Happy Spring! Spring is here, flowers are blooming and the world just feels brighter! It’s a time of growth and renewal. As the days grow longer, our bodies adjust to the seasonal change and you may notice that you are waking earlier. This is a great time to take advantage of it and incorporate a new morning habit. Amazing changes can happen with even the smallest effort – as long as it is regular. Start with something really simple and do it regularly. Keep a journal or checklist to keep yourself on track. Here are a few simple ‘under-five-minute’ ideas to inspire you. Pick one, try it everyday for two weeks and let me know how it goes! Two minutes of meditation when you first wake up One veggie juice daily (use a juicer) Jot down three things you are grateful for every day Drink a large glass of water every morning Five push ups Read two pages of a good book Write down two positive intentions for the day Ten jumping jacks Give/receive at least one hug Smile or say hello to a new person Floss Quick call to a friend or relative Park in the farthest spot and walk a little further Write down three good things that happened in the...
TCM Tongue Diagnosis Many people are surprised when asked to show their tongue during an acupuncture treatment so I thought I’d shed some light on it. The tongue is an incredibly important diagnostic tool in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The color, coating, shape and texture of the tongue reflect the state of your health. The color of your tongue can change daily and will tell a lot about what’s going on inside your body. The sensitive tissue of the tongue reacts to changes in digestion, pH, circulation and immune function. Here’s what your tongue is telling you… Color A healthy tongue will be pink or light red with a thin white coat on the surface. If there is excess heat in the body due to fever, inflammation or infection the tongue will be a bright red color. A purple tongue shows poor circulation and blood stagnation. A pale or white tongue can indicate low energy, fatigue and a weak immune system. The different zones of the tongue reflect different areas of the body. For example, the tip of the tongue reflects the health of the heart. A bright red tip can indicate a ‘restless heart’ causing insomnia. The mid-section of the tongue reflects the digestive system and a greasy coat here can indicate poor digestion. The sides of the tongue reflect the health of the liver. Bright red sides with no coating can indicate stagnation in the liver and high levels of stress. Coating Many people brush their tongue when brushing their teeth but it’s best to avoid brushing your tongue for 24 hours before your appointment. Your practitioner will...
“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. ” ~ Thomas Edison I have been in practice for well over ten years now and have learned so much about health, people, patterns and the human body. When I was a student I was intrigued by so many of the concepts and mysteries of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was fascinated with every facet of it. How could a person be diagnosed by changes in the pulse, tongue and complexion? How could personality traits indicate with great accuracy the type of illness a person would be susceptible to? There were so many questions and mystery. I was in awe of it all. As the years went by and I treated more and more people, I began to really understand TCM. It was not magical or mysterious, it was based on concrete observable patterns. Yes, the tongue does reflect the health with great accuracy. The tongue is an extension of the esophagus which connects to the stomach. Inflammation and acidity that originate in the stomach will show on the tongue. It’s not a mystery just simple observation; like paleness under the eyelid when a person is anemic. If you see hundreds of tongues, after awhile you see patterns. The part reflects the whole. TCM diagnosis and treatment is the culmination of 2000 years of careful observation and recognition of patterns in the body. The tongue is only one method of ‘reading’ the body. The pulse, complexion, voice, body type, hair...
Here is a little video I made introducing the concepts of Qi Gong. It is 16 minutes long and covers some of the ideas that are important in Qi Gong practice and can really help you understand why the practice makes you feel so...
Happy ‘Year of the Horse’! The Chinese zodiac is based on a twelve year cycle. Each year in the cycle is named after an animal and associated with an element. The elements are earth, water, metal, fire and wood. In Traditional Chinese Medicine there is a form of treatment based on the five elements known as “Five Element” acupuncture. A person’s ‘element’ is identified based on their constitution and health patterns. Each element is associated with different organs in the body and has associated strengths and weaknesses. As for the Chinese zodiac, today marks the beginning of the year of the horse (‘wood’ element). People born in the year of the horse are said to be social, active, energetic and positive! The year of the horse is supposed to be an important one and a time of good health. May your 2014 hold much health and...
