The Seasons

There are books you read once, books you return to occasionally, and then there are reference books that become part of your household.

For me, Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford is one of those books.

In fact, I think everyone interested in their health, food, cooking, or simply understanding their own body should have a copy at home.

There is something about the first apples of autumn that makes the season feel real.

The light changes. The mornings become cooler. Gardens begin to give back what they have been growing all summer. The abundance of summer slowly gives way to something deeper: gathering, storing, preserving, preparing.

Summer asks something different of us. The days are longer. The sun is stronger. We spend more time outside, move more, sweat more, eat differently, and, if we are paying attention, begin to crave lighter things, fresher and more cooling. This is one of the places where the wisdom of Chinese medicine becomes wonderfully practical.

There is something deeply satisfying about making the things you use every day. A little oil. A little powder. A beautiful scent. A jar on the bathroom shelf.

Tend Your Alter & Enjoy This Ritual Activity; Not the kind of magic that requires you to believe in anything in particular. The quieter kind. The kind that happens when you deliberately set something apart from the ordinary and return to it again and again.

Here in the sunny Mediterranean lemons grow wild. Their flowers smell amazing, they grow quickly and their strong limbs can support huge quanities of lemons even before the trees are fully matured and large. The Roman goddess of youth was symbolized by the lemon.

The term menopause applies to a single moment in time, by Western medicine definition that is. Menopause is defined as the absence of a period for 1 full calendar year. That means that there is technically only one day where you are “in menopause”.

Two of my favorite minds come together in an amazing podcast focused on ‘The Pause’, menopause. I have learned so much from Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Brené Brown.

Do you wonder about life after death? How does it make you feel to consider this question? Do you talk to others about life after death? Does your spirituality or religion educate your philosophy on what happens after death?

How are we holding up Human Wellness Community?  It’s been a tough couple of years.  By now, if you are like most people and patients I speak with (including myself) you are starting to feel the overwhelm of what has turned into chronic, and long-term stress.  This is at a minimum.  Some of us have also experienced severe child care issues, unemployment, divorce, loss, and for many of us, these experiences have been multifaceted.

Richard Rohr is a Franciscan Friar and Catholic Mystic, he has written over 30 books on spirituality, and runs The Center for Contemplation and Action in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has an amazing perspective on life and our times. No matter what other spiritual or religious groups or practices you might take part in, you will find a bright light in Richard Rohr.

It’s the time of year when we are all thinking about an annual cleanse. Our bodies are craving it. Use the momentum of intention setting and new beginnings to add a health element to your 2024 plan.

Have you always wanted to bring rituals into your life but are not quite sure how? That tends to be the most common obstacle. The secret is, that there is no right or wrong way to do it. If you feel called to a particular ritual, then it’s the right ritual for you.

Research on the benefits of humans having houseplants and how they support our mental and emotional health is plentiful as of late. We always knew we loved them. Here is a bit about why…

While a Feng Shui home reading is an intensive process involving compass readings, the year your home was built, birth charts for residents in your home, and much more, there are a few basic rules that anyone can apply to any space in order to start having an impact on the Feng Shui of that space.

These days, we all know the importance of minimising harsh chemicals, preservatives and cleansers in our body care routines. We understand the needs for organic products that have not been tested on animals.

Thats right! Did you know that the presence of Fall wind requires extra support on the part of your immune system. Why, you might wonder?

Rotator cuff injuries and shoulder pain are very common. Over the last couple years, with more people working from home than ever before, we are noticing a huge increase in neck and shoulder pain.

We will all, inevitably and possibly at some point soon, begin to notice the signs of aging. It is most important to find peace with this reality, to have gratitude for our youth and the beauty that we can express from the inside out.

Low back pain plagues us all at some point, and while the average low back pain will resolve itself in 11 days or less, sometimes we need to get involved in supporting that process. In addition to the stretches below (5-15 min 1-3 times daily, start slow), you might consider the following steps to manage low back pain;

Many different types of herbal medicine are out there. Here we highlight the common forms, preparations, side affections, functions and more.

Back pain is the most common condition that motivates people to reach out to their medical provider. Specifically, patients who have tried ‘everything’ but still have back pain often reach out for acupuncture, massage, physical therapy.

Meditation and Mindfulness have been buzzwords since the 2010s and beyond. We all talk about them as though we do both all the time… But do we?

Both situational and generalised anxiety can be very severe and intense conditions requiring prescriptions, and a team of providers.  Anxiety has the ability to interfere with our daily functioning in society and our connection to others.