis or complaint, we find common ground in understanding the feeling of desperation to heal your body.

The system of Chinese medicine views humans as microcosms in the universe that are not separate but one with nature and subject to their surroundings. Disease or unwanted symptoms are a sign of an imbalance in the opposing forces of yin and yang which can cause a blockage in the flow of Qi, meaning certain areas of the body do not receive enough energy to function optimally. Treatment aims to restore the flow of Qi in the body so it can treat anything and everything by regulating the nervous system, reducing inflammation and improving circulation. Acupuncture is most commonly associated with its ability to reduce pain and heal injuries but I find its power in treating chronic symptoms often overlooked by conventional Western medicine to be far more relevant such as bloating, constipation, adrenal fatigue, hormonal imbalances, infertility, insomnia, stress, anxiety and depression.

I hope everyone lets go of cold smoothies for breakfast. I hate this trend for two reasons. First, its popularity has grown because it is quick and convenient and if you start your day off with this mindset, you will only nourish your body in a way that is convenient to you—you’re literally saying you don’t have enough time to eat a proper meal. Second, ingesting something icy cold is a sure way to dampen your digestive fire which leads to slower digestion for the remainder of the day, increasing your chances of bloating and constipation. If you insist on smoothies, skip the ice and use fruit from the counter to make it less cold.

I ask my patients to give me a high-level overview of their meals and listen for the big offenders—cold water, iced coffee, cold smoothies, raw veggies, chickpeas, beans, lentils, cauliflower, meat substitutes. If you are unsure why you are bloated, I would try removing everything from that list first. More specific sensitivities can be gluten, dairy, sugar or fruit. Most people already know if one of these is true but they typically don’t want to admit or eliminate it from their diet. My general approach is to be less restrictive, however, if you’re in a spiral of chronic bloating there often needs to be a reset period where we eliminate triggers while strengthening your digestion. For my patients, an integral part of this reset period is drinking my Rest + Digest tea twice daily for 30-60 days. I healed my chronic bloating with this blend years ago and have helped thousands of others do the same with its natural ability to increase digestive enzymes, treat pain associated with gas and cramping, and reduce inflammation in the digestive tract.