Here in Florida, we expect the summers to be hot. But this year, extreme heat isn't just a Florida problem. States like Michigan, New York, and even the Pacific Northwest have experienced temperatures that would have been almost unimaginable just a few years ago.

High temperatures now claim more lives each year than floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. Yet heat remains one of the most overlooked dangers—especially for older adults.

The other day, I stepped outside and immediately felt the heat hit my face like opening the door to a blazing oven. It was 95 degrees in the shade, with humidity so high it felt difficult to breathe. Lately, I've found myself moving from my air-conditioned home to my air-conditioned car and then into my air-conditioned office. Even that short walk can place tremendous stress on the body.

This morning I woke to what I thought was the sound of rain. As I lay quietly in bed, I took a few deep breaths, hoping to catch the fresh scent of a passing shower. Then I realized it wasn't rain at all—it was my neighbor's sprinkler gently tapping against my bedroom window.

That simple moment reminded me of one of the easiest yet most powerful healing practices I know:

Take three deep breaths.

It sounds almost too simple, but sometimes the smallest habits create the greatest changes.

Knee pain and inflammation are some of the most common issues I see in my clinic. Whether it comes from aging, injury, or long-term wear and tear, the underlying cause is often the same:

Stagnation, inflammation, and lack of proper circulation—both physically and energetically.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the knee is closely connected to the Kidney and Liver systems, which govern the strength of the joints, tendons, and bones. When these systems become weakened—or when Qi and Blood are not flowing properly—pain and inflammation begin to develop.