Points of Wellness

Living with the Seasons

One of my favorite parts of summer is walking out to the garden before dinner to pick fresh herbs.

This year I noticed something interesting. The perilla growing among the flowers has hardly been touched by insects, while the herbs growing by themselves seem to have become a favorite meal for every bug in the neighborhood. Nature has a way of creating its own balance.

Growing up in a Vietnamese family, herbs were never just decoration on the plate. They were part of the meal. Tonight’s spring rolls will be filled with lettuce, fresh tia tô (perilla), Thai basil, mint, and Chinese chives, most of them picked just minutes before dinner.

There is something deeply satisfying about harvesting what you’ve cared for and bringing it straight to the table.

Summer reminds us that abundance isn’t only measured by how much we have. Sometimes it’s measured by simple things: a handful of fresh herbs, flowers in bloom, vegetables from a local garden, and a meal shared with people we love.

What herbs are growing in your garden this summer? I’d love to hear what’s thriving where you live.

—
Living with the Seasons
Anh Tran, L.Ac., M.S.O.M.
Points of Wellness Acupuncture

Two hundred and fifty years.

That’s an incredible milestone for any nation.

Every day in my clinic, I have the privilege of caring for Veterans—men and women who have worn the uniform and carried the responsibility of protecting the freedoms many of us enjoy without a second thought. Their stories remind me that freedom has never been free. It has always required courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to serve something greater than ourselves.

This Independence Day arrives during a season when our country feels divided. We won’t always agree with one another, and that’s nothing new. Our history has seen difficult chapters before. Yet through each generation, Americans have continued the work of building, healing, and moving forward together.

As a healthcare provider, I see healing every day. Healing doesn’t happen by pretending wounds don’t exist. It begins by acknowledging them, treating them with compassion, and giving them the time and care they need.

Perhaps our country is no different.

As we celebrate 250 years of independence, may we remember the sacrifices that brought us here, express gratitude to those who continue to serve, and choose kindness, respect, and hope in our daily lives. Small acts of service:toward our families, our neighbors, and even strangers, are what strengthen a community.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Fourth of July.

And to all of the Veterans I have had the honor of treating: thank you. Your service continues to inspire me every day.

Happy Independence Day.

Some gifts simply make you smile.

One of my patients surprised me with this adorable red panda wearing a custom acupuncture shirt—and I absolutely love it! ❤️

It’s not the cost of a gift that makes it meaningful. It’s knowing someone took the time to think of you and create something uniquely personal.

The little shirt was custom made by his veteran-owned business, CAJE Dee-zigns, and the attention to detail is amazing. Even the tiny design on the shirt perfectly captures the fun side of what I do every day in the clinic.

As healthcare providers, we’re fortunate to meet incredible people from every walk of life. Sometimes those relationships extend beyond treatment, and moments like this remind me why I love what I do.

Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and for making me laugh every time I see this little panda sitting in my office.

If you’re looking for custom apparel, gifts, or personalized creations, please consider supporting this veteran-owned small business:

CAJE Dee-zigns
Lee Drane
📍 Kenosha, Wisconsin
📧 [email protected]
📞 847-302-9791

Supporting small businesses—especially veteran-owned businesses—is one way we can give back to those who continue to serve our communities.

Thank you again for such a memorable gift. My new little clinic mascot has already found a permanent home.

Living With the Seasons

This week, I finally made it to my local farmers market.

The first one of the season.

Tables were overflowing with asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh flowers. Everything seemed to announce that summer had truly arrived.

The sunflowers were more expensive than I expected.

The vegetables weren’t the cheapest either.

But they had been grown just a few miles away.

There is something different about eating food that has been nurtured by the same sun, the same rain, and the same season we are living in.

Perhaps that is part of wellness too.

Not chasing perfection.

Simply becoming more connected to the place we call home.

This week, I brought home fresh vegetables, bright sunflowers, and a quiet reminder that every season offers something worth gathering.

Reflection:

What are you gathering from this season of your life?

MindfulLiving PointsOfWellness

Today I brought home sunflowers from the farmers market.

They weren’t the cheapest flowers there.

But they made me smile.

There are some things we don’t buy because we need them.

We bring them home because they remind us to notice beauty.

In the middle of busy weeks, appointments, responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, a vase of fresh flowers quietly changes a room.

Sometimes it even changes us.

Reflection:

What small thing has brought beauty into your life this week?

Living With the Seasons
My rose bush is blooming like crazy this week.
Some blossoms are fully open.
Some are just beginning to unfold.
Others remain tightly closed, waiting their turn.
Yet each one is exactly where it needs to be.
Nature never asks every flower to bloom at the same time.
Perhaps we shouldn’t expect that of ourselves either.
What part of your life is still unfolding?
PointsOfWellness

Seasonal Allergy Support

If you’ve been experiencing:
• sinus pressure
• headaches around the forehead or eyes
• ear fullness or ear aches
• congestion
• post-nasal drip
• itchy eyes

You’re not alone.

The recent swings between warm days and cool evenings, combined with high pollen levels throughout the Long Grove area, have been particularly challenging for many people this season.

A few simple ways to support yourself:

✓ Rinse pollen from your hair before bed
✓ Change pillowcases frequently
✓ Keep windows closed during high-pollen days
✓ Stay hydrated
✓ Consider a saline nasal rinse if appropriate for you
✓ Limit prolonged outdoor exposure when pollen counts are highest

From a Chinese medicine perspective, seasonal allergies often reflect a combination of environmental exposure and the body’s ability to adapt to seasonal change.

Acupuncture may help support the body’s natural response to seasonal allergens and can be a useful part of an overall wellness plan.

Are allergies affecting you this season?

Tell us your biggest symptom below.

ChineseMedicine Acupuncture NaturalHealth PointsOfWellness WellnessJourney

Living With the Seasons

Week 2: Welcoming Summer

June arrives with longer days, brighter mornings, and an invitation to open our hearts a little wider.

In Chinese medicine, summer is associated with the Heart, the organ connected not only to circulation, but also to joy, connection, laughter, and emotional well-being.

Yet many of us enter summer carrying the fatigue of a busy spring.

We push through exhaustion.
We fill every weekend.
We stay up later because the sun stays out longer.

And then we wonder why we feel scattered, restless, or emotionally depleted.

The wisdom of summer is not to do more.

It is to fully experience the warmth, connection, and joy that already exists around us.

This week, consider:
• Sitting outside with your morning coffee or tea
• Taking a walk without your phone
• Sharing a meal with someone you love
• Watching a sunset
• Allowing yourself a moment of genuine laughter

The Heart thrives on simple moments of connection.

Seasonal Reflection:

What brings genuine joy to your life? When was the last time you made space for it?

Nature’s reminder:
Summer is not asking you to become more productive.
It is inviting you to become more present.

Does your phone need a resting space? This diamond stand is waiting!