Food As Medicine Is Common Sense

Here in the U.S. and in most Western countries, we think of food as food and medicine as medicine; rarely linking the two. Many countries understand that food IS medicine. I found a particularly useful article in a Bangkok paper (applause for the internet) that explains food as medicine and want to share it with you.

"Traditional Chinese medicine has been practised for 5,000 years, so it's no

Thank You!

Repeatedly, in psychology, researchers have linked the experience of being "grateful" to mental health and well-being. Here is an informative summary of the findings from some researchers in the field of gratitude.

"Grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress. The disposition toward gratitude appears

Eyes On The Prize

''Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.'' 
Henry Ford

Acupuncture Explained?

I am often asked to explain acupuncture in Western medical terms. I clearly understand the desire to fit a new idea, treatment or event into our existing schemas - I feel the same way, but it isn't always possible. Sometimes we have to let go of old ways of thinking or perceiving in order to be receptive to new ways. The following article is a thoughtful commentary trying to grapple with the

5 Cold Prevention & Treatment Tips

During this last month, I have had so many people coming into my Chicago acupuncture office complaining of colds, that I thought I’d post some good tips on how to avoid and treat the common cold.
Huang qi/Astragalus - I have written about this herb many times on my blog and with good reason. It stimulates the immune system; therefore it is often used to treat and prevent the common cold, sinus

‎"Melting You Icebergs"

A Facebook professional contact posted this recently and I thought it was worth sharing because, chances are, you are reading this on a computer and susceptible to frozen icebergs!  

Shoulders.

You keyboard right?  

Midway between the far end of your shoulder and your spine there is a gathering point for stress. It feels both good and bad whenever someone presses on it. 1 iceburg on each shoulder. Not quite as bad as Atlas.  So let's melt them.

Push your shoulders up to your ears or as far as they will go. Then let them fall slowly and SOFTEN. Think of hot butter. Think of ice melting. Move your right hand to your left shoulder and gently GRAB that point and squeeze, not like you are wrestling with an enemy, but like you are embracing a wounded loved one. With care. And work out sone of that tender stiffness. Do the same with the other hand and shoulder.  Then make some really REALLY BIG circles with your shoulders. All the way up back down forward, and around and around.  

W O R K I T O U T.

Now step away from your computer and do something else for a while. Take care of you!

Qi Gong Unites Good Intentions With Results

I think the Huffington Post is starting to take notice of Eastern health practices. Earlier this year they published an article on Chinese Medicine for insomnia and now Arthur Rosenfeld has written an article about Qi Gong.

"If you've traveled to China, you've likely encountered senior citizens flapping their arms early in the morning in public parks, or perhaps squatting, walking, singing or