What would it look like to rest before you're exhausted?
On our calendars, November is late fall. In the Chinese calendar, winter begins a little earlier, around November 7, with the Start of Winter. It's the season for storing energy. Modern medicine notices the same shift: longer nights are a cue for more sleep and steadier routines. Both point the same way as fall turns toward winter: this is a time for replenishing, not pushing. This month, a simple number worth knowing and a simple way to rest.
Primary Care
Know Your A1c
Sean Motl, MD
An A1c is a simple blood test that shows your average blood sugar over about the past three months. You don't need to fast for it. More than 1 in 3 US adults has prediabetes, and most don't know it. The good news is that prediabetes is common and often reversible, usually through small, steady changes in movement, food, and sleep.
What the numbers mean
Below 5.7% is the typical range.
5.7% to 6.4% is the prediabetes range.
6.5% or higher is the diabetes range, usually confirmed with a second test.
Try this
If you've never had an A1c, or it's been a few years, ask for one at your next visit.
One number doesn't define your health. It's a starting point for a conversation, and a chance to catch something early while it's easiest to change.
Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine
As Fall Turns to Winter
Bear Bustillo, DAOM, LAc
In Chinese medicine, the Kidneys hold your deep reserves, the energy you draw on when life asks more of you. The classical texts advise going to bed early and rising a little later as winter approaches, letting the season slow you down. When reserves run low, Chinese medicine looks for a few familiar signs:
- Tiredness that a good night's sleep doesn't fix
- Cold hands and feet
- A sore or achy lower back
None of these is a reason to worry on its own. They are simply your body asking for more rest than usual.
Try this · One week
Thirty minutes earlier. Go to bed 30 minutes earlier than usual for one week. Notice how you feel by the weekend.
On the stove
Foods for the colder months. Black beans, walnuts, and black sesame are traditional Kidney foods in Chinese medicine. A warm bowl of black bean soup is an easy start. Skip the nuts and seeds if you have an allergy.
Acupuncture and herbal formulas can support deeper rest and replenishment through the darker months.
One question to carry this month
What are you saving your energy for?
Spotlight
Our Approach to Integrative Medicine
At our clinic, integrative medicine combines Chinese medicine and modern conventional medicine in a thoughtful way. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, movement & food therapy are the foundation of your care. When we need a deeper look, we may use functional lab testing, nutrition, and lifestyle insights to better understand what is happening. Then we make one change at a time, so we can clearly see what is helping. That means no shelf of supplements and no paying for guesswork.
It also means working closely with your current healthcare team, including your primary care provider. If something calls for more expertise, we bring in the right provider as another part of your care, while we stay with you as part of the team. Every piece works together in one caring, cohesive plan.
Around the clinic
We Turn One this Month
Not long ago, we were living in Austin, Texas. We came to Eugene in search of a different kind of life, one with deeper connection, more meaning, and a true sense of community. We hoped to find a place where people know their neighbors, where the seasons are felt, and where care could be personal again.
A year ago this November, Meaningful Medicine Clinic opened its doors to a quiet, empty waiting room. Today it's full of the conversations, questions, and small victories you've shared with us. You welcomed us into this community, and in doing so, you gave us exactly what we came here looking for.
From the beginning, we've thought of everyone who walks through our doors as family. We care for you the way we'd care for our own mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters. That is the heart of what we do, and it always will be.
In Chinese medicine, the season ahead is for gathering what matters. As we close our first year, what we're gathering is gratitude, for each of you. Thank you for trusting us with your care, and for making Eugene feel like home.
Until we see you again, take care of your human.
With kindness,
Bear, Sean & Lulu
No rush. We're here when you're ready.
(541) 600-4326 · 401 E 10th Ave, Ste 260, Eugene
This post is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your clinician about what's right for you.
