The Zen of Healing

One definition of a symptom is stated as: A change from normal structure, function, or sensation as would be experienced by the patient and indicative of disease.

This is very interesting. The first thing that stands out to me is, what is considered “normal”? And what is considered “disease”? There are a vast majority of people today experiencing some sort of “dis-ease” that may not be considered a “disease”. Quite frankly, this is what preventative and most alternative medicine is all about… supporting someone before dis-ease turns into disease.

Upon further exploration what is considered a symptom to one practitioner is easily glossed over by another. For example, if someone has insomnia or headaches, is a traditional doctor going to inquire about their digestion or ask about the color of their stool?! Probably not, but to a naturopath or TCM acupuncturist, these could be crucial pieces of information when considering a holistic approach.

As for a Five-Element acupuncturist, there are many subtle symptoms that the patient is giving off even without them being aware of it… in the way a particular emotion is expressed, or sound in their voice. In the above example of insomnia, this could very well be due to a sick Colon (belonging to the Metal Element). Sound crazy? This organ or meridian is physiologically in charge of letting go of what is no longer needed nutritionally, we all know this. On the psycho-spiritual side this is no different. If someone had lost their dog 5 years ago, and is still “holding on” to his memory, his personal belongings, or holding on to things that remind them of him, this is a very real type of mental constipation! Insomnia may be a symptom in one individual, a frozen shoulder could manifest in someone else. The body, mind, spirit has many ways of not “letting go”.

Chiropractors look at symptoms in relation to the nervous system, psychotherapists look at symptoms in relation to the experiences of the mind. Whether its doshas, chakras, elements, mental processes, subluxations, or physiology, each practitioner has a different lens to look through when working with a patient. This is why integrative medicine is so important and powerful!

The most important thing to remember is… we are not our symptoms, we are not our disease, or diagnosis. ALL things are changing from moment to moment. And the more we can embrace this constant state of impermanence, the less energy is spent toward our suffering, and more towards manifesting a healthy body, an open heart, and a vibrant spirit…

Each of the five elements carries the energetic imprint of a specific color, sound, odor, emotion, season, climate, taste, time of day, etc. Incorporating some of these things into our lifestyle, especially during their corresponding season can be extraordinarily nourishing. The emotion related to the Summer season/Fire element is Joy and the sound is Laughter. You have probably heard or read about people who have overcome major illness and trauma, and used the sheer power of laughter to ignite and continuously sustain their healing process.

Is it so unbelievable? Every day new science is showing us the raw data linking our emotions to physiological changes in the body. And how continual processing of specific emotions light up various aspects of the brain which then has a corresponding affect on hormone secretion, organ function, musculo-skeletal change, etc.

This is one of the easier homework assignments I sometimes give to my patients. What can you be doing to keep your entire body, mind, spirit smiling?! It can be as simple as watching funny movies or cartoons, but I encourage you to think a bit outside the box. What about going to a dog park and watching the animals play, or a playground that children are romping around in? When was the last time you picked up a jump rope or set of crayons? What are you passionate about? Whatever it may be… do more of it! Surround yourself with people that love to laugh, that are passionate about life, that always know how to turn any situation into something positive and productive.

What have you got to lose… except a really good time!!

This is a wonderful question. One in which that has just as equally wonderful answers. I was inspired to write about this from a story I just heard about an acquaintance of mine who was on the train from Portland while someone was having a heart attack. While most people were stunned, scared, and uncertain… Ryan was calm and collected, and proceeded to administer CPR until the next stop on the train. What does this have to do with meditation? To be honest, I don’t even know if he meditates or not, but there was very obviously a presence of mind that then translated into ‘right action’. To me, this is the greatest goal or benefit to having a regular meditation practice. Sure, there is a lot of research now correlating meditation with relieving stress, high blood pressure, anxiety, etc. But when a great zen teacher was asked, “Through all your wisdom, knowledge, and experience of being a great zen master, what is the essential teaching you have learned?”. His reply was simply, “An appropriate response.”

What does this mean? It means, that in every moment of every day, you perceive and respond with the utmost of clarity. What is ACTUALLY happening right here, right now? A perception and response that is free from old patterns and behaviors or projections onto the future. A perception and response which is free from duality, attachments, expectations, and suffering.

The practice of meditation at its most superficial level is the practice of doing Nothing. Nothing, but observing, which in our Western culture is very rare and sometimes even looked at negatively. Observing your breath, thoughts, feelings, emotions, sensations, and what is just in front of you in the moment. In Zen, we meditate with our eyes open. We do this, so not to block off any part of our sensorial experience. It also helps to minimize day-dreaming and/or falling asleep! Some have the misconception that we are trying to suppress all thoughts, feelings, and emotions… a sort of apathy. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, these things are all part of being human after all. What we are trying to create is a still mind. What is the difference?

Think back to when someone said they were going to call you back and they never did or at least not when they said they would. What the vast majority of us do is think to ourselves something like, “Hmmm… I haven’t heard back from so and so, I wonder why?” and this one thought turns into an entire melodrama into how and why they completely blew us off! The next day you find out your friend simply fell asleep watching TV. These storylines of our mind come from the patterns of our hurt, our traumas, our social and familial programming, etc. Having a still mind results in simply observing your sadness, anger, frustration, fear, worry, etc. around your friend not calling you back but then not feeding it with a storyline that has no roots in reality.

When we are simply sitting on a cushion and observing the world around us, there is a conditioning of the mind that is going on. You condition your body at the gym, in sports, martial arts, or yoga… this is a direct conditioning of the mind, our greatest and (sometimes) most troublesome muscle!

I’ll be discussing meditation a bit more on this blog as the weeks go on. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via posting a comment on this blog or sending me an email. Until then, a small thanks to Ryan and all those who have had the stillness and presence of mind to apply an ‘appropriate response’ when called upon.

In previous posts I’ve talked about the Summer and the Fire element involving much to do with relationships, intimacy, warmth, and connection. The other aspects of this season involve our ability to be in compassionate control over our universe, as well as being able to sort out the helpful vs. hurtful aspects of our daily lives. From a specific meridian view, we’re talking about the Heart and Small Intestine meridians. Just as the sun is the center of the ‘larger universe’ (macrocosm), the Heart is the center of our smaller universe (microcosm). We are all very familiar with the physiological functions of our Heart, but from a psycho-emotional standpoint, the Heart is deemed the Monarch, the Supreme Controller of all the meridians. It is her role, as Queen, to make sure everyone (in this case, the other meridians) are doing their jobs as optimally and efficiently as possible. Like any good ruler, in order to be listened to, she has to be coming from a place of compassion, openness, and understanding. Otherwise, she becomes uneasy, erratic, and control is lost.

This is a good time of year to do an internal check of your internal ruler. Are you feeling in the flow of things? Or are you bumping up alot of obstacles that seem unsurmountable? Do you feel an overall loss of control? Or are you exhibiting some over-controlling behavior (you might need to ask friends, family, or co-workers for feedback on this one!)? Even just spending time in the sun… sitting, standing, laying, can be recharging. Just be, connect with the sun, envision its rays imparting your royal mandate back into your Spirit.

Its partner in crime is the Small Intestine official. Physiologically, in charge of separating out the pure from the impure nutrients. In other words, whats healthy for us to use and what can be let go of. On a psycho-emotional level, its responsible for the same. We are constantly bombarded by all sorts of information and stimuli from a myriad of sources - our physical environment, the people in our lives, things we read, the media, etc.

How are you able to filter the information you receive on a moment to moment basis? How are you dealing with the day-to-day tasks like grocery shopping or paying your bills? Is it overwhelming? Are you experiencing what feels like an abnormal amount of confusion without much clarity? Sometimes when this official is out of balance… it can cause us to act in bizarre ways. For example, we may speak out loud what should be our inner monologue. Or have difficulty making coherent speech… or even filthy speech, its as if the the rubbish thats not being sorted out is literally building up and coming out of our mouths!

These are simply things to be aware of and a great time of year to strengthen these aspects of ourselves. Just bringing them to the forefront of our minds and putting energy toward them can allow wonderful shifts to occur. If you’d like further support, there are wonderful ways to work with these specific areas - obviously, five-element acupuncture is a great place to start, but not the only one. Taking some time to sort out and reorganize other parts of your life can help tremendously. For example cleaning up your home or work space. Perhaps, seek the guidance of a professional organizer, or feng-shui consultant. Its often said that our home and work space can be a reflection of our internal state.

Give it a shot… you’ve got nothing to lose, except that messy “junk drawer” in the kitchen!

Though many people are familiar with my tagline and what it truly represents, I feel inspired to write about it here.

“with a gentle reminder, healing comes from within”

Many people (though not all) who go to see traditional allopathic physicians and are given a western diagnosis, allow this to then cement their existence… or at least the view of their own health and wellness. They become resigned, settled in, and even find a certain security within their newfound diagnosis. This leaves very little hope for change. As the law of attraction goes, the more a person’s attention (patient or practitioner) is on the dis-ease, and the labels that then name that dis-ease… the more energy we are feeding into it, giving it staying power rather than transforming it into something beautiful and creative for the Universe. The pharmaceutical companies are no help either - making every advertisement a tantalizing solicitation for you to inquire about this magic pill that’s going to solve all your problems… that is until they get to the laundry-list of side effects.

Now the truth is our bodies’ cells, tissues, muscles, organs, etc. are constantly rebuilding and regenerating on a moment to moment basis. Underneath that, everything is just energy, and always moving towards Oneness. Human beings are only set apart by having a conscious mind and ego, our greatest gift and our greatest challenge. Sometimes we need a little help in finding that balance again. In my view, this is the role of the practitioner, offering a “gentle reminder”. This place is the root of all healing, and if you want to tap into that you will need to see and be seen for your entire self, in all your beauty, wisdom, and integral part of the great Oneness.

What is your part? Well, to start where are you putting your time, energy, and emotion? Are you doing or at least exploring the things you love? Are you surrounded by and engaged with people that are like-minded and supportive toward the benefit of all beings? Are you finding quality contemplative time for yourself? Are you getting enough exercise, eating healthy foods, and drinking plenty of water? Are you spending time in Nature? This doesn’t need to be a big camping trip or all-day hike. Just step out your door, and sit under a tree, stand in the sun, put your feet in the water, put your hands in the dirt, lay in the grass. Its amazing what a half-hour of doing any of these things can do to cultivate your innate wisdom to grow, heal, and change!

What is my part? Much of the work I do in my practice is educating and re-empowering people to take the health of their own body, mind, and spirit back into their hands… essentially, holding a mirror to reflect back their own innate potential to become whatever they want to be.

I encourage you to awaken and embrace the inner-healer within you, be glued to the driver’s seat and feel empowered!

The summer season is upon us. For the year, it is our most Yang time of year. And the sun is reaching out to love, connect, and warm all of that which grows in Nature. The same is true on an interpersonal level. The emotion connected to the Fire Element is Joy and the sound is Laughter. So the take-home message to live in harmony with Nature during this time is to laugh, love, and play!

Many relationships begin, deepen or come into full bloom. With a stronger sense of community, we may take up more extra-curricular activities that involve connecting with other people - playing sports or music, spiritual group, yoga class, knitting circle! This is the time to open up our hearts and let our love-light shine…

For more information on the Fire Element and its deeper aspects, click here.

Yesterday I turned the page on my Pema Chodron (world-renowned Buddhist teacher) calendar and was so taken back by the words in front of me, I felt I had to share them. Enjoy them again and again!

“Love. Buddha nature. Courage. These are code words for things that we don’t know in our minds, but any of us could experience them. These are words that point to what life really is when we let things fall apart and let ourselves be nailed to the present moment.”

In the Five Element acupuncture world, we talk alot about how we can live in closer harmony with Nature. Well, certainly acupuncture treatment helps with that. But what about some “take home” stuff?

Throughout the day each Official has a two hour window of time where the Qi is flowing strongest throughout that meridian… its time to shine! This is something we should be mindful of and use to our greatest benefit. Here we are in the Spring Season and the Wood Element, our Officials of the Liver and Gallbladder… also known as our Planner and our Decision-Maker. Their time is from 11pm-3am. So in order to really maximize all the qualities of the Wood Element and strengthen these aspects within us, our Body should be resting.

So in bed by 11pm to support the best plans and decisions for our body, mind, and spirit. To create and put into action our visions for the year. And remember, this is vision on all levels - insight, hindsight, foresight. To help us move forward in our lives with outward, expansive, assertive action. Even physiologically, we are supporting the health of our eyes, tendons, and of course, our liver and gallbladder organs.

Sweet dreams Seattle!

We have entered the time of the Wood Element and the Season of Spring. What was once a seed cultivating limitless potential underground during our most Yin time of year (Winter) is now ready to burst out with vibrance and assertion to show the world what its capable of. The energy before us is outward, expansive, and forward-moving. It is a time of birth, growth, and vision. And this is about vision on all levels - hindsight, insight, and foresight.

Many people take this opportunity to do big things… get married, have a baby, change jobs, begin or end relationships, etc. All of these things take major planning and decision-making. The officials of the Wood Element in our bodies are the Liver and Gallbladder meridians. They are the architect and the foreman - governing every plan and decision that happens on all levels of our body, mind, and spirit… in other words, very important!

For more information on the Wood Element and its deeper aspects, click here.

Hi there! In this blog I’ll post occasional thoughts on many topics including: acupuncture, herbs, meditation, lifestyle, and more. Be sure to visit often!