These 18 days around each equinox and solstice is ruled by Earth.  Sound and color are powerful agents to help balance the Earth organs of spleen, stomach and pancreas.

The color yellow in Ayurvedic medicine is associated with Manipura Charaka, digestive organs, individuality and trust.

The color yellow/gold strengthens the function of these organs and emotions.  Wear a gold layer near your digestive organs.  Wrap in a golden scarf. Use golden linens on your table. Place your element wisdom cards in a earthen bowl on your table or kitchen bar and choose one each day.

Fill your pancreas with golden light.

Fill your stomach with golden light.

Fill your spleen with golden light.

Purchase your Element Wisdom Earth Deck here

Eat clean foods. Be aware of your food’s source. Spring presents such great opportunities to eat beautiful fresh produce. Dark leafy greens such as spinach, dandelion and kale are packed with wonderful vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C, E, K, and potassium and magnesium. Be careful with these foods and others high in vitamin K if taking blood thinners; but you knew that, right? It doesn’t mean you don’t eat greens but rather consume a consistent amount.

Sprouting is the life force breaking though the ground from winter.  When you look around it’s obvious what to do next to move your health in the right direction. 

Many foods have increased health benefits in sprouted forms. Sprouted foods are easier to digest and it is easier for our bodies to process the nutrients in these foods. Read more here: https://www.health.com/nutrition/sprouted-food

Garden Tip: Did you know that you can grow your own garlic from sprouted bulbs? Learn how here: https://www.almanac.com/plant/garlic

To inspire some healthy eating we have provided these recipes. Come back next week for more recipes. 

Dandelion Pesto

1 small clove of garlic
½ cup pecans/pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups coarsely chopped dandelion greens
1⁄3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Optional:

¼ cup finely grated Romano
Zest of 1 lemon

Place garlic in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to finely chop. Add pecans, (Romano), vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper; pulse to finely chop. Add dandelion and pulse to finely chop. Add oil in a slow stream while processing until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Sprouts

Instructions for sprouting nuts, seeds. Legumes.  Soak your seeds in a jar of pure water overnight (about 8 hours). Pour out the soaking water through a strainer or cheesecloth affixed to the top of the jar. Lay in dish rack or dishwasher rack at an angle with the top of the jar leaning slightly down. Rinse with fresh water twice per day. Jars are ideal for bean and grain sprouts which take 3-5 days to mature.

Wood/Liver:  shhhhhhhh (tongue near soft palate) Note: E

San ren kan wo you zhuyi? Wo you zhuyi!

Cleans anger and affirms motivation & direction of the life force

Fire/Heart:  hawwwww (mouth wide open) Note: G

San ren kan wo ming li? Wo mingli!

Cleans hatred and affirms understanding & sacred connection

Earth/Spleen:  whooooo (from throat) Note: C

San ren kan wo xinshi? Wo zhuyi!

Cleans doubt & blame and affirms deep trust & integrity

Metal/Lung: ssssssss (tongue behind teeth) Note: D

San ren kan wo xiangliang? Wo xiangliang!

Cleans the tendency to be critical & judgmental and affirms the radiance of sound & light

Water/Kidney: wooooooo (lips form an O) Note: A

San ren kan wo you rouhe? Wo you rouhe!

restlessness & disdain and affirms softness & harmony

listen to the healing sounds 

Wealth & Debt. As we continue through the seasonal and elemental period of metal/autumn toward the return to earth transitional period around the upcoming winter solstice, it would be incomplete not to touch on the subject of currency, money and wealth. Here I share with you some questions, key concepts and influencers which have helped evolve my relationship healthier with money and currency exchange.

My relationship with money, abundance or poverty, is my responsibility.

In August of this year, I was wildly proud to reach debt-free status.  In my starry-eyed idealistic fashion of being in the world (we are all complex and complicated beings) I took out a student loan, only to cover tuition, at National University of Natural Medicine. That 6 year endeavor cost me around $135,000 plus $25,000 interest over then next 14 years in exchange for a skill set in holistic medicine (not business or entrepreneurship).  I took the 6 month grace period of non-payment after graduation and committed to a graduated 30 year payback.  During the economic downturn of 2008, I enrolled in IBR (income based repayment) in order to keep my business open, making minimal payments.  In 2013, when the economy, and out of pocket health services were again marketable, a financial advisor, Robert Cotton of Edward Jones, offered the following wisdom:  if you want to remain in poverty, stay in the IBR program.  If I wish to move out of poverty, pay off the upfront interest required to exit that program (wait for it……$5,550.01). 

The Envelope Method

He offered excellent advice, and I took it….. seriously.  Something shifted in me: the borrowed debt became a double dare ya endeavor to payoff the man and rid myself of the albatross of student loan debt.  During the downturn and recovery, I implemented Dave Ramsey’s envelope method.  It’s an eye opening process to divide your work compensation (in cash) into categories for all money spent:  housing, food, transport, insurance, entertainment, etc.  I learned a lot about myself.  I have always enjoyed cooking at home with whole food ingredients.  I found when I did go out to eat, with a friend, I was very quick (too quick) to pick up the check.  I balanced this by inviting friends over to cook together.  We could chop, cook, create with the best ingredients our town and gardens have to offer with no rush, no worries about the check!  I still listen to Dave Ramsey on Triumph during my work commutes to Mississippi and continue to be positively influenced by his tough love suggestions. I make decisions that create my financial situation. Life happens from birth to natural disasters that impact our economy. Institutional systems of money provide opportunity and suck at the same time.  Greed is real.  Generosity is more real.

Does my time spent and lifestyle reflect my value system?

This is a question that I ask my patients and myself frequently.

Other powerful influences for me have been: 

The Botany of Desire explores the relationship between our human desire and plants:  tulips, potatoes, apples and marijuana. Who influences who?? How do your desires, or hungry ghosts, direct your personal economy?

You can watch a video clip or even download a free audiobook of The Botany of Desire (or one of thousands of other titles) via Internet Archive: a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.

https://archive.org/details/BotanyOfDesire2009

Prosperity 2017 Film

While in Park City this fall, I was introduced to Pedram Shojai and immediately watched and wanted to share his work.  He was educated as a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and shifted to documentary film making as he became disenchanted with our current system of health care.  He is making a big difference offering us insights and examples of healthy change that can repair and renew our broken and outdated systems.

Watch his film here (free) https://www.well.org/prosperity/

There have been several very good films regarding our financial systems as of late.  Be aware.  Invest in systems that reflect your values.  Do you big corporate bank or small local bank?  If you have a retirement portfolio, what are you supporting:  big tobacco, big pharma, emerging markets, municipalities, innovative technology?  Have you considered micro lending? Have you considered investing in preservation of lands for public or private use? 

Ask yourself the hard questions of how you are supporting a sick or healthy infrastructure. And further, how is this a reflection of yourself?

To dive in:  check out Garrett Gunderson and his wealth factory concept of conscious investing.

Do the work.

I watch many friends and family members struggle with money. From chronic low income earners with limitless possibility to those that have so much but still mire down in scarcity and greed, as well as those that blow through inheritances or paychecks like the wind.  I have family and friends that live well from the art they create, the music they make, the medicine, programs or companies they develop. Some resist the fact that our current economic system runs on money or stand strong that all money is evil. I have reflected, intentioned, acted and continue to make changes – mentally and emotionally – which provide freedom from this and other shackles that we wear. There will be highs and lows, financially, and otherwise. Such is life. 

Work only with those that have at least as much integrity as yourself.

Fortunately, I was raised by two parents with strong work ethics. I have always been very honest likely due to unsavory family dynamics.  Several years ago, frustrated with the work relationships that I was co-creating, I affirmed to work only with those that have at least as much integrity as I have.  Unhealthy relationships started falling away and healthier ones were established. I have to occasionally press the reset button on this one.  Give it a try.  You will be amazed with the results, and prepare to let go!  I have found and continue to find wholesome relationships with money.  I have also learned to rely on professionals from insurance agents, office staff and attorneys, financial advisers to accountants that can help our system thrive.  Several years ago, I started working with Steve Richardson, CPA in Tuscaloosa as my business became more complex.  He has helped me gain confidence as an entrepreneur, strategize taxes and plan for growth.  He has an insightful, practical newsletter to which you can subscribe and start using right away.  And if you are looking to grow your financial team they work local and non-local. Link to Steve Richardson, CPA newsletter.

Do we have the equanimity that we need to heal our suffering?

Strike a right balance between giving and receiving. Be radically generous with yourself, your love, your resources. It more than comes back to you.

Like what you are reading?  Get our Cultivating Wellness blog to your inbox weekly by clicking the grey envelope 

A Haudenosaunee “Thanksgiving” Prayer:  
A Native American Traditional Blessing

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.

Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Waters

We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms – waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of water.

Now our minds are one.

The Fish

We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.

Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning, they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.

Now our minds are one.

The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.

Now our minds are one.

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many peoples of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.

Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds – from the smallest to the largest – we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our Grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.

Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.

Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together and give thanks to our oldest grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of women all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.

Now our minds are one.

The Stars

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars.

Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers.

Now our minds are one.

The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

Now our minds are one.

We invite you to stay in touch. xoxoxo Sarita

James Ronald “Ronnie” Myers 1953-2019

This week’s blog is a memoriam as we say goodbye to our beloved, who recently passed. Ronnie Myers taught me about organic gardening, he brought a world of music into the lives of the many fans and friends who loved him, and he could weave a good tale.  An enthusiatic lover of planet earth, he leaves a garden full of plants and trees in his memory. The obituary for Ronnie reads…. a talented musician, a passionate horticulturist and a high-energy conversationalist. He had a particular interest in Japanese maple trees, traveling to conservatories, grafting, maintaining and distributing hundreds of trees over the years. Ronnie was a great lover of nature and cared deeply for our planet.

L-R: Michael Bowman, Tom Stem, Ronnie Myer, and Randy “Frog” Palmer. Original members of Henri’s Notions.

For those who wish to memorialize Ronnie, the family requests donations be sent to Hospice of West Alabama (https://hospiceofwestal.com) and/or the local George Wood Chapter of the Alabama Wildflower Society (http://www.alwildflowers.org/home).

Life is a gift and strive to make the world a better place. In lieu of flowers, let us help someone in need. Be kind to strangers and animals. Pick up the phone and call an old friend. Encourage one another. All acts of kindness are appreciated. If you love somebody, now is the time to tell them.

As we grieve the loss of Ronnie, I leave you with a visual display of his amazing backyard in Northport, Alabama.  We will be holding Sunday Gardening at Ronnies Garden over the next few months if you wish to say your goodbyes with us.  Stay in touch, gather with us to pull some weeds, trim some branches in trust that spring will bloom glorious once again.

Seasonal  Mountain Meditation allows us to become grounded and connect with our inner strength when faced with stressful and challenging situations, both internal and external.

If you enjoy our blog and would like it to be delivered to your inbox weekly, just click on the grey envelope and subscribe.  xoxoxo Sarita

Breathe Deep. 

Are you mindful of your breathing?

Healthy lungs are vital to our overall health.  

The autumn season represents the Lung (肺)  phase of our body’s seasonal cycle as it is the season associated with the Lung and its partner, the Large Intestine (Colon). If you are prone to catching colds or struggle with allergies in the Fall, it’s important to take care of these organs!

Every organ in our bodies has functions and responsibilities. Some are physical while others are psychological and spiritual.  The metal element, which peaks during the autumn season, governs the LUNGS as well as the large intestine or colon. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the lungs are not just a respiratory system but play the leading role in breathing in and out, the vital force of living a healthy life. The lungs in balance present as strong physical energy and when the lungs are healthy, immunity is strong, recovery from illness is quick, skin is hydrated, and the complexion is glowing. If lung health is poor, it will present as low energy and a weak immune system. Also, sadness and grief are expressions of lung energy.

The lung is a yin organ. Located in the thorax, it connects with the throat and opens into the nose. It occupies the uppermost position among the zang-fu organs, and is known as the “canopy” of the zang-fu organs. Its meridian connects with the large intestine. The lung and its paired organ are associated with the element of metal and the emotion of grief.

The lung’s major functions include maintaining a healthy immune system that fight against pathogens, as well as circulating Qi and fluids throughout the body. The lung’s role entails the creation of a boundary between the inner and outer world. The lungs take Qi from the outer world and breathe it into the body. The lungs govern Qi, which is the energy required by all bodily processes. Typically, outside pathogens most often enter our bodies through the respiratory and digestive systems, and the lung and colon maintain the function of these systems such that they are not affected by outside pathogens. The greatest exception is the eye! According to Chinese medicine, the body’s defensive ability is directly dependent on the strength of the lung and colon.

Breath is essential, yet the techniques of natural or therapeutic breathing are very often unknown to use. I have included a few basic breathing sequences below

Diaphragmatic Breathing:  

This should be our everyday breath; however, most of us are in the habit of chest breathing, restricting the natural movement of the diaphragm. Many of us have never relaxed our diaphragm for a full breath. Read that again!  Many of us have never relaxed our diaphragm for a full breath.

• Lie on the floor face up with knees slightly bent.
• Place a small pillow under the head if that is more comfortable for you.
• Place your hands lightly on your stomach.
• Concentrate on breathing using the diaphragm, not the chest, and feeling the stomach rise as the lungs fill from the bottom as you breath in slowly.
• Let the stomach fall naturally when breathing out by relaxing the diaphragm.
• Progress by placing a small weight on the stomach, such as a small book.  Repeat.
• Next stand up and place your hands on your stomach again, feeling how you breathe. Surprisingly, you may find this step requires some concentration initially.
• Finally, practice breathing correctly while sitting in a chair or riding a bike.

Pranayama: Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodana):

Fold your index and middle finger into your palm of your right hand. Place the thumb by your right nostril and your ring and little fingers by your left, Vishnu Mudra.

• Use right thumb to close off right nostril
• Inhale slowly through left nostril and count to 5
• Pause for a second
• Now close the left nostril with ring finger and release thumb off the right nostril
• Exhale through your right nostril for 5 seconds
• Now, inhale through right nostril to 5 seconds
• Pause
• Use thumb to close of right nostril
• Breathe out through the left nostril and count to 5
• This is one round. Start slowly with 1 or 2 rounds and gradually increase your count. Never force. Sit quietly for a few moments after you have finished.

One modification to try is  inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 4 seconds and exhaling for 4.

deep breath essential oil inhaler

Edgar Cayce recommends both diaphragmatic and alternate nostril breathing as well as aromatic oil blends for respiratory health. For many, many years we have been using a diffused essential oil blend called Deep Breath, inspired by Edgar Cayce.  It is a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus and menthol. Novel and non irritating, it creates an imprint of our intention to relax and take a few deep breaths and heal when used at home.  We have also found that our patients respond well to nasal inhalers scented with Deep Breath.

Quick and Easy Reset:

This breath resets our nervous system into rest and digest (parasympathetic dominance).

• Inhale 4
• Hold 7
• Exhale 8

I have another tool that I have just rediscovered this weekend.  For those that love technology and apps and video games and mandalas, check out Heart Math’s Inner Balance gizmo.  I bought it a couple of years ago and  brought it out today after a total meltdown related to a lot of corrective actions by the universe, which challenged my job as the juggler in my personal three ringed circus.  I’ve updated my app and packed it for my travels this week.  It guides us to inhale and exhale into our heart  shifting us from stress and emotional overload to a state of balance and heart rate coherence (gratitude).  It actually monitors our heart rhythm and gives us instant and visual feedback of  our dynamic state.

https://www.heartmath.org/store/products/inner-balance/

LUNG FUNCTION

The lungs contain a series of blood vessels that oxygenate the blood which works to remove carbon dioxide from our body. This oxygen rich blood passes to the heart and then pumped through our entire body to nourish our muscles, organs, and tissues.

Emotionally and physically, the lung (along with its organ partner, the large intestine), is responsible for helping you “let go” of whatever you don’t need; from life experiences to emotions to metabolic by-products. As our lungs take in the “pure”, its companion organ, the large intestine, eliminates that which is impure. The large intestine eliminates what is unnecessary or toxic from our bodies. Our bodies are subject to daily “garbage” directed at our minds and our spirit. We need to eliminate mental and spiritual trash to keep our minds free of toxins and constipated. The large intestine functioning on the mental and spirit level enables us to “let go” of all this waste. The lungs and large intestine work together, one taking in the pure while the other eliminates waste.

Watch this blog space for a future post about “letting go” of addictions and substance abuse disorder. This autumn season is THE time of year to let go of harmful substances and kick bad habits!

LUNG ATTRIBUTES

Lung emotions: grief, sadness, detached.

Lung Function: Respiration. Creates energy from the air and helps to distribute it throughout the body. Important in the immune system and its ability to resist viruses and bacteria. Regulates sweat glands and body hair, and hydrates the skin.

Symptoms of Lung Imbalance: Shortness of breath and shallow breathing, sweating, fatigue, cough, frequent cold and flu, allergies, asthma, and other lung conditions. Dry skin. Depression and crying.

Lung Conditions: Lung Qi Deficiency, Lung Yin Deficiency, and Cold Damp Obstructing the Lungs.

GRIEF~THE EMOTION OF THE LUNGS

Clarity of thought, open communication, positive self-image, and the ability to “let-go” and to be happy are all the result of lungs in balance. Should the lungs become out of balance, grief, isolation, and profound sadness may take over. The lungs are also associated with emotional attachment such as having a difficult time letter go of people, objects, or spending too much time reliving the past. This indicates weak Qi or lung energy. The key to a happy and well-balanced life is to confront and fully express one’s feelings of grief or loss. People commonly avoid overwhelming or unpleasant feelings, however, a healthy approach is to acknowledge our feelings, deal with them, and move on.

Because the lungs govern our feelings of grief, the best way to release grief is through deep breathing exercises. Practice deep breathing by meditation, yoga, tai chi, or qi gong. Breathe in through your nose all the way to your stomach being mindful of your breath. Exhale through your mouth from the bottom of your lungs until they are empty. Repeat inhaling and exhaling three times. This breathing exercise should be done three times a day. I have included a lovely video of a practitioner demonstrating Qigong for the metal season and the lungs. 

LUNG MERIDIAN

The meridian system, a fundamental concept of Chinese medicine, directs the flow of energy along specific pathways throughout the body much like the circulatory system transports blood. When this energy, also known as the life force, or qi (chi), becomes blocked or out of balance, health issues and disease occur. The concept of yin and yang helps us to understand the meridian system, which is subdivided into yin and yang groups. Twelve primary meridians are laterally and symmetrically distributed along the entire body.  Six meridians, three yin and three yang, traverse each side of our bodies and these meridians connect all major organ systems. The six yin meridians run along the inner side of the body’s limbs, on the chest and abdomen; while the yang meridians run along the outer side of the limbs and along the head, face, and torso.  Each meridian plays a specific and critical role in the health of the entire body.

The Lung meridian begins on the front of each shoulder, and continues down the arm until it reaches the tip of the thumbs. However, the lung meridian also has various energy pathways that branch off of it, and muscle tissue that is strongly affected by the energy of the meridian. The first extraneous pathway is the Lung luo-connecting channel. This energy pathway is very short. It separates from the lung meridian at the point LU7, located on the wrist. From there, it goes down the arm onto the hand and spreads out across the part of the palm that is near the thumb. From here, it influences the energy of the large intestine meridian points that lie on the hand.

Lung Meridian Points

• LU 1: zhong fu / Central Treasury
  • Function: Regulates Lung Qi and stops cough, stimulates the Lung Qi to descend, eliminates fullness in the chest and stops pain.
  • Indications: Useful for all Lung issues, especially cough, wheezing, asthma and fullness in the chest as well as local problems such as pain in the chest, shoulder and back.

• LU 3: tian fu / Celestial Storehouse
  • Function: Clears Lung heat and regulates Lung Qi.
  • Indications: Asthma, epistaxis, pain in the medial aspect of the upper arm.

• LU 4: xia bai / Guardian White
  • Function: Regulates Qi and blood, relieves pain.
  • Indications: Cough, fullness in the chest, pain in the medial aspect of the upper arm.

• LU 9: tai yuan / Great Abyss
  • Function: Resolves phlegm, regulates Lung Qi, stops cough, tones Lung Qi, Lung yin and Qi energy, promotes circulation of blood, influences pulse, clears Lung and Liver heat.
  • Indications: Cough, asthma, hemoptysis, sore throat, palpitation, pain in chest, wrist and arm.

• LU 10: yu ji / Fish Border
  • Function: Clears Lung heat, benefits the throat.
  • Indications: Cough, hemoptysis, sore throat, loss of voice, fever, feverish sensation on the palm.

FOODS FOR THE LUNGS

The foods below strength the lungs and give them the energy they need. The flavor of the lungs is pungent.

Garlic, sweet potato, ginger, onion, cabbage, pears, walnuts, black pepper, radish, chili, cinnamon, cardamom, leek, miso, navy beans, soy beans, almonds, asparagus, broccoli, celery, mustard greens, apricot, banana, and eggs.

Ginseng Root is especially nourishing to the lungs, skin, and stomach. Ginseng is said to moisten and cool the lungs, making it especially useful for those with a dry cough.

Astragalus is one of the most commonly used Chinese herbs for strengthening the immune system. In Chinese medicine, astragalus is thought to build up immunity to protect us from external pathogens.

Detail of Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps Mushroom is a medicinal mushroom that is used to inhibit cancer cells, strengthen weak lungs,  particularly in those who exert high breathing energy, such as athletes, a protective effect from inflammation of asthma, and a whole lot more for the lungs and other organ systems like the kidneys as well!

Quit Smoking!

In the theme of “letting go”, of course the single best thing you can do for your lungs during this autumn (metal) season is to quit smoking~! I’ve included information and links below for a program offered by the American Lung Association.

Freedom from Smoking®

Freedom from Smoking® is a program offered by the American
Lung Association. Use this link: http://www.lung.org/stopsmoking/i-wantto-quit/how-to-quit-smoking.htmlv and scroll down the page to the section title Get Help.

• The American Lung Association also has a help line, 1- 800 LUNGUSA.

• Smokefree.gov is a website of the United States Department of
Health and Human Services. It includes information on healthy
habits, how smoking affects one’s health, and tips on preparing
to quit. It also includes resources specifically for women, teens,
and Spanish-speaking patients.

• 1-800-QUIT Now (1-800-784-0669) is a toll free number that
connects smokers to the Quit For Life® program, sponsored by
the American Cancer Society.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer in
American adults.

The National Cancer Institute estimated that in
2016 there would be 224,390 new cases of lung cancer and that lung cancer
will account for more than one-fourth of all cancer deaths.

Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer. Most lung cancers are
discovered when they are in the late stage.

Divine Feminine Divine Masculine: Guest Blog Post by Teresa Cribelli, PhD, Eminent Reiki Master

Reiki is a, gentle, compassionate method for bringing energetic balance and clearing on the physical, emotional, and mental levels. Because Reiki is about balance, it can be especially helpful at the changing of seasons.  All versions of Reiki are compassionate and loving with the capacity to bring deep peace and healing, while Eminent Reiki^TM focuses on balancing the feminine and masculine energies we all carry within us. Fall and winter, seasons that are energetically feminine, provide us opportunities to focus on our inner world.  In traditional societies located in parts of the world with changing seasons, the winter was a time of quiet and reflection (not inaction, but a turning to the inner forces that nourish and revitalize us).  It was a period of stored seeds and pickled vegetables and preserved fruits, of relying on the resources harvested and built up during the bright spring and summer months.  Winter shifts us from the outward, masculine seasons (yang) to the inner, feminine seasons (yin).

Murmurmation (Yin). collage. Teresa Cribelli

Reiki energy can help us calibrate our physical bodies with these seasonal energetic shifts.  During winter the focus may be on the feminine, but that does not mean the masculine goes away.  Rather, the changing seasons can be seen as a pendulum that moves between the inner and the outer, the revitalizing feminine and the energizing masculine.  Winter is in balance with summer; the two are part of the whole, and when they operate in equilibrium, each supports the other – the masculine and feminine in balance.  There is the very old Greek story of the goddess of the harvest, Demeter.  When her daughter, Persephone, is kidnapped by Hades and taken to the Underworld, Demeter falls into a deep depression and winter remains well into the time of spring and summer.  The world withers into dust and grey skies and people cannot grow their seeds.  The feminine out of balance leads to inertia.  In another Greek myth, Helios the sun god, in the form of a charioteer drives his team of horses across the sky each day, bringing warmth and energizing light to the world.  When his son, Phaethon, steals the chariot one morning and loses control of the horses, the day lasts for weeks, and all of the plants on earth catch fire and burn. The people are thirsty and hot and again have no food. Too much yin and the earth stagnates, too much yang and it burns.

Divine Yang. collage. Teresa Cribelli

As we move from summer into fall, we can look at this as rebalancing on the macro and the micro levels – the masculine seasons moving into the feminine seasons both within and without.  While the seasons lean toward the feminine or the masculine, over the course of the year, they are in balance. 

This is a useful way to think about Eminent Reiki^TM; bringing balance to the feminine and the masculine energies so that we are nourished and energized year round.

Reiki Description

The practice of Reiki is an ancient healing art, one that is the energy of love and compassion. It supports us through clearing and balancing the energies of the systems and bodies, creating opportunity for health and wellbeing on all levels. Reiki can be received with the practitioner’s hands on or off of the body. The client simply relaxes and receives as the practitioner senses where clearing is needed and allows the Reiki energy to flow to the source of pain. Reiki energy can only be used for positive outcomes.  An all-purpose tool that introduces ease and grace into the lives of those who receive and practice it, Reiki is a cherished method of thousands. There are many types of Reiki practiced on Earth at this time; each variation is an expression of love and support.

Eminent Reiki^{TM is} a new approach to Reiki with a special male/female component unique to the Eminent Reiki^TM process. Not only are the male and female used together to create a special healing experience, they are specifically blended together into a new energy that is part of the Eminent Reiki^TM attunement.  A key component of healing is balancing the male and female within and Eminent Reiki^TM addresses this need specifically in the energy and approach to healing.

For more information, visit the Eminent Reiki^TM website:

http://www.eminentreiki.com and check these research links below:

Effect of Reiki Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Adults: An In-Depth Literature Review of Randomized Trials with Effect Size Calculations

Reiki Is Better Than Placebo and Has Broad Potential as a Complementary Health Therapy

Reiki Reduces Burnout Among Community Mental Health Clinicians

River City Mural, collage. Temerson Square. Tuscaloosa, AL

Click here for the UA annoucement and more about Teresa’s  Ephemeral River City Mural Project. Catch it while you can! (east side of Coppertop Bar y’all)

What got you interested in Reiki?  What training have you received?

My pathway to practicing Reiki began with acupuncture.  About 20 years ago I consulted an acupuncturist for a chronic pain condition (an MD recommended I try acupuncture – traditional western medical treatments had not been effective for managing my pain).  I began to feel much better after two weeks of acupuncture treatments, and I found that when the pain returned at night (I had been having trouble sleeping) I could make it go away by meditating on the acupuncture points used in my sessions.  Through visualizing the acupuncture points I could attain the same level of relaxation I experienced when I was being treated.  It was an accidental discovery that ended up being life changing.  

In a sense, acupuncture taught me how to meditate and relax, but at that point I still saw moving energy as something outside of myself, I needed a third party to help make the shift.  About ten years later my sister became a Reiki practitioner and gave me a session after I suffered a painful miscarriage.  Her hands became hot during that session and it felt so healing – relaxing and calming on both a physical and emotional level – that I knew I wanted to learn how to do it too.  From there I took the Eminent Reiki^TMclasses in Colorado and received my attunements.  This past summer I received my level three Master Practitioner attunement in Eminent Reiki^TM, a version of Reiki that focuses on balancing the masculine and feminine energies we all carry within us.  My original intent when I first started practicing Reiki was to help relax and heal physical ailments, but in my self-practice I have found I focus more on emotional healing.  Reiki can be a wonderful method for letting go of worries and anxieties from the past.

What got you interested in collage?

I love illustrations and images – it is has been something I have been attracted to my entire life. When I was five I ripped all the horse pictures out of a hand-me-down set of story books.  I could not read yet, and I wanted to free the illustrations from the books.  I had so much fun arranging and re-arranging those horse illustrations before I realized with a shock that books were not supposed to be torn apart.  Nonetheless, I kept coming back to making collages.  I used to shellac images of animals from Ranger Rick magazine onto scraps from my father’s woodpile, and I still have a collage I made in second grade art class.  It contains an image of a plastic horse and cowgirl from a toy catalog, a sewing machine, some aluminum foil, and a photo of Evonne Goolagong,the tennis player.  I have no idea why I put those subjects together at the age of seven, but they illustrate the thrill and power of collage – juxtaposing seemingly unrelated images together in interesting ways.  For me it is a form of meditation.  It is a way of expressing my inner world, an aspect of myself that does not manifest in a linear way. 

How do Reiki and/or collage change your day to day experience of the world?

Both are a form of meditation, of accessing the calm center that is inside all of us. Reiki helps relax and release in the realm of energy, while collage facilitates self-expression.  Both help bring to consciousness what needs to be healed or understood or joyfully expressed.  It is a way to practice self-love.  As physical objects collages also become a meditation  – for me and the people who view them.  By contemplating the juxtaposition of images, we can, to quote the photographer Minor White, “[learn] to make chance moments occur by looking at anything until [we see] what else it is.”  This shift in perspective can facilitate healing and true self expression.

Teresa offers Reiki sessions at Alberta Orchard Wellness. Please utilize our online booking 2 step process or contact our office for pre-payment and scheduling: 

Click to pre-pay.reiki-treatment 

Click to book appointment

EARTH

TRANSITION

In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means knowledge of life.  Ancient Ayurvedic medicine classifies a person’s physical and emotional state of being using the three doshas—vata, kapha, and pitta. The doshas are the energies running throughout our bodies and minds that control all of our physical and mental systems. Everyone has a specific constitution, or Prakruti, that is determined by the proportions of the three doshas at the time of conception. A person’s body contains elements of all three of the doshas with one element usually taking precedence over the other two elements. These energies create the characteristics and particulars that define every person’s individual makeup. Disease and health issues occur when the three doshas are out of balance. The doshas derive from the Five Elements and their related attributes.

Vata ~ Space and Air

Pitta ~Fire and Water

Kapha ~ Earth and Water

Pitta energy, associated with fire, influences the digestive and endocrine systems. People with pitta energy have fiery personalities and are intelligent and quick-paced. Ulcers, inflammation, digestive issues, anger, heartburn, and arthritis can manifest when pitta energy is out of balance, and practices to restore balance are: staying cool, unwinding, laughter therapy, me-time and rest.

Vata energy is of the air and space. It is associated with breathing and blood circulation. Vata energy is dominant in people who are lively, creative, and think outside of the box. Vata imbalance can cause joint pain, constipation, dry skin, and emotional stress.  Vata types benefit from meditation, and other nourishing self-care practices like: oilation and oil pulling, staying warm, (learning how to) be still, relax and stay calm.

Kapha energy, related to earth and water, is associated with the chest, torso and back. Kapha dominant people display a strong constitution with a calm temperament. A person with a kapha energy imbalance may suffer from obesity, diabetes, sinus infections, and gallbladder problems and can benefit from dry skin brushing, short periods of intensive exercise that increase internal heat and result in sweating, energizing music and home/workspace organization.

The doshas are constantly reacting and responding to our environments and choices. Toxic exposures, an unhealthy diet, habits and lifestyle choices, seasonal changes, emotional upset, and stress all affect the balance of the tridosha. Watch for our upcoming fall guest post with Gillian Shapiro on sound healing;  she will provide a dosha quiz link to learn more about your patterns.

PANCHAKARMA

Panchakarma is the purification therapy used in Ayurvedic medicine , which is based on the concept that all disease is created by the build-up of toxins in the body and by imbalances between the body, mind and spirit. To address the accumulation of toxic substances in the body, a detoxification therapy is prescribed to cleanse the body. Panchakarma is used to treat any disease, especially those that are chronic, systemic, and stress-related. 

Panchakarma brings the doshas into equilibrium while restoring health and wellness.

Panchakarma consists of five detoxifying treatments that use oil treatments, massage, sweating, exercises, and herbal remedies among other methods to help restore balance in the body. I was fortunate to learn these treatments apprentice style at Mount Madonna Center just after graduation from NUNM. I worked at and managed Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center for three years, and fell in love with oilation therapies like abhyanga, swedena, and shirodhara (my absolute favorite treatment to bliss out!) I encourage all my patients to check out and book bodywork at their work or vacation destinations, particularly new therapies that may not be offered in their own communities. These cleansing treatments help to eliminate toxins from the body and restore the nervous system.  Panchakarma typically includes gut support through supplementation, diet and yoga exercises to cleanse the gut. 

I will be offering Shirodhara as a seasonal wellness opportunity this winter at my clinic in Tuscaloosa. You will be able to pre-pay and book online for my limited availability.  The treatment requires two quarts of pure or medicated and organic oils (typically sesame, sometimes cocount oil) or milk.  I create a ritual space and perform the treatment with a deeply meditative presence. Information and Pre-Pay link .  On-line booking will be available during December for Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox dates. You can also contact our office to pre-pay for first available and preferred scheduling choice. According to a research project published in Journal of Ayurveda Integrative Medicine. 2013.

A standardized Shirodhara leads to a state of alert calmness similar to the relaxation response observed in meditation. The clinical benefits observed with Shirodhara in anxiety neurosis, hypertension, and stress aggravation due to chronic degenerative diseases could be mediated through these adaptive physiological effects.

Herbal Gut Support

Support the Earth element and our guts, by trying Triphala, the “Ayurvedic pre/probiotic.” Triphala contains three fruits with five of the six tastes recognized in Ayurvedic medicine including: Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Pungent and Astringent. Triphala (or a constitutionally appropriate probiotic or a spore formulation) is an excellent supplement for the transitional Earth seasons (four times a year) and, at times, an appropriate enema ingredient with sesame oil. Two weeks of continual use then as needed or on a rotational basis is my general prescription for folks. I encourage you to try various probiotic strains, spores, fermented foods and drinks as well.  They can be used in a seasonal rhythm during the 14-18 day period around the solstices and equinoxes to support the earth element.

LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL

At Alberta Orchard Wellness in Tuscaloosa, we recommend shopping local when possible.  Manna Grocery (I worked here before going off to the West Coast for medical school) carries good quality herbs, supplements, produce, and spices. If you can’t find exactly what you need there, or you live out of town or simply don’t wish to deal with the traffic cones and road construction round town, we suggest you use our on-line pharmacies Fullscript or Wellavate, which deliver professional grade, reliable supplements, and teas right to your door.  If you are already established with them, just click through or visit our website to create an account. Simply enroll and search the catalog.  Be assured that all of these products are professional quality.  No worries for outdated, counterfeit, or adulterated products.

Persimmons & Park City!

I’ve been in Park City, Utah this week for a professional workshop (more on that later!) and I’ve been looking forward to coming home to the persimmons at AOW. They are approaching peak ripeness and I will be sure to post here and on my social media accounts when they are ready for U-peak. In the meantime, lets have a peek at the nutritional value of persimmons. They are a wonderful locally grown, fresh, whole food to include in your diet during their Earth transitional season. Just this past week, a study was published that shows that the stalk extract is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Many Asian cultural medicines use all parts of the plant:  root, rootlets, bark, inner bark, caylx, branch/stem, leaf, flower, fruit, etc.  These different parts have  different affinities for the body parts and the same or different properties in the body.

The edible fruit of the persimmon tree is sweet, flavorful, and full of antioxidants and nutrients. In fact, the Greeks called the persimmon fruit  “the divine fruit”.  The tree belongs to the Ericales order of plants, which also includes brazil nuts, blueberries, and tea. Although there are several varieties of persimmon fruit, the most commonly cultivated comes from the Japanese persimmon fruit tree, known by its scientific name of Diospyros kaki. Persimmons originated in ancient China and a United States military officer brought a persimmon variety native to Japan back to Washington D.C. during the 1880s. Today, persimmons are grown throughout the U.S. and especially in California, where hundreds of different varieties are grown. These cultivars are most typically grafted to our wild, native persimmon rootstock, Diospyros virginiana.  This female wild variety produces a small fruit with a nutty, amaretto flavor only when completely ripe.  It is a favorite treat of our deer population, a puker trick for unknowing kids, and the seed design serves as winter weather folklore.
The persimmon fruits are eaten raw, cooked or dried and they be can added to just about anything from salads to baked goods and more!

At Alberta Orchard Wellness, our success with the Asian grafted fruit trees has been greatly because we planted where the native American persimmons on our property naturally grow.  Imagine that.  Nature shows us how to be successful gardeners if only we observe then act in harmony with her wisdom. 

https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/2016/2

One persimmon (168 grams) contains:

• Calories:118
• Carbs:31 grams
• Protein:1 gram
• Fat:0.3 grams
• Fiber:6 grams
• Vitamin A:55% of the RDI
• Vitamin C:22% of the RDI
• Vitamin E:6% of the RDI
• Vitamin K:5% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine):8% of the RDI
• Potassium:8% of the RDI
• Copper:9% of the RDI
• Manganese:30% of the RDI

Also: thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), folate, magnesium, potassium and  phosphorus with trace selenium, copper, zinc.

Persimmon Benefits

1. Packed with antioxidants
2. Supports regularity
3. Promotes healthy vision
4. Reduces cholesterol levels
5. Decreases inflammation
6. Leaves: Lower blood pressure
7. Antibacterial

Gut Roll~the Good Kind!

Nauli is a yoga technique used in Panchakarma to cleanse the internal organs and tone the abdominal by doing a side-to-side rolling motion using the abdominal muscles. While perhaps more directly impacting the large and small intestines, the spleen, stomach and pancreas get a great massage with Nauli.

Give Nauli a try by following the beginner’s basics below!

NAULI 

• Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart and  knees slightly
  bent (about 5 degrees)
• Straighten your spine
• Relax your shoulders, arms and chest; feel the weight of your body
  directed down toward your knees
• Begin the exercise by pushing your abdomen out, feeling a slight
  pressure as if your stomach was full
• Pull your abdomen inward and try to make your belly button touch
  the spine; this completes one full round
• After completing 10 rounds pull your abdomen inward
  as much as you can and hold then allow gravity to release the hold. repeat the series, increasing to 50 by the end of week four.

I find it convenient to start my morning with nauli immediately after I neti or brush my teeth.  Attaching a healthy habit to an already existing habit simply sets us up for success.  Try nauli every time you brush your teeth.

A video demonstrating nauli is linked below.

https://youtu.be/yHtNn0jKk0w