I am excited to announce that all of my boards are finally over! This means that in the next few weeks I will be getting certified by our national accrediting board and then awaiting final licensing by the Oregon Medical Board. Once they sign off I'll be up and running pretty quickly. The whole process should take no more than a few weeks.

In the meantime, I hope all of you are enjoying the crazy snow we have and staying warm and safe. In Chinese medicine, we really like to eat slow cooked hearty foods right now - think roots and roasts, soups and stews! Warm drinks also help keep the digestion running smoothly and the body warm inside and out. Interestingly, the classical texts also encourage us to keep our necks warm and to not allow a cold draft to hit them. So wrap up in scarves or pull out those turtle necks you've always wanted to wear. (Having a Masters in Anthropology I find this fascinating as there are many cultures that believe cold can invade and injure the body through exposed areas!)

Although it may seem counterintuitive, this is also a season to stay well hydrated. If you're like me, it's much harder to remember to drink enough water in the winter. On the cold and clear days, or the days you're inside with lots of heat running, it can be very dry. My usual water bottle just seems too cold and unappealing though. I'm trying to drink lots of very lightly steeped green tea and herbal teas so I keep warm, but still get the water. If you have forced air heat, a humidifier can keep down the static and keep the sinuses from drying out too.