Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc https://drsaritaelizabeth.com Fri, 31 Jul 2026 20:13:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/favicon-36x36.png Dr. Elizabeth Cox, ND, LAc https://drsaritaelizabeth.com 32 32 Fire – Sacred Connect https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-sacred-connect/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 17:50:50 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5632 … Continue reading →]]>
Fire – Sacred Connect
 
According to elemental wisdom, the Fire element connects humans, consciousness and the Divine. Also know as Shen, it is the vital spark of human consciousness, the essence of spirit and mental awareness that animates the physical body. Fire expresses itself through intimacy, emotional warmth and affection as well as in gatherings and rituals of the heart.
 
Shen is the most subtle, immaterial asset within the Three Treasures (San Bao), which dictate human health and longevity: 
  1. Jing (Essence): Your physical foundation, genetics, and constitutional fluid stored in the Kidneys.
  2. Qi (Energy): The functional breath and metabolic movement circulating through your meridians.
  3. Shen (Spirit): The consciousness that organizes and commands both Qi and Jing.
 
Shen not just as a psychological concept or vital energy, but a living cosmological force rooted within the physical organs. Healthy Shen shines through the eyes (bright), provides color to complexion (vibrant) and rules speech (calm, coherent voice).
 
Where is the Shen found?
 
In the Yin organs:
  • The Shen (神): Housed in the Heart. It represents your global awareness, connection to the divine, intellect, and presence.
  • The Hun (魂): Housed in the Liver. It is the “ethereal soul” responsible for dreams, vision, creativity, and your life’s purpose.
  • The Po (魄): Housed in the Lungs. It is the “corporeal soul” tied to physical survival, instincts, sensory perception, and the somatic body.
  • The Yi (意): Housed in the Spleen. It governs your capacity for focused thought, intention, memory, and analytical processing.
  • The Zhi (志): Housed in the Kidneys. It represents your willpower, drive, determination, and the core survival instinct.

Curious how to transform, balance or develop Shen? According to classical instruction:

 
1. Cultivate the Opposite: Use Water to Restrain Fire (Ke Cycle)
 
The foundational principle of the Wu Xing (Five Elements) is mutual restraint (Ke).
 
Water naturally controls Fire. 
  • The Classical Principle: Su Wen Chapter 5 notes that when Fire is excessive, the kidneys (Water) must be supported to cool it.
  • The Action: To lower excessive and flaring heart-fire, cultivate the “yin essence” (Jing) of the kidneys through rest, hydration, and herbs that anchor floating heat back down to the lower body. 
 
2. Pacify via the Child: Drain Fire into Earth (Zi Method)
 
When an element is overflowing, classical strategy dictates you “drain the child” to relieve the mother (Nan Jing Chapter 69).
 
Earth is the child of Fire.
  • The Classical Principle: If Heart-Fire is hyperactive (causing insomnia or anxiety), shift excess energy into the Spleen/Stomach (Earth).
  • The Action: Engage in grounding, centering, and stabilizing activities (like mindful eating or slow movement) to diffuse frantic mental energy into physical containment.
 
3. Balance the Tastes: Bitter Outflows, Salty Softens
 
Dietary therapy in the Su Wen explicitly balances elements.
 
 Utilize the fire or water flavor.
  • The Classical Principle: Bitter is the flavor of Fire, and Salty is the flavor of Water. Su Wen Chapter 22 states: “The Heart desires the bitter taste… Bitter clears and drains.”
  •  
  • The Action: If Fire is deficient, small amounts of bitter foods (like certain greens or tea) clear stagnant heat and stimulate the Heart Qi. Conversely, if Fire is too hot, mild salty foods (Water element) are used to soften and dissolve the hardened, burning phlegm that agitates the spirit.
 
4. Guard the Center: Protect the Sovereign (Shen Preservation)
 
In Su Wen Chapter 8, the Heart is called the “Sovereign Ruler” from whom the spirit (Shen) originates.
 
Be Still.
  • The Classical Principle: Fire cannot be balanced solely by physical means; it must be managed through emotional regulation. The Neijing warns that over-joy, excessive laughing, and extreme agitation scatter Heart Qi, while chronic anxiety burns it up.
  • The Action: Balancing Fire requires intentional stillness and silence—protecting the mind from constant over-stimulation, sensory overload, and dramatic emotional swings so the Sovereign can remain calm and cool.
5. Direct Energy via the Five Shu Points
 
Acupuncture maps the elements onto specific points which can be balanced with treatment from a trained practitioner.
 
 
  • The Classical Principle: Every meridian has its own designated “Fire point” and “Water point”.
  • The Action: To clear excess heat from the Heart channel, practitioners can needle Heart 7 (Shenmen), a source point that anchors the spirit, or sedate Heart 8 (Shaofu), which is the actual Fire point of the Fire meridian, to vent localized heat out of the body.
 
]]> 5632 Fire- Fulfill your Fantasy https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-fulfill-your-fantasy/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:25:02 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5622 … Continue reading →]]>
Fire – Fulfill your fantasy

The fire element asks you transform your deepest, most intense desires into concrete reality through bold action and raw passion.
Fire does not wait, wish, or daydream; it consumes and transforms.
The Fire energy brings:
  • Unapologetic Desire: Fire demands that you acknowledge what you truly want without shame or hesitation.
  • Bold Execution: It represents the shift from passive imagination to aggressive pursuit and execution.
  • Creative Catalyst: Your “fantasy” serves as the fuel, and your willpower acts as the spark that ignites change.
  • Total Transformation: It requires burning away self-doubt and past limitations to step into your highest potential.
A practical example is completely rewriting your career path to launch a passion project.
Instead of just dreaming about independence, you use Fire’s aggressive energy to execute the change.
 
Here is how that looks in action:
  • The Fantasy: You secretly long to quit your secure but soul-crushing corporate job to open a boutique dog grooming & walking studio.
  • The Ignition: You stop making excuses, set a firm deadline, and invest your savings into your branding and legal setup.
  • The Burning: You ruthlessly cut out time-wasting habits, social distractions, and self-doubt to work on your launch strategy.
  • The Renewal: You launch the business, channeling your intense focus into securing your first clients and surviving the initial heat of entrepreneurship.

]]> 5622 Fire – Discover Divine Purpose https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-discover-divine-purpose/ Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:59:58 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5613 … Continue reading →]]>
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.
 
]]> 5613 Fire – Cool down with cucumbers or watermelon https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-cool-down-with-cucumbers-or-watermelon/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:04:00 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5601 … Continue reading →]]>
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
  1. Prep: Chop the watermelon and cucumber into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Toss: Combine them in a large bowl with the fresh mint leaves.
  3. Dress: Drizzle with lime juice and olive oil, then toss gently.
  4. Finish: Top with crumbled feta cheese right before serving.
]]> 5601 Fire – Hug heart to heart https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-hug-heart-to-heart/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:15:50 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5592 … Continue reading →]]> 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:
  1. 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.
  2. Heart Contact: Wrap your arms around them, allowing the left side of your chest (where your heart resides) to press directly against theirs.
  3. 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.

  1. The Inhale: Breathe in deeply through your nose, feeling your chest expand.
  2. 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.
  3. 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. 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
 
 
 
]]> 5592 Fire – Laughter is therapy https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-laughter-is-therapy/ Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:25:27 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5572 … Continue reading →]]>
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 emotion, in balance, is joy. Genuine, belly-deep laughter acts as a natural cooling mechanism for an overheated spirit. It releases emotional stagnation, moves stagnant Qi (vital energy), and relaxes the chest where the Heart resides.
 
Modern science mirrors this ancient wisdom. Laughing lowers stress hormones like cortisol and triggers endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. It improves vascular function, literally supporting the physical heart.
 
During the long, hot days of summer, nourishing your Fire element is essential.
 
You can protect your heart by seeking lighthearted connections. Watch a comedy, share stories with friends, or play with wild abandon.
 
Laughter is free, accessible, and completely natural.
 
It bridges the physical and spiritual realms to keep your Shen calm and bright. This summer, tend to your inner Fire and medicine your mind. Let yourself smile, share a joke, and let the healing power of laughter keep you cool, balanced, and well.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
]]> 5572 Fire – Seek South https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-seek-south/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:09:23 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5559 … Continue reading →]]> Fire – Seek South

Each element is associated with a cardinal direction.  

Why? Perhaps the ancients were linking the human experience to the natural world.

We use directions as guideposts: the north star, the compass, the map. Directions anchor us to place.

The south is the direction of fire, the heart. It marks innocence, transformation, passion, the noon day sun, the zenith of our days, seasons, and lives. Summer is the lucky time of year.

Feng Shui places reputation and fame in the south sector of our home. 

Take a look at your home with curiosity. More than just an area, the South sector holds the energy that reveals and manifests as reputation, material success & the capacity to rise like a phoenix.

Outside of judgment, inventory the state of the south sector of your home, your office or home office.  What does it reveal? What does it speak about you?

Feng Shui literally means Wind-Water. It is the ancient art/science of conscious placement to transform energy in our favor.

Want change? The external arrangement impacts us, true. We certainly can and should arrange our working & living spaces to increase our chances of best outcome.

The real change is entertaining awareness of how you react, respond and your integrity growing your reputation or fame.  

  • Do you keep your word?
  • Do you pass off others work, message, ideas as your own to get ahead?
  • Do you collaborate or compete?
  • Do you give to receive?
  • Do you show up or cancel?
  • Commit or quit?
  • How do you conduct business?
  • Ask yourself.
]]> 5559 Fire – Schedule mid day Siestas https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/fire-schedule-a-mid-day-siesta/ Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:33:58 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5542 … Continue reading →]]> 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.

]]> 5542 Wood: Spring Wellness Tips https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/wood-spring-tips/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:19:59 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5527

Enjoy these spring wellness tips.  

They are way to start living more in the sync with the seasons and also helpful to those that are a wood type (all year long) according to five element constitution.

 

 

]]> 5527 Wood: Vibes up, buttercup https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/wood-vibes-up-buttercup/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:54:06 +0000 https://drsaritaelizabeth.com/?p=5516 … Continue reading →]]> Vibes up, Buttercup

Have you heard of a Schumann Resonance Generator? Maybe.

The quote, “Future medicine will be the medicine of frequencies,” is widely attributed to Albert Einstein.

What is the Schumann Resonance? The Schumann Resonance is a set of natural electromagnetic waves trapped in the atmospheric cavity between the Earth’s surface and the ionosphere, excited by global lightning. It vibrates at a fundamental frequency of 7.83 Hz, acting as the Earth’s natural electromagnetic “heartbeat”.

Why am I exploring it?  I still gravitate low tech.  After years healing my adrenals by living off-grid, I continue my journey of turning back toward lo-fi basic technologies in the more modern world. My health has been informed by energy medicine: earthing, whole foods, homeopathy, qi gong, bioresonance, color & turning forks, mediation, sound healing, reiki, etc. I purchased a frequency generator which runs via an electrified copper coil tuned to a frquency between 0-20K.  I’ve been using 7.83 Hz to sleep, 10.0 Hz to create a conducive meditative field and 639.0 to improve interpersonal communication in groups.  This is fun…..

Everything has a energetic signature.  Everything emits a vibration.  May you bend the force in your favor.

 

 

 

]]> 5516