This summer has been hot. Like, REALLY hot. Fortunately, there is a wonderful Chinese herb that can help cool you down, and it may just be spreading through your garden as we speak. That cool & common Chinese herb is mint (aka Bo He in Chinese). During these toasty summer months I love adding a few mint leaves to my water to help cool me down. 
​ Sipping on Bo He tea is excellent way to cool the head, brighten the eyes, benefit the throat and vent rashes. It is often used for sore throat, cough, headache, red eyes, and during the early stage of a rash. Bo He can also help "cool down" the emotions by regulating the flow of qi in the body thus alleviating irritability or emotional instability. So, if you’re feeling like a cranky "hot head" then sit down, take a deep breath, and sip on some mint tea! 
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(Avoid mint tea if you are a nursing mother with insufficient lactation as it can inhibit lactation). ​

Mamas, we value your health here at Nourishing Roots. We understand that caring for yourself often gets put on the back burner when you have a family to raise. But remember, you can't pour from an empty cup. So, we want to help nourish you and keep you happy and healthy. That's why we have teamed up with the local Get Out Mama Village of Asheville! 

Get Out Mama is an Asheville based organization that is all about connecting families to resources that help make 'getting out' much easier. They are essentially a strategically organized diaper bag full of everything you need to get out of the house with (or without) the kiddos. Get Out Mama empowers mothers to kick postpartum depression and embrace their lives as women & mothers by making it easier to connect with other people, businesses & resources in our local community. 

Present your Get Out Mama card to receive one complimentary De-Stress Acupuncture treatment + 10% off acupuncture visits. Guess what's even better?! It is totally FREE to join as a Get Out Mama village member! 

Remember, healthy bodies create happy families. So give yourself the gift of health and contact us to schedule an appointment!

I am very excited to begin offering community acupuncture on the first Thursday of each month at Biz611 from 4:00-7:00pm. Treatments are only $30!!

Unlike traditional treatments which take place in a private room, community style acupuncture offers acupuncture treatments in a group setting. To maintain privacy, a brief private intake will be done upon your arrival. Then you can make yourself comfortable in a zero gravity reclining chair in the common room where you will receive your acupuncture treatment. This communal form of care not only allows treatments to be more affordable, but it also allows you to absorb the healing energy from those around you. 

We ask that you wear loose comfortable clothing so that we can access your elbows and knees. Some patients tend fall asleep during their treatment, so feel free to bring ear plugs if you wish. To keep the atmosphere soothing, we ask that you turn your cell phone off and speak quietly. 

Appointments are encouraged to minimize wait time and ensure that you will be seen. Walk-ins are welcome but please understand that without an appointment we will see patients first come, first served.

We look forward to seeing you and be sure to call 828-222-0803 to schedule your appointment!  

I would like to introduce our first "Tea Time Tuesday" post! The first Tuesday of each month I will introduce a different Chinese herb and discuss the specific properties & health benefits that it offers. Today we have the infamous Dandelion:

Believe it or not, this resilient and dare I say pesky weed is a popular herb in Chinese herbal medicine. Dandelion (known as Pu Gong Ying in Chinese) is so much more than a nuisance  in the lawn. As we see these yellow buds popping up in our yards and growing through sidewalk cracks, I often think of dandelion as the mascot of Spring. Spring time represents growth, transformation and change. Based upon the five elements, the organ associated with spring is the liver. The dandelion is prolific during this time of year, growing anywhere that it can spread its roots. Its bitter nature gives it hepatoprotective properties, so it's a great way to protect & detox the liver. Because of it's antibacterial effects, it also offers a safe way to stimulate and enhance the immune system. As the weather is warming up and pollen is abundant, dandelion can clear heat and address those red itchy eyes that you may be dealing with. It is also has diuretic properties, so it can be used for painful urination or UTI. Although Pu Gong Ying has an array of wonderful properties, don't go overboard with it; large doses can be associated with loose stools or diarrhea. Remember - everything in moderation! 

I am super excited to announce that we are now proud sponsors of the River Arts District Farmers Market. The RAD Farmers market will be every Wednesday from 2:00-6:00pm at 175 Clingman Ave (next to All Souls Pizza). The market season begins on Wednesday, May 4th and runs until November 30th. They have a wonderful and unique group of local farmers, producers, artisans, artists and musicians that participate. We will participating in the market on the first Wednesday of June, July, August and September. (Thats June 1st, July 6th, August 3rd, September 7th). We will be offering complimentary "mini" acupuncture treatments and we will also have our herbal infused goodies for sale. So be sure to come and stock up on great quality produce & products, support local farmers and help our community flourish!