Hello
I hope you are doing well. I am writing
as I am pleased to present to you the first
in a series of newsletters centered around
health insights, tips and on staying on an
optimal path of health & wellness, from a
Chinese Medicine perspective. They will be 5
times a year, as there are 5 elements in
Chinese Medicine, and 5 corresponding
seasons; I'll start off the first year by
speaking about each element, the related
organ(s) and its physiological and mental
processes, according to Chinese Medicine, and
related health issues.
Announcements!
I will be starting at a second location in Kitsilano, at Active Life Health
Clinic (604) 783-2846, starting November 16th, 2006. Gift certificates are also
available at this location. In celebration, I will be holding two separate Open
Houses, at both the Active Life and Serenity locations. At the open houses,
mini-consultations will be also be available, where custom-made essential oil
blends of inhalers and massage oils will also be made when appropriate.
Consultation fee by donation to the Laura Louie Hope Foundation. Visit
www.redtreewellness.ca for more information.
Package treatment rates are now available at both locations. A package of 6
treatments for $300.00. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
For more announcements and event appearances, please visit:
www.redtreewellness.ca |
In addition, if there is any particular topic
you would like me to address and answer,
please feel free to email me, and I will make
sure to cover it at some point in one of the
newsletters. If you do not wish to receive
these newsletters, please send me an email,
and I will remove you from the list.
Fall or Autumn, is the element of
Metal.
Metal is related to the organ of the
Lung, and its paired organ, the Large
Intestine. The Chinese character for
Metal is representative of a bell. A
finely tuned or sounding bell, is
synonymous with the sound of healthy
Lungs in breathing, speaking and
singing! In this season, dryness is
predominant. The Lung is in charge of
the tissue of the skin, and the sense
organ of the nose, and hence, this is
the season where dry skin or a dry nose
begins to become a problem. When too
much dryness affects the Lung,
especially a weak Lung, respiratory
problems may begin to manifest. Thus,
foods that nourish the moisture (Yin) of
our body and the Lungs are good to eat
at this time of year, to help prevent
any drying effects of the vulnerable
Lungs at this time of year. Examples are
pears, particularly the yellow Chinese
pears (Ya Li), apples, honey, kidney
beans and tofu.
The Lungs control Qi (our vital energy)
and respiration, taking in "pure Qi" and
exhaling "dirty Qi" of metabolism, and
help distribute fluids around our body.
The Lung is also the main organ involved
in our defensive system, as it is
directly connected to the external
environment. Any weakness in the Lung
energy system (includes the meridians,
paired organ, tissues, emotions, etc),
can compromise our defense or immune
system, and manifest as respiratory
problems. Hence, many people at this
time of year get sick. Thus, as the
natural energy of autumn is attune with
the Lung, it is a good time to renourish
our Lung, in order to strengthen it in
preparation for other seasons that are
hard on its system, such as spring, or
"allergy season".
Metal is linked to our concept of
boundary. It is the physical and
metaphorical "skin" of our body, through
which we "take in" and "let go". The
Lungs are crucial therefore for ensuring
a strong body and mind. If the Lung
function is impaired, by causes that
could be environmental, emotional,
excessive or weakness conditions, there
can be tiredness, shortness of breath,
and feeling of melancholy as some
examples. In addition, if the Lung is
impaired and cannot supply us with
enough Qi for our defenses, frequent
colds are likely to occur. If you enjoy
using aromatherapy at home, essential
oils like Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Niaouli,
and Hyssop can be used to strengthen the
Lungs and respiration, and enhance the
defensive or immune system that the Lung
governs. However, be sure to use good
quality, 100% natural oils, as the
synthetic, chemical and adultered oils
can cause reactions, and there are many
essential oils out on the market that
are of poor quality. If you are unsure
of the quality of your essential oil,
please send me and email or give me a
call, and I would be happy to advise
you.
From a psychological and emotional
perspective, Metal and Lung in a healthy
state are able to properly deal with
issues of relationship, respect, and are
able to fully accept and relinquish
issues and situations. If under stress,
a person may feel constricted, withdrawn
and pessimistic, and is also connected
to the emotion of Grief. Notice when we
cry, our breathing pattern changes, as
the emotion of Grief restricts the Lung
energy system.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this
brief insight on the season of fall,
element of Metal, and the Lung energy
system. I'll leave you with a simple
recipe used often in the season of
autumn:
Relief of the Common cold, WITHOUT a sore
throat:
3 - 5 slices of fresh ginger, each slice
about the size of a quarter
3 slices of green onion, white part only
(optional)
1 tsp brown sugar (NOT white sugar, NOT
honey)
Steep ingredients in 1 C of hot water for
10 minutes. Drink the liquid, repeat
twice a day.
I hope this reaches you healthy and
happy, and I hope (not) to see you soon!
;)
Cheers,
Sonia
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