Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine:
natural & clinically proven for over thousands of years

Chinese Medicine is a complete healthcare system validated by thousands of years of continuous clinical practice – the same acupuncture points,  medicinal herbs and lifestyle / dietary medicine that we continue to use today have been used for thousands of years.

Chinese Medicine is the original functional medicine

In addition to providing relief from symptoms, it is focused on getting to the root of the problem. As the aim of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture is to restore optimal function of the body’s various systems, it has been traditionally used for thousands of years to address a broad range of conditions – and the body of modern research “rediscovering” the knowledge held by this ancient science continues to grow.

Why I DON’T biohack, “detox” or load up on supplements – and what I DO: Episode 40 In this episode I share the simple, daily practices that I include to nourish my health, and easy ways you can apply them yourself. What I have observed over the years – both in my own health journey and in my many years in clinic – is that simple & natural is most often best. While extreme or heroic practices, and expensive biohacks & supplements, may seem glamorous and exciting and may promise the world, I see that we can achieve the same benefits with the simple – often free! – consistent things that we do each day (grounding, sunlight, movement, emotional expression) and by living as closely to Mama Nature as we can (wholefoods, clean & coherent water, natural light & frequencies, aligning with daily / seasonal rhythms). I also have witnessed that while it may be tempting to ADD more to our lives in an attempt to gain more vitality, it is very often what we REMOVE that frees up our vital force to go about its job of healing, repair and restoration. Reducing the load in our “toxin bucket” by limiting what we throw in there (food additives, chemicals, synthetic fragrances, toxin in personal care & home products, non-native electromagnetic fields, artificial lighting, etc.) can be just as – if not more – profound as what we add to our lives. I can also add to this the witnessing & releasing of limiting beliefs, “congestive” emotional habits and stored trauma is another important piece of the puzzle – letting go of these liberates vast amounts of our innate healing powers. CAVEAT: the practices discussed are suitable for most of us who are in at least a reasonable state of health. There are times when systems may be so depleted, overloaded with toxins or in such an pronounced state of compensation (“disease”) that more extreme measures – practices, supplements, devices – may be temporarily necessary in order to restore a baseline level of vital energy to the system, which can then take it from there. 🌕 Happy Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse! 🌕 #healthpodcast #newepisode #biohack #biohacking #detox #wellness #wellnessjourney #holistichealth #ancientwisdom #qi #tao #energy
Why I say no to ice baths (and why Chinese Medicine agrees). Everything in Chinese Medicine comes down to Yin & Yang, Water & Fire, static & dynamic. Life is movement. Metabolism. Flow. Suppleness. Circulation. Warmth. What happens when we put something “on ice”, or in the fridge? Movement & metabolism slows (it’s why spoilage is slowed). Things get stiffer and harder: flow is impeded. LIFE IS NOT SUPPORTED. Putting our bodies into a situation that does not support Life, pushes the body to draw into our deep reserves of Life Force to counteract the icy cold and to keep our spark of life bright. The reserves of Life Force, or Jing, live between the Kidneys: in the “Gate of Vitality”, or Ming Men - 命門 . These reserves are to be protected at all costs, as their abundance dictates how well we heal, grow & “age”. They provide a burst of power if we need to run from a tiger, for example, but we want to avoid taxing them unnecessarily. They are precious. This understanding echoes the modern understanding of why ice baths can “feel good” to some people, in the short term. Ice baths release adrenal (literally, “above the kidney”) stress hormones - these can make us feel great temporarily, but at what long-term cost? I look to the ancient wisdom traditions and literally NONE suggest hanging out static in ice. Static is Yin, Cold is Yin. Here there is no balance, it’s Yin on Yin. Yin is overwhelming. At least a quick, cold plunge in a natural water source balances out Cold (Yin) with dynamic movement (Yang) & Living Water (Yang). YANG = LIFE FORCE. We can never have too much Life. This is why we protect & nourish our Yang, and avoid things that deplete it. I also look to Mama Nature and the wisdom of animals, and while we see snow monkeys in hot springs, we don’t see any animals choosing to sit static in ice water. NATURE ALWAYS KNOWS BEST. We can learn so much from our animal friends. I think that in this modern world, many have forgotten the infinite wisdom of their bodies. If we listen in, our bodies are always communicating with us as to what we need in each moment. LET’S TRY IT NOW! (continued in comments)
Den Shen, or Sage, is classified as a “slightly Cool” herb with a bitter flavour. The bitter flavour descends, and can speed digestion and elimination. Some contemporary studies show that it can ease diarrhoea and normalise blood sugar levels. The bitter flavour is also said to benefit the Heart, so it is no surprise that Sage has been used for cardiovascular health. In modern research, it has been shown to balance cholesterol levels (though the cholesterol topic is a whole other chat for another time 😉) As the Heart houses the Shen, or spirit, Sage can also benefit and calm the Shen, easing restlessness, palpitations and insomnia (which can be Qi ascending upwards and not settling down to sleep). Sage is in the category of “Herbs that Move Blood”, and can me used to move and nourish Blood - and to dispel Stasis. It can be used to free up circulation anywhere in the body, and in an important herb in women’s health - where it not only moves Blood, but can also balance hormones. Modern investigations suggest it can benefit aspects of the menopausal transition (or, “Second Spring” - such an empowering name for it!) Sage is packed full on antioxidants, and can reduce inflammation. It is traditionally used for sore throats, as a tea or gargle. Its antioxidant richness is why some researchers have found that Sage can inhibit certain cancers, and speed their cell death. And finally, because I could sing Sage’s praises for a whole tot longer 🤣- cognitive health and memory: Several studies have shown an improvement in memory when using Sage, and yet another study found that Alzheimer’s patients taking a Sage extract for 4 months performed significantly better on memory, reasoning and problem-solving tests. I have added Ginger, which is warming and pungent (outward-moving) to balance out the cool and descending nature of Sage. Ginger can help to boost the Spleen and Earth element - amongst a whole list of superpowers, which I’ll share in another post! #wellnessjourney #naturalhealth #holsitichealth #herbalmedicine #mamanature #naturopath #natureheals #foodismedecine #sage #wellness #mindbidysoul
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