We've all heard the saying, "If you don't make time for wellness, you'll be taking time for your sickness." It's a phrase that resonates deeply, especially when you find yourself or loved ones caught in a seemingly endless cycle of illness. For many people, this reality can be all too familiar. When every little bug going around turns into yet another week of missed work, missed weekend fun, and when that chronic fatigue, digestive discomfort, skin issues, or nagging sinus problems seem to have taken up permanent residence in your life, it’s easy to feel trapped and defeated.
But there’s hope.
Chinese medicine offers a pathway to wellness that not only addresses the symptoms but also strengthens your body from the inside out, allowing you to reclaim your health and enjoy life to its fullest.
Breaking the Cycle of Sickness
In my practice, I've had the privilege of working with numerous people who found themselves stuck in that exact cycle. They were catching every cold, flu, or virus that went around, often accompanied by a sense of deep fatigue, digestive troubles, skin flare-ups, or relentless allergies. Their immune systems were depleted, stress was having its effects, leaving them vulnerable to illness after illness, leading to more time away from work and play, and less time spent enjoying life.
Through a combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture, many of these women began to notice a shift in just a few months. Their immune systems started to rebuild, and they found themselves no longer succumbing to every illness in their environment. Alongside this newfound resilience came improvements in their secondary symptoms—digestive issues began to resolve, skin cleared up, and allergy symptoms diminished.
One of the key components of their success was an early intervention strategy if they did catch a cold in the early months of treatment. I provide my patients with an at-home "early cold/flu herbal formula" that they can take at the first sign of illness. This approach often prevents a minor cold from escalating into a debilitating two-week ordeal. In addition, a personalized formula to address the underlying reasons for the immune weakness is given and usually taken twice a day. After about six months, many of these women moved on to maintenance herbs, which continue to support their immune systems and nourish the balance of function of the underlying organ systems.
A patient I follow up with on a monthly basis now commented that she realizes it's been a year since she caught a cold or flu. She had been catching them every couple or few months for 2-3 years before this. The result of consistent treatment with Chinese herbal medicine or acupuncture? Less sickness, fewer missed days at work and skipped play events, and a greater overall enjoyment of life.
A Success Story: Reclaiming Health and Wellness
Let me share a recent success story that beautifully illustrates the power of Chinese medicine. A woman in her early 40s came to me with several concerns: a genetic predisposition to diabetes, anemia, extremely heavy periods, acid reflux, and a general desire for better wellness. Over the course of six months, we worked together, addressing each of these issues through a combination of bi-weekly and then monthly acupuncture sessions, targeted herbal formulas, and nutritional guidance (including the introduction of a daily vitamin in the form of organ meat supplements, and Vitamin D).
The results were remarkable. Her periods became regular, no longer heavy or problematic. Her acid reflux, which was closely linked to stress, is managed better, and she does not experience acid reflux anymore. She felt stronger, more vibrant, and better equipped to handle the demands of her daily life. Her anemia numbers are near normal with only nutritional and herbal support for 6 months, and expected to be completely in the next 3 months. She has no signs of blood sugar metabolism issues. At her most recent visit, she remarked on how everyone around her at work had contracted COVID, but she hadn’t—an outcome we can’t guarantee but one that certainly speaks to the strengthened resilience of her immune system. She was marveling how everything "is going so much better now!" While at first she came in weekly to jumpstart her health and particularly get her acid reflux under control, now she only comes once a month for acupuncture, and continues taking herbal medicine daily.
This patient’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when you prioritize wellness. By addressing the root causes of her symptoms and supporting her body’s natural ability to heal, we were able to help her break free from the cycle of sickness and move toward sustained health. It's been an honor to help her through this process.
Embracing Wellness in Your Life
If you’re struggling with recurrent illness, fatigue, digestive issues, or any other persistent health concern, I invite you to consider the possibilities that Chinese medicine offers. Whether through herbal medicine alone or in combination with acupuncture, there are paths to wellness that can help you reclaim your life and your health.
Remember, making time for wellness is an investment in your future. It’s about nourishing your body, mind, and spirit so that you can enjoy life to its fullest. Don’t wait until sickness forces you to take a break—take charge of your health now, and experience the profound benefits that come with sustained wellness.
I’m here to help you every step of the way. I offer in office acupuncture and herbal appointments, as well as fully online herbal medicine appointments. If you have symptoms, come in for a comprehensive analysis of your imbalances from a Chinese medical perspective. Together, we can create a treatment plan that supports your body’s natural healing processes, strengthens your immune system, and allows you to live the vibrant, healthy life you deserve.
Dr. Kim Drolet
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