Keys4Healing Essence

2017 Year of the Rooster Predictions -a Taoist Perspective 
by my teacher Master Zhongxian Wu

 This Spring Ushers in DingYou 丁酉 - Fire Rooster
From a cosmological perspective, the DingYou year will be an uneasy and challenging year on many levels, with much of the world experiencing unseasonal climate conditions. Given the stormy global political landscape lately, I am sure that this news comes as no big surprise.  The current state of affairs has helped me broaden my understanding of the Daoist concept of Tian Ren He Yi (天人合一) , the union of human beings and Nature. Perhaps the ways of humans and nature are mirrors of each other more than we care to believe? Conflicts between Fire and Metal There are inherent conflicts between Ding (Fire) and You (Metal) that will lead many of us to experience heart-break and grief this year. In your clinical practice, expect to...

Happy Chinese New Year, every one! I know for many of you, last year ranged between crazy or just plain awful! 2016 was a Monkey year, and monkeys bring chaos. Thankfully, Saturday, Jan. 28 starts the year of the Rooster. Here's what to expect: 2017 Year of the Fire Rooster The Chinese Red Fire Rooster Year extends from January 28th 2017 to February 15th 2018. This Rooster Year is ruled by the fire element and it is a Yin year. The fiery temperament of the Rooster is expected to infuse more enthusiasm and energy into all activities, increasing hopes for better prospects for everyone. This is also the year to work hard and persevere in order to achieve your desired goals. Family/Relationships
 : The tenth Chinese zodiac sign, the Rooster, gives 2017 the characteristics of ambition, pride, the desire to be admired, punctuality, courage, passion and a well-developed disposition for love and seduction. In regard to love, the desire to overwhelm loved ones and to be overwhelmed by ...

Happy 2017 everyone! As we start the new year, many people set resolutions to improve their health. This week I am going to talk about vitamin supplements. First, how much do you really need? The reality is most people don’t actually know how much of each nutrient they need. Here are Harvard Health’s recommended levels of daily intake for several important nutrients. Calcium: 1,000–1,200 mg, don’t go over 2,000 mg Folate: 400 mcg, don’t go over 1,000 mg Iron: 8 mg, don’t go over 45 mg Vitamin A: 700 mcg, don’t go over 3,000 mcg Vitamin B6: 1.5 mg, don’t go over 100 mg Vitamin B12: 2.4 mcg, upper limit has not been established Vitamin C: 75 mg, don’t go over 2,000 mg Vitamin D: 600-800 IU, don’t go over 4,000 IU Vitamin E: 15 mg, don’t go over 1,000 mg   The best way to get your nutrients is from food. We all need a variety of nutrients daily to stay healthy. That includes calcium and vitamin D to protect bones, folic acid for the production and maintenance of...

Winter Predictions from my Chinese Masters A strange winter begins 7 November According to traditional Chinese cosmology, winter this year officially starts on November 7.  We will likely experience a strange winter in many areas of the northern hemisphere this year.
 
Actually, we have already almost reached the coldest time period of this coming winter season! In about two weeks, the temperatures should start to turn around. Around that time, we will also see unseasonal windstorms kicking up in many areas. Weird weather to bring challenges This unusual winter Qi will bring some challenges to those of you who have weakened functioning of your liver, heart, and/or lung. On an emotional level, we may all notice a significant increase in the number of angry people out there.  Clinically, I expect that you will see more clients experiencing chest pain, abdominal pain, and/or cough. ...

5 Benefits of Lemon Water For such a simple drink, the benefits of lemon water are impressive. Even if you’re not a big H2O drinker, you might find yourself reaching for a glass when you check out how awesome it is for your body and mind! 1. Aids in digestion and detoxification Because lemon juice’s atomic structure is similar to the digestive juices found in the stomach, it tricks the liver into producing bile, which helps keep food moving through your body and gastrointestinal tract smoothly. Lemon water also helps relieve indigestion or ease an upset stomach. The acids found in lemon juice also encourage your body to process the good stuff in foods more slowly. This drawn-out absorption means insulin levels remain steady and you get more nutrients out of the foods you consume. Better nutrient absorption means less bloating. Lemon water also enhances the enzyme functions in your body, stimulating the liver and flushing out toxins. Because it’s a mild diuretic, you migh...

Wonderful insights on breathing from my teacher, Master Chunyi Lin: Not only does breathing give us life, but also the quality of our breathing affects the quality of our lives. It is the major source of the energy that allows our body to function. The better we breathe the better the energy is that we take in and process to help our body function. And obviously, breathing is what keeps us alive. After three days of going without food we may feel hungry, but we are not dying; however, if we go without breathing for twenty minutes, we will die. This is how Chinese medicine understands breathing: When you inhale, the lungs get energy that is divided into three parts. The first part goes directly to the kidneys to help strengthen the life force. The second part goes to help digest the food we take in. The third part goes to help purify the blood. If the lungs get good energy, it means every part of the body gets good energy too. ...

Hello, my friends, Today's post has information from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) as it relates to foods, more specifically, flavors. The five flavors of food include sweet, sour, pungent, bitter and salty. Sweet foods , such as sugar and honey, will neutralize the toxic effects of other foods; however, they also affect the stomach and spleen, and they can cause digestive disturbances and lead to weight gain. Sour foods ,  such as pears and plums, can prevent diarrhea or excessive perspiration within the body, and they affect the gallbladder and liver. Pungent foods , such as parsley and chives, affect the large intestine and lungs and promote the circulation of energy within the body. Bitter foods , such as lettuce and hops are important for the small intestine and heart and are recommended to reduce body heat. Salty foods , such as kelp and seaweed are know to affect the bladder and kidneys, and they can prevent hardening of glands and muscles and are used to tr...