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…

Read More
Big Fire

Fire Meridians

By Cindy Black / July 27, 2017 /

Four Meridians of the Fire Element Only the Fire Element has four meridians associated with it. The other Elements of Chinese medicine each have just two meridians. Every Element is associated with a season: Fire – Summer Earth – Late Summer Metal – Fall Water – Winter Wood – Spring 5 Elements of Chinese medicine:…

Read More
Close up view of a koala sleeping in a tree

How to Relieve Adrenal Fatigue using Meridian Massage

By Cindy Black / September 1, 2016 /

The Yin and Yang of Adrenal fatigue Meridian Massage looks at conditions through the lens of Chinese medicine. First, we always understand a condition from the Chinese medicine framework. Next, we support the return to balance and health, using hands-on contact to the meridians and acupoints combined with lifestyle adjustments for the client. Adrenal fatigue…

Read More
spleen

Nourish your Spleen – eat soup!

By Cindy Black / February 25, 2016 /

Long cooked soup benefits the Spleen Classical Chinese medicine (CCM) classifies the Spleen as an organ of digestion. There is a huge difference in perspective between Classical Chinese medicine and modern medicine. Because of this difference, we capitalize the organ when referring to it from the CCM perspective, and use lower case when referring to any organ from the…

Read More
Man on a tight rope

Connecting Water and Fire

By Cindy Black / July 23, 2015 /

When Yin and Yang are balanced, all is well. The two fundamental forces of Yin and Yang are reflected in the elements of Water (Yin) and Fire (Yang). Water and Fire are two of the 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine. Every Element is associated with a pair of organs, one Yin and the other Yang.…

Read More
the tongue is the flower of the heart

The Flower of the Heart

By Cindy Black / July 9, 2015 /

The tongue is the flower of the Heart.   From the Chinese medical perspective, every organ has an associated sense organ. The sense organ associated with the Heart is the tongue. That is why it is said that “The tongue is the flower of the Heart.” Across many cultures and traditions, we hear about the…

Read More
In A Heartbeat

Support the Heart with Shu Points

By Cindy Black / June 11, 2015 /

“Use Yang meridians to support Yin Organs.” We can apply this axiom from Chinese medicine by using points on the Bladder meridian (Yang meridian) to support the Heart (Yin meridian). Specifically, use Bladder 14 and Bladder 15 to nourish the Heart. Bladder 14 is the Back Shu point for the Pericardium (Heart Protector), and Bladder…

Read More

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…

Read More

Use the Small Intestine Meridian to Relieve Shoulder Pain

By Cindy Black / February 13, 2014 /

The Small Intestine meridian is often used to relieve shoulder pain. “The Small Intestine receives the food that has been digested by the Spleen and Stomach and further extracts, absorbs, and distributes it throughout the body, all the while separating the pure from the turbid.” – Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine The Small Intestine meridian…

Read More
Great picture of Heart 7

Heart Meridian in Chinese Medicine

By Cindy Black / July 23, 2013 /

“The Heart is the sovereign of all the organs and represents the consciousness of one’s being. It is responsible for intelligence, wisdom and spiritual transformation.”
-Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine

Read More