How To Build Blood And Qi With Beef: A Failed Vegetarian’s Dream!
I was vegetarian for 7 years. It wasn’t due to a streak of animal rights, or because I was so in tune with the various healthy cuisines out there. I was too young, too punk, and too mohawked to care, at the time. But, it was mainly due to my body’s refusal to digest meat. […]
"Chinatown NYC Lunar New Year" (cropped) by Patrick Kwan, used with permission under CC BY 2.0. Source.
Enter The Dragon! Chinese Lunar New Year 2012 Is Underway
Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Black Water Dragon. Granted, it started on Monday, January 23rd, the first day of the first Chinese lunar month. But, luckily for us, we have until February 4th to celebrate (since it’s the last day of the Chinese New Year festival, and the first day of the Chinese […]
It’s time to bloom out of the mud like the beautiful lotus flower! "Lotus" by tonko43, used with permission under CC BY 2.0. Source.
Losing Weight And Gaining Spirit With Acupuncture
With the new year comes promises to the self, in the form of resolutions. People get into such a frenzy about creating sometimes unrealistic expectations for themselves, usually due to the pressures of modern society that insists this is something we should all be doing, so why haven’t you? The problem is, creating a better […]
I am a big fan of Bruce Lee. And so is Hong Kong, for erecting this statue. "They call him Bruce" by Andrew Currie, used with permission under CC BY 2.0. Source.
The In Of Yin And Why It Pays To Be Like Bruce Lee
Come December 22, 2011, at 12:30am EST in the Northern Hemisphere, we will be experiencing the Winter Solstice. This brings about the longest night of the year, and signals the official start of winter. You may be familiar with Yin and Yang. You know, that overused symbol by wellness centers and martial artists that are […]
Happy Turkey Day!
Techniques To Digesting Food, And Life, More Fully
Ahh, the holidays. They are sneaking upon us before we know it! A time of giving thanks (or acknowledging the genocide of Native Americans), the birth of a religious icon (unless you’re not Christian!), and wearing oversized glasses in the middle of Times Square when the ball drops (and perhaps catching a cold in freezing […]
A menacingly joyous collection of pumpkin lights. "Orange Halloween Pumpkins", by Chris Neal, , used with permission under CC BY 2.0. Source.
How To Creatively Celebrate Halloween With Acupuncture And Oriental Medicine Day
Halloween happens to be my favorite holiday. Not because we get to promote tooth decay in today’s youth (chocolate is delicious 365 days of the year, but as a caveat, everything is tasty in moderation!) Or, to don tiny costumes with seemingly shrinking hemlines with each passing year (in NYC, the hip beauty store chain, […]
How To Release Unconstructive Metal Patterns This Fall
Fall is a time of harvesting, changing leaves, pumpkins, great squash and root dishes, dressing in layers, and in knit scarves (or cat-eared hats if you’re a New York hipster!) No, I am not including a Fall recipe this post around; but do look out for my post of Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins soon! (And, […]
"Beautiful defense" (cropped) by Rikard Elofsson, used with permission under CC BY 2.0. Source.
Why Acupuncture Is a Form of Self Defense
When people think of self defense, visions of flying crouching tigers and hidden dragons, dancing from bamboo stem to bamboo stem, wielding deadly weapons to whoosh enemies out of existence, often comes to mind. However, self defense encompasses many aspects, not just in the physicality a la Karate Kid, or what’s mirrored in movies. As […]
"stories by miranda july" by anna gutermuth, used with permission under CC BY 2.0. Source.
Where Do You Belong?
We all want to belong. To be part of something, involve ourselves in community in some capacity. It’s in our nature. Even some of us John Wayne tough, loner types need to roll out the guns and interact with a “patna” once and a while. On a related note, I have thoroughly enjoyed Noomi Rapace’s […]
"Tulips" by erikwestrum, used with permission under CC BY 2.0. Source.
Springing Forward, Bamboo Style
I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to Spring, which is coming in one and a half weeks! The dipping chills and various storms has me welcoming temperatures that don’t require thermals, with additional layers that make you feel more like encased sausage than a person. As some of you may know, in […]
Welcome to the Alcantara Acupuncture & Healing Arts! Here you will find the most recent updates on my adventures as an urban Licensed Acupuncturist Reiki Master/Teacher, and Medicine Woman in New York City, as well as wellness tips to soothe the soul, live more vibrantly, and cultivate wholeness and balance. Enjoy the blog, and please say hello!
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