This is the the full interview with native elder and owner of Walk in Balance Center Incorporated, Joseph Greywolf. Listen as he talks about finding spiritual meaning in Sedona, tools to stay present in a modern world, the sacred feminine, and more. We had a malfunction with the sd card in the camera connected to our mics, so it sounds like we are in war zone at times, but listening to Greywolf is worth the inconvenience.
If you are ever in Sedona and want a real spiritual experience, or need a sacred drum, you can contact Joseph Greywolf through Walk in Balance Center.
By andrews|2019-03-26T14:29:38+00:00April 18th, 2015|Extended Interviews|Comments Off on Episode 4; Interview with Native Elder Joseph Greywolf
Joesph Greywolf’s website:http://www.sedonanativespiritualadven…
Sedona Journey, April 17-19: https://liaandrews.com/journeys/
This is the the full interview with native elder and owner of Walk in Balance Center Incorporated, Joseph Greywolf. Listen as he talks about finding spiritual meaning in Sedona, tools to stay present in a modern world, the sacred feminine, and more. We had a malfunction with the sd card in the camera connected to our mics, so it sounds like we are in war zone at times, but listening to Greywolf is worth the inconvenience.
Pelvic floor weakness is epidemic in our culture. We are constantly bombarded with ads for women’s diapers and ambiguous terms like “sensitive bladder.” It is not that the bladder has become thoughtful or neurotic, the issue often originates in weakened pelvic floor muscles. These muscles hold up our internal organs, keep our uterus, bladder, and rectum from descending, and control the passage of urine and feces, and the intensity of contraction during orgasm.
Symptoms of a weak pelvic floor include: urinating when you sneeze or lift weight, a protruding uterus, and weak orgasms. A pelvic floor strengthening program can help avoid and even reverse these issues. Every woman should work to keep her pelvic floor toned. It becomes critical after childbirth and as we approach menopause.
Kegels alone may not be enough stimulus to fully activate and develop your muscles. (Kegels are exercises where you simply tense and lift up, then release your vaginal muscles for a series of repetitions.) An external tool or weight greatly intensifies muscle activation similarly to using a weight to tone other muscles on your body. There are several tools to choose from:
Jade Eggs
These are the original pelvic floor exercisers used for thousands of years by Chinese Daoists and courtesans. These are egg-shaped stones, historically made out of jade. They both offer tactile feedback and weighted resistance. Pelvic strengthening is considered an essential part of women’s cultivation and self-care in Daoism and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Not only does it prevent many health conditions associated with older age, it stimulates the gynecological organs and production of sex hormones (which keep us young).
Laselle Kegel beads are a modern version of beng wa balls (内用球, nèi yòng qiú, another Chinese pelvic floor exerciser). The Laselle Kegel beads are small hollow balls that contain smaller weighted balls inside. This causes the ball to emit a vibration when the vaginal muscles are contracted, giving feedback, as well as weighted resistance. Luna Mini beads are smaller than the Laselle Kegel Routine.
The KegelSmart is an interactive device that reads the strength of the vaginal muscles and chooses the most appropriate of its 5 programs. The device emits a series of vibrations. Tightening the muscles during the vibration and relaxing during the intervals strongly stimulates the muscles to start firing more efficiently and intensely. It is the same concept as is used during acupuncture or physical therapy to revive an atrophied muscle whereby an alternating current is applied with concurrent muscle contraction.
Hotpot is an easy and delicious way to eat healthy. This recipe is based on my mom’s (Dr. Judith Andrews) hotpot recipe. The basic steps:
1. Add Chinese herbs to boiling water and simmer for 30 minutes.
We chose huang qi (astragalus), hei zao (black jujube date), gou qi zi (go ji berries), gan cao (licorice root), long yan rou (longan berries), and dang gui (Chinese angelica root). This is a general Qi and Blood tonifying combination. It can be used to strenghten immunity, recover from workouts, and to alleviate gynecological symptoms.
2. Add seasonings and spices/herbs.
Here we are using Thai cooking herbs because they smell amazing and disguise the medicinal herbs well. They also provide a warming and blood-moving function. This means they speed recovery after workouts, help with menstrual cramps and other stagnation-related gynecological symptoms. We use ginger, galanga, kefir lime leaves, tumeric root, shallots, and lemongrass.
3. Add protein.
We chose chicken breast slices but you can choose anything you like: tofu skin, seitan, beef, fish, etc.
4. Add vegetables.
All vegetables have cooling and detoxifying properties.
5. Cook until vegetables are cooked. Serve alone or over rice/grains/noodles.
Includes my mom’s special tip on how to chop corn cobs.
By andrews|2019-03-26T14:29:38+00:00February 28th, 2015|Recipes|Comments Off on Mongolian Hotpot with a Twist
Watch as Z’ev Rosenberg discusses medicine and health in a manner that is riveting to laypeople and health practitioners alike. Like all of our shows, it is guaranteed to make you smarter. 😉
Z’ev Rosenberg is a scholar and practitioner of Classical Chinese Medicine, Chair Emeritus at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine – San Diego and Professor at Alembic Institute.
By andrews|2019-03-26T14:29:38+00:00February 26th, 2015|Extended Interviews|Comments Off on Episode 3; Interview with Z’ev Rosenberg
Listen as Z’ev Rosenberg discusses medicine and health in a manner that is riveting to laypeople and health practitioners alike. Like all of our shows, it is guaranteed to make you smarter. 😉
Z’ev Rosenberg is a scholar and practitioner of Classical Chinese Medicine, Chair Emeritus at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine – San Diego and Professor at Alembic Institute.
The chakra system is part of the Hindu/yogic/Tantric traditions of India, while acupuncture originated thousands of miles away in China as part of the traditional Chinese medicine system. Chinese medicine has its own distinct system of energetic pathways. It may seem sacrilege to mix the two, however, we as live in a society where we are exposed to multiple systems, it is only natural that we should incorporate pieces of other systems that serve our ultimate goal of increasing health. Many of our patients practice yoga and a focus on the chakras directly assists their progress in that system. One need only shift the intention to access other levels of energy.
Dr. Mikio Sankey, PhD pioneered a system of acupuncture that works on the chakras called Esoteric Acupuncture. Dr. Judith Andrews, DAOM and I studied this system and have adapted the methods to our practice. This month we offer at Cinnabar Acupuncture a focus on the Muladhara (root/base) chakra.
Physically, the base chakra governs the legs, hips, perineum, and coccyx (tailbone). Balancing this chakra helps alleviate low back pain and issues with the lower limbs. Emotionally and mentally, the base chakra relates to our ability to function in the material world; our ability to survive, to make money, provide for ourselves, and to feel grounded and safe. Spiritually, this chakra grounds the energies of the higher chakras allowing us to experience higher levels of consciousness safely. It is also the seat of the kundalini fire that ascends the spine.
The lunar new year is an excellent time to balance the root chakra to assist manifestation of our new year goals.
This begins our monthly chakra series. Every month we will focus on a new chakra.
To book a root chakra balancing treatment please click here.
By andrews|2019-03-26T14:29:38+00:00February 24th, 2015|Acupuncture, Spirituality|Comments Off on Acupuncture to Balance the Root Chakra (Muladhara)
Master marketer Cheryl Shuman does a beautiful job promoting product, and is currently spotlighting cannabis. For example, Shuman advocates a little marijuana for us working gals at the end of the day to help us unwind. Before you run out and get some, however, it is a good idea to learn how to balance cannabis use, as it can be a little harsh on women.
Properties of Marijuana
Hemp seeds (huo ma ren, 火麻仁), have a neutral, moistening effect and are used for constipation due to fluid deficiency. In contrast, the marijuana (huo ma, 火麻, literally “fire herb”) used for fun and medicine is heating in nature. This quality is exacerbated by its traditional method of administration; smoking. Marijuana use depletes yin; the grounding, purposeful, cooling, and moistening functioning in our bodies and psyches. Loss of yin hurts both genders but is harder on women. We already tend to get yin and fluid deficient as we age.
Hormones
Regular marijuana use tends to cause menstrual imbalances. This is because it tends to cause pathogenic heat and deplete yin fluids. Periods may come too early or erratically. There may be excessive bleeding or spotting. Cervical mucous and vaginal fluids, necessary for fertility and healthy sex, may dry out. If you use cannabis on a regular basis it is a good idea to use cooling and moistening herbs to balance this. An example of a mild herb with these properties is go ji berries (gou qi zi, 枸杞子).
The Skin
Abundant yin is necessary for plump, smooth, glowing skin. The lung organ is also directly associated with skin health, meaning anything that injures the lungs, injures the skin. Besides burning off yin, regular cannabis use leaches Vitamin C from the skin. Skin can thin and wrinkle prematurely. Try to consume cannabis in a manner that bypasses the lungs and be sure to apply Vitamin C regularly to your skin.
With these tips you can balance your occasional dabble with marijuana and do it safely.
I am in favor of the concept of immunizations (they were after all a Chinese medicine invention), and yet it is not crazy to question the safety of vaccinations on our children. In doing so we are not questioning science, we are questioning the FDA and AMA which have done things like endorse GMOs and ignore the importance of nutrition.The organizations charged with safeguarding public health have demonstrated repeatedly a greater concern with profit and political power than our collective health. This requires that we the general public begin to question. This freedom to question is the foundation of a free society.
As a practitioner I have observed children regress in development after receiving vaccinations and I had a case where a healthy teenager developed seizures after receiving the HPV vaccine. On a personal level, I lost my dog, Virginia, to injection site liposarcoma (cancer that develops at the site of vaccination) and have seen lesser complications in a number of my dogs.
I believe there is something going on and rather than brand skeptics as quacks, we would be better served understanding what exactly is causing side effects in some individuals. I think there are three apparent issues:
Multiple immunizations at once. Administering multiple pathogens into young child will greatly increase the chances of his/her immune system being overwhelmed and of creating complications. When I have spoken to physicians socially, all have agreed that shots should be spaced out, however, most pediatricians appear to advocate the opposite. Is there any motivation other than convenience and increased profit to immunize for as many as 6 pathogens in 1 sitting?
Excessive immunizations. We immunize our children far more than any other developed country. Why?
Immunizing while the immune system is compromised. This is a clear contraindication, yet I have heard from many parents who were told by their pediatrician there was no problem bringing in a child with a cough or fever for vaccinations.
Additionally, there are likely other factors, such as the safety of the medium used to deliver the immunization, environmental toxicity, and pre-existing weakened immunity.
A Chinese Medicine Perspective & Potential Solution
In the traditional Chinese practice of zuo yue zi, newborns and postpartum women remain protected at home for the first 40 days after birth to allow themselves to become strong before entering the world. After this time children are still protected. Children’s Spleens do not develop fully until the age of 6. This means their immune and digestive systems are delicate during these years. Precautions are taken: eating healthy food, treating even minor colds before they have a chance to progress, and taking immune enhancing foods and herbs during cold season.
If a child (or adult or pet) is immunized, there are two things you can do to help minimize side effects:
Take an immune-boosting tonic for 2-3 weeks prior. I like formulas with a good dose of huáng qí (Radix Astragali Membranacei, 黄芪) such Yù Píng Fēng Săn (Jade Windscreen Powder, 玉屏風散). Huáng qí strengthens the Spleen in general, boosting immunity, strengthening digestion, and increasing energy. Different types of ginseng are other examples.
Take a formula for Heat-Toxin after immunization for a few days. Ideally, you would use a formula specific for the pathogen in the immunization, but this is often difficult, especially when there are multiple pathogens. In these cases a broad-spectrum anti-Heat-Toxin formula can be used such as Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Decoction to Relieve Toxicity, 黃連解毒湯).
If a child (or adult or pet) is not immunized: We have the choice whether to rely on alternative medicine or Western medicine, or a combination of the two. Using natural medicine requires that we be more proactive; that we do things like eat nutritious foods, get a good night’s rest, and listen to our bodies when they become imbalanced. I would recommend taking an immune-boosting tonic off and on consistently, particularly during cold season and while traveling (though children are always exposed). Pathogens in children can move quickly, so take every cold seriously (I would say this about immunized children as well). You should have them under the care of an appropriate health professional.
By andrews|2019-03-26T14:29:39+00:00February 7th, 2015|Chinese Herbs|Comments Off on A Chinese Medicine View on Vaccinations
