Welcome to the Big Tree Blog
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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Mental focus happens! As a card carrying member of the busy mind club, I can say that mental focus is possible! There are many different theories and approaches that promise to improve your focus. There are drugs, supplements, vitamins, and exercises! With so many choices, how do you find that one technique that will work…
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“Quitting” has many connotations. If I quit school, I’m a failure. If I quit smoking, I’m a success story. Personally, I have quit many things – some would be declared failures and others successes. Quitting is an ending of one thing, and the beginning of another. Endings, letting go, limiting – these balance all the beginnings, the…
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Fall is the season of the Metal Element. Letting go, turning inward and self-reflection mark the time of the Metal element within the cycle of the 5 Elements. As trees let go of their leaves, we are reminded of the bare essentials hidden beneath our exterior. The Metal Element fosters our ability to sort out…
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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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Treating the common cold is one of the most confounding challenges for western medicine. Chinese Medicine offers an excellent method of both treating and preventing colds. The Large Intestine meridian is a key player the treatment of colds and flus in Chinese Medicine.
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The Lung meridian begins internally, in the stomach. This internal pathway connects with the large intestine, stomach, lungs and throat. The external Lung meridian pathway that we can contact begins on the upper chest, at the first Lung meridian point, Lung 1 (LU 1). “The Lung is the advisor. It helps the Heart in regulating…
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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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A Yin & Yang Balancing Act The Wood element of Spring gets plenty of attention here in the west! In general, western culture worships the Wood element to such an extreme that many of us live with a Wood imbalance. We’ve been living with it so long that it can seem “normal.” When the Wood…
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The plants are making their way up through the soil, reaching for the sun. It is spring, and time for the sprouts of winter’s seeds to push up and out, expanding back to life. We might notice a similar energy within ourselves, a desire to get going, start new things, turn over a new leaf,…
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