Naturopathic Doctor – Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc

Fire – Discover Divine Purpose

Dr. Sarita Cox — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:59:58 +0000

Fire – Discover Divine Purpose.

True alignment with your divine purpose is not a permanent state of calm, nor is it an escape from the grit of the human experience. Traditional wisdom from ancient cultures teaches us that purpose is not a destination, but a way of moving through the entire spectrum of human emotion.

We often mistake spiritual alignment for endless positivity, yet the oldest traditions view grief, anger, fear, and joy as equally sacred messengers.

In the crucible of daily life, full-spectrum living means allowing yourself to feel deeply without losing your center.

Traditional wisdom uses the metaphor of the tree: to reach high into the heavens, its roots must go deep into the dark, damp earth.

Your joy expands only as wide as your capacity to sit with your sorrow. When you feel the heavy ache of heartbreak or the sharp sting of disappointment, you are not off track. You are accumulating the raw material of wisdom.

Divine purpose is the thread that weaves these contrasting emotions into a meaningful tapestry. It is the quiet inner knowing that holds you steady when the storm rages, and keeps you humble when the blessings flow.

Ancient practices remind us that every emotional wave passes. By honoring each feeling instead of suppressing it, you transmute raw emotion into profound empathy and resilience.

Embrace the fullness of your humanity today.

Let yourself laugh without restraint, weep without shame, and feel the fierce fire of your passions.

Your divine purpose is found right here in the center of your messy, beautiful, and completely unfiltered human life.

Bring this ancient perspective into your daily practice. Explore our Wisdom Cards to receive seasonal prompts that guide you through every season with inquiry, jedi mind tricks and nature cure tips.

Fire – Cool down with cucumbers or watermelon

Dr. Sarita Cox — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:04:00 +0000

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 production. Excellent for relieving thirst and cooling the blood.
Watermelon: Known in TCM as natural “White Tiger Decoction” due to its powerful ability to clear extreme heat, ease restlessness, and promote urination.
Celery: Clears stomach heat, lowers blood pressure, and benefits the eyes while promoting urination to remove dampness.
Pears: Moisten the lungs, clear phlegm, and generate body fluids to soothe a dry throat or dry cough.
Green Tea: Clears head and eyes, resolves thirst, and aids digestion. Perfect for clearing midday sluggishness and heat.

Incorporating these foods helps clear excess fire without damaging your digestive system. Enjoy them lightly cooked or at room temperature, as ice-cold items can weaken your digestive Qi.

Easy Watermelon & Cucumber Refresh Salad

This ultra-crisp salad combines TCM cooling powerhouses to clear internal heat and boost hydration instantly.

Ingredients

Watermelon: 3 cups (cubed, de-seeded)
Cucumber: 1 large (cubed)
Mint leaves: 1/4 cup (fresh, chopped)
Feta cheese: 1/3 cup (crumbled, optional)
Dressing: 1 tbsp lime juice + 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

Prep: Chop the watermelon and cucumber into bite-sized pieces.
Toss: Combine them in a large bowl with the fresh mint leaves.
Dress: Drizzle with lime juice and olive oil, then toss gently.
Finish: Top with crumbled feta cheese right before serving.

Fire – Hug heart to heart

Dr. Sarita Cox — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:15:50 +0000

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 my Chinese Medicine program has never been forgotten and still settles in my mind and body upon each greeting or departing with the gesture of affenction more than 20 years later. Hugging heart to heart is an everyday Qi Gong practice.

How to Give a Heart-to-Heart Hug

A true heart-to-heart hug requires conscious physical alignment to connect your energetic centers.

Follow these steps:

Approach Left-to-Left: Step forward and slightly shift your body to the right so your left shoulder aligns with the other person’s left shoulder.
Heart Contact: Wrap your arms around them, allowing the left side of your chest (where your heart resides) to press directly against theirs.
Breathe and Hold: Hold the embrace for at least 20 seconds. Take 2–3 full relaxing breaths.

The Scientific Why?

Releases Oxytocin: Holding the hug for 20 seconds triggers the release of oxytocin (the “bonding hormone”), which lowering heart rates and reducing cortisol stress levels.
Calms the Nervous System: The deep pressure stimulation co-regulates your nervous systems, shifting both bodies from “fight-or-flight” into a restorative “rest-and-heal” parasympathetic state.
Enhances Emotional Security: Direct chest contact stimulates the vagus nerve, instantly lowering blood pressure and increasing feelings of safety and social trust.

Igniting the Inner Smile: Qi Gong & the Fire Element

True connection begins with an open heart. Summer is governed by the Fire element, a powerful force that directly rules the heart, small intestine, and our emotional capacity for joy. When our Fire element is balanced, we naturally radiate warmth, enthusiasm, and compassion—the exact ingredients needed for a deep, meaningful embrace.

However, when life gets overwhelming, the Fire element can burn too hot, leading to anxiety, insomnia, or emotional burnout. Conversely, if the fire dims, we might feel isolated or disconnected. Qi Gong offers a gentle, moving meditation to clear this excess heat and rekindle our inner warmth.

Stoking the Warmth of Connection

In Qi Gong practice, the heart is considered the home of our spirit, or Shen. To harmonize the Fire element, we use fluid movements paired with the “Heart Sound” (Haw). This specific healing sound acts like a cooling breeze, releasing pent-up pressure from the chest.

Qi Gong Practices for kindred fire

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Clearing the Heart (Disperse stagnation, process grief, reduce blame & hatred)

The Setup: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft, palms together in a prayer position at the center of your chest.

The Inhale: Breathe in deeply through your nose, feeling your chest expand.
The Exhale: Push your hands straight forward away from your body, palms facing out. Simultaneously, exhale through your mouth while whispering the healing sound “Hawww” to release tension.
Repetitions: Repeat for 6 to 9 breaths.

By pushing your hands forward on the exhale and drawing them back to your chest on the inhale, you regulate the heart’s rhythm. You are actively clearing away old hurts and pulling in pure, unconditional love. This practice shifts your internal state from stress to safety, making your physical hugs an authentic extension of your inner peace.

Opening the Heart (Invite positive energy and possibility)

The Setup: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft, and arms relaxed at your sides.

The Inhale: Bring your hands up to chest height, palms facing each other, then extend your arms straight out in front of you. Gently expand your arms out wide to the sides, opening your chest completely.
The Exhale: Softly bring your hands back toward the centerline of your chest, palms facing your body, crossing your arms, wrapping yourself in an embrace.
Repetitions: Repeat for 6 to 9 breaths.

Balancing your Fire element allows you to show up fully for yourself and those you care about. By cultivating a peaceful heart, your presence becomes a safe harbor for yourself and for others.

Fire – Schedule mid day Siestas

Dr. Sarita Cox — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:33:58 +0000

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 is a hammock waiting for you.

There is a shade tree just outside.

There is a dark & quiet room with a do not disturb sign on the door.

There is a yoga mat with a floor fan blowing.

There is a screened porch with a chaise lounge.

Find your way to a short rest with a long payoff.

Have a friend or family that would benefit from 10 more days of Element Wisdoms from the Fire deck? Forward this email so they can click on the grey follow envelope at the top or green envelope at the bottom.

Earth: Limit raw foods

Dr. Sarita Cox — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:00:53 +0000

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 also aware that food is freshest at soon as I harvest it from the yard, bring it home from the market or buy it from the grocery store. Food prep is critical to those of us that have day after day commitments. I highly encourage you to chop and blanch as soon as fresh food enters your kitchen.

But……the next step isn’t my gift: cooking. I have, however, for the sake of my digestive system and nutrition learned some short cuts that allow me to care for my precious body. I hope these tips help you too!

Keep it simple
Create a fun atmosphere in my kitchen: play some tunes, diffuse essential oils
Keep glass storage containers & re-use canning jars for stackable storage
Invite the kids to help
Consider a mono meal – yup, only green beans for lunch (mono) or green beans with toasted sesame seeds (mono-ish)
Cook in bulk & freeze individual meals

Cook or no?

Look in the mirror. If your tongue is larger or thicker than average, has tooth imprints, and a thick white coat, you have dampness. Raw foods will generate more dampness. Dampness weakens the body’s ability to digest. Raw foods add cold to the nature of the food. If however, you look in the mirror at your tongue and see a thin, red, dry tongue. You have the digestive fire to cook raw foods in your digestive center. Enjoy!

Blanch: key to time management. Try blanching an entire head of broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts for a couple of minutes (retain the bright color). Strain. Cool. Package. Ready to roast, bake or stir fry!

Steam: adds moisture to nature of the food. Check out this chart for steam times of many vegetables. I also steam tofu, tempeh or reheat protein.

Pressure Cook: fantastic quick method for grains and legumes. Add broth to increase protein & flavor. Soak overnight in the stainless instant pot vessel to optimize nutrition and denature those pesky lectins.

Stir fry: dries the nature of the food. Try cooking vegetables separately to retain the best flavor. Ginger and garlic are mainstay spices.

Spices: warming and aromatic herbs and spices help to balance the nature of foods – allowing us to personalize our nutrition. For example, ginger and cardamom reduce damp and cold.

I leave you with two very easy ways to put these tips to work for you right away:

Autumn Bake: Rosemary Sweet Potatoes Recipe Here

Very Simple Soups: Soup Cleanse Recipes Here

Earth: Be spontaneous

Dr. Sarita Cox — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:15:36 +0000

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 head after hours on the computer? chasing a rainbow or sunset? a random act of kindness?

Do you have a great story about a decision you make spontaneously?

Why be spontaneous?

It can contribute to our happiness, expose us to new things and engender adaptability. Life events can turn out better than we could ever imagine (or plan) when we allow natural unfolding verses forcing desired outcomes.

5 ways to encourage spontaneity:

Be present

Be open to new things

Be flexible

Trust your intuition

Connect with your feelings & emotions

Spontaneity v Impulsivity

In short, spontaneity considers the consequences of the decision. Impulsivity does not.

Water ~ You are a visionary

Dr. Sarita Cox — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:28:53 +0000

You are a visionary.

The water element paired organs that peak in winter are the Bladder and Kidney (plus adrenals).

The bladder meridian travels from the inner canthus of the eye across the head down the back side of the entire body exiting out the little toe. It traverses all of us.

Many of the point names indicate their function: bright eyes, supporting yang, supporting middle, celestial pillar, soul door, spirit hall, spiritual celestial connection, soul gate.

Acupuncture treats all levels of the human – mind, body, spirit.

Treating the bladder points can not only treat our organs like the bladder or the eyes, but it can also treat our spiritual sickness. It can help us see through the eyes of spirit. The dark clouds of our emotions and thinking can be cleared to see the bright blue skies of divine perfection.

Winter is Dreamtime.

Make the connection to your internal visionary this winter.

Dream it.

Envision it.

Water ~ Supervise the storehouse of pure energy

Dr. Sarita Cox — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:28:39 +0000

Supervise the storehouse of pure energy.

The kidneys store jing – our primal energy.

This essence is to be guarded, protected, treasured not squandered or frittered away.

It determines our fertility, growth, development, vitality and longevity.

It is one of the three treasures: jing, qi and shen.

The kidneys are the expression of the water element in our bodies.

Their energy peaks in winter offering harmonious opportunities for winter support and healing.

Fulfilling our destiny is healing.

The way of this deep healing summons and joins celestial jing with our terrestrial jing.

In other words, jing is our DNA. In this is all the knowing, the unfolding, the potential manifesting, the blueprint. It is our lifetime’s greatest job to connect with heavenly order.

Jing is the seed and the wellspring.

For 73 days of winter support, musings, inquiries, instructions purchase a winter/water element wisdom card deck.