(Episode 42) 3 Strategies to Find Your Center in Trying Times

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — what will you do to ground and recenter yourself in these transitional times?

Getting grounded is essential during periods of global and personal transition. While people often rely on deeper cultivational practices like meditation, it can turn into a way to escape reality rather than getting centered within the body. However, there are also ways to ground the self without drifting away from reality. 

In this episode, we explore three key strategies to find your center during transitional times, regardless of external circumstances. 

Tip #1: Improve your Gut Health

Getting grounded is related to the Earth element in Chinese Medicine, which rules over all transitions. As the central element in the Five Element system of Chinese Medicine, it is the core of your being and the center of your health. 

Your home is your Earth, the kitchen is the Earth of your home, and the digestive system is the Earth of your physical body.

Therefore, gut health is fundamental to centering yourself, achieving clarity of mind, and focusing on your life purpose. 

There is a bidirectional communication between the brain and the digestive system, meaning that digestive upset can disrupt and decenter the self and impact mental health. What you eat affects how you think, and what you think affects how you digest. 

In response to stress, it’s common for people to either lose their appetite or feel the urge to stress eat. In Chinese Medicine, loss of appetite during stressful times is related to Spleen deficiency. This results in weakened enzymatic activity, and those with a Spleen deficiency may have soft stools, indicating that they are not assimilating or absorbing what they’re eating. 

Eating smaller meals more frequently, as well as adding protein to your diet, can help stabilize blood sugar. Furthermore, those with a Spleen deficiency should consume soft foods that are more easily digestible, such as congee, soups, and stews. 

A raw food diet might be harmful to those with weakened enzymatic activity, as raw foods can be difficult to digest for those with weak Spleens. In Episode 10 of the podcast, we delve further into the reasons why smoothies and salads can actually impede weight loss and damage gut health.

For those who respond to anxiety by stress eating, the Liver creates heat in the Stomach that causes hunger to flare. A Cooling diet is recommended to balance out excess Stomach heat. Those with excess heat in the Stomach, Spleen, and Liver may experience high blood pressure, fat accumulation around the waist and hips, and high blood sugar. One way to treat this excess state is to try intermittent fasting, or fasting for longer periods of 12 to 16 hours. 

Nourishing the gut microbiome is also essential, and this can be achieved by getting adequate probiotics, which build up the microbiome, as well as prebiotics, which help the microbiome accumulate in the gut. Digestive enzymes help take care of the gut microbiome, and we recommend our prebiotic/probiotic combo, Ultra Pro SFO, and our digestive enzyme, Digestion Ease, which aid and improve gut health. Both are available for purchase here, and you can read more information about them here.

Tip #2: Anchor your Qi

If you have good gut health, energy can be drawn into the lower part of the body, the domain of the Kidneys. In Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys are related to the Water element, which can control and balance out the Fire element in the body. The Water of the Kidneys cools the Fire of Heart, which flares up when you experience anxiety and insomnia.

The Pericardium is the part of the body that holds past traumas, which can create chest constructions and Liver issues. It’s important to make sure the Liver is regulating Qi properly, and the diaphragm has to be relaxed and open so that the chest can communicate with the lower body and the Kidneys. 

In addition, the Water element starts to decline during menopause and andropause, which can cause an increase in Fire. This flaring results in sudden and severe states of anxiety, as well as a rush of Qi into the throat and chest. Opening up the Heart and chest by breathing deeply can anchor the chest and recenter the body. 

Nourishing the Heart-Kidney connection is also important for mental and physical health. By drawing the love from the Heart lower down in the body, love can be returned to the self. If you don’t love yourself, it’s difficult to extend love to the outside world. Establishing the Heart-Kidney connection cultivates a sense of purpose, fostering your desire to live out your destiny and potential.

Your sense of purpose is located in the Water of the Kidneys. If you are unsure of your purpose, it’s important to remember that everyone has a purpose. Everyone is brought into the world at this time for a purpose, and your mission is to connect the Heart and the Kidneys so that the Heart can help you express and foster that purpose. 

Our energy is mirrored by the world, whether it’s frenetic or placid. Remaining present in the moment is healing, along with simply being in your power and doing activities that you enjoy. 

Tip #3: Return to the Essence of Yin & Yang

When tension is held in the body, check for freedom of movement in the Three Rings. The First Ring is around the collar (neck, shoulders, scapula), the Second Ring is around the intercostal ribs, and the Third Ring is around the pelvis. 

Yoga and Qigong practices help open up these three rings, improving rotation and circulation between the Heart and Kidneys. Click here to access a Yin Yoga Integration to help you let go of stress and anxiety.

In addition, returning to the essence of Yin and Yang improves the circulation of energy throughout the entire body and its internal systems. Firstly, there is the Ren Meridian, also known as the conception vessel, which begins in the perineum and runs up the front of the body along the central channel. Secondly, there is the Du Meridian, also known as the governing vessel, which begins at the tip of the coccyx and runs up the spine through the back of the body. Touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth connects these two channels. 

The Microcosmic Orbit meditation, and the more advanced Macrocosmic Orbit meditation, are Daoist meditations that improve energy circulation through both of these channels. As you practice them, your capacity to visualize will expand, your physical tension will be released, and your Third Eye will begin to open, enhancing focus, intuition, and clarity. These two audio guides are introductions to the meditations, providing a safe way to explore and integrate them into your life. They are available for purchase here. 

Another way to ground the self is to lay on the earth or sit on the ground, drawing impurities out of the system through connection with the earth. One simple way to do this is to step outside wherever there’s grass or dirt, creating a direct connection.

Stones can also provide the longest lasting and deepest form of healing. One example of a stone that can help anchor the self is hematite, which can be worn as a necklace or a bracelet to help with high blood pressure and to warm up the Qi. Hematite has an affinity with the pericardium, which is the storage center for built-up negative energy. Therefore, in times of anxiety and stress, it can ground and settle your energy. 

Fluorite is another stone that dissipates negative energy. It can be placed at the front of the home or inside a room, allowing the energy of the home to feel more safe and settled. It also helps calm chaotic Qi and scattered thoughts. Different colors of fluorite have different uses and target different areas. If you’re not sure which color of fluorite to use, it may be most useful to buy a multicolored fluorite. We encourage you to experiment with stones, as well as with the three tips above, as you explore and find your path toward groundedness and healing. 

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From Surviving to Thriving (FSTT) is a 6-week online program designed to increase focus, clarity and calm so you can thrive — even in the most challenging and turbulent times. You’ll learn tools and practices rooted in the ancient wisdom of Classical Chinese Medicine, Yoga and Daoism integrated with modern, cutting-edge research in biology, psychology and neuroscience.

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The Microcosmic and Macrocosmic Orbit Meditations help to circulate energy throughout your body through the primary source channels of Yin and Yang, known as the Du and Ren Meridians, which are also the Fire and Water pathways of the body. In this way, these meditations also connect the Fire and Water energies, cultivating Heart-Kidney communication, which helps you realize and live out your life purpose. To access these meditations, click the button below:

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(Episode 36) 3 Ways to Support Yourself to Set Healthy Boundaries

by Setareh Moafi, PhD, L.Ac.

Click here to watch the original video of this episode.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below—which of these tips would you implement first? Feel free to share any tips that have helped you establish strong boundaries in your life.

Having a balanced Earth element is essential to feel calm, secure, grounded and nourished.

When you feel more peace within, it becomes easier to make your needs, and therefore your boundaries, more clear.

Strong boundaries and a healthier relationship with yourself allows you to cultivate healthier relationships with others.

The ability to have clear boundaries is the domain of your Earth energy, which is made up of your Spleen and Stomach — the primary organs of digestion according to Chinese medicine.

The Spleen is of special importance because it’s the boundary keeper in your physical body — when the Spleen Qi is strong, your body is able to prevent leakage of Qi, blood and fluids. Weak Spleen Qi can cause excessive sweating, hemorrhaging, bruising, and even the inability to manage your energy and finances.

Weak Spleen Qi can also impede your ability to focus, and cause you to overthink and worry.

This is because the Spleen in Chinese medicine governs what’s known as the Yi, the aspect of your mind that supports mental clarity.

So anytime your body or mind has a leakage of energy, including prolapse of the organs, the Spleen needs to be strengthened.

In the same way, boundaries in your relationships arise out of your ability to properly manage your time and energy.

Anytime you say ‘no’ to something that doesn’t support you, you’re saying ‘yes’ to something that does.

Balanced Earth energy supports you to feel calm, centered and grounded. This is why you might feel like reaching out to your Earth friend or family member when things are difficult in order to feel a sense of stability.

In my life, this person is my mom, who’s the epitome of Earth energy—warm, welcoming, her home fragrant with Persian cuisine, always with an open heart and stable love to give.

Earth is about nourishment; it begins with the nourishment that you receive from suckling on your mother’s breast at birth and continues into adulthood as you learn to nourish yourself through proper self-care.

The following are three self-care tips to support your Earth energy so you can naturally create healthier boundaries.

Tip #1: Cook

Stoking your digestive fire, known as the Stomach Fire in Chinese medicine, through cooking helps fortify your Earth organ systems of digestion, the Spleen and Stomach.

If you have a resistance to cooking or think that you’re not good at it, simply begin by boiling some water, cooking some oatmeal or making a couple of hard-boiled eggs.

The simple act of standing in front of your stove or cooktop to prepare a meal helps to balance your digestive system.

Tip #2: Journal

Putting pen to paper helps organize your thoughts and calm your mind.

Remember that the Spleen is related to the Yi, the aspect of your mind that provides mental clarity and focus. Too much thinking and worrying wears down the Spleen Qi and can disrupt your digestion, sleep and deprive you of feeling calm.

Left alone, the mind is like a monkey wanting to jump from branch to branch. One of the best ways to calm the monkey mind is to write down your thoughts.

The best time to journal is first thing in the morning so that you can set a rhythm for your day. Writing later in the day will shift the focus more on the events and information that you’ve gathered throughout the day rather than what’s truly happening for you internally.

Tip #3: Manage Your Money

One of the easiest and best ways to know how you’re using your energy is to look at how you’re spending your money, which is itself a form of energy.

You can evaluate using an exercise called Counting. For one week, track every single dime that you spend and write down what you’re spending it on in a notebook or or in your cell phone.

Simply looking at the way that you’re spending your money can help you see how you’re using your energy and evaluate whether you need to consolidate it more.

Whether it’s with your work, colleagues, friends or family members, it’s essential to notice who or what is not supportive or nourishing in your life and see what you can do to change that. Remember that it all starts with self-care.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below—which of these tips would you implement first? Feel free to share any tips that have helped you establish strong boundaries in your life.

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(Episode 29) Your Issues are in Your Tissues: How Trauma Can Lead to Chronic Pain with Denise Alberto

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below—how is your body speaking to you?

Our guest today is our dear friend, Denise Alberto—a physical therapist and pelvic pain specialist. Denise is a Bay Area native who earned her B.S. in Psychology from St. Mary’s College and holds a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from University of St. Augustine.

Denise Alberto developed a keen interest in treating the spine, especially the pelvic/SI (sacroiliac) region. With continued education, she has developed a unique approach to treating chronic pain syndrome and pelvic region dysfunction.

Denise Alberto has a distinct passion to help couples with unconsummated marriage and sexual pain issues. In addition, she emphasizes the mind-body connection in her post-traumatic stress recovery and resorts to local practitioners—among them are acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists—to help heal her patients.

Denise Alberto realized her passion for physical therapy early on, as she began working for a physical therapist after graduating from college. She went on to obtain her Master’s in Physical Therapy and started a thriving but demanding practice. It was during her early years of practice as a physical therapist that Denise Alberto realized her own health needed attention.

Denise’s personal journey to address her health led her to a very resourceful course on pelvic health that encouraged her to further pursue the specialty, eventually becoming a pelvic physical therapist. 

Denise emphasizes that in addition to using physical touch during treatments, she encourages patients to face the emotional entanglements of their trauma. It is only through facing these entanglements that we begin to experience emotional and physiological healing.

Denise elaborates that as a therapist she holds room or space for strength so patients are able to process and release wounds that are causing their trauma, especially since patients may feel at their most vulnerable during these moments. 

Chronic pain patterns are often accompanied by uncomfortable feelings or past experiences and Denise believes that additional support is often needed to tackle these feelings as she works with healing the physical body.

In these instances, she turns to other healers like acupuncturists, massage therapists and often refers her patients to psychologists. This holistic approach that aims to empower patients almost always results in healing. 

Practices to help support your body

Diaphragmatic breath: helps relax and support lung function (oxygen exchange).

Pelvic diaphragm breathing: can help move your viscera and ease tension in your organs. 

Psoas stretching: can help improve and strengthen tight or tense psoas muscles.

Yin Yoga: the following Yin Yoga practices can be helpful in improving your flexibility and introducing you to deep breathing:

Breathe Deeply: Yoga for the Lung & Liver Meridians

Yin Yoga Integration to Release Your Arms, Shoulders & Neck

Yin Yoga Integration for Flexibility 

References:

Denise Alberto’s website: https://www.denisealberto.com/

An article by Dr. Mirkin (coined the RICE method) on Why Ice Delays Recovery

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below—how is your body speaking to you?

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(Episode 27) A Deep Dive into Resolving Anxiety: A Classical Chinese Meridian Approach

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — what’s one small step you can take to reduce or prevent anxiety in your life?

In this episode, we discuss anxiety from a Classical Chinese meridian perspective. 

When we’re going through any type of emotional imbalance — such as anxiety and depression — it is really important to have tools and resources to empower us. 

Classical Chinese Medicine is especially empowering as it provides great insight into anxiety disorders, such as the important relationship between the Heart and Kidneys.

The Heart is related to the Fire element and the Kidneys relate to the Water element. 

Fire houses your shen or spirit, which is said to go into the Kidneys that hold your essence, or jing, and retrieves the curriculum that you’re meant to discover or express in the world. The curriculum is essentially your life’s purpose. Anytime there is disharmony between the Heart and Kidneys, you will not feel purposeful in life.

This is also true if there is excessive Fire in the Heart and the Kidneys are not able to anchor, so you end up experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. 

The disconnect between the Heart and Kidneys can begin at an early age, often introducing lack of self-confidence and insecurity. 

All of this is rooted in experiences and nourishment received in early developmental years — which is when the Heart-Kidney relationship is established. These formative years are also important because they relate to the constitutional energetics that are associated with the unique expression of the five elements in each of our personalities. 

The expression of our Five Element energies or temperaments are especially influenced by those around us during childhood. When these natural personalities are suppressed by our parents, society, or the environment generally, it affects how our personalities are formed. 

This type of conditioning impacts our constitutional vessels or the Ancestral Vessels which relates to our hereditary qualities and connections. Specifically, it relates to our first ancestry or Chong, Du and Ren Mai. 

Chong Mai is the penetrating vessel and is considered to be the blueprints of our constitutional energetics and begins formation in utero, continuing development up until the age of 7 or 8. Chong Mai helps form the other two vessels Du Mai (Sea of Yang Qi) and Ren Mai (Sea of Yin Qi) — collectively forming all of the primary meridians in Chinese Medicine acupuncture.

Chong Mai, or the Sea of Blood, makes the primary connection with our Heart and Kidneys and ultimately harmonizes this connection — making us feel in-purpose and helps us quell feelings of anxiety. Insufficiency in the Heart and Kidneys can cause flare-ups so it’s essential to rebuild and reconnect the Heart-Kidney relationship.

It takes time to resolve the root cause of anxiety. That’s why it’s important to seek help from a healthcare professional. Although a temporary relief can be achieved with conventional drugs, they do not address the suppressed or the deeply rooted underlying issue.

Chinese Medicine, through acupuncture, essential oils and herbs, can provide more natural and long lasting relief. In addition, an insight into your lifestyle — especially your eating habits, routines, stress levels — can provide hints about the stagnation in your life and they’re worth exploring as well. 

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — what’s one small step you can take to reduce or prevent anxiety in your life?

(Episode 25) How to Manage Stress to Experience More Joy

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

Enrollment for the From Surviving to Thriving online course reopens for a limited time on August 1-18, 2023. Click here to join the VIP waitlist and get your FREE eBook, 3 Toxic Beliefs That Keep You Stuck in Survival Mode.

In the previous episode we discussed the perils of excessive Heart Fire, but the Heart is also associated with other powerful emotions like joy, passion, love, creativity, and altruism.

We experience these aspects of an open Heart through a calm and centered presence, which can sometimes seem unattainable or unreachable.

In this episode we discuss a powerful way to help you achieve a balanced state in your Heart, and in doing so, you’ll experience more joy. 

The main stressors of life are ever-present and stress is a natural and necessary part of our livelihood. In the morning, the stress hormone cortisol helps us wake up and fuel the start of our day, although high levels of cortisol can cause anxiety and discomfort. Stress in general can trigger and enable us to accomplish and move so it is needed to a certain degree. 

The question becomes how we can manage this stress so it doesn't dominate our life?

One key aspect is the Heart-Kidney relationship (discussed in a previous episode) that’s usually affected by an imbalance of stress in our lives. In order to harmonize the Heart-Kidney relationship, the in-between Wood element needs to be addressed.

Wood is a very reactive energy that needs to be tempered with harmonization of the Liver and relaxation of the nervous system.

Since the associated Liver organ of the Wood element helps with the smooth flow of Qi or energy, it essentially tempers the stress response, allowing you to settle your Heart and experience more joy.

Calming your Liver Qi changes your reactivity and allows you to cultivate peace that improves the quality of your life. 

Want to learn easy ways to calm your Liver so you can bring more joy & calm to your life—even during the most turbulent times?
Join us for the From Surviving to Thriving online course. 2023 enrollment begins for a limited time on August 1st!
Click here to join the VIP waitlist and get your FREE eBook, 3 Toxic Beliefs that Keep You Stuck in Survival Mode, now!

(Episode 24) 4 Tips to Reduce Anxiety by Cooling Your Heart Fire

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — which takeaway will you apply to balance the Fire element in your life?

In this episode we discuss the role of the Fire element as it relates to anxiety. This is especially relevant during the Fire season of Summer but also to for anyone generally struggling with anxiety yearlong.

During Summer, Fire energy is naturally more exuberant and conditions like insomnia and nervousness become much more prevalent. 

People in the Southern Hemisphere who are not in the Fire season may also experience Fire related imbalances. Diet, life stressors and challenging life circumstances can all determine whether Fire energy becomes more pronounced, leading to anxiety. 

In Chinese Medicine, this imbalance is attributed to the Heart and Kidney relationship. In Western medicine, we often accredit this to an imbalance of the hormone cortisol caused by overstimulation of the adrenal glands. In Chinese Medicine the Kidney organ system also encompasses the adrenal glands, which produce cortisol, and govern the reproductive and urinary systems. The Kidneys also play a major role in controlling energy output to the Heart.

Excessive Fire in the Heart creates heat or inflammation that can also thicken the blood over time leading to clotting or stagnation.

Ultimately these imbalances can lead to cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of death in the United States. 

Diet is a major force in creating excess Fire—driven by high sugar content in our modern diet as well as excessive protein consumption in high protein diets such as the ketogenic diet.

In fact any diet advocating for excess amounts of a specific food can create energy imbalances so focusing on a personalized nutrition with your current health condition in mind is the best approach.

Since excess amount of anything — be it carbohydrates, protein, exercise, stress or even sex — can exacerbate Heat, moderation is the key to a balanced and healthy body. 

The natural state of Fire energy is to be calm, present and centered. More often than not we find ourselves burned out by doing excessive activities or taxing our adrenal glands and Kidneys and compromising their ability to temper the Fire of the Heart. This can lead to insomnia, anxiety and restlessness. 

Although Fire imbalance is especially prevalent in our modern society, there is still hope in addressing the root causes of the imbalance with Chinese Medicine.

Heart-Kidney communication is essential as the Kidney Water cools Heart Fire and the Kidneys are in turn stimulated by the Heart to encourage self-love and healing. 

4 Tips to Cool Heart Fire:

1. Stay hydrated to support proper circulation of Qi and blood. It also helps keep the Heat balanced. 

2. Eat more leafy green vegetables including spinach, chard and dandelion greens to cool your Heart and help it relax. Keep in mind to cook the vegetables.

3. Add adequate sea salt or other natural mineral salts to your food or water to support the Kidneys. We’ve discussed the essential role of salt in a previous episode. 

4. Eat more root vegetables to nourish the Spleen and help anchor your Qi. 

Joy is associated with the Heart element so when you help the Heart relax, you can naturally experience and express more joy. 

Want to learn easy ways to bring more joy and calm to your life, even during the most turbulent times?
Join us for the From Surviving to Thriving online course. 2023 enrollment begins for a limited time on August 1st! Click here to join the VIP waitlist and get your FREE eBook, 3 Toxic Beliefs that Keep You Stuck in Survival Mode, now!

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — which takeaway will you implement to balance the Fire element in your life?

(Episode 23) Get Unstuck by Healing Your Ancestry with Liza Miron

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — how did this conversation help deepen your awareness to heal the wounds of your ancestry?

Liza Miron’s Journey to Discover Family Constellations

Liza Miron’s passion is to help people grow, develop and connect to a higher level of awareness in order to enjoy life to the fullest.

For the past 15 years, Liza has been working with clients using different healing methods that include Family Constellations, Coaching, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), meditation, channeling and reiki. Having studied and lived in the U.S., France, Singapore, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Guatemala has given Liza a unique perspective on personal development. 

Liza’s passion for Family Constellations came from her desire to work closely with people and help those who find themselves stuck regardless of the amount of support they receive in conventional coaching.

As she began to explore Family Constellation, she realized ancestral trauma can have tremendous effect on family systems. The burden of past ancestral trauma can keep people from accomplishing their goals and hindering their performance in life.

Healing through Family Constellations Therapy

Family Constellations was developed by Bert Hellinger — a German psychotherapist, specializing in family therapy. As a therapist, Hellinger noticed a pattern in the difficulties faced by his clients and as Hellinger delved deeper, he noticed similarities in their struggle. In particular, they seemed to be carrying past familial traumas. By helping clients come to terms with inherited ancestral traumas, Hellinger passed on a powerful therapy modality that has since inspired healers like Liza Miron. 

Family Constellations is rooted in the belief that we make unconscious decisions influenced by our ancestors. Liza’s form of therapy asks that we let go of judgment and instead honor and respect our ancestors — however imperfect or wrong their decisions may seem to us.

The goal is not to justify our ancestors’ actions but to bring awareness to the ancestral entanglements we may be carrying and to let go of the burden it is bringing into our lives. 

Liza focuses on energetics to help heal her clients. Although it helps to know or be conscious of the family members involved in the entanglements, Liza emphasizes that it is not necessary. As a therapist, she works with her clients to bring awareness to those entanglements — whether they’re emotional or unconscious. 

Ultimately, healing oneself involves healing the family system as well. By healing ourselves, we’re thereby helping heal the bloodline that came before us and those that come after us. 

From the Chinese Medicine perspective, Family Constellations can also offer support through freeing our essence or Jing and allowing us to open our hearts to receive and follow our destiny. 

Although there’s love, wisdom, energy and knowledge in our ancestry, trauma or blocked emotions can keep us stuck in life.

Family Constellation allows us to heal and remove the obstacles keeping us from receiving the love, wisdom, success and knowledge we all deserve. 

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — how did this conversation help deepen your awareness to heal the wounds of your ancestry?

References:

Liza Miron’s website: https://www.coachingandconstellations.com/

(Episode 21) What is Qi? Interview with Ann Cecil-Sterman (Part 2 of 2)

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — which part of our discussion did you find most interesting?

This is part 2 of our interview with Ann Cecil-Sterman. If you haven’t listened to part 1, we highly recommend listening to it here.

Essential in Chinese medicine is the idea that we should be attuned to our “gut” feelings since it relays important information about our wellbeing.

Recent research provides evidence for the important the gut-brain connection, and how the gut can also have profound effects on our thoughts and emotions, for example. 

Qi Stagnation & Anxiety

Anxiety in Chinese medicine is the failure of the Heart and Kidneys to properly communicate. Kidney Qi stores our destiny and Heart Qi is responsible for creating relationships and expanding our connections.

When our Qi is focused on a tiny screen (i.e. phone screens) and our social connections based there, the connection between our Kidney Qi and Heart Qi is interrupted, creating stagnation. Anxiety and depression often result from this stagnation.

As social media expands to control our social network, cases of anxiety and depression will inevitably become more prevalent. 

If we instead spend more time connecting with ourselves and others, the Heart Qi to be released and express itself, thereby leading us to greater creativity and joy.

One of many benefits of Acupuncture include supporting the connection between the Heart and Kidneys. 

Benefits of Acupuncture

A common misconception is that Acupuncture should only be sought out for injuries. Cecil-Sterman emphasizes the fact that Acupuncture’s scope is much broader. Of the 66 channels used in Acupuncture, only 12 channels deal with treating injuries. The rest of the meridians deal with all sorts of issues such as those used for chronic degenerative diseases, emotional distress and with a variety of acute and chronic issues. 

More importantly, if someone presents with no health issue, acupuncture can still offer health support in ensuring smooth functioning of our internal organs and flow of Qi. Cecil-Sterman explains why regular Acupuncture treatments along with a diet low in sugar can keep illness and dis-ease at bay. 

Cultivating Your Qi as a Way of Life

One of the major impediments to healthy Qi aside from excessive use of technology is an unhealthy diet, especially one that includes refined sugars.

Sugar cane is naturally a whole food and digestible, but once it’s refined with the natural enzymes and fibers stripped, it essentially becomes empty calories. Refined sugar thickens and raises the temperature of our blood and contributes to inflamed arteries as your body increases cholesterol levels in order to protect the heart against the raging heat caused by refined sugar. A host of other diseases are also caused by consumption of refined sugar so it’s important to control the amount of sugar in our diet. 

Generally speaking, you can cultivate Qi through your diet by becoming more mindful of what you’re eating and replacing refined sugar with whole, clean foods.

You can also become more aware of your surroundings and actions, and allowing this awareness to guide you to make healthier choices.

Ann recommends simply taking as little as 10 minutes to meditate or simply breathe to cultivate a profound sense of relaxation, comfort and connection. This alone initiates a healing process and allows Qi to flow freely and help us become more aware. 

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — which part of our discussion did you find most interesting?

References

Ann Cecil-Sterman’s website - https://anncecilsterman.com/

(Episode 20) What is Qi? Interview with Ann Cecil-Sterman (Part 1 of 2)

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — what does Qi mean to you? 

Our guest today is Ann Cecil-Sterman — a dear friend, colleague and mentor. Cecil-Sterman is a pioneer in the field of Classical Chinese Medicine and the author of the highly acclaimed books The Art of Pulse Diagnosis and Advanced Acupuncture: A Clinic Manual — a required textbook in most acupuncture schools in the United States and the first and only text with a complete and unique protocols for the complement channels.

Ann Cecil-Sterman has also taught the application and methodology of the complement channels, The Art of Pulse Diagnosis, Use of Food as Medicine throughout the world. A longtime student of  Dr. Jeffrey Yuen, Cecil-Sterman was also the director of the Classical Wellness Center in Manhattan, New York where she practiced and taught Classical Chinese Medicine. 

Ann Cecil-Sterman earned her Bachelor and Masters degree in Music from the University of Melbourne. As a professionally trained flautist, Cecil-Sterman has recorded and performed music for over a decade. In addition to a career in music, Cecil-Sterman has also performed in many broadways across the world. She credits her success in music to her master teachers, who have been a guiding force in her career. 

Cecil-Sterman was introduced to Acupuncture at a young age since her parents were proponents of alternative medicine. After moving to the United States with a desire to start a family, Cecil-Sterman experienced the power of acupuncture during a difficult miscarriage that left her wanting to learn more about the practice.

She soon joined Swedish Institute Acupuncture School (closed in 2011) where she had extensive training beyond the primary channels of acupuncture. She has since worked toward expanding the field of acupuncture by training and teaching practitioners and help widen their scope of practice. 

Acupuncture & the Concept of Qi 

In Chinese philosophy, Qi translates to “air” or “atmosphere” to emphasize the fact that Qi cannot be measured. Cecil-Sterman believes that since Qi is primarily what acupuncturists work with, it’s impossible to gather empirical evidence in acupuncture. 

Although Qi is often used in conjunction with organs or entities i.e., liver Qi or mind Qi, it simply stems from our human tendency to organize and label ideas and things around us. 

Qi is so embedded into our existence that it’s being theorized as the guiding force of life. In other words, the force that directs DNA to essentially synthesize proteins necessary to develop an organism such as a human being. 

In Western medicine, similar theories have been introduced such as the concept of morphic resonance, or morphogenetic field, by Dr. Rupert Sheldrake.

The concept of morphogenetic field mirrors the concept of Qi because it accounts for and explains behavior that could only be transmitted through a network of consciousness. For instance, an experiment by scientists tested whether the practice of washing potatoes by Japanese macaques before consumption could be transmitted to future generations or to other groups of monkeys in nearby islands. To their surprise, the practice of washing potatoes was observed in nearby islands of monkeys even though the two groups did not have any contact. This behavior could be explained by the morphogenetic field or Qi as the network of consciousness that connected the two groups to learn the behavior without initiating contact. 

Stay tuned for part two of our interview with Ann Cecil-Sterman where you’ll learn how Qi applies to the cultivation of wellness within the context of digestion, immunity and nutrition. 

References

Ann Cecil-Sterman’s website: https://anncecilsterman.com/

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(Episode 18) Stop Self-Sabotage & Cultivate Healthy Relationships

by Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac. & Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac.

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — Which part of the conversation with Lisa & Steve Smith you found most helpful or enlightening? 

We’re delighted to welcome our dear friends, husband and wife team Steve & Lisa Smith to The Natural Healing Podcast.

Steve Smith is a marriage and family therapist in the field for over 15 years working with couples and individuals on their spiritual-emotional growth and relationships. He’s also the author of The Enlightened Relationship: Mastering the Metaphysics of Love. As a former Stanford football quarterback, Steve has had a transformational journey into the world of therapy and personal development.

Lisa Watts Smith has been a shaman for over a decade and has been in corporate event planning with her own company, An Affair 2 Remember, for over 25 years. Recently, Lisa has become a certified Positive Intelligence coach, which she uses as a platform to help others with their personal growth and development.

Steve Smith on Cultivating a Healthy Relationship

Originally from Louisiana, Steve was recruited to play football at Stanford and majored in Economics, thinking his path was in the business world until discovering it wasn’t in alignment with what he wanted to do. Meanwhile, he experienced a personal transformation as he began to heal his inner wounds.

As he delved more into psychology and got a master’s degree, he explored energy and metaphysics discovering that they are inseparable.

Our beliefs, emotions and thoughts are being transmitted unconsciously, and this effects our relationships. Thus issues in our relationships can manifest from our thoughts and emotions.

Relationships are somewhat of a trap where we often look at the other to see what he or she is doing and look away from ourselves.

The key is to turn back to yourself, look inside to see if you’re holding onto judgments, resentments and things that are co-creating problems in a relationship.

Emotional state will also dictate a relationship’s health so it’s important to regulate negative or unwanted emotions. Although a picture perfect relationship isn’t attainable, having the tools to face challenges in a relationship is invaluable. 

Lisa Smith’s Journey to Shamanism & Positive Intelligence Coaching

Lisa’s calling to energy healing led her to travel all over the world to train with shamans which she now uses to help people address energy imbalances and self-sabotaging behaviors in all aspects of their lives.

In addition to energy healing, Lisa also practices Positive Intelligence to help people attain self-actualization and emotional control. 

Key Takeaways

As healers and therapists, Steve & Lisa Smith share the challenges of dealing with their own relationship expectations and expectations of others. Although every relationship comes with its own challenges, ultimately focusing on extending compassion for the self and the partner often leads to a mutual healing experience and self-development. 

Harboring emotions like anger or sadness often result in physical ailment so it’s not surprising to hear people with pent-up anger develop a toxic liver or a broken-hearted individual suffer from a heart attack. One of the ways these trapped emotions can be overcome is through awareness and focus on healing instead. 

The most important tips they offer are to:

1. Focus on developing routines that focus on the self, especially as you start your day. 

2. Practice self-forgiveness and acceptance to open the door to healing. 

Once you’ve listened, let us know in the comments below — Which part of the conversation with Lisa & Steve Smith you found most helpful or enlightening? 

References:

Steve Smith’s website: theenlightenedmind.net/

Lisa Smith’s website: lisawattssmith.com

(Episode 17) Heal Anxiety by Healing Your Past with Esteban Molina

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

Ever had a past life experience? — listen to the episode & let us know about it in the comments below.

In this episode our guest Esteban Molina, a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist shares his journey into the healing arts, from studying psychology in his native country of Colombia to helping others transform their anxiety and depression through his work with hypnotherapy.

As a regression therapist, Esteban uses his training with Dr. Brian Weiss and his background in psychology to help people improve their wellbeing. 

Esteban credits his inspiration into the healing arts to his grandfather. Although he passed away when Esteban was just a child, the deep connection he continued to feel guided him to the healing arts. 

It wasn’t until Esteban was 14 that he experienced regression therapy. As he listened to a cassette recording of past life regression by Dr. Brian Weiss—a renowned psychiatrist and specialist in past life regression—Esteban felt an unexplained shift in himself. He went on to gain a degree in psychology and eventually trained with Dr. Brain Weiss in past life regression therapy. 

Past life regression uses hypnosis to take people back in time and explore their early experiences. The practice is rooted in the belief that we experience several lifetimes and through exploring our past life experiences, we gain a better understanding of our present life situation and difficulties.

Esteban, in particular, focuses on using past experiences therapeutically in order to help people understand and handle the emotional stress or difficulties they’re experiencing currently. 

By shedding light or bringing consciousness to our past history, past life regression helps heal past trauma and teaches us to live in the present. 

Esteban also practices progression therapy, which can take people into future lifetimes. The practice is similar to past life regression but it aims to help people gain confidence in themselves and the future. 

Aside from hypnosis, there are many different ways to access or retrieve past life memories.

You may have experienced déjà vu, a sudden change in emotion or felt a connection with a person you’ve just met. These experiences require reflection and thought rather than dismissal. They may signal a memory from a past life. 

Ever had a past life experience? — listen to the episode & let us know about it in the comments below.

Book mention: Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss

Esteban Molina’s website: coreforhealing.com/

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