Life brings many ups and downs, highs and lows. We live through love and loss; see the birth of children and the death of loved ones. Through these experiences, we get a glimpse of the brevity of life and the gifts we receive every day. When we are knee-deep in life’s muck it’s often hard to find the beauty in those everyday gifts. How do we help ourselves when we are the caretakers? How do we provide comfort when those we love are suffering? Many times, caretakers are the ones who feel it the most. Caring for an elderly parent or one suffering with dementia can be heartbreaking. While the bod ..read more

Feelings are part of being human—the results of thoughts, which are based on beliefs. Everyone processes feelings differently. Sometimes, certain kinds of feelings are somewhat unconscious. Your mind has already persuaded you to believe these feelings are a part of the very fibers that make you who you are. The emotions you carry are energetic frequencies. As energy beings, all energetic frequencies impact you in some way, whether in mind, body, or Spirit. A physical condition is often the manifestation of these heavy, lingering feelings and deep-rooted emotional imbalances. The Body and Unres ..read more

Have you ever looked at a fruit or vegetable as more than just a food source? If you’ve ever seen an onion or potato sprout while sitting on your counter, you’ve gotten a taste of what a single vegetable can do. Take an onion for example. When it reaches the end of its lifespan as an edible food, it begins to grow another plant. If placed in water, roots will grow from its base and shoots will form. When planted, another onion will grow in its place. Every sprouted onion can form 2, 3, even 4 new onions! When you stop to think about the way Nature prepares each living thing for its species sur ..read more

Liver Qi—the energy that represents the Spring season—likes to move up and out with great flexibility, like a tree with outstretched branches. Imagine, if you will, what grows in Spring. There are traditional flowers, of course, but Nature provides so much more. Wisteria, climbing roses, and clematis are just a few examples of Liver Qi in bloom! These flowering vines are able to move with greater ease than traditional rooted flowers that can only grow in one direction. As they grow, the vines don’t only move up and out, but in every direction as well, allowing them the best possible exposure t ..read more

An egg is a powerful symbol of life and health, the perfect balance of yin and yang. One look and you’ll see: a hard-boiled egg is like a piece of art. Its creamy, yellow yolk is surrounded by a white exterior. However, over the years, eggs have gone in and out of favor. Some worry that egg yolks are high in saturated fats, and can therefore contribute to high cholesterol. Some health-conscious egg lovers have gone so far as to ditch the yolk in favor of the whites. But half of the egg is only half of the equation. Nature’s Harmony Our busy western lifestyle tends to focus on the cause of a ..read more

During this time of year, allergies are sky high. People suffer with runny noses; itchy, watery eyes; scratchy throats; and in some cases, flu-like symptoms. Rather than reaching for medication, I encourage my patients to ask themselves, “Why am I out of balance with Nature during this seasonal change?” Someone might recommend the patient eat local honey to cure their allergy. When the patient does, she experiences a great benefit. From the physical level, this makes sense. Local organic honey can help fight allergies. However, that’s not the whole story. Energetic Requirements If we go to the ..read more

The sun and moon are two cosmic beings in the Universal picture. The sun, our greatest source of heat and light, surrounds us with its abundant energy. The moon, which has the greatest influence on the ocean tides, brightens the night sky with its heavenly glow. But this energy doesn’t just surround us, it is infused within us. It is part of the very fibers of our being. If we can connect to that energy as we are intended to, just think of the possibilities that can unfold. This Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will begin in Mexico around 11:07 PDT, and move across the United States, fro ..read more

The Liver is responsible for supporting the entire digestive system. Without healthy Liver function, your metabolic function cannot reach the highest level. Without the invisible cooperation between the Liver and Gallbladder, and their full support of the digestive system, metabolic function will perform poorly. When this happens, the body will give us signs. After eating dinner, you may suddenly feel bloated, which is a sign something isn’t being processed. It’s stuck. Without movement, stagnation occurs. While you might think your digestive system is weak, in reality your Liver function isn ..read more

Food is medicine, and these flavorful shoots are no exception. Harvested in spring and early summer, garlic scapes are long, slender stalks that emerge from the center of the garlic plant and curl outward. These stems can be removed about three weeks before the garlic bulb is ready to be harvested. In that three-week timeframe, the plant sends its energy to the garlic bulb to continue its growth. Removing the garlic scape can increase the bulb size by about 25%. Garlic scapes can be used in place of garlic, similar to the way scallions are used. Chop and saute in olive oil with mixed vegetable ..read more

Spring is an exciting time for most people. Nature awakens from winter’s rest and a sense of renewal fills the air. Life is bursting with energy! Yet, quite often, with the arrival of Spring comes allergies, aggravated high blood pressure, and other ailments. Why? When a season’s energy, or Qi, changes, your body must also flow with these cycles of Universal change. When the seasons change, you are at your most vulnerable. So if you are continually in a state of stress and anxiety, the amount of Qi you have available to deal with these seasonal changes is lessened. The organ most cl ..read more