Traditional Chinese Medicine – Portland Family Acupuncture

My Morning Coffee

Posted on February 28, 2026 by Genevieve

I get the question if I drink coffee, a lot actually. Here’s my answer…. sometimes.

I usually drink my interesting decaf coffee concoction (ground decaf, astragalus, and dandelion root) I’ll show how to make it below. I sometimes add actual coffee in, but if I grind regular coffee then I grind cardamom with it to reduce the acidity, jitters, and make it taste even better!

Coffee is bitter and helps to increase peristalsis, the bitter flavor is associated with the Heart in Chinese Medicine. Honestly after my late husband passed coffee was a big antidepressant for me. I prefer to have decaf so I don’t tax my adrenals and cause a stress response in my body, but sometimes when I have a project I don’t want to do (ie. taxes)… if I have my regular coffee suddenly the task seems so much more exciting!!!

Here’s my recipe for my standard cup of coffee in the morning (decaf). 1 part each of: decaf coffee, dandelion root, and astragalus. I have pics of how finely I grind the herbs as well. I get my coffee from Sleepy Monk since my clinic at the coast in Cannon Beach was just a few doors down and the people working there are the best ever and the coffee is always organic and amazing!!! The physical cafe is closed now, but you can still get coffee online. And then for herbs my standard is Mountain Rose Herbs. Sometimes Chinese herbs are sourced from other companies though.

I add astragalus since it is a Qi or energy tonic and supports our digestive organs: Spleen and Stomach. It is also great for the Lungs and so it boosts immunity. You would just want to avoid it if you already are sick with a cold/flu. I add dandelion root since it tastes a bit like coffee and is great to help the Liver release bile and is supportive of gentle detox in our body.

I grind each of these finely with a little coarse texture left… perfect for espresso. I actually use my espresso machine with my concoction and its been going strong for almost 2 years even with all that I throw at it.

Astragalus pre-ground

Astragalus ground

Layers of astragalus, coffee and dandelion root

The finished decaf coffee concoction…

And then for my regular coffee I grind 1-2 TBS cardamon seeds separately to add to my 16oz jar of espresso ground coffee.

Thanks for checking this out and hope you enjoy

Yummy Beet Smoothie to Build Blood

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Genevieve

So last night I asked my daughter, “what kind of smoothie do you want?” She replied a “red smoothie mommy.” Well okay so I thought I don’t have enough strawberries to make it red so I decided to go with beets. I have plenty of those since I’ve been doing some amazing fermented beets and veggies mix, but that will have to be another post…

The beet smoothie consisted of really simple ingredients and when I was thinking about their medicinal properties I realized that actually this smoothie was quite a blood building smoothie. In Chinese Medicine our Blood is made from the Spleen and Stomach Qi and stored in our Liver. Basically it is a part of our post natal essence that we can affect through diet and lifestyle. Our Blood gives us energy and turns into Qi. The Blood is what nourishes our organs, tendons, and ligaments and is even a part of our Yin… pretty important stuff isn’t it? So of course I want to build my blood to help nourish my whole body, mind and spirit. Here is a delicious smoothie to help and nourish our blood.

Beet Blueberry and Hemp Smoothie

1 small beet (can include the greens too)
1 banana
1/2 cup blueberries
about 1/4 cup hemp seeds
optional fresh ginger (1-2in. piece)
enough water to blend

In TCM most dark colored fruits and vegetables build blood. In this case the beets, beet greens and blueberries are blood builders. Beets and their greens are also great for the Liver, which is the complimentary organ to the Lungs. Hemp seeds are actually an herb used in TCM called Huo Ma Ren to build the blood. Since it is a smoothie these ingredients are easy to digest. Hope you enjoy this as much as me and my daughter!!!

Hibernating in Winter

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Genevieve

For those who know me, you know I have a hard time sitting still let alone trying to hibernate!! But alas wintertime is the time to try and slow down, eat simple warming soups and stews and restore and repair the energy we’ve spent other times of the year.

In TCM winter is associated with Water, with the Bladder and Kidneys and the color black. Having been in the pacific NW for quite some time I would say that is such a fitting color since it is often so dark this time of year. Although this year we’ve had more sunshine than I can remember and I really have enjoyed it. Probably the reason I am able to do a blog post at the end of a work day….hahaha.

The number one way I can get my body to slow down is by finding a good book. And let me tell you I have found 3 absolute gems this winter!!!

I hope this post finds you well and you are able to get some rest and repair time. Remember don’t think of it as non-productive, think of it as necessary time spent refilling your reserves. So much love xoxox

Fall Into Health with TCM

Posted on September 22, 2025January 29, 2026 by Genevieve

leaves

Autumn in Traditional Chinese Medicine is associated with the Metal element. The Metal element correlates to the Lungs and Large Intestine. Their primary function is to take in new things and let go of the old. The Lungs control inhalation-exhalation and also control the opening and closing of our pores. Our skin is governed by the Lungs and one way to renew and give new life to our Lungs is through our skin. Our skin protects us from any external evils also known as pathogens like bacteria or viruses. Here are some steps for supporting the Lungs during the fall.

Practice meditation that involves focus on breathwork. For instance the mantra by Thich Nhat Han, “breathing in I relax breathing out I smile”
Take care of our skin and help it let go of what is not wanted. Exfoliate your whole body with a sugar or salt scrub. See recipe below.
Use a detoxifying massage oil to nourish your skin and perform Abhyanga: Self Massage while applying the oil. See this site for making calendula oil, a detoxifying oil you can make at home. You can also just use some extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil. Or spice it up by adding a couple drops of your favorite essential oils.
Nourish your Lungs with food. Pears are a great food to moisten the Lungs if you have a dry cough or tend towards dryness in your body. You can also make stewed pears (add walnuts to tonify the yang) that nourishes the yin and yang and is aromatic to help open the Lungs.
Take an herbal formula to support our Wei qi or protective qi. Like Jade Windscreen Yu Ping Fang San. This supports the Lungs and prevents us from catching a cold or flu. Come in to see Genevieve or Morgan to help you get the right formula for your constitution.

Have a beautiful Fall and stay healthy and happy!

Spicy and Sweet Body Scrub 6oz.

½ cup brown sugar or turbinado sugar or sea salt*
¼ cup olive oil
(can use almond or sesame oil as well)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (powdered)
½ teaspoon ginger (powdered)
½ teaspoon clove (powdered)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground rice
(or 20 drops vanilla essential oil)
*optional* add 10 drops cinnamon EO

Mix all ingredients in a glass or metal bowl, using a whisk to uniformly mix. Scoop into storage container. Use on moistened skin to exfoliate, then rinse. Not intended for using more than 1 x per week. *Can also use sea salt for this recipe, especially Epsom salt to penetrate tight muscles. Use caution since salt is more abrasive and can sting on freshly shaven or sensitive skin.

Hawthorne Berry A Holiday Favorite

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Genevieve

Hawthorn Berry (Crataegus monogyna or C. douglasii) and Chinese Crataegus (Shan Zha) is an herb that is extremely popular is both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine alike. In Chinese Medicine we use Shan Zha to alleviate food stagnation by assisting in digesting meats and greasy foods and to nourish the heart and improve circulation. In Western Medicine hawthorn berry is used to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and a great herb for overall cardiac and circulatory health. Since we just had the most gluttonous of all holidays (Thanksgiving) I thought it would be a great herb to focus on this month.

It was Thanksgiving 23 years ago that I decided to go vegetarian, and then subsequently vegan and more recently gluten free. When I was 12 I had my first pet, Buddy, a parakeet. This little bird really made me think twice about the turkey focused holiday and I decided I could not eat my beloved Buddy’s turkey friend. So I am thankful for Buddy for laying the groundwork for many positive changes that I have come to make. I am also very thankful for my amazing and supportive family. Okay now back to the topic at hand… hawthorn berries!!!

Since we tend to eat lots of high fat foods during the holidays hawthorn berries are a perfect herb to help us digest our favorite holiday foods. Hawthorn berries are available in tea, tincture, powdered and capsule form. Making tea is a great way to enjoy this herbal medicine and you can have it with your meals to help you digest your food.

Hawthorn Berry Tea

1-2 teaspoons dried berries
1 cup water

Bring water and berries to a boil, reduce heat to let simmer while covered for 10-15 minutes. Strain out the berries and enjoy! Can also add some sweetener and or lemon juice to taste. A sprinkle of cinnamon is good too.

Formulas for Improving Digestion

There are many great Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas for eliminating food stagnation and helping to aid digestion of our heavy holiday meals.

Bao He Wan- Contains hawthorn and other herbs like Shen Qu* (fermented massa) to digest all types of foods. *Shen Qu is a fermented product, but sometimes contains gluten.

Curing Pills (Kang Ning Wan)- is another great formula for reducing food stagnation, but again contains Shen Qu (gluten).

Mu Xiang Shen Qi Wan- aids in digestion and is even supportive for digestive issues from a stomach flu. Gluten Free!!!

Even though there are great formulas and herbs to improve digestion the best way to feel good over the holidays is to eat healthy foods, eat slowly and chew your food!!!

Here is a great site for getting Hawthorn Berries and some interesting history and folklore too… Have fun!

Fall Into Health with TCM

Posted on November 7, 2017September 22, 2025 by Genevieve

leaves

Practice meditation that involves focus on breathwork. For instance the mantra by Thich Nhat Han, “breathing in I relax breathing out I smile”
Take care of our skin and help it let go of what is not wanted. Exfoliate your whole body with a sugar or salt scrub. See recipe below.
Use a detoxifying massage oil to nourish your skin and perform lymph massage while applying the oil. See this site for making calendula oil, a detoxifying oil you can make at home. You can also just use some extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil. Or spice it up by adding a couple drops of your favorite essential oils.
Nourish your Lungs with food. Pears are a great food to moisten the Lungs if you have a dry cough or tend towards dryness in your body. You can also make stewed pears (add walnuts to tonify the yang) that nourishes the yin and yang and is aromatic to help open the Lungs.
Take an herbal formula to support our Wei qi or protective qi. Like Jade Windscreen Yu Ping Fang San. This supports the Lungs and prevents us from catching a cold or flu. Come in to see Genevieve or Morgan to help you get the right formula for your constitution.

Have a beautiful Fall and stay healthy and happy!

Spicy and Sweet Body Scrub 6oz.

½ cup brown sugar or turbinado sugar or sea salt*
¼ cup olive oil
(can use almond or sesame oil as well)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (powdered)
½ teaspoon ginger (powdered)
½ teaspoon clove (powdered)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground rice
(or 20 drops vanilla essential oil)
*optional* add 10 drops cinnamon EO