Have you ever eaten something you thought was healthy, like a spinach salad with avocado, and then found yourself feeling itchy, foggy, or just not quite right? Maybe wine leaves your nose stuffy, or you suddenly feel anxious and can’t quite explain why. There can be a few reasons for these reactions, and histamine is…
Matcha vs. Hojicha: My Green and Gold Tea Routine
When life gets busy, a lot of people reach for coffee. I reach for tea. Okay, I enjoy coffee, too, but lately, I’ve been switching between two Japanese teas depending on what kind of day I’m having. Matcha when I need a little help getting going, and hojicha when I finally get a chance to…
Light, Sweet, and Healing (Snow Fungus Dessert Soup)
We’ve been dealing with lingering dry coughs in our house lately, the kind that leaves your throat scratchy and uncomfortable. The weather has been all over the place, so I did what my mom always did and made snow fungus dessert soup, 糖水. So What Is It? It’s a light, slightly sweet Chinese dessert soup…
Breaking Free from Food Rules
I used to think eating healthy meant following a whole list of rules. No carbs after 6 pm. Drink this before that. Stick to 1,200 calories. Count every gram. And dessert? Only if it was made with dates and almond flour. I tried so many of these things, and while some seemed to work for…
Understanding TCM Body Constitutions: Which One Are You?
I grew up in a Chinese household in Canada, where Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was just part of life. Whenever we got sick, my mom would brew some bitter herbal tea that honestly tasted awful. I didn’t appreciate it much as a kid, but looking back, I’m glad I grew up learning about a different…
A Year of Letting Go and Finding Balance
Honestly last year got away from me a bit. We had lots of things going on…baseball tournaments, family travel, a big trip to Japan which was incredible. I’ll be honest, I also ate whatever, didn’t sleep enough, and just kept going without really stopping to check in with myself. I told myself it was fine. It…
Eating Well in Winter: TCM’s Guide to Staying Warm and Nourished
Winter’s officially here, and let’s be honest – who doesn’t crave a cozy, warm bowl of something comforting? But it’s about more than just satisfying a craving. What we eat this time of year has a massive impact on how we feel. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), winter is about conserving energy, supporting the immune…
Motherhood, But Make It Less Irritable
Some days, motherhood feels warm and meaningful…like little moments you wish you could bottle up forever. Other days… it just feels heavy. You wake up already tired.Someone needs something before you’ve even had coffee.You’re touched out.Your to-do list is longer than your patience. And by 3:00 PM, you’re wondering how you went from a calm,…
My Journey Back To Me
Sometimes, it takes a change of scenery to truly see yourself again. Our trip to Japan was supposed to be about family time and exploring somewhere new, and it was. But honestly, it also became a bit of a wake-up call for me. For years, I’d been trying to manage my health while still showing…
When It’s More Than “Just a Phase”
My Experience with Postpartum Depressio, and What I Wish More People Knew Motherhood is often talked about in a very specific way, the soft moments, the connection, the love you’re supposed to feel right away. And sometimes that is part of it. But there’s another side that doesn’t get talked about as much. The heaviness. The fog….
Fall Wellness: TCM Tips for Nourishing Body and Spirit
Fall is a time of change. The air starts to cool down, the leaves turn those deep shades of orange and gold, and everything just feels a bit slower and more reflective. In TCM, fall is tied to the Lung and the Metal element. It’s a season that’s all about nourishing your body and mind…
Sweet Moments in Hokkaido
If you’ve ever been to Hokkaido, or had it sitting on your travel wishlist, you’ve probably heard people go on and on about the food. Especially the ice cream. Honestly, I used to wonder what all the fuss was about. How different could it really be? And then I tried it. So I get it…
A Sweet Summer in Hakodate
This summer we had the chance to visit Hakodate, and it turned out to be such a memorable trip for so many reasons. One of the best parts was getting to try Snaffles cheesecake again! Twelve years ago, I had my first taste of Japanese cheesecake from Snaffles and I instantly fell in love. There’s…
Summer Foods to Keep You Cool and Balanced, TCM Style
Summer is officially here. This means longer days, more sunshine, and that heat that has you reaching for something cold pretty much constantly. Traditional Chinese Medicine tends to look at staying cool a little differently. It’s usually less about the actual temperature of the food or drink, and more about choosing foods that are considered…
The Best Foods to Eat in Spring According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Spring has this natural way of pulling everything out of that slower winter pace. You start to see it everywhere, longer days, more light, things growing again, people spending more time outside, and you can feel that shift in your body too. Maybe there’s still a bit of heaviness or sluggishness from winter, but there’s…