FACT: “Oriental” Is A Racist Word. Rugs are not racist, but you might be upholding a system that is. Join us in banning the word “oriental” for acupuncture and herbal medicine due to its racist implications on the people it is used to label and because of its harmful implications on our society. Sign the petition if you’re an acupuncturist, a patient, someone who hates racism and injustice.
When the Lungs are dry, their energy does not descend to the other organs for lubrication. Instead, Lung energy goes into reverse flow, and we can experience symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, hoarse voice, dry mouth and nose, fatigue, and even skin issues like acne. Here are some easy DIY tips for ways to support your Lungs and respiratory system during such hazardous conditions.
Diet culture can be damaging but understanding and building a healthy relationship with food can be life-changing! Carol’s nutrition practice is not just person-centered. It is a safe and welcoming space that comes with the understanding that relationships with food can be complex and all bodies deserve access to nutrition education that is healing for them.
Attunement is a commitment to showing up. Eyes open. We are being asked to see, to hear, to respond. We are being invited to attune to the collective anger and grief that is bubbling over today.
We are being asked to identify deeply and fully with something every single human heart can relate to and understand— murder is horrific, systemic violence is traumatic, being treated as less than is unjust and unfair.
In everyday life, we experience so many things that hold us back from freedom, joy, and unity. In real life, a “ghost” is a wandering spirit that is fixated on a past memory or a longing for a desired outcome in the imagined future. This ghost is the part of us that is unable to live within the present moment and haunts us through its unwillingness to let go.
This year, and every year, we give thanks to those brave patrons of the Stonewall Inn for allowing the next generation (and the next) to stand in the sun and to be proud, vibrant, and full of light.
We are now entering Year of the Earth Dog, 2018. The Earth element is about friendship, family connections, belonging, feeling grounded in community, and cultivating and sharing food and any other sources of nourishment- physical, emotional, or spiritual.
In Chinese Medicine, nutrient dense vegetables are vital to aid in building blood which is a crucial part of our circulatory, reproductive and cognitive systems. We need rich blood, one of the yin components in our body, to cool excess heat which can get out of control and cause everything from rapid digestion, to skin inflammation, to cancer cell development.
Autumn is in full swing with cold damp weather & longer darker nights. The days feel shorter and the dark weather can affect your mood. As we move into Fall, you may notice it affecting your health.
Women, Food & God is not a guide to the information contained in each food choice, but an exploration of how our relationship to food and ultimately, to ourselves, is the lens through which we process that embedded information. No matter how “healthy” our food and drink choices may be, when our conditioning and thought process associated with eating and drinking are not healthy, we will be chronically deprived of the deep nourishment that we need to thrive.
At the very heart of Chinese medicine’s Daoist roots is a desire for clarity. In Daoist traditions, the way this virtue is cultivated is by observing and living in accordance with the seasons- moving as nature moves when nature moves. In order for the Heart to do its job efficiently, it requires a certain level of clarity.
The theme of the shadow self has been surfacing more and more in the collective consciousness. As human consciousness evolves beyond the New Age / Burning Man wishful thinking that being blissed out in a yoga class or at an Ayahuasca ceremony is synonymous with transcendence, we begin to understand that there is no spiritual bypass- real transformation requires a certain, sometimes excruciating, amount of facing our own pain, trauma, and ugliness.
Humans have the unique ability to use our will to push ourselves to persevere despite needing food or rest. We do this by tapping into our deepest inner reserves to supplement the basic everyday energy that comes from food and rest. In Chinese medicine this is called spending our Jing.
The sacred mountains in Sichuan Province in China offer a unique opportunity for synchronicity with the wisdom embedded within ancient consciousness. The roots of classical Chinese medical theory, interwoven with ancient philosophies, esoteric spiritual practices, and the secrets of Daoist inner alchemy originated here.
n Chinese medicine, mountains, rocks, and minerals belong to the Metal element, the element that governs purity and radiance. Metal is the realm where we are given the opportunity to let go of ego and pride, suspending judgments and attachments as a means to create space for the virtues of selflessness, justice, and clarity of Spirit.
As my time in Nepal comes to a close, the overwhelming emotion I feel is gratitude. In three weeks, I had the opportunity to treat 240 patients and learn many invaluable lessons about health, culture, and life. I worked with amazing, sensitive interpreters and developed a very fulfilling daily routine of eating, sleeping, working, exploring the rice paddies, greeting the street dogs and maintaining a safe distance from the endearing monkeys.
Being in Nepal has reminded me how important it is to leave our cultural comfort zones and allow ourselves to experience those slight shifts in perspective that pave the way to major insights and life-changing revelations. It is so interesting to realize, again and again, that there is no objectivity- what we believe to be universal truth quickly disintegrates when we are immersed in another culture that has been built upon entirely different universal truths.
The acupuncture clinic has been full of patients this week, sometimes with a line out the door. Some walk as much as three hours each way along dusty dirt roads weaving through rice paddies to get here. They come for acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Ayurvedic massage, and Tibetan medicine provided by volunteers, in exchange for the price of a cup of tea.
The Vajra Varahi clinic is outside of Kathmandu, in the much smaller and less chaotic town of Chapagaun. The lower level has a reception area and treatments rooms, and the two upper levels are bedrooms for staff, as well as a common area and shared kitchen. The rooftop terrace is beautiful, with resident feline friends and amazing views across the valley.
For the month of December, I will be volunteering at Vajravarahi Health Care Clinic outside of Kathmandu, Nepal, treating members of the local community for the price of a cup of tea. Nepal is recovering from a devastating series of earthquakes in April 2015. Millions of people were displaced and continue to struggle.
This post is for those who are graduating, recently graduated or looking to branch out on their own. Dr. Emily Siy, DACM, L.Ac reached out to some of her colleagues to gather some sound advice from people who are successfully doing it and who can offer some advice that you might not find in your standard practice management classes.