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Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture for Kids

Most kids, as well as a lot of adults, are afraid of needles. So the pairing of acupuncture and kids might not be an obvious one. However, more and more parents are seeking alternative methods of treatment for their children, because our conventional medical system is faltering a bit. Pharmaceuticals are proving to be more harmful than beneficial for many people, especially kids, whose brains and bodies aren’t yet fully developed.

Acupuncture is gaining popularity among pediatrics. There are licensed acupuncturists who specialize in treating children and they are in high demand. These pediatric acupuncturists are helping children where others can’t and for many, it is lifesaving.

Pediatric acupuncture is commonly known as shonishin and it rarely uses needles. Instead, this form of acupuncture utilizes the practitioners’ hands and rounded tools to stimulate the acupoints of the child. The practitioner will gently and rhythmically rub, tap and press the skin to produce gentle stimulation sensations. Because children process things more quickly and with fewer blockages, the sessions can be shorter and may be needed less frequently.

Parents are turning to acupuncture because it provides a safe resolution of illness, while also preventing future illnesses. Acupuncture and acupressure stimulate the body’s ability to restore and heal itself. Our bodies are fully capable of fighting off disease and healing injuries when the right tools are provided. Acupuncture is that right tool that not only stimulates the immune system, but also relaxes the nervous system and regulates the digestive and hormonal systems. All of these things need to be in balance for the body to heal.

Many times parents are told by doctors that what their child is experiencing is just “a phase” and he / she “will grow out of it.” In many ways, this is a way of ignoring the real issues at hand. Conventional medicine doesn’t work holistically, addressing the whole body, and parents are usually sent to a dozen different specialists who never really coordinate to find the best treatment for the child. This becomes frustrating and financially taxing for the parent, not to mention how the child feels. This is where acupuncture excels. A single acupuncture treatment can address pain, anxiety, insomnia and digestive issues all at the same time.

Not only is acupuncture more cost effective when it comes to treating children, but it also is a more logical approach. Why add in the stress of seeing multiple doctors when you can have everything addressed by just one? If your child is suffering from pain, asthma, ADHD or any other type of ailment, acupuncture might hold the answer. Ask Heidi today for more information. Call (218) 724-3400 today to schedule an appointment.

The Shen Mind Connection

Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at things differently and while it may be a little confusing, there is usually some common ground that can be found upon examination and explanation. One such area is the idea of the mind. The mind in Traditional Chinese Medicine is commonly referred to as the shen.

In Chinese medicine, the shen is interpreted as the spirit or consciousness. The shen lives in the heart organ system and it is considered to be one of the vital substances of the body. The shen is said to preside over the activities that take place in the spiritual and mental planes. So, for many TCM practitioners, shen is actually referring to the mind. And if we look at serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, the shen or mind is where the dysfunction actually appears.
Chinese medicine refers to this as being “misted” or “clouded”. However, it should be noted not all practitioners agree the mind and the consciousness are the same thing. This is because many of our mental processes are considered subconscious.

As stated, the theory is that the shen lives in the heart. So if a person has a disturbed shen, there may be anxiety, stress, difficulty breathing, heart palpitations and more. Many people with a disturbed shen experience insomnia. Chronic insomnia can then lead to actual mental illness. If we follow this logic, we can see how the shen (in Chinese medicine) and the mind (in Western psychology) are related and somewhat interchangeable.

When we approach the shen from the standpoint of Western psychology, it is hard to deny there is a lot of shen disturbance in the modern world. This can be anything from anxiety, depression and addiction to the aforementioned serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia. A person with balanced shen will present as healthy, harmonious and level-headed. A person with disturbed shen will present with a lack of spirit or emotion, illogical reasoning and symptoms of mental illness.

Ultimately, we want to have a balanced shen. This means we may have emotional responses to external stimuli or internally generated thoughts or feelings and we are capable of controlling and recovering from these situations without much incident. Somebody who has a disturbed shen, would not know how or be able to deal with a similar situation and may act out irrationally
while drawing attention to themselves. An example would be when a person with a balanced shen becomes angry or cries for some reason. They tend to feel relief after the emotion has passed. While somebody with a disturbed shen may continue the irrational behavior for quite some time without ever feeling that relief and they might need intervention to return to a somewhat balanced state.

Maintaining a healthy shen also means that we maintain a healthy body. A strong shen is fundamental to good health. When the shen is weak, the body will eventually fail. To keep the shen healthy we should focus on maintaining a positive mindset, getting enough rest, seeking peace, connecting with nature, meditating and showing compassion. This means we ultimately need to avoid overwork, chronic stress, an erratic daily schedule, lack of sleep and volatile emotions such as anger, hatred and resentment. This may seem pretty logical, but based on the amount of shen disturbance/mental illness in the world, it is clear we have lost our way to some degree.

The good news is the cumulative shen of the planet can be changed over time and we can all have a hand in making that change.

Long Haul Covid: TCM vs Western Perspectives


It’s bad enough having Covid, but dealing with lingering symptoms after fighting the infection is downright unfair. Why can’t some people (actually as many as almost half of those infected ) make a clean recovery from Covid? “Long-Haul Covid” (LHC) describes a condition of covid-related symptoms that can last for months after infection, and for some, even longer. This phenomenon is currently being studied so we can better understand the how and why.

The list of possible lingering symptoms is long and conveys the reach of this virus
and its effects on nearly every system of the body: Fatigue, fever, headaches, dizziness, cough, chest pain, heart palpitations, numbness, brain fog, changes in taste and smell, sleep problems, digestive issues, joint pain, rashes, menstrual cycle disturbances, anxiety, and depression. And the list goes on. For some it may only be one stubborn disturbance, for others, it may be a debilitating combination of symptoms.

Lingering symptoms can be from direct harm done to the body by the virus. Covid can take a toll on the body from the level of organs to organelles (microscopic cellular structures) and everything in between. Damage to the body’s organs and tissues may cause various systemic long COVID symptoms. Mitochondrial damage is another focal point of research as this organelle is responsible for energy production in the body and is a target for viral damage. This is an important area of study as ‘covid fatigue’ is one of the most common long-haul symptoms.

The immune system itself can also cause harm when unregulated. Cytokine storms are an over-aggressive immune response that can lead to persisting inflammation in the body. Many people with long-haul COVID have elevated cytokine levels, suggesting hyper-inflammation plays a role in LHC.

Another possible immune response scenario is that the stress of COVID confuses the body, triggering an autoimmune response, where the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells, tissues, and organs. There are also theories that the immune system is not actually confused, but going after viral remnants that have gone deeper into hiding and our own tissues become collateral damage in this war. Another related theory proposes that COVID-19 infection could reactivate, or wake up, other viruses in the body that have gone dormant, resulting in various immune reactions.

LHC from a Chinese Medicine perspective takes into account that COVID is generally considered to be a ‘damp’ pathogen, affecting fluid balance in the body. This imbalance causes inflammation and the main symptoms of cough and fatigue. As the body works to restore balance by redistributing fluid and energy, as well as expelling the pathogen, some may need extra help depending on their constitution, environment, lifestyle and the strength/amount of the pathogen. If help is not received and the imbalance persists, it can manifest in 4 main ways.

Deficiency. The infection drained the body of qi (energy), blood, or body fluids. The key symptom of deficiency is fatigue.

Excess. Covid’s signature effect of ‘dampness’, in excess, can lead to feelings of heaviness and stiffness, as well as symptoms like diarrhea and bloating. Excess heat from the virus in the body can also manifest in things like chronic fever or red itchy rashes.

Stagnation. This is any scenario where the virus has blocked the free flow of the blood and energy in the body. In this form the prominent symptom is pain. The more severe the blockage, the more severe the pain.

Retained Pathogen/Latent Heat: Similar to the idea that viral remnants remain in the body to either confuse or overstimulate the immune system, ths Chinese Medicine concept of ‘retained pathogens’ refers to when a pathogen gets ‘stuck’ in the body, because the body is too weak to fully drive it out. It can stay at an intermediate level in the body causing flu-like symptoms (ie: body aches and fatigue), or go deeper to ‘hide out’ as “Latent Heat” to come

If you are dealing with Long-Haul Covid, it’s been long enough! A TCM practitioner can address the specific patterns and factors that have prevented full recovery and help bring you back into a state of balance and health. Call Heidi at (218) 724-3400 to get seen in Duluth!

Heat vs Ice? Here’s What Your Acupuncturist Really Thinks

One of the most common questions we hear in clinic is:

“Should I use heat or ice for this?”

In Western medicine, ice is usually the go-to for injuries. It reduces inflammation, numbs pain, and feels good on a swollen ankle or freshly pulled muscle. But from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, we tend to lean the other way.

Let’s break it down.

Ice Might Calm It… But It Can Also Slow Healing

Yes, ice works as a short-term fix—it constricts blood vessels, reduces swelling, and dulls discomfort. But in Chinese medicine, that constriction can actually interfere with the body’s natural healing response.

When you get injured, your body sends blood, fluids, and white blood cells to the area. That inflammation you’re feeling? It’s your system doing its job. Ice may relieve some of the discomfort, but it also slows circulation and can prevent those helpful immune and repair cells from doing their work.

Heat Moves Qi. And Healing Needs Movement

In TCM, pain is often caused by stagnation—where energy (Qi) or blood gets stuck. Heat helps relax, dilate, and move, which supports circulation and allows healing to happen more efficiently. Whether you’re dealing with muscle tension, chronic joint pain, or stress-related tightness, heat helps open things up and get things flowing again.

That’s why we recommend heat over ice in most cases, especially for:

  • Chronic pain (neck, back, joints, etc.)
  • Muscle tightness or knots
  • Acute flares of old injuries
  • Pinched nerves
  • Cold, stiff conditions that worsen in damp or cold weather

When Is Ice Appropriate?

We’re not totally anti-ice. There are just a few situations where it makes sense:

  • Within the first 24–48 hours of a new, acute injury (think: a fall, sprain, or trauma with visible swelling).
  • When you absolutely have to keep going (like finishing a game, performance, or long hike with an injury—use it for comfort, then switch to heat after).
  • Insect bites or stings where numbing the spot can help reduce irritation.

Even in those cases, we recommend using ice briefly and only if needed—not as a long-term solution.

Bottom Line? Warm It Up.

In Chinese medicine, healing happens through warmth, movement, and circulation—not freezing things into stillness.

So if you’re dealing with pain, tension, or an old injury that just won’t budge, try ditching the ice pack and reaching for the heating pad instead.Your body—and your Qi—will thank you.

Need help figuring out what your body actually needs to heal? Call us at (218) 724-3400 — Heidi is happy to guide you!

Acupuncture Complementing Cancer Treatment

Acupuncture has many healing properties. Acupuncture and other forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine are known to be great complementary forms of treatment for those fighting cancer. Forms of TCM, such as acupuncture, are even used by hospitals and other health practitioners to work alongside chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy and radiation can exhaust and break down a patient’s body, so the rejuvenative properties of acupuncture and TCM are welcomed by the recipient.

Check out these reasons acupuncture is a great complementary treatment for cancer patients:

  • Can help manage acute and chronic types of pain
  • Acupuncture can increase your white blood cell count, which is important for fighting cancer cells
  • Bolsters immune health
  • Assists with managing debilitating side effects, such as vomiting, depression, weight loss and physical and mental fatigue.
  • Acupuncture is a safe treatment and can be used for all ages.
  • Specific methods have been created to fight cancer
  • Acupuncture has been an effective form of pain management for thousands of years
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