“The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang ….. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and he will be witness to a long life.” –Huangdi Neijing Suwen […]
The winter solstice is fast approaching and with it the beginning of the winter season. In nature, the trees and plants have pulled their energy back into their roots to survive the colder weather. The season of winter in nature is cold, damp, and inactive. The ancient Chinese believed that in order to stay healthy […]
Autumn is when the metal element is most active. The metal element is represented by the Lung and Large Intestine Meridians. It is the perfect time of year to tonify lung energy which helps to protect the body from colds and illness. The lungs also carry the emotion of grief. Everyone experiences grief or loss […]
I’ve spoken about the six pernicious influences or causes of disease in Chinese Medicine before, but now that we’re in the season of autumn it is a good time to revisit it. These six climatic conditions are considered causes of disease within the body. They are: cold, wind, dampness, heat, dryness and summer heat. Many […]
With the holidays fast approaching, busy schedules are about to be strained even more. To stay healthy and enjoy the holidays it is important to maintain a strong immune system. Most of us don’t become ill from exposure to germs. It’s when our immune system is compromised that we get sick. Our immune system is […]
In autumn the expanded energy of summer slowly begins to contract. The earth’s energy is pulled back from the leaves of trees and plants to go deeper into the trunk and roots to survive the winter. Within Chinese Medicine, humans are regarded as microcosms of the natural universe; subject to the same cycles that occur […]
Last week we discussed the Large Intestine Meridian. Today I want to talk about its partner the Lung Meridian. The Lung energy pathway is associated with the emotion of sadness or grief, the skin, boundaries, and the immune system. Since most pathogens enter through the respiratory and digestive systems, healthy lungs and large intestines are […]
The fall season is the time of the metal element in Chinese Medicine which is associated with Lung and Large Intestine energy pathways. Large Intestine helps us to let go of that which is no longer needed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. “Consciousness and meridian energy are deeply connected. The Large Intestine’s metal energy is concerned […]
I’ve been discussing the importance of balanced energy to our overall health and well being. Each season is associated with specific energies that can be supported by certain foods and stretching exercises especially Tai Chi or Yoga. Today I want to talk about the importance of purchasing fresh, pesticide free, whole and local food and […]
The Lung and Large Intestine are the two energy pathways most active in fall; both organs eliminate waste. The Large Intestine eliminates digestive waste and the Lungs eliminate respiratory waste. The Lungs also control the skin and sweating. Sweating helps to cleanse the skin and detoxify the body but excess sweating can deplete our bodies. […]