Category Archives: Element Wisdom cards

Fire – Cool down with cucumbers or watermelon

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Fire – Cool down with cucumbers or watermelon   Balancing Your Heat: Top Cooling Foods for Vitality In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), optimal health relies on the balance of Yin (cool, moistening) and Yang (warm, activating) energies. When your body accumulates excess heat—whether from stress, hot weather, or spicy foods—you might experience symptoms like acne, irritability, dry mouth and skin, or constipation. To restore harmony, TCM recommends consuming “cooling” (Han) and “cool” (Liang) foods to clear internal heat and generate fluids. Here are five essential TCM cooling foods to add to your diet: Cucumber: Clears heat, detoxifies, and promotes fluid … Continue reading →

Fire – Hug heart to heart

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Fire – Hug heart to heart   The hug Next time you go in for or are receiving a hug, take note.  Do you lean in left shoulder to left shoulder, right shoulder to right shoulder or reach for the waist with a side hug? Are you comfortable with a hug? Were you raised with hugs? How long is your natural hug? Do you want to practice hugging?   Word Origin Etymologically, “hug” is thought to come from the Old Norse word hugga, which translates to “to comfort or console”.   A lesson from one of my clinical mentors in … Continue reading →

Fire – Laughter is therapy

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Fire – Laughter is therapy     The summer season belongs to the Fire element in Chinese Medicine. This vibrant energy governs the Heart, the organ responsible for circulation, mental clarity, and housing our spirit, known as the Shen.   When Fire is balanced, we feel joyful, connected, and full of life. When it burns too hot, it manifests as anxiety, insomnia, or restlessness.   Laughter is the ultimate medicine to keep this seasonal Fire in perfect harmony. In TCM, every organ system associates with a specific sound and emotion.   The sound of the Heart is laughter, and its … Continue reading →

Fire – Schedule mid day Siestas

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Schedule mid day Siestas.   Summer is the apex of the seasons. Temperatures run hot. Energy requirements run high for travels, social gathers, family & friend time. Making time for a mid day pause is a habit that recharges and regenerates for the adventure packed day and fun filled evening ahead. How to spend that currency of quiet is custom designed by you. 15 minute power nap 10 minutes of following your breath 20 minute body scan guided meditation zoning out, eyes closed, falling into the quiet choiceless awareness yoga nidra legs up the wall for lymph support   There … Continue reading →

Water ~ Unplug

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

  How do you unplug? In a world ruled by screens, drones, instant messaging, on demand everything, how do you unplug? And for how long?  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.  Maybe you’ve tried walking barefoot on the earth or the warm, salty ocean shore, sleeping grounded or oriented to the cardinal directions. There are health benefits to these. Have you been … Continue reading →

Earth: Take a step back

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

photo by Pexels What if is the way forward is backwards?  What if time is a spiral not a line? What if space & time can warp? What if time is an illusion. Consider our common language: catch up, move forward, climb the ladder, hustle culture, get ahead. Sounds exhausting. Are there any signs that we may want to step back? Yes, of course. Do any of these sound familiar? I’ve sent out a hundred resumes but have gotten zero callbacks. I keep messaging but no one replies. I feel sick to my stomach every time I think of it. … Continue reading →

Earth: Limit raw foods

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Element Wisdom Cards offer wellness tips that support your five element constitution & seasonal well being Earth: Limit raw foods  To bring balance and wellness to the organs ruled and expressed by the Earth Element, we focus on how to optimize digestion and personalize nutrition, regulate blood sugar and strengthen the muscles during Late Summer as well as the 18 days around each equinox & solstice. I am a huge fan of fresh food.  I am more skilled at chopping than cooking. I love to chop, so food prep is super fun for me and therefore a strength. I am … Continue reading →

Earth Tip Sheet

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

Here are some of my favorite ways to support the Earth Element.   The tips are appropriate for seasonal wellness and are helpful all year long for constitutional Element Earth types. Want to establish or return to care with Dr Cox? Book here!

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Mandala for the Earth Season

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

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 in the kitchen, and I have always loved mornings, it was my delight to make fruit mandalas for the community.  It is also the place, I fell in love with persimmons.   Mandala for the Earth Season To create an Element Wisdom Card Mandala  Create sacred space through ritual. Design the space. Your sacred expression. Some of my favorite ways to create sacred space: Open with prayer.  … Continue reading →

Earth: Be spontaneous

Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc Posted on by

What comes to mind for you when you hear the word spontaneous? Fun, going with the flow, adventure, excitement, allowing a natural unfolding? No way, Nope, No. Not for me. I just can’t. That’s crazy.  From the latin roots: sua – from + sponte – of (one’s) own accord Recall the last time you had a good belly laugh? True laughter arises spontaneously.  When was the last time you were spontaneous? A last minute yes to extra concert tickets? a trip to the beach without previous planning? dancing in the kitchen to a favorite song? a walk to clear your … Continue reading →