Happy New Year, everyone! I hope the beginning of this year truly feels like a refreshing reset.
As I reflect on 2025, I find myself thinking deeply—not only as a practitioner, but also as someone who is stepping into menopause. For some of you, menopause is right around the corner. (And even if you are a gentleman, remember—you have your own version of menopause too.)
This transition brings many deep thoughts, along with challenges that are both physical and emotional.
Transition Through the Lens of TCM
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, transition is a natural process. We see it reflected clearly in nature, and we experience it within human physiology as well. It is inevitable—just like the changing of seasons.
But inevitable does not mean chaotic.
Transition does not have to be something that throws the body completely off balance. When supported properly, it can be navigated with more awareness and grace.
My Personal Experience With Change
As I moved through my own transition—alongside the challenges of running a practice—I went through a period of denial.
I noticed fatigue.
Brain fog.
Difficulty losing weight.
More inflammation.
A more sensitive gut.
And at times, trouble sleeping.
I remember thinking, My goodness—why do I feel this way?
I was energetic and healthy in my 30s. Where did all that energy go?
Despite these challenges, my training in both TCM and Functional Medicine truly supported me. And I will say this honestly—I’m proud of myself for practicing what I preach, or at least doing my best to try.
When Sleep, My Strength, Became a Struggle
Last year, insomnia hit me hard.
Sleep had always been my strength. I could fall asleep within five minutes—almost anywhere. But gradually, it started taking longer. Five minutes turned into ten. Ten minutes turned into an hour or more.
If you were in my position, what would be the first thing that came to mind?
Many of you who have been my long-term patients know that lifestyle is one of my biggest missions in life. So instead of jumping straight into solutions, I did what I always encourage others to do first:
I observed.
Observation Before Intervention
I asked myself what might be causing this disruption in my sleep.
What I realized was that I was carrying stress from the daytime into the night. I had slowly paused some of my beneficial evening rituals. I forgot to decompress. Day after day, this pattern led to imbalance in my nervous system.
This is why I share my personal experience with sleep and menopause—because I see this exact pattern in my patients every single day.
The Urge to Fix Everything Quickly
So many of us want to jump straight into solutions. I was no different.
Of course, there are quick routes—estrogen, sleep aids, immediate interventions. But the real question is: Is that all?
What I see over and over again—both clinically and personally—is how much we underestimate the impact of stress.
Stress, The Accelerator Without a Brake
Our bodies respond to stress by releasing adrenaline and cortisol. Think of these hormones as an accelerator. We need them to run fast—whether that means escaping danger or meeting a deadline.
But we can’t keep accelerating forever.
Sleep, rest, and recovery are our brakes.
So what happens when we don’t apply the brakes?
Alertness stays high.
Tension remains.
The stress response never turns off.
Over time, the body’s regulating functions become inefficient.
Think about moments when you are stressed—do you feel short-tempered, irritated, stuck? Does it affect your sleep?
In TCM, many regulatory functions rely on Liver Qi. The Liver governs transition—sleep and wake, day and night, movement and rest. When stress is prolonged, Liver Qi becomes less flexible. You feel stuck. The body struggles to transition.
Gradually, the body uses more effort just to maintain basic regulation. And eventually, it starts drawing from its reserves—Kidney Qi.
Choosing to Slow Down
When I recognized this in myself, I didn’t reach for a magic pill or even a “magic” acupuncture treatment.
The first thing I did was slow down.
I deliberately reduced my workload. I focused on restoring basic rhythm—sleep, rest, and creating space to decompress—before trying to “fix” anything.
This experience helped me see more clearly what was truly out of balance in my body. It also deepened my understanding of everything I’ve learned over the years—both as a practitioner and as a patient.
Sometimes, the most powerful healing begins not with doing more, but with finally allowing ourselves to slow down and listen.
