Social media is full of claims that tattoos block meridians, trap Qi, or create permanent energetic imbalances. As a Traditional Chinese Medicine student (and tattoo enthusiast), I explore what the classical texts actually say, how acupuncture supported my own tattoo healing, and where scar tissue and modern research fit into the conversation.
When your acupuncturist says “Liver Qi stagnation,” they’re not talking about your actual liver. They’re talking about flow. This post breaks down what that really means, why it shows up as everything from PMS to hip pain, and how one pathway in the body can explain it all.
Ever wonder if your irritation is causing Liver Qi stagnation… or if the stagnation was already there waiting for a reason to show up? This honest, slightly unhinged look at acupuncture school chaos breaks down the TCM theory in real language, with a little humour and a lot of truth.
Studying Chinese medicine has changed how I understand postpartum placenta encapsulation. After years of preparing placentas as a doula, TCM college has given me a deeper framework for Zi He Che, postpartum depletion, milk supply, mood, timing, pattern differentiation, and why placenta medicine may be powerful — but not universally appropriate.
I came to acupuncture school expecting needles, meridians, and point location—not to fall in love with Tui Na. But the more I use Chinese medical bodywork in student clinic and cosmetic acupuncture, the more I realize some of the best treatments start long before the first needle goes in.
When it’s “just a virus” and you’re told to go home and rest, it can feel like there’s nothing to do but wait it out. Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches colds and flus differently — identifying patterns like Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat early and supporting your body so you recover faster, with fewer lingering symptoms.