There are many herbs in the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica that are rare and exotic, but there are also quite a few that are familiar and common within American kitchens
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This book was one of the initial books my teacher recommended to me on movement. Eric Franklin teaches a lot of great visual imagery that is helpful when unwinding patterns and working on proper mechanics.
When beginning to exercise and do Pilates with diastasis recti, we want to be working in a neutral pelvis and spinal position - taking out flexion, extension, and rotation. We want to be focusing on transverse abdominis - the deepest layer of the abdominals, which helps in stabilization of the whole lumbo-pelvic area
With Earth Day last month, I have been reflecting on how the way we care for and interact with our bodies is intimately connected to the way we care for and interact with our earth.
In Chinese medicine, our bodies are understood as their own unique landscape, ecosystem, terrain.
We have two beautiful STOTT Pilates machines, and a cozy acupuncture and cupping area for treatments. Our biomat is available for use during the sessions, which a lot of people have been feeling a lot of added therapeutic benefit. Serving the East Bay, Lamorinda : Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga and Walnut creek
A few weeks back I was in a continuing education class where we were talking about the difference between restorative healing vs. alchemical / transformative healing.
Since this region coincides with areas of concentrated lymph nodes, the cupping has both a cleansing effect, while simultaneously strengthening the immune system. Cupping in this location can remove toxins build up from pharmaceuticals / drugs, chemicals, food, gas, poison oak, snake bites, etc.
Like Mother Earth, the earth element supplies the nourishment that sustains life. It is the digestive power that transforms raw food material into the fuel for body and mind; the constant provider and the hearth around which the body gathers.
The fire element is associated with the season of summer, and represents the warmth and joy that this time of year provides. Just like fire itself, the fire element holds the energy of rapid and upward movement, and provides a sense of warmth and light. It symbolizes the energy of inspiration, spirituality, love, excitement, and joy.
The wood element is associated with the season of spring, the bursting forth energy of new life - the starting phase of nature’s cycle. Just like new plants grow towards the light in the spring months, the wood element holds the energy of that directed movement - the energy of beginnings, birth, sprouting forth. It symbolizes the energy of innovation, freshness, initiative, flexibility and determination.
The water element in Chinese Medicine is associated with the season of winter, and represents trust, surrender and the mysteries of life .
The metal element is associated with the season of fall, and represents clarity, refinement and maturity.
Common dietary therapy approaches used to support abnormal uterine bleeding are an anti-estrogenic diet, prostaglandin diet, iron rich foods, and a general whole foods diet.
As allergy season is here I wanted to share my two favorite go-tos I use in clinic:
One of the many things acupuncture and herbal medicine can assist with is the various complex causes behind many GI issues.
It works on strengthening the tight junctions in the gut lining, where 70% of the immune system actually resides.
There is so much healing that this field offers, simply in its paradigm of understanding our bodies and how to cultivate health.
It is becoming more and more common for women to look to East Asian and holistic medicine practices for support on women’s health and fertility issues, so I wanted to share a bit on this topic.
I will be opening for in-person acupuncture appointments beginning this coming Sunday. This will be a soft opening, as I will begin by seeing patients only on Sundays, but hope to expand from there.
Here is a list of some of my favorite props for self-release / massage work and movement / Pilates for the home.
Part of the gift of Chinese Medicine is its ecology based paradigm of viewing the body.
From a Chinese medicine perspective the coronavirus is being considered a damp type of epidemic - its main etiology appearing to be damp toxicity.
I wanted to share with you some of my favorite immune supporting formulas right now. All are formulated by one of my favorite professors up in Portland, Heiner Fruehauf.
People love cupping, and often there will be remnant marks on the area that last a couple days to a week. Everyone is always curious what that means, and what the different color marks indicate.
In Chinese Medicine all food (and herbs) have a thermal energetic. Substances can be cold, cool, neutral, warm, or hot - all producing different effects in the body.
Many of you have heard me talk about how Pilates is strengthening you in your most bio-mechanically sound posture, where the shock of gravity and exerted force is carried through your joints and spine in the most optimal way.
One of the things Chinese Medicine and acupuncture has to offer modern society is its ability to help regulate the nervous system. Whether from day to day stress, a traumatic event, pain, lack of sleep, etc., the nervous system can get stuck in the sympathetic state. When this happens, the body is unable to drop down into its parasympathetic mode, where most deeper healing and restoration happens.
It is the top supplement I recommend. It's the first place I start when someone is dealing with digestive issues, autoimmunity, inflammation, autism, or just wanting to feel better.
In Chinese medicine, thyme is considered a warming herb, and can help clear common colds and flus, as well as help promote circulation and clear phlegm.
In Oriental medicine, insomnia and sleep issues can come from a variety of different patterns: digestive issues and inflammation, a deficiency (where the yin substance of the body is not substantiated enough to hold and house the spirit at night), inflammation and agitation of the nervous system, and so on.
As we head into warmer weather, and more opportunities to be outside, I wanted to share this short (15 minutes) documentary called Down to Earth. It looks at how powerful having our bare feet on the earth can be for our health and reducing inflammation. Worth a watch!
There are many herbs in the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica that are rare and exotic, but there are also quite a few that are familiar and common within American kitchens
Read More