Walk into any health food store and you'll find shelves lined with powders, capsules, tinctures, tonics, and elixirs all promising to help you feel your best. Some have been used for centuries in traditional healing systems, while others have surged in popularity thanks to social media and wellness influencers. As an acupuncturist, I'm often asked, "What do you think about...?" The answer is rarely black and white. Many supplements can be incredibly helpful, but "natural" doesn't...

My niece recently graduated from high school. Not just any high school—Waldorf Sacramento. If you're not familiar with the "Waldorf Way," it's an educational philosophy that emphasizes whole-child development through academics, the arts, nature, and experiential learning. Classrooms extend beyond four walls. In fact, each classroom has its own outdoor space, like the one pictured above. Students tend gardens, help care for farm animals alongside a farmer, and spend a significant amount of...

Twenty years ago, when I was in acupuncture school, one question frequently asked of our instructors was how to explain acupuncture to patients. The suggested answers varied: Acupuncture addresses the root of the problem, helping resolve the symptoms, which are the branches that stem from the root. The meridian system is like a garden hose with offshoots, and the needles help release what may be kinked and obstructing flow. When inserted, acupuncture needles trigger a central nervous system...