News & Articles
Resting isn’t just for people who are unwell
In a recent podcast interview (it will air in February) someone asked me - how much rest is enough? And I gave them a classic Chinese Medicine answer. It depends. I love how unique, how specific and tailored this medicine is to each person, throughout the year and...
Are you trained for an emotional marathon? (& packages, gift certs, holiday hours…)
I was hoping the tone of this letter would be different - focused on Chinese Medicine and the seasons. Daylight savings on its own is stressful enough when the increasing quality of the water element starts to draw us inward, more hermity, more sleepy, more dreamy and...
How to nourish the metal element with spirituality (even for atheists)
Each season we have an opportunity to work on specific physical, emotional and spiritual themes. For instance, many of my patients are reporting dry skin, dry eyes, allergy symptoms, and miscellaneous sniffles. Autumn is the season of the respiratory system and the...
Let that shit go. Literally and spiritually.
One of my favorite metal element concepts is the idea of opening up to receive. From a physiological perspective this is the lungs (the metal element organ) receiving air, oxygen, the basis of qi needed to fuel our bodies. How are your lungs functioning this autumn?...
Why do I have dry cough (or grief) in the autumn?
In the office I am seeing an uptick in pulses that point to dryness affecting the lungs, dry cough, dry skin as well as new patients coming in to deal with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma, allergies, long covid cough and COPD. (And yes. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal medicine are making a difference.). Every autumn, I also witness grief (the metal element emotion) coming back into focus.
Does acupuncture help IBS? (Because I need digestive relief NOW!)
Does Acupuncture Help IBS? The Bay Area is still quite warm and summery, but I feel and see the energetic shift in quality and I don’t mind it. Before we dive into autumn, metal element themes, let’s give late-summer, earth element, a bit more attention. I’m talking about digestion. How does that food move from your mouth, to stomach, to intestines… and how are your poops? If you’re someone who has been dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS, this could be the post you’ve been waiting for.
Who Do I Have Food Cravings? A Chinese Medicine Guide To Seasonal Nourishment
I am asked this time and again in the treatment room. Food cravings can be a frustration all year but there are unique times of year, from a Chinese Medicine perspective to really look more closely at your nourishment to finally reduce those cravings. We are currently at such a moment, the season of the earth element.
Why Do I Struggle With Social Anxiety? The 5 Elements Have Solutions
If you struggle with social anxiety, it’s probably because of a combination of your Chinese Medicine Constitution, your Five Element Personality Type and the current state of your fire element. Chinese Medicine offers a unique perspective on anxiety: the role of the five elements and the seasons.
Can acupuncture treat athletic injury?
That’s right folks. Acupuncture is one of my ingredients and an effective ingredient for so many of my patients. Acupuncture is powerful for relieving pain and resolving athletic injury.
50% off New Patient Visits in honor of Mother’s Day
This week, in the Northern Hemisphere, we begin to experience fire element energy coming online. This isn’t a hard stop, where the enthusiastic, driven, wood element energy ENDS and flirtatious, creative, dramatic fire element begins. This is a process, a transition....
How many pains in the ass are you dealing with?
I’m not *just* talking about a pain in your piriformis muscle that radiates down your sciatic nerve, making work and commute and recreation and sleep all feel unenjoyable. I’m talking about that pain in the ass boss or deadline, that has you working late, that keeps...
Got all this wood element energy but nowhere to go?
I’ve been talking about how the wood element offers motivation, energy, and a kick in the pants to get moving on your life goals and projects. But what if you’re dealing with indecision or uncertainty… or a lack of confidence… or just lack of motivation? Just because...
You say you despise the wind? Frequent headaches and neck pain?
This past weekend in the Bay Area was blustery indeed! For some, the wind is a bracing, exciting opportunity to sail or fly. And for others, it’s an opportunity for irritation, discomfort or pain. Have you ever sat under an air conditioner at work? Felt the cold air...
The delight and tension of life force moving through you
The wood element supports humanity in creating a vision, seeing the steps to achieve it, and putting one foot in front of the next to get there. This life force energy coming online can feel like pure enthusiastic, delight. AND when you gather energy to move past...
WHY are you the way you are?
The Five Element template helps me diagnose physiological imbalances. It provides the basis for acupuncture treatments and herbal prescriptions. AND, it’s the reason that I tell some of you not to eat ice cream if you feel heavy, foggy or bloated. The Five Elements...
Did your “Dry January” lose steam?
It's that time of year. Dry January. Does it sound like a bummer to you? Did you feel inspired but lost steam last weekend? Here in the backyard of wine country, wine offers many a profession, a way of life and a deeply important hobby. Alcohol can be a vehicle for...
What a Rebel! Acupuncture and Transformative Wellness with Marie Bowser
Rebel: "A person who resists authority, control or convention." At first I was unsure. Am I a rebel? Then I was like, OH! OF COURSE I AM! I had so much fun being a guest on the *What A Rebel* podcast of artist and graphic designer, Lisa Mazur. We talked about how to...
The most wonderful(ly bizarre) time of the year
For those in the Northern Hemisphere, we are entering a tunnel of bizarre dissonance. Nature is beckoning you inward toward quiet contemplation, stillness and rest. The weather and the diurnal rhythms support this time of incredible potential (more on the powerful...
How do you befriend darkness when eternal summer is prized?
Are you sleeping later, craving quiet, maybe a little extra introspective? This is normal! The earth, the seasons, the natural progression of energy is beckoning you inward. Nature is asking you to slow down, rest more, sleep more and involute.
Do you have time to be unwell? Then tend to your grief
Have you been tapped into the emotion of grief the past few weeks? Whether it’s re-connecting to a personal loss or feeling the collective sorrow of humanity, it’s all happening right on time. Grief and sorrow are quintessential metal element emotions in the metal element season of autumn.
Balancing yin and yang
I talk about the five elements alot but a core concept in Chinese Medicine is the idea of Yin and Yang, depicted symbolically in the tai ji symbol here . On an even more basic level than whether your personality or constitution or the season you're in is best...
Would you Cast Your Vote For Me As Best of El Cerrito?
I’ve mentioned in past newsletters that pride is a metal element concept. Pride in your identity, in your qualifications and in your achievements. Showing off your diploma, your certificates, awards, medals, trophies and owning your accomplishment CAN be a sign of...
Royal Sovereign, Spoiled Princess or Cinderella, Which archetype are you?
One of the archetypes of the metal element is ROYALTY. This might conjure images of crowns, purple velvet or kissing rings. And, sure, but, nowadays, a metal element person will present impeccably dressed, wearing classic, high end clothes and jewelry. But more...
How you chew your food is how you chew your thoughts
When you hear about the idea of the “Earth Element” it should evoke the avatar of someone who is grounded, solid and reliable. If you’re an earthy type, YOU are the one who shows up in a crisis, who handles the situation, and in fact, KNOWS the best way to do it. And...
Barbenheimer teaches us about the five elements
Barbenheimer teaches us about the five elements
Digestive Specialty
Lately, I’m seeing a number of patients dealing with digestive complaints. End of summer is a common time of year for these complaints to flare up. Vacations with unusual food for you, maybe more alcohol or sugar, stress of traveling, even drinking water that you’re...
Are you on track for your best summer and 2023?
Are you on track for your best summer and 2023?
Cultivate spirit (yes, even atheists) to nourish inner light & fire
I’ve been sharing for weeks about the fire element: sparkles, joy, creativity, drama, panache, amusement parks, fireworks, fun in the sun – ingredients that nourish fire element folks and ingredients that can nourish the fire within all of us.
Can you have too many sparkles? (A cost-benefit analysis)
Do you ever feel like a kid in a candy store? I do. There’s something so fun about trying new and exciting things.
Do you want to know the five elements of Pride?
I love June. The vibe in the air shifts to full on fire element vacation mode. Opportunities for evening pickleball and hikes make the days seem endless. AND of course the rainbows…
Marie Bowser Acupuncture Voted Best of El Cerrito
Best Acupuncture Practice of El Cerrito California
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