Lifestyle (diet and exercise) related content of interest to the general public or those that contain introductory information.
Why is my New Year's article being penciled in during the middle of the month instead of greeting you bright and early on the morning of January 1st, 2010? Why have I let my beard grow out? The answer to these and other questions is that I am practicing the art of Wu Wei - a new years resolution of sorts... And I am writing this to invite you to do the same. Minus the beard of course, which is really just because it's been bitterly cold here in the South....
This afternoon I chanced upon this article (link) about increased incidence of a stomach virus called “norovirus”. According to the article, “There are no medicines that can treat norovirus or shorten the infection’s duration, so people sickened with the illness are typically advised simply to drink plenty of fluids and get extra rest.”
But we know better!
The relationship we have with our body has profound influence in life. Yet this is a topic that gets rarely discussed, perhaps due to our familiarity with our body. Nevertheless, I find it an important aspect of healing, especially for the chronic cases. The understanding and deepened relationship within ourselves is a fundamental event to healing of the whole being, and often leads to a heightened state of awareness of the self.
Every patient is looking for a good healer. Even the healthy ones are, too. But few realize a healer can do only so much for them. Yes, herbs, pills, surgery, acupuncture... these all help and often work well. However, we consider them the lowest level of healing.
Locker Room Conversations
A woman is sitting on a bench in the locker room at the health club putting on her sneakers.
I cannot understand the increasing lack of civility in the world at large, although, on second thought, I actually do. I know it has to do with stress!
The second in a series demystifying Chinese Medicine Theory for Patients and the General Public
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides us with unique and illustrative ways of looking at our health and relationships between ourselves, others, and our environment. This series of articles is part of my ongoing goal of demystifying the world of acupuncture. In the first article of the series, "My Liver Is What", we discussed the liver system from a Chinese Medicine perspective.
Natalie Goldberg leads workshops using writing as a Zen practice, a way to direct attention inward. She teaches to focus on first thoughts, encouraging her writing students to stay with the immediate, the authentic, the direct experience, and to avoid analysis and explanation. This principle also applies when experiencing discomfort.
There are many things you can do to keep your immune system buzzing and prevent coming down with colds and flu. Here is just a brief outline:
1. Listen to your thoughts and watch your language. What are your beliefs about seasonal flu, so-called "swine" flu, and your susceptibility? What are your ideas about whether you need to have a flu shot to keep yourself free of illness?
