We are excited to report that we have found a new home for our qi gong meditations offerings. For those who tried to access the downloads or a CD for purchase, we apologize for any inconveniences for the malfunctioning links. We have fixed and updated everything. We are no longer offering the hard copy CDs, but instead have downloads available of the entire set of meditations for both Qi Gong for Radiant Health and Qi Gong for Emotional Health. The sets of downloads are available for 7.99 Continue Reading
Strengthening Your Center During Challenging Times
Times of transition and change can seem unsettling, as if the earth is moving beneath your feet and there is not a stable place to rest and regroup. Change and transition can be anything from the death of a loved one (human or animal), a new job, new home, the end or even the beginning of a relationship, unsettling world events, just to name a few. Chinese medicine offers not only wisdom but practical ways to take care of yourself and to cultivate a stronger sense of trust and Continue Reading
Why Sweat a Cold?
Andres Vergara and Michele Collins The ancient chinese used natural metaphors to understand illness and health. These developed into a diagnostically useful framework that is effective for many types of ailments. One of these is the common cold. Have you ever heard the idea that whoever discovered a cure for the cold would make billions? In fact the ancient Chinese have already developed cures for the cold. But you will not find it in a pill. Instead it is a complex and diagnostically Continue Reading
Welcoming Spring and Riding the Horse Energy
Michele Collins and Andres Vergara February 4th marked the first official day of Spring. In China and other parts of Asia,January 31st marked this important event in the natural world. February 4th is the solar calendar new year, and January 31st is the lunisolar new year. China is one of several cultures that uses a lunisolar calendar where the new year is usually the second new moon after the winter solstice. This is, in short, a time of transition and of acclimating to a Continue Reading
Living in Harmony With the Seasons: A Practical Guide to Food, Herbs and Meditation by Season
Michele Vergara, RH (AHG, Andres Vergara, L.Ac., M.Ac. Each season the natural world gives us important clues as to what is happening within our bodies and how to best adjust to the changing weather. Traditional healing systems, such as traditional Chinese medicine, provide a structure to help us discern what foods and lifestyle choices will best support us as we cycle through the seasons. When we heed nature’s cues and allow our life practices to mirror the seasonal Continue Reading
Spring Fever: How to Cope with the Emerging Spring Energy
February 4th, Monday marked the first day of Spring by the lunar calendar. This is the official Chinese New Year. February 10th marks the first day of Spring according to the solar calendar (the calendar we use in the West). This is a difference of measuring the Earth's journey around the Sun versus the Moon's journey around the Earth. Click here for an excellent explanation of the differences between these calendars. The differences in the lunar and solar calendar total up to Continue Reading
Food As Medicine: How to Maximize Digestion and Assimilation
Andres Vergara, L.Ac., M.Ac. and Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH The food we eat is important not only as a fuel for our physical bodies, but it is also an important resource that can enhance our health and well being. Traditional healing systems such as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine classify food according to their healing properties, and some, like walnuts, certain vegetables, fruits, and legummes are even included in the materia medica and used in formulation with other herbs to treat Continue Reading
Treating Cold, Asthma, and Allergies with Herbs and Chinese Medicine
by Andres Vergara, L.Ac. and Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH On the January 29, 2013’s edition of Holistic Healing with Herbs and Chinese Medicine, we discuss the common cold, asthma, and allergies. We presented the causes of these conditions from a Chinese medical perspective, as well as how they can be treated and prevented with food and herbs. We are summarizing that information here. Common Cold What is a cold? In Chinese medicine the explanation of why someone Continue Reading