Author Archives: Dr. Sarita Cox

Compost it

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Compost it! During the metal season, we let go of those things that no longer serve us or the higher good: thoughts, habits, work, relationships, patterns. During the transitional season of earth, we give it back; we compost it. I’ve never been one to tend or turn my compost, so I’ve embraced in situ composting. I layer my ‘wet’ vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves, spent herbs with ‘dry’ landscape materials – leaves and pruned branches. The trick: patience. Whatever we discard will be transformed by the earth. If you stopped composting due to the overwhelm of 2020, start again. … Continue reading →

Earth: Fill your pancreas with golden light

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Fill your pancreas with golden light. While the more widely know organs of the earth element are the spleen & stomach, the lesser recognized earth element is the pancreas. So what does that mean for your seasonal wellness? The 18 days around the solstice invite us to become aware of, in tune with and balance our blood glucose levels. Besides the sugary treats that raise our levels, did you know that stress in the form of cortisol (particularly long term stress) can be a cause of high glucose and A1C levels? A common symptom is persistent elevated glucose levels in … Continue reading →

Earth: Design the space.

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

The Earth/Transition Element wisdom deck is best used four times a year for seasonal support in the 18 days around each solstice and equinox.  We’ve just left that season behind and entered the Water/Winter season. This post is a re-cap by card title.  Our blog is now searchable by now by element wisdom card title, season, dis-order, etc.  Please enjoy this supplemental information for transitional times.  One of the Ways to Play with Element Wisdom Cards is to create mandalas.  I first began making food mandalas when I lived in an ashram in California.  As we each took a shift … Continue reading →

Metal re-cap

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

I’m sharing with you messages, musings, affirmations and instructions from the Metal season.  Yesterday, we returned to the Earth season.  Standby for inspirations to balance your internal earth and steward our external earth. The information is arranged by Element Wisdom Card title then a seasonal Food as Medicine section,  Enjoy!  To learn more and purchase your deck visit element-wisdom.com In Chinese medicine we focus on the lungs and large intestine during this season. Our Cultivating Wellness blog is now searchable. You can learn more with the keywords: metal or autumn. If you love our blog click the grey envelope to … Continue reading →

Mirror. Mirror.

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

In Chinese culture the circle shape is associated with the Metal/Fall season and represents oneness, unity and being fulfilled. Perhaps one of the most common circles we encounter in our daily lives are mirrors. It is in a mirror that we can physically reflect on ourselves, however it is possible to reflect without a mirror as well. Look for circles today, but more importantly, reflect on what makes you whole.  One self-care practice that I invite some of my patients to incorporate into their daily lives is looking into their eyes in the mirror daily and speak aloud ‘I love … Continue reading →

Understand Innate Immunity

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

With the Fall Equinox just days away on the 22nd, it is the perfect time to explore what you are doing to support your immunity. The immune system can be divided into two distinct yet coordinated types: innate and adaptive. The innate system is comprised of nonspecific defense mechanisms that respond to pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Physical barriers (skin, mucous membranes) supply one layer of defense, while a variety of immune factors (macrophages, natural killer cells, mast cells, cytokines, complement proteins) also provide another type of defense. The adaptive immune system is driven by t- and b-lymphocytes. These … Continue reading →

Triple Burner

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

June 20th marked the beginning of Summer, the season of joy. Summer’s fire spreads warmth, fosters growth, and expresses itself as life in full bloom. The fire element, in our bodies, governs the heart, small intestine, pericardium, and triple burner. In balance, fire manifests as joy and purpose; while out of balance, it manifests as hatred and coldness.  The triple burner includes the heart and lungs (upper burner), spleen and stomach (middle burner), and liver, kidneys, intestines and bladder (lower burner). Each section of the triple burner is associated with the movement of water. Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic … Continue reading →

Parks: earth transition

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Have you ever noticed yourself becoming less distracted, with a brightened mood, as your mind calms, and your breathing deepens and relaxes as you spend time with nature? A recent study shows positive affect, restoration, connectedness and mindfulness increase during a 2.5 hour forest tour. Visitors  experienced beneficial mental effects such as stress reduction in addition to physical exercise. Take time today to pause and commune with nature, we have observed these positive effects after only 15-20 minutes in nature. . By re-wilding to source we are truly able to strip away the stressors that cause much of our dis-ease and … Continue reading →

Earth/transition Dirt Immune function June 2

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Traditional Chinese Medicine is divided into 5 seasons, Spring/Wood, Summer/Fire, Fall/Metal, Winter/Water, and Earth/Transition. Earth is a season of changes that reoccurs on the 18 days in between each of the other seasons. To celebrate the start of Earth season let’s get down to the nitty, gritty and talk DIRT!   If you grew up in the south it is likely you have heard the old adage “God made dirt, and dirt don’t hurt,” but is there something really to that?  You many have seen a tv show about individuals with a drive to eat non-food items also known as … Continue reading →

Elderberries: making medicine

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

https://www.healthline.com Elderberries are: High in vitamin C: There are 6–35 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of fruit, which accounts for up to 60% of the recommended daily intake High in dietary fiber: Elderberries contain 7 grams of fiber per 100 grams of fresh berries, which is over one-quarter of the recommended daily intake A good source of phenolic acids: These compounds are powerful antioxidants that can help reduce damage from oxidative stress in the body A good source of flavonols: Elderberry contains the antioxidant flavonols quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin. The flowers contain up to 10 times more flavonols than the berries  Rich in … Continue reading →