Staying Grounded During the Yang Season: 5 Acupressure Points for Summer Calm
Summer’s Yang energy encourages activity and expression—but it can also lead to overstimulation, anxiety, or emotional volatility if left unchecked. TCM teaches us to stay grounded by balancing this excess with supportive, calming practices like acupressure. Here are five points to help you stay centered and calm: 1. Shen men (spirit gate): Calms the mind, […]
Healing Begins with Stillness: A Journey Through Chinese Medicine
I remember the day I first tried to meditate. It wasn’t in a peaceful room with incense and mantras—it was on an acupuncture table, during a moment of absolute collapse. I had just found out I needed to get divorced. In one instant, the life I had built over 18 years vanished. I was overwhelmed—by […]
Balancing Performance Anxiety in Athletes with Traditional Chinese Medicine
It’s that exciting time of year—fall sports are beginning, and athletes of all ages are lacing up their shoes, putting on their jerseys, and preparing for tryouts. Whether it’s college, high school, or youth leagues, the energy is high… and so is the anxiety. In the world of sports, we often refer to this as performance […]
Why Do I Crave Potato Chips? A TCM Perspective on Salty Cravings and Inner Imbalance
Have you ever found yourself standing in front of the pantry, reaching—almost unconsciously—for a bag of plain Ruffles potato chips? Not the flavored kind. Not pretzels. Not sweets. Just salty, crunchy, greasy potato chips. If you’re nodding yes, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), your cravings are messengers. They’re […]
Acupuncture Is the OG. Healing Starts with Whole-Body Health
I get asked this question all the time: What’s the difference between acupuncture and dry needling? Let me be direct with you because I believe in honesty and clarity when it comes to your health: Dry needling is not new. It’s not different. It’s actually just a modern take on what Traditional Chinese Medicine has […]
Why I Choose to Do What Scares Me — and Why You Should Too, According to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Every January, I choose three things that scare me. One personal, one professional, and one physical. Then I do them. This year, my personal challenge was to truly focus on getting to know myself. To look in the mirror with honesty and compassion. To ask myself — What do I need? What do I love? […]
From Skeptic to Believer: Why You Should Trust Your Practitioner
I know I felt the same way too. At least, I used to. Before I went to school for Traditional Chinese Medicine, I saw multiple practitioners. Chiropractors, Naturopaths, holistic healthcare providers. And they would all tell me I needed supplements. I thought they were just trying to make money off of me. But I couldn’t […]
“Herbs? What Even Is in Those?” Let’s Talk About It!
“Herbs? What even is in those?” Honestly, that question makes me smile every time. Here’s the thing: Traditional Chinese herbal formulas are made from flowers, roots, fruits, seeds, and bark — actual plants. Nature. Not mystery powder from some secret lab. Yet we’ve been so conditioned to be skeptical of anything we don’t understand. At the […]
Twins Have an Acupuncturist and Why It Matters More Than You Think
Wait… the Minnesota Twins Have an Acupuncturist? What For? More than you’d think. Hi, I’m Nikki Vanecek, and I’ve been part of the Minnesota Twins’ medical team for the past five years. When people hear that I practice acupuncture for a Major League Baseball team, they usually raise an eyebrow. Acupuncture? For baseball players? What […]
“Why Do I Keep Hearing Music in My Head? And What Can I Do to Quiet It Down?”
Have you ever had a song or just a snippet of one looping in your head nonstop? Maybe it plays when you’re trying to focus or keeps going even when everything around you is quiet. This experience is more common than you might think. It often shows up when your mind is overstimulated, you’re not […]
