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Blood is the home of Qi in the human body. Blood is the “Mother of Qi,” meaning that without Blood, there is no Qi. Blood in Classical Chinese Medicine is much more than the red liquid of western science. Physically, Blood nourishes, lubricates, and warms. When our skin, tendons, ligaments, and joints are saturated with…
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Responding is the key Chinese medical theory is the science of Meridian Massage. But how do we actually “do Meridian Massage?” That is the art, and it will be unique to every practitioner. Guiding and Yielding This simple principle has become the basis of all that I do within my self-care practices, and my work…
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Spleen Qi Deficiency – OMG! I am often asked what to do about Spleen Qi deficiency. It is a common diagnosis by Acupuncturists and Chinese medical Herbalists. Like any diagnosis, being told that you have a Spleen Qi Deficiency can leave you feeling concerned and confused. Take a deep breath, and let’s investigate… The Spleen in Chinese…
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Creating conditions for free flowing Qi Meridians provide “boundaries” for Qi in the same way that riverbeds provide boundaries for water to flow. It’s easy to see water flowing in a riverbed. When the pathway is clear, the water flows. If the pathway is blocked by a damn or fallen log, the water backs up.…
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How you heal The infinite methods of human healing all rely on a human to “do the work.” Whether the healing method uses a scalpel, an herb, or hands, a unique individual is utilizing that technique. Without the trained individual, the scalpel is just a sharp knife, the herb is just another plant in the ground,…
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The key to flowing with Qi is awareness. Qi (“chee”) is living energy that manifests as infinite forms. Qi is not obvious, yet it is present within us and around us everywhere. When Qi is abundant and flowing through us, we feel happy, healthy, vital, responsive, present, and lively. When Qi is depleted and/or stagnant,…
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Chinese medicine is very different than Western medicine. These differences are highlighted when we consider the “ingredients” of a person. What is the concrete material of a human? How does the body function? What do we need in order to be healthy and alive? The answers to these questions vary from culture to culture. The Four…
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The nose is the sense organ of the Lungs. Every organ system has an associated sense organ. Classical Chinese medicine is more poetic, and writes that these sense organs are the “flowers” of the associated organ system. Since the lungs are all about breathing, it is easy to understand that the nose is the flower of the…
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The Lung and Large Intestine Meridians The Lung and Large Intestine are paired Yin and Yang meridians. The Lung meridian is Yin, it’s Yang partner is the Large Intestine meridian. These two meridians are also categorized within the Metal Element. For any given pairing, the Yang meridian is more often used to clear things out of the…
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You may have heard about the recent discovery of lymphatic vessels in the brain. This discovery is rocking the science world, “we’ll have to re-write the text books!” (1) What stands out to me is the acknowledgement that in order to find something, we have to consciously look for it: As to how the brain’s…
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