Highlands Ranch Family Acupuncture

Late summer is considered the season of digestion in East Asian medicine, tied to the spleen/pancreas and stomach systems and the Earth element.

A few simple habits during this time can impact your digestive health for the rest of the year: favor warm, cooked foods over cold or raw ones, sip room-temp water steadily throughout the day rather than all at once, and give your body a bit of quiet time after meals instead of rushing straight into the next thing.

Want suggestions tailored to you? Ask Allicen at your next appointment, or call or text us at (720) 772-1619.

Back-to-school season shifts the whole household, not just the kids. New wake-up times, new routines, new stress on everyone's plate, and it tends to show up as restless sleep, an unsettled stomach, or a shorter fuse by dinnertime.

We treat patients of every age, and our approach flexes to fit. For little ones or anyone hesitant about needles, herbal medicine and applied kinesiology are wonderful options: gentle, effective, and tailored to the individual through a proper intake.

If your family could use some grounding this season, reach out or ask us at your next visit. You can also get in touch at hrfamilyacu.com/contact.

If you're new here, meet the acupuncturist behind the practice.

Allicen earned her Master's degree from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where she trained in acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion, and more. She's also certified in Esoteric Acupuncture, specializes in mental health, and brings a calm, unhurried presence to every session, often incorporating meditation into treatments.

What patients notice most is how closely she listens. Sessions are built around the whole person, not just the symptom that brought you in, with genuine attention paid to mental and emotional health alongside physical concerns.

Curious what a session feels like? Message us with any questions or learn more and book at hrfamilyacu.com.

Are your shoulders slowly creeping up toward your ears? Late summer can have a way of piling on the pressure: schedules get busier, nights feel shorter, the heat can be agitating, and your mood reflects it all.

Acupuncture works directly with your nervous system, helping your body shift out of environmental and mental stress and back to a state of rest and repair. It's a gentle process, not an intense one, and many patients notice improved sleep and more resilience to stress after just one treatment.

If it's been a while since you've been in, this is a great time to come back! And if you're already one of our regulars, feel free to ask us about extra support for stress and muscle tension at your next visit.

A true measure of health is the ability to adapt and remain resilient in the face of challenges and unexpected circumstances.

Research shows that acupuncture supports this by enhancing the body's recovery processes and promoting mental flexibility through regulating the nervous system and improving Heart Rate Variability (HRV, a key indicator of resilience, stress recovery, and overall well-being).

Join others for the ‘Fresh Start’ on March 3, 2026, Full Moon (11:38 GMT/UTC) Synchronized Care Focus. In order for GCI members around the world to participate at a convenient time, we have chosen 4 a.m., 12 p.m. (noon), and 8 p.m. Pacific Time (GMT/UTC minus 8 hours) when GCI members in the Global Coherence App* can do the Care Focus together.*
Care Focus: Fresh Start
1. Access stillness in your heart and breathe love or gratitude for someone or something in your life. This helps to warm your heart.
2. While breathing the feeling of ease, calmly imagine your breath slowing down the vibration of your mental and emotional energy.
3. While maintaining your state of calmness, ask your heart for guidance on attitudes you want to replace, commitments you want to make, or areas where you’d like a fresh start. Being genuine is the active ingredient, as this opens the heart.
4. Now radiate unconditional love and ease into your mental and emotional nature to anchor your intentions and commitments.
(Breathing the attitude of ease and calm throughout the day also helps to anchor our heart’s commitments into our interactions. The more we practice ease, calm, and stillness, the more strength we accumulate to sustain our heart commitments.)
5. Most importantly, with feeling, visualize the world that you want to live in and the joy that would bring to all life on the planet. Know that love and care for each other can eventually bring about these changes.
6. Now, let’s close by sending our deepest compassion to all who are suffering from war, displacement, famine, natural disasters, and other global stressors. See the radiation of our collective heart energy helping to lift the vibration of the planetary field and the hearts of those suffering hardships.
Thank you for Caring and being part of this Care Focus Fresh Start!

** In the first comment is a link to Read the full length of the March 2026 Full Moon Care Focus and Meditation, Access to a Time Converter to determine the exact time the Care Focus will take place in your Local Time Zone, and Learn more about the Free Global Coherence App and how to download the app.

*
*
*

Happy New Year from Highlands Ranch Family Acupuncture! ✨
As we welcome this new year, I want to thank all of you for trusting me with your health and well-being. It’s an honor to be a part of your healing journey. May this year bring you balance, peace, and great health. I look forward to caring for you in the year ahead! 💚

Meditation for the Fall: Releasing Grief, Cultivating Joy, and Opening the Lungs.

Autumn is a time of transition, both for nature and also for our bodies. Meditation to assist and support the body in strengthening Lung Qi while also releasing grief, the emotion of the lungs, is important this time of year. Strengthening the breath and letting go of stagnations can enhance vitality and prevent illness by boosting the immune system and preparing the body for the cold and darkness of winter.
Our Acupressure points, Ren 17 and Kidney 27, can regulate both physical respiration and also the emotions of the Lungs. KD 27 is found approximately 1.5 inches from the midline below the clavicle and Ren 17 is in the center of the chest in line with the space between 4th and 5th ribs. Massage or gently press both points together while taking deep breaths. Relax the muscles of the chest and upper back, allow your shoulders to fall down and roll backwards and focus on these points. With eyes slightly open but at a soft gaze, imagine grief being released from your body and lungs with your breath. Breathe in to a count of 3 and out to a count of 6. When this feels sufficient and your mind comes to a place of stillness, close the eyes. Now let go of the counting and focus on the emotion of Joy and Appreciation as you breathe for the remainder of your meditation. You can also focus on the Color White entering and exiting the lungs as you breathe and smile into your lungs, appreciating their integral role in your health and wellbeing.