Author Archives: Dr. Sarita Cox

Pericardium The Heart Protector

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

  Pericardium The Heart Protector (Xin-Bao) 心包 The fire element, which peaks during the summer season, not only governs the heart but also the small intestine, triple burner and the PERICARDIUM. WHAT IS THE PERICARDIUM? The word pericardium is derived from Latin Peri (around) and Cardium (heart). Known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as the “Heart Protector” or “Circulation-Sex” Meridian, the pericardium is associated with the FIRE element and the HEART. The pericardium protects the heart from emotional trauma, constricts the chest to protect the heart, and helps to express the joy of the heart. The pericardium protects the heart … Continue reading →

Superfood Kiwi at AOW

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

IT’S ALMOST THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN OUR KIWI FRUIT AT AOW IS READY FOR U-PICK! Watch this blog, Facebook and Instagram for updates on the kiwi crop! Weather permitting:  Wednesday, August 28, 2019, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. While we wait for this superfood to ripen, lets talk a bit about this amazing fruit, its nutritional benefits, and why you should rush on over to AOW and take advantage of this locally grown food resource. The kiwi, or Chinese gooseberry, is the edible berry of the woody, vine plant, genus Actinidia. Kiwi helps fight infections because they are full of vitamin … Continue reading →

F6: Triple Burner

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Triple Burner (San Jiao) 三焦 The fire element, which peaks during the summer season, not only governs the heart but also the small intestine, pericardium, and the TRIPLE BURNER.  SO WHAT THE HECK IS A TRIPLE BURNER? Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon defines and discusses (click here) this mysterious organ recognized in Chinese Medicine. The triple burner or triple warmer is a unique concept in Chinese Medicine and there is no similar organ in western medicine. It is a collective term describing the upper, middle, and lower burners. The Chinese word “triple burner” translates … Continue reading →

F5: Fun in the Sun!

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Fun in the Sun! The warmth and sun of the summer season invite us outdoors to soak up some sunshine and gather poolside, by one of Alabama’s many beautiful lakes, and along our sugary white, sandy beaches.  Recent research suggests that sun exposure has both beneficial and harmful effects on human health. Be aware you are also being exposed to the rays of this giant, yellow, dwarf star regularly as you travel for work and for play. Public health information, dermatologists, and the media focus on over exposure to the sun and what happens when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation … Continue reading →

F4: Separator of the Pure from the Impure

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

SMALL INTESTINES THE SEPARATOR OF PURE FROM IMPURE             As most of the planet is enduring and even setting heat records during the peak of the fiery summer season, in the Southern U.S., we are experiencing an unseasonably cool period this week.  Here we continue with our seasonal theme of the fire element and the elemental organ system. The element of fire embodies the bright, light, energetic essence of yang. However, fire without the grounding influence of Earth easily flares out of control.  The 2nd century dictionary Shuowen jiezi defines the heart as an Earth element, predating the concept of Heart … Continue reading →

F2: Bless Your Heart

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

BLESS YOUR HEART “If the spirit is at peace, the heart is in  harmony;  when  the  heart  is  in  harmony,  the body  is  whole;  if  the  spirit  becomes  aggravated the heart wavers, and when the heart wavers the body  becomes  injured;  if  one  seeks  to  heal  the physical  body,  therefore,  one  needs  to  regulate the  spirit  first.” ~ Liu Zhou, a 6th century Chinese philosopher. Every organ in our bodies has functions and responsibilities. Some are physical while others are psychological and spiritual.  The fire element, which peaks during the summer season, governs the HEART as well as the small … Continue reading →

F1: Summer Fire!

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

SUMMER FIRE! THE SEASON OF JOY Summer, ahh sweet summertime ~ this season of joy is not surprisingly associated with the element of fire. Summer’s fire ignites life! It’s an exciting time of year as our gardens mature with flowers, fruits, and vegetables during these long, hot, summer days. It is the season for adventures and activity; a time when our yang energy is at its peak. 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 … Continue reading →

E5: Happy Summer Solstice!

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Happy Summer Solstice! (xià zhì夏至) It’s the longest day of the year so let’s celebrate the start of summer! The summer solstice happens between June 20 and 22 in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the start of summer and the point when days start to become shorter and nights longer. The summer solstice is not the same day and time every year because the calendar does not exactly correspond to the Earth’s rotation. For 2019, here in Alabama, the Sun reached its greatest height in the sky on June 21 at 10:54 a.m. Central Time.   We are technically still in … Continue reading →

E4: Return to the Earth

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Return to the Earth Element The concept known as the Doyo in Traditional Chinese Medicine means the transitional time between the changing of the seasons. Each season corresponds to a specific element and the seasonal transition period relates to the Earth element. Human beings are  grounded in and supported by the Earth below and, ideally, open to the flow of divine blessings from the heavens above. The Earth element is associated with times of change throughout the year, which happen between each of the seasons around the two equinoxes and the two solstices. These transition phases begin about 7 days … Continue reading →

Its Still Spring!

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

  It’s Still Spring! Its still spring until June 21!  Spring ~ the word itself conjures up the natural movement of this season. It’s a time for creativity and breaking through. Not unlike how many of us engage in spring cleaning rituals around home, our bodies also enjoy and benefit from a good spring cleaning~physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This is the perfect time of year to give up coffee, alcohol, tobacco and other substances (think Lent) because the uplifting and stimulating energy of spring provides a natural seasonal boost. It is a time to renew health, to cultivate new … Continue reading →