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25.01.2022 Frozen Shoulder is a long painful experience holding many people back from a large range of normal daily movements. With pain that can be electric or like knife stabbing into the joint and when thats not happening its a deep painful ache during sleep that keeps people awake at night. Most of the time this occurs after an injury from a fall, or impact or wrong movement.... It becomes a very fine line in the early stages of how much therapy/movement the body can handle before symptoms are aggrivated. I have worked with many people including atheltes with frozen shoulder from the age range of 30-70 y.o I have noticed conventional treatment such as cortisone injections doesnt work for everyone, some it may provide quick releif and then a retrun of symptoms. New research has found Cortisone injections increase risk of longterm degeneration and osteoarthitis in the joint treated. However there more gentle and effectice tools to help this common condition. Safe tools worked together such as Acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage and Qi gong sequences provide consistent steady improvment. Session are no means a magic pill, its frequent consistent changes like all things in nature that heal. Know someone with frozen shoulder that needs some extra help send them my way or tag them below
25.01.2022 Spring is in the air! Literally. Spring is responsible for all kinds of changes one of them is the air. -Air pressure (barometric pressure)... -Airflow -Air contaminants (Pollen) There is quite a lot barometric shifts happening during this season, as yang (heat) struggles with the yin (cool). The climate shifts from high to low barometric pressures and during this period wind and storms become more prevalent. These pressure changes in the air can have psychological effects on people. When the wind is moving quickly with low air pressure, those who have weak or slightly stagnant livers (in Chinese medicine) will feel more alive, energetic and free. Those who have livers overburdened with toxins and histamine, will hate and avoid this type of wind. The wind will increase emotional irritability and can cause outbursts or mania . As the wind increases it carries the pollen of the season. Those who have high histamine or histamine intolerance will get seasonal allergies, and often have overburdened livers containing too much heat and toxins. Factors that impact liver heat or high histamine intolerance can include: - Inflammatory foods like gluten, sugar, dairy and alcohol. - emotional stress - impaired detoxification (sweating, urination and bowel movements) - Low intake of essential nutrients and fibre needed for liver detoxification and gut health. Not only is pollen and air pressure an issue. The increase in wind can lodge harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses into our body. The increased airforce pushing onto the body can allow microorganisms to penetrate our pores especially if we are sweating and the pores are open. This can lead to heat conditions called spring warmth. Western medicine research has shown herbal formulas such as ‘Jade WIND screen formula’ to be an effective treatment for seasonal allergies. On the plus side spring is about: - New life - Fertility - Growth - Change
25.01.2022 NEW BLOG: 8 easy tips you need to know for your headaches.
24.01.2022 Autoimmunity a series of mysterious diseases or is it ? When I work patients with Autoimmune diseases, I often ask about their whole life history to figure out when a normal functioning immune system began to dysfunction. Often I’m looking for key factors that are linked to damaging the Kidney or Adrenal system in Chinese Medicine.... The factors I will be looking for - The use of strong drugs - A prolonged period intense emotional stress -A prolonged period of exhaustion and poor to little sleep - A emotional period of self hate - Prolonged period or excessive use of stimulants including caffine. -Birthing issues /genetic weakness in mother -Malnourishment Majority of the cases show these signs . These are the precursors signs for autoimmunity from my experience. Once people have damaged their kidney/adrenals system is possible for foreign microbes, fungi and bacteria to enter often illness arrives followed by autoimmunity. Once the kidneys/adrenals are damaged liver detoxification function is impaired and digestion is impaired as well. The first step is to start with the adrenals by removing any of the aggravating factors mentioned above and resolve any emotional triggers. I had listen to a good podcast by the @atpscience a few months ago explaining more detail from a scientific perspective check it out to learn more the episode is called Autoimmune Diseases - too much of a good thing Do you have Autoimmune condition and what’s your experience?
24.01.2022 Our health has so much do with what we associate with. Often we associate eating junk food/drinking alcohol as a treat or a reward but we know we don’t feel good after and most likely regret it . We our constantly associating foods, drinks, people and activities with meanings. If you are feeling unwell , ask yourself what am I associating with that i think is good but is actually making me feel bad? ... Returning to your body’s truth can sometimes need a constant reminder, as our thoughts can easily distract us from what our body is telling us . When you treat yourself treat yourself to something that makes you feel good during and after, a treat that will take your life to a better place! What are you treating yourself to that truly makes you feel good ?
24.01.2022 Often i see people with injuries in shoulders, hips and feet. Surprisingly cortisone injections provide pain relief for a short period and then they are back to where they were before treatment or most of the time even worse. Now there is a study suggesting increased risk of osteoarthritis with cortisone injections.... Physical rehab and acupuncture is my preference
23.01.2022 The diagnosis of a chemical imbalance is an absurd way to look at depression especially if the cause is never investigated. A chemical imbalance is a symptom of disease not the origin of disease. As you can see in the image above there are multiple causes that can change our brain chemistry, physical chemistry.... To take brain altering drugs without addressing the cause first is not fixing the problem. It is a lifelong enrolment to the school of symptom management. It would be the equivalent of someone breaking their foot and being put on a wheel chair for the rest of their life. Instead of healing the foot and addressing what caused the broken foot in the first place. In real life this can be seen as a prescription of antidepressants without sufficient diagnosis and investigation. Many underlying factors can contribute such as those listed above. Maybe mood improves, maybe it doesn’t. The underlining issues are not resolved which can lead to further imbalance when left unaddressed overtime. For example B12 deficiency left unaddressed over time can lead to nerve degeneration, fatigue and fertility issues. Vit D deficiency left unaddressed long term can lead to immune dysregulation and increased cancer risk. Often depression or sadness is a message from our body saying something needs to change. The feeling the spectrum of human emotion is normal, getting stuck in one emotion is a sign something is out of balance. Things don’t happen in the body by accident or mistake, if you have been struggling with this, look deeper, get support, and don’t settle for anything less then a root cause approach for your health and wellbeing.
23.01.2022 It’s a very common experience to get tests and blood work only to find out that there seems to be nothing out of range . Which for some people this can make them feel as if they are crazy . The standard blood test is very fundamental test but it doesn’t cover everything....Continue reading
23.01.2022 How our environment impacts our movement and mobility. What I notice is how quickly people loose complex movement due to our environment not encouraging it. Sometime our cloths are a environmental factor stopping us from movement because they can’t get dirty and our cloths are tight restrictive so we avoid using our body to it’s full expression.... Often the home/work environment we engage in is delicate and shouldn’t be touched with and kept clean. However when we walk into a forest (our natural environment) it is the complete opposite, you touch everything, you smell it, throw , bash, inspect and so much more. You don’t worry about getting dirty because it will wash off your skin or you naturally get so dirty you stop caring . We have created sub optimal environments that limit our movement, health, creativity and self expression. If we were animals in the zoo it would be deemed unfit. To get what we have lost we need to think like Successful SEOs, they create a work environment that naturally encourages work to happen effortlessly. For example : if you wanting to learn guitar have your guitar laying next to you on the coach your more inclined to pick it up and play then if it’s in the cupboard. If you walk past a boxing bag hanging your likely to give it a few jabs . Creating the ideal environment is necessary for you work but also for your health . One common sign I see in clinic caused by a not ideal environment is the inability to get up from the ground effectively people from people 50+ . A lot of people in this bracket have no need to move from the ground up because environment is designed that way. Often their reasoning is because they are old, majority of the time it is because they haven’t done that movement in so long they have become weak . It’s important that we maximise our environments , create work environments that encourage instead of distract, that we have daily environments that encourage complex moment and environments that encourage deep sleep . How have you made your environment help you work better or be more healthy and what have you noticed ?
23.01.2022 Nettle one of my favourite herbs this year ! It’s growing now during spring . Nettle is such a great herb.... It’s dark lush green colour is good indicator for treating the blood it’s stinging function shows it has a strong immune system and by ingesting it it benefits our immune system. It has natural antihistamines: works great for allergies . It treats the skin and lungs : for asthma, eczema and allergies It cools the body while still providing nourishment for the blood which benefits conditions such as dry skin, brittle hair and nails, night sweats and hot flushes . Purifies the blood from environmental toxins Clears mucous from the body : allergy congestion It is naturally high in iron too . Do you use nettle or have you stung yourself with nettle before ? What’s your experience with nettle? Photo by :
22.01.2022 Two weeks away
22.01.2022 Hawthorn berry harvest is upon us. Hawthorn berry known as Shan Zha in Chinese Medicine is an effective herb and part of the Rosaceae family. Known for its ability to improve digestion and recover from overeating protein rich and fatty foods by its natural digestive enzymes and its ability to increase the secretion of our digestive enzymes. It also has the ability lower cholesterol levels.... There is research for the use of the leaf and fruit for the treatment of the heart disease. With its ability to normalise heart rhythms, lower blood pressure and treat arrhythmias. By lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and regulating heart rhythms it may be a support to reduce severity or likely hood of agina attacks. Other uses traditional used in Chinese medicine - Hernia Pain - diahorea and dysentery Do you use or collet hawthorn berries? Note: There is another berry that looks very similar in Mornington area that isn’t hawthorn and poisonous. Make sure you get the right one . If they are the size of skittle or m&m’s it’s cotoneaster glaucophyllus which is poisonous. Make sure you can distinguish between cotoneaster glaucophyllus and hawthorn . Then check with someone before trying yourself for your own safety.
21.01.2022 Macca! Just like every super food people are always easily sold on the benefits. Improved libido, improved energy, improved sperm, balance menopause symptoms and balance menstrual disorders.... With so many benefits it’s easy to forget, that every herb has a consequence when used at the wrong amount or wrong time or wrong diagnoses. So what are the consequences? In Chinese Medicine terms for people with heat in their system Macca is going to make those symptoms worse . If it’s stimulating libido you know it’s going to be one hot herb So people with red hot acne it’s only going to make these symptoms worse, redder and more cystic . In western medicine- research has shown it increases oestrogen. if you are a person that it’s always stressed and busy, eating a lot of inflammatory foods or taking medication that burdens the liver and not eating enough greens your liver is likely to be not detoxing oestrogen quick enough. This causes oestrogen excess leading to symptoms of frequent headaches, cystic acne and painful periods . Adding Macca will only exacerbate the oestrogen excess signs mentioned above, as well as make the acne worse because this herb increases oestrogen. Diagnoses is key, I never doubt the herb, I doubt the diagnoses .
21.01.2022 Bone Health and Bone Degeneration! I see a lot of people in clinic coming in for pain problems, only to find out there is underlying bone issues and degeneration. A Lot of these issues are often caused by chronic long term habits that can be easily avoided, unfortunately most of the issues only become noticeable once the damage is done.... The unstable joint causes nerve pain localised to the damage area and commonly along the nerve pathway of legs or hands. The hardest part for people with this is the amount of pain they endure and unfortunately experience no relief from pain medication. There are three aspects we need to consider for optimal bone health. - Diet - Movement/structure/posture -Stress This post will cover diet (Future posts will cover movement and structure) To have healthy bones we need adequate amounts of : -Calcium ( Green veg, small fish, goats cheese) -Vitamin D (Sunlight, sun dried mushrooms, fish, organ meat)- -Vitamin K1 (Kale, mustard greens, dandelion, spinach) -Vitamin K2 (Ethically raised eggs, goats cheese, grass fed butter) -Vitamin A Retinoids: Seafoods, shellfish, fish oil, pasture raised eggs and grass fed butter. -Vitamin A Carotenoids : Sweet potato, Butternut Squash, Kale, Carrots and spinach. We also need to avoid foods that deplete our nutrient stores . Caffeine: Decreased calcium levels, triggers cortisol increase which blocks calcium absorption into bones. Phytic Acid (Plants Defense response): Found in raw greens and wheat. Cook or ferment greens to clear phytic acid, avoid wheat Inhibits mineral absorption. Its very easy for people to eat a refined diet, lack vitamin D and Calcium, use stimulants like caffine and be under lots of stress, for most of their life and before they know it. Their back or neck, or other joints have slowly worn away prematurely. The first step is to reverse these things by getting adequate nutriton and reducing stress. Do you know anyone with degeneration? Let them know. Next post will still be nutriton regarding suplements and herbs.
20.01.2022 The frequency of people suffer from insomnia and disturb sleep is at all time high. Did you know some traditional cultures are missing the word to describe insomnia (they must be good sleepers ) Disturb sleep can start from emotional factors or physical factors, and both are legitimate as each other .... Emotional factors include : worry/overthinking Chronic anxiety Stress and fear. Grief Its important to note that emotional issues are just as much physically taxing as they emotionally. Being caught in chronic emotional state depletes our nutrient stores and often makes us more prone to feeling the same emotion again. Physical factors: Can be high cortisol and adrenaline can cause insomnia common with people over training and under eating . Anemia or blood deficiency in Chinese medicine. From eating enough but not the right nutrients. Inflammation and cirrhosis of the liver by eating inflammatory foods, medication and drugs can cause insomnia Oestrogen Dominance can suppress melatonin production (a hormone needed for sleep) Mold exposure can be keeping you up at night with restless dreams . Having physiological issues like is also going to impact our emotions from a chemical perspective. Many people with lack of sleep can be easily get frustrated, sad, upset or even have complete meltdowns . Getting to the root the sleep disturbance is necessary for both physical and emotional health . Insomnia is not caused by a lack of sleeping pills, there is always a physical or emotional factor that will still be there If you are relying on sleeping medication for symptom relief. How have you improved your sleep and what was the cause ?
20.01.2022 A Australian study suggests the average person consumes 5 grams of plastic a week from contaminated food and water. 5 grams of plastic is the same size of credit card. Plastic acts like an oestrogen in the body, and if you compare how little hormones you need to change your body, 5 grams is going to cause a big impact.... The plastics get stored in our fat cells and disrupt our hormones. Sweating and eating vegetables higher in folate will help the body eliminate plastics. Having plastics in our system can increase symptoms of weight gain, difficulty loosing weight, headaches, pms, bacterial overgrowth, microbiome imbalances and fertility issues. To protect ourselves from plastic exposure we can get a regular sweat, eat plenty of veg that contain folate, filter our water and focus on cutting out plastics and polyester clothing from your life. Something I am working on but a big goal for this year.
20.01.2022 There are so many forms of escapism and it’s a challenge everyone must face when they find themselves struggling. The bigger the struggle the bigger call for escapism. The bigger the escape the more guilt and stress follows . When I have had a long week or months, i ask myself how will checking out help me? 99% time my body’s answer is it won’t .... Often looking on the internet or switching off by sensory stimulus (what ever that may be for you) never really allows me to feel relaxed or rejuvenated. So when I find myself looking to relax or to feel more at peace I focus on connecting more with myself. This can be stretching, walking or napping, eating well or keeping my space in order with cleaning/ organising or planning. Things that will make the struggling less in the big picture, instead of the short term escape. How do you connect more to yourself to relax and/ or what Is your escape that is keeping you from being more present ?
20.01.2022 Sichuan Pepper (Hua Jiao) a herb with a very cool story on how it saved the people of Sichuan. If you want the full story check out the podcast botanical biohacking episode Sichuan peppercorns you won’t be disappointed. It’s used for cold and damp climates with high humidity. These areas contain higher mold and fungi in the air. ... Slowly being exposed to these cold damp environments can weaken the immune system causing symptoms such as fatigue, dark eyes, sinus congestion and mucous, aching joints, irritability and disturbing dreams. Sichuan pepper has cooling mint like flavour like peppermint with mouth tingling sensation. It causes the body to vibrate 50hz per second which gives our body the body the defensive strength to shunt away these foreign microbes. It’s also used to clear out parasites and worms. After hearing about it from the podcast, I thought I would order it myself and give it a go. I noticed my nose open up and tingling in my mouth and head very shortly after eating . Looking forward to exploring recipes this winter Do you use Sichuan pepper ? Photo by:@nosweetsour
19.01.2022 One thing that never left my mind is when my Qi gong master said Integrity is better then righteousness I thought about it & have observed this to be true. To clarify, righteousness is a strong moral belief & identity of right and wrong. While integrity in this case is referring to the state of being whole & undivided.... The problem with righteousness & people in this mental state is they love to be righteous, it loves to seperate right & wrong. It loves to seperate us, to two sides them & us. There is no inbetween, there is no negotiation, no grey area, there is no context or connection. It’s purely black & white. A lot of wars (political and religious) are based on righteous mental state. In a state of righteousness it seems like the whole big picture outcome and flow effect of circumstance have been ignored. I’m sure everyone has been in a state righteousness where they believe themselves to be right or even if they are technically right e.g stating a specific fact that is true. Only to fight for a point that is right and end a good friendship, or spend a day fighting with a friend or family member that wasn’t really worth the time or energy or mental stress. Righteousness will always go to war & both people loose at war and both sides take damage & need time to recover. While integrity looks at the whole. Through the lens of integrity, everything is not black and white, there is always nuance to each situation and consideration. A person with integrity might know they are factually right in a given argument but know fighting an argument may cause more harm then good. A person of integrity will highlight why something is good, but also understand when it’s not applicable demonstrate this, where it might not work or when it may even create problems. If you ask person with integrity a simple question. They will often ask more questions and ‘say it depends’. A righteousness mind state will say: ‘this is the way & only way’ without stopping for context. I am grateful for all the wisdom my Qi Gong master subtly planted in my mind all those years ago.
19.01.2022 Health is 33% mind, 33% diet and 33% exercise. If you are not moving your body your not going to feel . Exercise is more then just loosing weight and looking good (but that is great too )... Movement has the powerful effect to: Regulate lymph flow: needed to combat cysts and growth, as well as keeping your teeth healthy. Regulate Hormones : increase testosterone, human growth hormone and more . Prevent cancer : lactic acid from exercise has been shown to prevent certain cancers Regulate microbiome: increased Nitric oxide in the body (a potent gas) destroys harmful bacteria and fungus to optimise the microbiome. Improves digestion : regulates insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels . Strengthens Bones : resistance training strengthens bones and brittle bones is a big hurdle for elderly . Strengthen them when you have the chance ! Improves Detoxification: sweating releases toxins such as plastics, heavy metals, pesticides and harmful bacteria from the fat cells. Improved blood flow and lymph will help detoxification too. Improved mood : increased level of neurotransmitters BDNF . Why do you exercise?
19.01.2022 Green tea and Matcha (camellia sinensis) Is it good or bad? Plotwist: it’s both!... Green tea/matcha are powerful healing herbs when used at right time & your worst enemy when used wrongly. So let’s see what Eastern & western medicine have to say. In Chinese medicine we identify the properties of herbs by flavour and colour. The bitter flavour of green tea means it has a cooling function in the body & influences the cardiovascular system. The green colour indicates a correlation to the liver & has a moving/stimulating function with the Qi. The researched benefits in western medicine for green tea: - Super high antioxidants (lowers inflammation by cooling the system) - Anti-ageing - High in polyphenols (regulates microbiome, clears out infections & overgrowth (cooling) - Lowers blood pressure & cholesterol (cardiovascular system) & increases regrowth of heart cells. - People that drink green less likely to have liver disease. - Reduces damage to the liver from alcohol (Liver) - Helps with cancer, activates the P53 gene - clears up cancers & is suppressed when cancer is present (Moving) - Plus so much more! The drug interactions: - contraceptive pill: will increase the effect of caffeine & duration in the system - Mao inhibitors (antidepressant): increased blood pressure - Warfarin (blood thinners): vitamin K2 in green tea can cause the medication to not work Negative side effects: - caffine content causes issues for those with weak adrenals & sensitive to caffeine insomnia, anxiety, restlessness and bone density loss - 3 compounds in tea increase the chance of miscarriage or conceiving. - Large amounts inhibit folate absorption causing an increased risk of neural tube deficits in babies. People with MTHFR gene won’t be able to detoxify properly because they already have low folate - Inhibits B vitamin & iron absorption > anemia
18.01.2022 Greens! Green vegetables are so great and medicinal! I have had so many people have great changes to their health by more adding greens . For the medicinal dosage to my patients that need it I recommend 60% of the plate every meal be green veggies .... When the liver is overburdened : Detoxification of hormones doesn’t occur effectively . Depending on the hormone build up: -It can cause thyroid issues hypo or hyper - It can cause a build of oestrogen causing skin issues , painful periods, cysts growths, tumours. - it can cause systemic inflammation causing weight gain and poor joint recovery - it can cause methylation issues leading to depression, irritability, anxiety and nutritional deficiency’s. How have green veggies helped you ?
18.01.2022 Bone Health and Herbal prescriptions. To optimise bone health a superior herbalist will consider these factors before giving you herbs for bones. 1. Are they digesting their nutrients effectively ? If they are not digesting well herbs for digestion is needed or they will be peeing out their precious nutrients from the bone strengthening herbs .... 2 .Are the adrenals/kidneys functioning well? If they are constantly fatigued or in flight or flight, the cortisol will be constantly leeching calcium from the bones . The issue won’t be resolved without treating the adrenals as well. 3. Circulation: is there poor blood supply due to a injury, lack of movement or strain? If circulation is poor herbs are needed otherwise the nutrients won’t reach the targeted area. 4. Inflammation: is there constant inflammation causing the body to be degenerative state ? It so you will need herbs to clear the out . Once these have been ticked off. There are many great herbs proven to increase bone cell activity. Such as : Du Zhong ( Eucommia Bark) : seen in this picture, great for cartilage health as well. Niu xi (Achyranthes bidentata): great for tendon and bones . Lu Jiao Jiao (Deer antler) : The same hormones that cause the deer to rapidly grow large set of antlers each years help our bones grow stronger too. As chinese philosophy says A good emperor keeps peoples bellys full, bones strong and the mind at ease Photo by @kristi.stoddard.acupuncture
17.01.2022 Breathing techniques! Breathing technique’s have a great impact on our physiological and emotional health. A medicinal tool that can either improve our health or aggravate our health depending on the technique and person.... It’s all about getting balance. Too much or too little oxygen or Co2 can be toxic and damaging to the body. However short struggles can provide our body with extra strength the same as lifting weights and gaining muscle this is called hormesis. Depending on our internal state determines if we need more or less oxygen or C02. Simplyput do we need stimulation (yang) or sedation (yin). Techniques can be categorised into two categories: -Yin (slow breathing, still, relaxing, calming, nourishing, holding) Yin breathing Increases nitric oxide, increase C02 tolerance, increase salvia production . Increase rest and digest stare(parasympathetic) lowers cortisol , decrease blood pressure . -Yang (invigorating/stimulating/dispering/quick). Yang breathing causes Hyperoxia lowers nitric oxide , increases cortisol and increases blood pressure and heart rate, and red blood cell production. The breathing technique paradox As Chinese medicine theory says yang turns to yin and yin turns to yang. This is present within breathing techniques. Too much yin breathing slow breathing/ breath holding can actually start to cause a stimulating effect and increase cortisol levels short term. However doing enough yin breathing at the right amount will increase nitric oxide and will then improve all yang qualities improved strength, muscle mass, libido and Immunity. The same goes for too much Yang breathing can cause too much heat in the system causing headaches or for people to pass out if they are already too hot (high blood pressure , increase heart rate). However it in some circumstances for the right people yang breathing can be used to dump cortisol and stress hormones after the increased stimulation peaks the body goes into deep relaxation . (This is the same feeling we get after a good workout). Other breathing techniques focus on releasing/ stimulating the diaphragm and vagus which helps process trauma and unresolved stress. What’s your fav?
17.01.2022 Late night eating and big meals before sleep If your wondering how sumo wrestlers get so large. It requires two things 1. Large meals ... 2. Going to sleep straight after eating If we reverse this To not be a sumo wrestler : 1. smaller evening meals 2. A decent break before going to sleep Eating late and large meals in the evening puts extra stress on a already weekend digestive system . Increasing the risk insulin resistance and as well disturbing sleep quality. In Chinese Medicine it can cause problems such as dampness (bacterial overgrowth, cysts , tumours, mucous) as well as food stagnation (endotoxins). What time do you have your last meal and what time do you go to bed ? Photo by : @thegrappleclub
17.01.2022 Alcohol and our mental health. Everyone reacts differently to alcohol however if you are person that suffers from depression, you might be not be aware of how much alcohol is impacting your state of mind. Most of us are aware that alcohol is a depressant.... Often I hear in clinic, I’m only having a few a week or just 1 a day. To that I reply, it’s still too much, it’s like clothing rubbing on a raw wound, if you keep agitating, it won’t have the space to heal. Obviously mental health is a multifaceted problem. Diet only being one aspect involving the microbiome and it’s role on the production of neurotransmitters. What I do notice, is the patients that follow my advice and stop long enough they really feel the impact on their mood e.g feeling heavy, lethargic and more depressed after drinking again and sometimes for a few days after. These people already have higher rates of inflammation in the system, so adding inflammatory substances can really tip the system just a little bit too far then maybe a healthier person that will feel fine . Often I notice people believe alcohol not be an issue, however it’s in these cases it’s like a fish that doesn’t know it’s in water Make sure you are eating well, drinking plenty of water during isolation and moving regularly.
16.01.2022 Everyone’s first time taking herbal formulas can be quite a shock. (Some people think it’s delicious straight away) However 90% of the time after a few days my patients say they actual enjoy the taste and miss it when they are finished . By this time they are also starting to feel the benefits.... I find people that resist the intial discomfort, are the most difficult to treat. Not because they are not taking their herbs but because of their trained response to discomfort. If you embrace discomfort you find yourself in a deeper place of comfort than you ever were before. Embracing discomfort is where the healing and growth happens. Unfortunately most new things and experience are usually started with discomfort. New jobs, relationship, workout routines, mindsets , foods and herbs, new environments and way of living . So when you find yourself feeling discomfort remember all the benefits you have received for leaving comfort zone and all that you could gain. To fully embrace discomfort is comfortable to endure discomfort is soul crushing.
16.01.2022 Under eating and still gaining weight? If you are someone that has been eating less and less , yet your body is struggling to let go of the weight and even holding onto it for dear life, You need to change your approach .... Food restriction can give people short term weightloss however it is not a viable solution. Often diet plans, special shakes and fad diet tricks do work until nutrient stores are depleted and the adrenal system becomes overworked , it can really mess up your hormones and whole system, causing weight gain and yo-yo dieting. At this stage the body is stressed, it will turn food to fat quicker, to protect itself . At this stage treating the adrenals with herbs and increasing the calories with plenty of whole foods especially green veg + getting quality sleep and lowering stress is key to fixing this. Share your story below of calorie restriction and how it messed you up below .
15.01.2022 Smudging an ancient practice done by a majority of old traditions and cultures to clear the area of bad spirits. Turns out those bad spirits they were clearing are pathogenic bacteria, fungi and mold in the air . With the study of the microbiome we know that not only organisms impact our physical health and can cause disease , they can also cause mental health issues .... So it’s easy to understand how they noticed some environments can change people to look Like they have had evil spirits are haunting them. In fact there was a research done on this topic and they found- We have observed that 1h treatment of medicinal smoke emanated by burning wood and a mixture of odoriferous and medicinal herbs (havan sámagri=material used in oblation to fire all over India), on aerial bacterial population caused over 94% reduction of bacterial counts by 60 min and the ability of the smoke to purify or disinfect the air and to make the environment cleaner was maintained up to 24h in the closed room. Absence of pathogenic bacteria Corynebacterium urealyticum, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Enterobacter aerogenes (Klebsiella mobilis), Kocuria rosea, Pseudomonas syringae pv. persicae, Staphylococcus lentus, and Xanthomonas campestris pv. tardicrescens in the open room even after 30 days is indicative of the bactericidal potential of the medicinal smoke treatment. Which is a pretty amazing result if you ask me ! I also recommend checking out the botanical biohacking podcast episode on fengshui great info regarding this topic . It’s also important to use local medicinal herbs as they are combating the bacteria in the area that you are in . Do you smudge ?
15.01.2022 The different benefits of hot and cold therapy . If your familiar with Chinese Medicine you know we love heat. Popular inventions such as the infrared sauna (found @highervitalityco_tyabb if your local) are talked about by all the health celebrities .... Another therapy you hear alot by bio hackers is cold exposure cryotherapy, ice baths and Wim Hoff method. So what are the differences and benefits of hot vs cold ? Cold benefits : -increases white blood cell production and rate of activity, this is done by stimulating the Wei Qi (immune system) . - increase energy by moving glucose into the muscles and breaking down fat for energy. - Increase autophagy, breakdown of unhealthy/unproductive cells. Heat Benefits : -improve muscle endurance and muscle mass -decrease breakdown of muscle while being inactive. -Improved Cardiac function - Repair damaged proteins -improves insulin sensitivity -increases and repairs brain cells - weightloss It’s important that we experience both hot and cold exposure to get the benefits, avoid being comfortable all the time . I personally treat chronic injuries with heat not cold What’s your experience with hot and cold therapies? Let me know
14.01.2022 If we observe nature and our health it becomes clear we both operate in a cyclic manor. Harmonising with these natural cycles promotes health, while not following these cycles promotes disease. The cycles we all experience are mentioned bellow.... -Heart beat takes 1 second to contract and relax - A full breath (inhale/exhale) takes 6 -7 seconds -Nasal airflow between left and right nostril every 2 hours -Organ priorities every 2 hours - Tidal shift 6 hours - Day and night circadian rhythm(varies on location and season) 24 hours, 12 hours each . -Lunar and menstrual cycle 28 days -Seasonal cycles, average 3 months (varies on location) -Male semen and female egg maturation 3 months -A cycle around the earth 1 year -El Niño and La Niña cycle (determines rainfall ) -Female development cycle 7 years -Male development cycle 8 years Stay tuned as i will be explaining in detail how to understand each cycle with its benefits and consequences.
14.01.2022 Fruit season is on its way After learning to forage I always find it fascinating how much fruits have been cultivated and genetically modified through cross breeding or other means . There is any easy way to tell if a fruit has NOT been messed with .... 1. They have large seeds in comparison to the flesh 2. They have thick skins 3. They may require a bit more effort to open or need to be prepared The benefits of wild fruits or fruits that have not have lost their original nature. 1. More nutrient dense per weight 2. Less sugar and more polyphenols means healthy microbiome A fruit that has been tampered with has: 1. Small seeds or no seeds 2. Thin skin and large flesh . 3. More sweet or bland flavour higher sugar. It’s Interesting that somehow the environment is reflecting our health . We change the fruit to no produce seeds (off spring) and grow them to have thin skin (immune system). Meanwhile the populations fertility rates are dropping and immune systems are misbehaving. Something to think about our immune and fertility health is an issue much bigger then what we have done to fruit but an issue none the less . Look for fruits with thick skins and seeds What’s your favourite fruit and why?
13.01.2022 Sleep Apnea is more common then you think and the consequences can be huge . Sleep apnea is more then just struggling to breath in your sleep. It can be as small as mouth breathing in your sleep . Mouth breathing in your sleep is caused by poor formation of the skull and jaw , seen with people with crowded teeth, narrow nasal passages and long jaw (as well as people with sinus infections).... This is a genetic weakness caused by generations of poor diet on refined grains, and lack of breast feeding . Native people and even older Europeans have normal face structures known for their big noses and wide cheeks . So why is this important? Mouth breathing in your sleep messes with your oral microbiome increasing risk to teeth decay and gum disease which can cause all kinds of trouble systemically. Another factor for mouth breathing is that it disrupts the body’s ability to produce nitric Oxide, which means more fatigue, digestive weakness and being more vulnerable to foreign microbes and fungi. So if you are waking up thirsty in the night or dry mouth you are most likely mouth breathing . Fortunately people have developed a tape to cover the mouth and keep the mouth closed during the night to restore the oral microbiome and increase nitric oxide levels . Which means better teeth and gums, better energy and less foreign invaders in your system. Do you mouth tape ? Or sleep with your mouth open?
13.01.2022 Often we do too little because we think we will never make it . Other times we do too much because we think we will never make it good enough. Too much and too little can be tiny millimeters separating us from getting to where we need to be.... In clinic I try to increase what is not enough and empty what is full. That could be lady coming into the clinic for headaches having coffee twice a day. She is already wired and stress . Too much caffeine is causing too much stimulation , we empty the stimulation by taking away the caffeine. We find that she is taking the caffeine to fight fatigue and her sleep is broken and diet is sporadic. We fill what is empty: the sleep is increased and diet is regulated. The patient finds balance, the headache resolves and so does her energy. As the saying goes When the work is done the sage retires . Meaning : Only do what is needed.
13.01.2022 Life has funny way of repeating itself. This is the fundamental nature of Chinese Medicine and why it has and always will be relevant. When life repeats itself it becomes predictable and we call these predictions patternsof diagnoses.... To understand a disease patten you can clearly see the origin of disease, the progression and the end of the disease. One way life repeats itself is the micro and macrocosm . The macrocosm how life is repeating itself of a larger scale e.g seasons influenced by planets, sun and moon etc and microcosm how life is repeating itself on micro level e.g bacteria, fungi etc Regardless of how big or small we look, there are fundamental truths applying to everything in existence. Including ourselves, so because the truths exist and are happening to us, it’s possible to observe the changes in ourselves and see how they reflect in the world without even leaving the door . I’m sure people are less busy and learning more about themselves right now. Full chapter: Without leaving his door He knows everything under heaven. Without looking out of his window He knows all the ways of heaven. For the further one travels The less one knows. Therefore the Sage arrives without going, Sees all without looking, Does nothing, yet achieves everything. Enjoy
12.01.2022 NASAL HUMMING a unexpected treatment for rhinitis and sinus related issues . Our sinuses have a delicate microbiome , if our body is not producing enough nitric oxide from lifestyle factors and a foreign bacteria/fungi settles in our sinuses we can find ourselves with all kind of sinus complications. A research study showed practicing nasal humming for an hour can increase our nitric oxide by 15x and within 4 days have a significant change in sinusitis and rhinitis.... This works because nitric oxide has a potent antibacterial and anti-fungal function in the body . Regular movement as well is a great factor increase nitric oxide in the body for those bacterial overgrowth. Tag someone that needs to nasal hum Photo by @9gagwildlife
12.01.2022 Lavender a fragrant summer herb . Often herbs in summer have an aspect that focuses on clearing heat, calming the heart or building blood . In lavenders case it is known to clear heat from our body and calm the nervous system.... It has a fraygrent quality in what we call Xiang in Chinese Medicine. The fragment smell has impact on our mind through the olfactory system. It also impacts our skin, head ,lungs and nervous system in what we refer to as the upper Jiao in Chinese Medicine. Fragrant herbs also carry strong anti-microbial properties , you can think of them as the natural Mortein for the environment. When you combine all these qualities it makes sense the common uses you hear lavender is used for : - Clears our nasal congestion and brain fog - Natural anti-depressant - Improves sleep - Clam the nervous system - Can be used topically for skin infections like dandruff - Clear out mucous from the lungs - Treats itching from foreign microbes and parasites on the skin like lice etc - Treats headaches and rashes by clearing heat during summer . What do you use lavender for ?
12.01.2022 Ever feel like you’re the only one that’s struggling with your health? You look around and see people everywhere that are seemingly healthy, happy and cruising through life. You begin to think everyone is healthy and doing great except for you.... You may feel isolated and ashamed to be carrying the burden of health challenges. Well the real truth? You’re not alone and almost everyone has their own battle they are dealing with. Over the years in clinical practise I have encountered hundreds of patients that from the outside, you would think they were happy, healthy and enjoying life, but the actual reality really being the opposite. People you would never expect may be experiencing depression, anxiety, emotional abuse, physical abuse or addiction. People that from the outside look ‘perfect’ may be actually experiencing psoriasis/skin conditions, endometriosis, PCOS, infertility, cancer or anything else you could think of. It only gives me more compassion and understanding for people around me that I do not yet know. We don’t know each burden those around us carry. Accepting yourself and where you are at with your health helps other people accept themselves too and break the taboo of not being ok. Shame and not accepting your situation will only hold you back from where you need to be. Your not alone or less worthy or deserving of love and acceptance then anyone else. You wouldn’t say Billie eilish is less admirable because she has experienced suicidal depression or someone like Kim Karadashian with all her fame still has psoriasis and fertility struggles. You’re definitely not alone. Keep finding your way to balance
12.01.2022 Hope Our beliefs and emotions are powerful tools to help us live our most healthy lives. So powerful that scientific studies have to make all kinds of changes to avoid the term placebo which can shift results 30% or more of improvement .... This means our mind state can make or break our health circumstances. In fact you can have negative placebo in which you have healthy people experience illness from their beliefs impacting the results by - 30%. You can think of it as a psychological curse. This means your mind state can be a 30% increase to your health or 30% decrease depending on how you think and feel . This isn’t about false hope or misleading people . It’s about having a calm heart and being open to the possibility to change . A calm heart is when we can see we are not in the best situation accept and find love for ourselves in that place and moment, then we can begin to encourage positivity and direction . Neglecting reality of how we feel on the inside and avoiding discomfort with false positivity is not positive placebo but denial and negative placebo. We need to be looking for the opportunities in the obstacles for greater acceptance, love and self belief . Instead of drowning in the fears of circumstance. As they say in Chinese Medicine the superior practitioner also treats the spirit. How has your mind state or emotions positively or negatively influenced your health ? Let me know and others below
11.01.2022 Lions Mane mushroom- Another mushroom you can find on dead or dying hardwood trees . What is interesting about this mushroom is it’s tendril like body that is reminiscent of nerves.... Surprisingly enough this mushroom promotes nerve growth (neurogenesis) and also has a neuro protective function. Research has shown it has also can delay neuron cell death in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease . Another common structure it mimics is the microvilli and the intestines . Surprisingly enough It’s also researched and shown to promote healing of ulcers and healing of the intestinal integrity/microbiome helping with IBS. I’m sure we will hear much more about this mushroom. The best way to have medicinal mushrooms is through dual extraction . I love how nature repeats itself and provides for us . Have you had this mushroom? Photo by @woodlandcravings
11.01.2022 Understanding your diet circumstances continued with the four seasons . Our circumstances are constantly changing from one season to another . Our ability to reflect on how our body performs in each season/climate gives us a big insight in how to balance ourselves.... Take a moment to think : -What season is your health at its best ? -How do you perform each season ? -What season do you struggle with ? Most people will have preference and dislikes , some people will have seasonal diseases eczema, skin rashes Spring people : Tend to have Hayfever /headaches / irritation and bleeding. These people have more inflammation and heat in their system . So eating what’s in season bitter greens, nettle , flowers etc will cool there system . If there is a Seasonal issues there should be a native herb in the area for it . Winter : Depression / fatigue / asthma These people have weak kidney and bladder. Eating more seafood, nuts, mushrooms and dried berries from autumn as teas . Autumn: Weak lung and large intestine lung infections , skin issues. Moistening fruits pears , apples, honey , mushrooms and root veg . Summer: Weak heart and Small intestine . insomnia, irritability, sadness. Berries, bitter greens , seeds. Each season will reflect the condition and function on your internal organs . Obviously everyone’s season is different depending on where you live and what’s available locally, but you will experience subtle changes . So begin to ask yourself : -what about that season that makes you feel good or bad ? E.g If you feel good in the warmer season, what has changed ? Is it because your moving more , sweating more , outside more , eating more fruit and greens ? Is it more humid or less ? Is it more windy or less? Sunlight or less. The more you can identify every factor that works for you in your best season , compare that to your season you are worst in . See how your lifestyle or movements change . This is a good step identify how your circumstances effect your body and work out how to support body better through diet . Let me know season you like and why ? Let me know your insights and feelings below
11.01.2022 In the pursuit of greatness we often strive and seek special techniques to give us the edge. However most great tasks and special techniques are very simple! For a example running, jumping ,breathing ... anyone can do without a second thought it’s so simple! However when we see a person run incredibly quick, jump incredibly high or hold their breath for a long time we are struck and bewildered by the greatness we have experienced, thinking there must be a magic trick. We all do simple tasks but we are not all great at them . The difference is only time, persistence and the ability to listen and adjust. The key being to all great growth is listening and adjusting. The slower we move and the more silent our mind is, the more we can observe and adjust. Often great people are good at many things because they have learnt to listen and adjust. Great teachers speed up the process because they tell you where to listen and adjust saving time in development. What have you listened to more and adjust your technique to get some more greatness in your life?
11.01.2022 Flat ocean sitting, Moment of moving stillness Deep clear reflection Original Haiku was fun to do because it’s Saturday night and im moving with the stillness and not still moving ... Got some good posts coming up , herbal medicine, health, diet ,movement and meditation. It’s not holistic medicine without all of it
10.01.2022 When I started Chinese Medicine my master said A little bit of poison is good At the time I didn’t understand exactly what he meant . Time went on and the more I learnt until I realised that there are medicinal poisons everywhere and we consume them on a daily basis.... Two of the most common ones we eat are cinnamon and bitter greens . The active compound of cinnamon (coumarin) regulates our insulin levels, is a natural blood thinner and used in western medicine medication. Low doses of coumarin has no adverse effects on our health and can even benefit our health. This comes down to our body’s stress response. A common healthy stress response is exercise, when we move we break down muscle fibres and the consequence is we grow back stronger fibres and release beneficial hormones. The right amount irritation in the right place can make us healthier. Wrong place at the wrong time can make us feel worse . Bitter green vegetables also have toxic compounds that trigger us to release and produce more bile aiding in digestion, it also triggers our body to release a high amount of anti-inflammatory responses that overall benefit our body dramatically. Just as we exercise it’s about knowing how much we should do and how frequently to get our desired results. What are some healthy stress responses you know?
10.01.2022 It’s good time to learn to some skills to be more self sufficient. This skill set is the human norm, our ancestors that might be still alive sure could probably tick everything off the list. However for a lot of people, there are some big gaps in the common skill set.... It’s a great time to fill in the gaps and get help from people around you or online if that’s how to cook or take better care of your body or grow some food etc. A common hurdle for some patients and their health issues is they just don’t know how to cook food, stretch their body or regulate their emotions. The bigger society becomes the more specialised we become, the more specialised we become we are more dependent on society. If we loose what we depend on it can be damaging or life threatening. Specialising is necessary in this day and age to be alive In society, however it’s also important for your own sense of self and stability those around us to have the basics down. What are most self sufficient in and what do you need to work on ?
10.01.2022 I have been invited to speak by the generous Mana Atua Spiritual Gathering Sunshine Coast online on zoom this week . Wednesday: 6pm Qld time /7pm Melbourne time The event is by donation, whatever you’re comfortable with.... I will be discussing spirituality with Chinese Medicine/Daosim and dropping important lessons on spiritual cultivation which I rarely share with others and the importance of not ignoring the physical body on your spiritual path.
10.01.2022 Community is Medicine Community is integral part of our evolution and history. A lot of innate behavioural mechanisms are designed for a community that supports us and to support a community.... Being in a community Means -we have support when we are sick -we have people to help. -Shared resources to survive and thrive -shared experiences of greater connection -shared knowledge and skills to grow. -shared purpose to work towards -shared environment to protect All of these mentioned above are naturally happening in the society and even though these things are all happening most people feel more isolated and not belonging even though technologically our connection is at a all time high . The key to what is missing is the humanness and camaraderie, it’s the small micro connections that make the difference. Community is essential not for our mental health but our physical health too. I recommend listening to these podcast episodes to learn more about what our ancestors utilised: -Botanical biohacking episode : cultivating community (he describes some very interesting points worth your time) @botanicalbiohacking -Rewild yourself podcast episode 88 Why We Need Community - Arthur Haines #88 (also amazing points worth your time ) @danielvitalis Have a listen and let me know your thoughts below
09.01.2022 A quick health check list ! These are the basics to keep a human functioning normally before disease, once disease is in place it requires more adjustments . What can you tick off the list and what do you need to work on ?
09.01.2022 Black berry Leaf Tea! Almost that time of the year again ! When the young leaves of the black berries are coming through, It’s a great time to harvest your own wild blackberry leaf and dry it out to make your own tea or medicine.... Uses and benefits for the simple blackberry leaf . - Prevents and treats stomach ulcers by killing Helicobacter pylori bacteria - Treats Dysentery and Diarrhea - High in antioxidants more then the fruit. - Anti-fiungal properties and good for gum health + so much more The more time I spend in nature, the more i am taught about how diverse and multipurpose one part of the plant can be. To explore more then just the fruits but to consider the leaves, stems and roots as auseful tool . I think that speaks a lot about life too ! So not only can use it for the all those medicinal properties mentioned above, you can make black dye from the leaves and also oitments to help stop bleeding . Do use blackberry leaf ?
09.01.2022 How to sleep right and the consequences of poor sleep. Sleep is such vital aspect for health, it’s a basic action and its very easy to overlook it . Personally growing up in a small town 8pm was bed time and we were well truly ready for sleep by then . Sleep was deep and restful .... However when stress kicks in, tight schedules, the buzz of the city and artificial lights sleep can be disturbed and once the cycle Is broken it can snowball out of control . In my first years of uni I had 7 month period of broken sleep only getting a few hours each night, that kind of sleep routine can drive you mentally and emotionally crazy, where you are completely alert and fatigued at the same time . There are many kinds of insomnia and different causes, Chinese Medicine has herbal formulas and strategies for each cause . Once I started getting treatment it only took me two weeks until I was sleeping like a baby, that was my first powerful experience with herbal medicine. Everyone reacts differently. So what is a normal sleep routine? Traditionally our ancestors slept a few hours after dark and woke up just before dawn the coldest part of the day . Sleeping more in winter and napping a bit more frequently in summer . However with technology the blue light from screens and lights suppresses our melatonin production. A hormone needed for sleep . Not only is it needed for sleep it’s a powerful antioxidant reducing inflammation in the body . As you should know already inflammation causes many diseases joint degeneration, weight gain , mental health issues and digestive issues . Research showed that nurses that do shift work have 30% increase risk of breast cancer . Other research shows it reduces life span. While traditionally warm lights that are red or orange , yellow similar to candles and fires has shown to not impact melatonin production. If you like what you heard and interested in learning more about sleep let me know down below
09.01.2022 If only there was a way to get your daily movement, sun exposure, nature exposure and food at the same time? Oh wait there is? It’s called foraging.... I have learnt so much about myself and the world through foraging. It’s surprised me how much I didn’t know and I’m still just getting started. If you want to strengthen your connection to the natural world (and live in a world were nature still exists) you need to be out immersed in it. For every technology we create, we create a degree of separation from nature and something is intrinsically lost in the process. We are at the point now where we have to purify our air, don’t know where our food comes from, how it was made and don’t see first hand the cost of our actions. People may debate climate change, but one thing that is is absolutely sure is that there is a huge environmental impact happening, in no small part due to the actions of mankind. To have a thriving, balanced environment, we must understand it before we think we can change it. In my lifetime I have seen huge environmental changes happen. I grew up with oceans so full of fish it made the water turn black, schools of fish the size of football fields. Now they have disappeared. Sandy beaches washed away from the construction of new marinas built far away. Which makes me wonder now when I walk along my local pier, how much sea life used to live here? Did the ocean turn black, thick with schools of fish like my home town too? Current and future generations don’t know that populations are already missing. This is now the new normal. One day the younger generation might marvel over seeing a tiny school of fish and remark at how many there are. This is why we need a connection with nature. We can’t save what we don’t know. Get out and learn about your environment if you want to save it
08.01.2022 Water is fundamental for our health. Understanding the nature of water gives us numerous insights in how to keep our body healthy and how to avoid health complications. Out body can be a beautiful flowing river or a swampy mess.... If you don’t know already our body composition is a minimum of 60% water. So what does water have to do with our health ? In Chinese Medicine we check all the pathways of water to indicate disease: Thirst - A strong thirst indicates viral invasion, heat, dehydration or inflammation. No desire to drink/lack of thirst : indicates bacterial overgrowth blocking fluid metabolism. Urination: Dark : Heat, inflammation, dehydration and infection. Copious and clear: kidney weakness due to stimulants, fear or bacteria messing with the sodium and potassium pumps . Sweating : - Frequent copious sweating - sings of inflammation, viruses, lung function and oestrogen . - inability to sweat- bacteria blocking the pores and dehydration. - Oily sweat : bacteria and stress hormones Oedema (pooling of water): Upper body face: lung function or lung bacteria issues Middle of body: digestive function or digestive bacteria issues Lower body: kidney issues or bacteria in that area. Water is a magnet for life and water can exist in many ways such as a river, lake, ocean, swamp, bog, rain and vapour. We need plenty of water to sweat properly to detox heavy metals, plastics and mold toxins . We need plenty of water to clear out lymph to keep our immune system active , so no swamps/bogs form (tumours cysts or growths). We need plenty of water so our kidneys can clean out toxic waste like Uric acid or our joints will suffer . We need water to transport nutrients to keep healthy and we need water to transport electrical pathways . We also need the right life (Bacteria) living in the water . What is your favourite thing about water ?
07.01.2022 The Importance of Lymph! Lymph originates from a latin word meaning fresh water , it is part of our immune system that actively clears out pathogens and protects us. The lymph is governed by the spleen, bone marrow, skin, tonsils and intestines and circulates through the whole body including the brain (Glymphatic system).... Lymph is clear fluid that contains immune cells like T cells, B cells, bacteria (good & bad), viruses & more. Lymph is like the rivers in our body and unlike blood that is moved through the contraction of our heart, lymph is moved when we move our body. If the lymph is not moving sufficiently, it will begin to become stuck or unable to clear toxic waste. So what can we do for our lymph and why? - Keep the water flowing by walking, skipping, jumping and self massage to help avoid bacterial overgrowth from building up and lymph nodes getting obstructed. -Drink adequate water, a river won’t flow if there hasn’t been enough rain . Your body won’t let go of enough toxic debrie if you are dehydrated, so keep hydrated. - Clear out any boulders or fallen trees blocking the flow of the river, once a river stops it quickly festers and harbours harmful bacteria . Which can cause lack of thirst or strong thirst, swelling or edema, frequent urinataion or infrequent urination. - Sweating & promoting bowels movements & urination is a good way to elimate harmful bacteria from the lymph. When lymph is obstructed or not optimal symptoms will include - fatigue -brain fog - Swelling - Edema of any part of the body. -weakened immune system and so much more. What do you do to take care of your lymph? Video taken from holiday in Lyn valley, BC.
07.01.2022 Prevention is cheaper and more effective then fixing a problem. Take a moment to write down your symptoms in a notebook. The tiny ones all of them:... Sleep Bowels Headaches Emotions Pains etc Anything you have you write it down . Next to your symptoms write what you are doing to fix that symptom and if you have no plans or ideas start looking for help . (Over the counter medications don’t count on this list) It’s your job to learn what works your body and their is a world of people and information out there to help you. All your symptoms are related in one way or another. Save yourself a lot of time and money, and correct the small things before they are big things. This is the basis of Chinese Medicine. A snowball is easier to stop then an avalanche, and even if you think are avalanching , there are still steps to put in place even if you think you are too far . How has small changes made your life better?
07.01.2022 Making sense of Easter. As a wee lad I would try to make sense of the celebration of Easter e.g bunnies, eggs,chocolate & it’s association the re-birth of Jesus. None of it really made sense to me. I understand the concept of the Rebirth of Jesus & it’s importance to it’s people that follow.... But I couldn’t figure out the bunnies or the eggs or the chocolate. Research suggests it has it roots in many traditions including German culture celebrating the ostre/Ostara goddess (spring/dawn) or Egyptian traditions of celebrating goddess Ishtar (love). All of this talk is irrelevant if you are looking at the true meaning and context of what each culture is trying to display during this time. The context is that all these cultures are in the northern hemisphere, which makes the celebration apart of spring or the spring equinox. If you spend enough time outside it’s obvious that spring is the time : -That rabbits mate (make love) and are everywhere. -The forest is birthed from Winter with new green growth (Rebirth) -Pollen is released in the air some species including pine is aphrodisiac and increases sex hormones in people including testosterone. -Wild birds like ducks will be laying eggs in spring. Both the themes of love and rebirth are present during this time of the year in the northern hemisphere. The environment that people live in will depict what they celebrate whether it’s nature based culture celebrating the rebirth of animals, the forest and the changing seasons or domestic civilisation celebrating the rebirth of man, or consumerism culture celebrating chocolate. What are your thoughts? Photo by : @fluffybunns_
07.01.2022 When feel stuck, lost and helpless, look for the opening instead of the obstacle, find solutions instead of more problems. There are countless obstacles and reasons why we can’t change or achieve our goals and why we should give up. ... Undoubtedly there will be more reasons in the future to stop us and those reasons won’t stop coming. The only thing that will change, is when we decide to look for the opening instead of the obstacle. We go from having no chance to having a chance. If a person is in a car crash, they will land in the trees if they are looking at the trees, if they look for the gap they will more likely make the gap. Unexpected events like this year will more then likely happen again one day in the future. That will put a halt to your normal way of progress. However, developing a mind that allows us to look for the openings, means we will adapt and change. People with this mindset can make it to the top, fall to the bottom and make it to the top again. The inability to change or adapt is root of all disease in Chinese medicine.
07.01.2022 Here is the talk from last night if you missed it Thank you for inviting me to speak Mana Atua Spiritual Gathering Sunshine Coast
06.01.2022 Spinal posture and pressure increases spinal degeneration and disc herniation. When the diet is poor and the body is held in the wrong posture we can create the perfect storm for spinal degeneration. The spine in the wrong posture (neck or back) it can increase the amount of pressure/weight on the spine by nearly 4x (that’s huge!)... This is the same reason why overweight people get hip and knee surgery early. There is only so much stress your body can handle. If poor posture becomes your daily life it’s only a matter of time before you may develop tight muscles, aches, pains, degeneration and disc herniation. All kinds of jobs can cause these issues: plumbers, tradies, office workers, landscapers, nurses and machinery operators. Which can be difficult when your daily life can be a potential stress factor. However I have seen with a little bit of consistent mobility training, stretching and being mindful during work each day a life of pain can be kept away. If you’re in pain a practitioner can assist taking the pressure off and increase recovery rate. However it’s necessary and your responsibility to be doing your daily care to compensate the stress. To help make it easier, I’ll be recording some mobility and stretching videos as a tool of encouragement and help you on the path to pain free living. Any questions? Leave them below!
06.01.2022 In the process of clearing unwanted organisms from the body (fungal ,viral and bacterial) it’s important that you protect digestion. Constantly purging the system can fatigue the body and it’s healthy inhabitants making the body prone to more infections. Traditional formulas have known for many years. The consequences of a strong purge without protecting the digestion can fix one problem and create another. That’s why ginger, dates and licorice act as mild buffer when cleari...ng the body out in traditional formulas. A common example with antibiotics and antibiotic herbs: Generally they have a cold bitter nature in Chinese medicine and our digestion likes to keep warm, this means this herbs can weaken our digestion. We know that antibiotics/antibiotics herbs are super effective at clearing the system out, however in the process it can clear out positive bacteria leaving residual digestive issues later for some individuals. These residual digestive issues can be fatigue, loose bowels, bloating, mucous, indigestion and a secondary reoccurrence of an infection. With many fad trends focusing on purging and detoxing many forget to protect the digestion. You can think of it this way : Purging detoxing is - cleaning out the house Good digestion: Making what comes into the house useful. If the digestion is strong and the right things go in, often there is little waste and need to purge is minimal. What do you do to protect your digestion?
06.01.2022 Here is the talk from last night if you missed it Thank you for inviting me to speak Mana Atua Spiritual Gathering Sunshine Coast
06.01.2022 Dopamine! When is the last time you have sat down and stared into the wall/oblivion and felt content maybe even great? Feeling no need to check your phone, read a book, watch YouTube, eat something tasty or be stimulated in anyway.... For alot people a really long time. Often without maintaining the constant stimulation it can feel depressing, boring and bring on uncomfortable feelings. The thought of doing such boring things can even be uncomfortable or scary. This is all to do with our dopamine. Our phones are designed to boost our dopamine which is our reward centre, most successful products food and technology are designed to boost our dopamine levels, by their overstimulating nature. With the more stimulation we receive the more we create addictive behaviours and the less will power we have . If we are not constantly chasing the big dopamine high, the big low (feeling depressed) and withdrawals are closing chasing behind us. When we become overstimulated we can no longer tell which is a true reward (that benefits our health ) or a false (reward that degrades our health ) To step into the discomfort and be satisfied with mundane is when you stop working for the dopamine and the dopamine works for you . Resetting your dopamine means more clarity and internal stability. After the comedown your body recalibrates and deep sense of peace follows . Dopamine check list -Can you be satisfied with bland food? Yes (dopamine is good ) no (you are overstimulated) -When you rest can you be satisfied by just sitting or lying nothing else? (No : overstimulated, yes : dopamine is balanced) -When you eat do you need extra entertainment tv/phone because eating is boring? (Yes: overstimulated. No: balanced) - Do you check your phone for no reason or scroll endlessly ? (Yes: overstimulated and No: balanced) - Do you eat food for entertainment or emotionally ? (Yes : overstimulated and No: Balanced) If you are overstimulated your dopamine needs to be reset, so you can feel peace and start having the willpower you need to achieve your goals . Stay tuned as I’ll be having a program for dopamine a reset and another program breaking the subconscious
05.01.2022 Medicinal mushrooms they are everywhere in the forest, we found these guys the other day. In this picture you can see the Turkey Tail mushroom it’s also known as Coriolus versicolor or Yun Zhi in Chinese Medicine.... Medicinal mushrooms are traditionally apart of many ancestral diets but missing from a majority of modern society. These mushrooms come out late winter and early spring all around the world . Growing of dead trees . Like other medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi these mushrooms are better as teas because they have woody body’s . The most important function of medicinal mushrooms is their immune modulating effects . This means if the immune system is over active it will calm things down and if the immune system is under-active it will engage the immune system to work better . More importantly their is research suggesting it has the ability to stop the proliferation of breast cancer cells . Chinese Medicine also uses this herb to to treat tumours and help stabilise people’s condition after chemotherapy. What Medicinal mushrooms do you use ?
04.01.2022 The heartbeat is a cycle of contraction (yin) and expansion (yang). The rate in which this happens gives many indications into our health. A fast heat rate (tachycardia) means our system is working harder to supply blood and oxygen to the body.... It may work harder to supply blood and oxygen from a deficiency (weakness is the body) such as a hole in the heart or weak muscle tissue, or from an excess (stimulation) of stress hormones, infection, exercise and congestion such as plaque. Normal stresses such as exercise will naturally increase the heart rate to supply adequate energy demanded from the exercise. However psychological stresses also increase cortisol (stress hormone) which increases our heart rate to prepare to fight or flight. Stress has also been noted a precursor for hyperthyroid another condition with elevated heart rate. Not only does exercise and psychological stress increase the heart rate, sepsis and infection can increase heart rate too as the body musters up energy to defend itself. As we can see, a fast heart rate is necessary for stress response like exercise, infection and congestion to help support the body to keep going. The consequence is a high heart rate is a high energy state, if we stay in this high energy state for too long the body becomes burnt out and withered. It’s important to find the underlying cause of elevated heart rate too. Stimulants that increase heart rate such as large amounts of caffeine and drugs such as ice etc increase the risk of heart disease . Understanding the heart rate is necessary to understand our health.
04.01.2022 Unlike most species on this planet, most people struggle to understand what to eat. The best place to start is to understand yourself and your circumstances. Our thoughts and emotions will have impact on our physiology and in so we must accommodate food to balance this impact .... We can’t expect the same person that has frustration to be eating the same as the person with depression. Our movements and movement frequency will also determine what we eat . You wouldn’t expect a athlete to be eating the same as an office worker . Our climate and health history will also determine what we eat. You wouldn’t expect a Eskimo to be eating salads in the middle of winter . The first step to narrow down what you need is to eat seasonally and locally . Local does not mean Australia, it means the state your in or even better the town area . This provides the microbiome with the fuel it needs to defend from the environmental factors including foreign bacteria, fungi and viruses. The second is cutting out processed foods , this gives you a much more manageable window to work with then every food in existence. If you would like to know more about diet and finding what works for you let me know and I’ll continue posting how to narrow it down.
03.01.2022 What separates a traditional Chinese medicine Dr from other practitioners? If a physio is a master of physical therapy, and a psychologist is a master of the mind, a Chinese medicine Dr is a master of connection and context. Connection in the sense of how one thing is related to another when it comes to our health. For example how your mind influences your physical chemistry & your digestion. And the other way around, how your digestion changes your chemistry and your mind .... We look at every possible connection & form in a giant web in our minds. Nothing is seen as seperate in the giant web of life. As the saying goes it takes 50 years to truly master Chinese Medicine. This is because Chinese Medicine Drs are mastering the concept of life. We need to master movement, massage, palpation, pulse, mind, emotions, herbs, food, acupuncture, seasonal changes, natural rhythms, environmental impacts, philosophy, physiology & more. So why does context & connection matter? I’ll tell you why The cost of being a specialist is loosing context & connection in exchange for a great amount of knowledge one field. Eg I had a patient see a foot specialist (podiatrist) for a hammer toe & foot/ankle pain for 6 months with no change. Surely a foot master could treat a foot. However what if the foot problem was connected to something else. In this case: chronic insomania & high inflammation from a poor diet was causing arthritis because the body was breaking down quicker then it could rebuild. Fixing the sleep & inflammation fixed the foot. If you concentrate too hard on one thing you miss the bigger picture. I have many stories like this like when a psych is using meds & talk therapy, when diet & lifestyle needs to addressed. Also vice versa when diet & lifestyle is addressed but the mind is neglected. I respect & love other practitioners because they have so much precise info for what they master in & a great resource for when people need extra care. They always have unique & valuable methods. When the right connection & context is found, treatment is very easy. Everything is important
03.01.2022 Most diseases have aggravating factors and it’s important that they are identified. Aggravating factors are so important that in some cases if they are not removed the body’s capacity to heal is stunted. A lot of the time the aggravation factor is something people are quite attached to willingly or unwillingly. ... Some common aggravating factors: Alcohol - tinnitus, digestive issue , headaches Caffeine- Fatigue , bone disease , thyroid issues , autoimmunity. Sugar- fungal infections, dysbiosis, colitis etc Dairy - colitis , mucus , sinus congestion These are basics examples however living environments, work environments, mindsets and relationships can be aggravating factors too . Often I describe illness as raw open wound , if you keep rubbing the wound with an aggravating factor it will not get the chance to close up and heal . What’s your experience with aggravating factors and your health? I would love to know
02.01.2022 Why knowing what normal is can be one of the most important things we can do for our health. Due to popular belief you will hear the phrase There is no such thing as normal a brainwashed belief put into peoples minds who have lost the concept of reality. To clarify normal is the standard and optimal functioning state in which something exists and was designed to do. E.g it’s normal to sleep at night .... The biggest problem we face when navigating our health and reality, is when common occurrences are deemed normal. This can easily be seen with period pain, a common experience that has become so frequent in the population that a lot of people including medical practitioners consider it to be normal and suffer with the symptoms. When in fact the period pain is not normal and it was never designed to be. It is a symptom and a sign that our body is not functioning properly and things need to change with diet and lifestyle. It becomes a very slippery slope when we begin to accept things that are not acceptable, like a bad relationship that festers into abuse . We are loosing the very concept of reality and can no longer identify what normal is for our body and our environment because we are adjusting to a sick existence. Another scientific example of a common occurrence being deemed as normal is healthy sperm count. Due to environmental and lifestyles changes male sperm quality has dropped significantly, so significantly that the medical standard for fertile has been changed . 50 years ago men had double the amount of sperm then what they have now, because the populations sperm count lowered so significantly instead of putting everyone in lower fertility range they deemed Lower fertility to be normal. You could also say 50% less sperm was deemed as normal . Which is completely wrong and warping the sense of people’s reality. How far do we have to go to until we loose sight completely, like a abused person associating love with pain. I encourage you to learn what normal (optimal) is! In my time of practicing the idea of normal has been a big eye opener.
02.01.2022 Tree sap ! Tree sap rarely enters our mind yet there are so many foods, medicines and perfumes we use on a daily basis that comes from tree sap . Foods from birch sap made to birch beer or cordial,... maple sap turned to maple syrup or candy or sugar, wattle sap and cider gum native to Australia. Medicine :pine sap , Commiphora sap (myrhh), Boswellia sap (frankincense). Perfumes/incense/deodorant : pine sap , Commiphora (myrhh) , Boswellia sap (frankincense) used to keep us clean and smelling nice . While purifying the body and air of unwanted organisms . Recently (in the last few years) sap has been researched more deeply to understand the medicinal value and now even popular health supplement companies such as Atp science are including saps into their supplement range . Frankincense (Ru Xiang ) In 2016 , was shown to have positive anti-inflammatory effects for ulcerative colitis, IBS and a anti-proliferative effects for tumours leukaemia and glioblastoma subset. Chinese Medicine has also been using Frankincense and myrrh in herbal Formulas for a long a time for gynaecological conditions. Cultures are all around the world have been using saps for many purposes . I’m excited to learn more of the uses and applications of sap and how I can incorporate them into my daily life . What saps do you use ? @ Mornington Peninsula
01.01.2022 The 5 flavours and their individual health benefits! In Chinese Medicine we are always talking about the 5 elements and one of the key parts of the 5 elements is the 5 flavours ! Each flavour has a unique physiological function (in both western and eastern medicine) .... The flavours are Salty (water element) Sweet (earth element) Sour/astringent(wood element) Pungent/aromatic (metal element) Bitter (fire element) Each taste we experience signals cascade of effects in our body either helping us come closer to balance or move further away. These are the functions of the 5 flavours: Salty : salt/plants/minerals/seafood strengthens the kidneys in the right amount, large amounts damages the kidneys and causes fluid retention. *Puts the sodium and potassium pumps in balance , regulates nerves , benefits nerves and ATP production. Sweet : Sugars , Carbohydrates and Unami strengthens the body (muscles) and digestion *In the right amounts healthy insulin and maximum gains , Regulates blood sugar to improve mental function. *Too much causes dampness, bacteria overgrowth,brain fog and insulin issues. Sour : Citrus fruits ,fermented foods ,vinegar, tannis and acids. *In the right amount strengthens the liver stops excessive sweating , stops the leakage of excessive fluids semen, sweat and urine . Relaxes the ligaments and tendons. *Too much tendons and ligaments become too soft , not enough secretion of fluids causes toxic build up , heat and stagnation. Pungent/aromatic: chillie ,garlic family ,fragrant herbs, ginger, fennel ,pepper etc. *Opens the lungs and airways,moves stagnation, fumigates the body of parasites , induces sweating and promotes urination , dries up phlegm and mucous . *In the wrong amount : dries out mucous membranes and fluids, cause constipation , dryness, bleeding disorders and nutrient deficiency’s. Bitter: Dandelion, watercress , bittergourd, wild lettuce, coffee , Rocket , milkthistle, rhubarb root etc *Stimulates the secretion of bile for better digestion, clears out inflammation, opens the Bowles, detoxify the liver and calms restlessness. Too much - Diahorea, bloating and indigestion. What’s your favourite flavour?
01.01.2022 Wild berries: Did you know the wild varieties of berries have much more antioxidants then their cultivated counterparts. Wild blackberries have nearly double the antioxidants and wild blue berries have nearly 5x more.... With all the extra oxidative stress from the chemicals in our food, water, environment and unnatural lifestyles we need antioxidants more then ever. However we are eating less antioxidants then our ancestors but facing greater oxidative stress, which creates the perfect storm for negative health consequences. Now it’s black berry season, you can really see for yourself the difference in store brought and wild picked. The bigger fruits have less antioxidants and more sugars, the wild one are smaller and pack a punch Info by Arthur Haines
