Welcome to the Big Tree Blog

5 Elements of Self-care

By Cindy Black / December 14, 2017 /

Self-care redefined The 5 Elements of Chinese medicine express themselves in our body-mind-emotion-spirit. Imbalances within ourselves are eased by taking a little time to care for ourselves. Using the wisdom of the 5 Elements, we have access to innovative possibilities for self-care. Below is a short list to get you started: Earth -Nourishing, giving and receiving…

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A-Beautiful-Gift

Earth Element – giving and receiving

By Cindy Black / March 31, 2016 /

The Earth Element of Chinese Medicine One big resource of the Earth Element is our ability to give and receive. I have noticed that health care practitioners in general, tend to “over-give” and “under- receive.” The Earth is literally our planet and our biological mother. To survive as infants, we rely on our ability to receive…

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digestion

One simple tip to improve digestion

By Cindy Black / November 12, 2015 /

Pause before you eat. Digestion takes energy. When our energy is scattered, it is difficult to accomplish any task. Digestion is no different. The Spleen is the center of energy that drives digestion from the Chinese medical perspective. The Spleen appreciates a little peace and quiet in order to properly manage digestion. One very simple technique to…

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What are you growing?

By Cindy Black / April 3, 2014 /

From the seeds and roots held steady in winter, new growth emerges in spring. I’ve been around for decades and witnessed this event many times. However, it wasn’t until Khadro pointed out that the seeds we plant in our Water Element (which correspond to Winter) will grow in the Wood Element (which correspond to Spring), that I  really…

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Spleen Meridian

By Cindy Black / March 27, 2014 /

Since menstruation and fertility are dependent upon the vitality and abundance of Blood, the Spleen plays a major role in women’s health from the Chinese Medical perspective. The Spleen pulls nutrients from food during digestion and helps to produce Blood.

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Earth, Water, Sky

By Cindy Black / January 26, 2014 /

Earth provides the form, Water takes Her shape, The silent Sky ever present.  

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Stomach Meridian

By Cindy Black / October 24, 2013 /

On various occasions, just by massaging the Stomach meridian on the leg and pressure to ST 36 I’ve seen digestive issues such as cramping, bloating, and constipation be relieved.

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The Five Elements

By Cindy Black / February 28, 2013 /

A Quick Reference Guide to the 5 Elements: Fire – Extroversion, love, joy, warmth, heat Earth – Satisfaction, nourishment, center, abundance Metal – Courage of one’s convictions, inward, letting go, boundaries Water – Introversion, quiet, Life Force, creativity, cold Wood – Growth, birth, outward, expanding

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Soothing Worry: Finding Peace Within the Earth Element

By Cindy Black / March 29, 2012 /

(Part two of a two-part series on Earth) In part one of the Earth series, we met the anxious, over-thinking mind. What happens when this mind interacts with daily events? It tends to create more worrisome thoughts. This state of mind runs on energy from the Earth element, depleting the resource of Earth. Physiologically, Earth…

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Earth Out of Balance: The Manifestation of Over-Thinking

By Cindy Black / March 22, 2012 /

(Part one of a two part series on Earth Out of Balance) What is over-thinking really? What does it really mean? I have read this term many times throughout my study of Chinese Medicine. Over-thinking is woven in with the Earth element. I’ve seen the term associated with the emotion of Earth, usually paired with…

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