A guest post by Kaity
Glad to see that you came back for more! My goal for this article is to share my personal journey with TCM, but also not to overwhelm you with extreme details. *Spare me the details if you don’t mind* Had I written my testimonial fully, I believe it would be a very dull, depressing novel. On the other hand, the sharing of personal success stories allows the receiver to gain varied personal perspectives and health backgrounds, but also to gain curiosity or confidence in the product or practice through relating with others. I’ve crossed my fingers in hopes of balance! My journey began in the pit of despair… In August of 2010 I became very ill; depressed, lethargic, irritable, almost a hollow feeling. At first I thought it was the stomach flu because of the bodily symptoms I was experiencing, and I couldn’t eat or drink anything. All I wanted was to sleep. I felt lifeless, like what I imagine a person on their death bed would feel like. At the time I was only using homeopathy, but I couldn’t bring myself to see my doctor. I just felt like it wasn’t going to solve my problem. After about three weeks (I don’t know how I made it that long), and trying a lot of random self-remedy things, my mom came to the rescue and suggested I look into TCM, which she had just stumbled upon. (Gosh- thank goodness for moms!) At this point I was willing to try ANYTHING. The stomach flu doesn’t last for THREE WEEKS. I knew there was something wrong. The practitioner we decided to go with is based out of Seattle, Washington: David Akrish of Heaven and Earth Chinese Herbs. But wait, I live thousands of miles away, and I can’t just up & fly there like a celebrity up & fly’s across the world. Not to worry- A picture [of your tongue] speaks a thousand words… plus the thousand or so words you will have to write on the consultation form. Apparently the tongue indicates the level of your body’s own immunity and functioning. In a very transcendent way, David is able to diagnose exactly what is going on within your body without even meeting you. I know it sounds crazy, but TCM is magical in that way. So, after the intense consultation that covered pretty much the span of my life history (must be thorough!), and a few hours on the phone, David reported that my body was shutting down. Talk about WHOA. I never thought I would hear that in my life, let alone at age 19. I thought I was in good health, that I was taking care of myself. Guess not. Like the straw that broke that camel’s back, you can only pile so much on until the camel’s back gives out, or rather my body called it quits. Basically, after a long life of unbalance and deficiency, my internal systems could not function any longer and began shutting down. My whole diagnosis is much, much more in-depth, including deficiency & excess, liver and kidney problems, and digestive weakness. But David also covered things that reflected in other areas of my health, for instance my emotions and tendencies, which are affected greatly by our physical state of health. Because of the ill state of health I was in, we had to start from the ground up and rebuild my body. David referred to me as an onion, because there were so many different things going on internally that they can sometimes mask each other. Once one aspect of imbalance was treated, another one surfaced; and so we had to work through the layers of the onion in order to restore balance and wellness. My rebuild regimen mainly focused on diet- because we are what we eat- but also relied upon David’s raw herbal formulas, which you make into tea that tastes like earth. I basically went cold turkey on life as I knew it; I had to stop eating all of the things I loved until my body healed. The one thing I missed the most was PB&J sandwiches and chocolate. Yes it was difficult, but after just three months on the program I already felt better than I had in a long time. Within a year, I felt like a whole new person; no joke. I know that seems like a long time, but keep in mind we are working towards reversing all disharmonies- not an easy task. The process it took to overcome my profound state of ill-health was by far one of the most challenging and intense tasks I have ever been faced with. I know that sounds scary, maybe even a turn-off or discouraging, but sometimes we just have to do things because it’s a matter of life and death, or happiness and misery. Honestly, I’m not sure I would still be alive today had I not gone through with it. I may not have died, but what life is worth living if you’re in & out of the hospital and stuck on toxic pharmaceutical medication the rest of your being? To me, that is the difference between being alive and just living.
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A guest post by Kaity One of my goals in life is to help open other’s minds to the amazing world of alternative healing. There are too many common misconceptions floating around out there and I am determined to challenge those that believe otherwise to give alternative methods a chance. One way I do this is through sharing my personal health testimonial with others, which will be a follow up to this article. (Don’t want to overwhelm you all!) Today I want to share with you my health revelation that has forever changed the way I view health and wellness- my rendezvous with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient healing practice originating from Asia, mainly the Chinese Orient, which involves the application of special herbal blends, diet therapy, and exercise therapy to heal dis-ease. The first known documented material is from the Stone Age, allowing this traditional Asian healing method time to mature. I imagine I would know what I’m doing after being around a couple thousand years. In a nutshell, TCM seeks to restore internal balance and harmony in a natural, non-invasive approach so that the body and mind can function optimally, the way they were designed to. One of the things I like most about Traditional Chinese Medicine is the recognition of individuality. It is so important for any type of doctor to realize that we humans are not created via cookie cutter; we are all unique and therefore require unique healing methods designed to compliment us. Traditional Chinese Medicine isn’t about just poppin’ a few pills to feel better; its purpose lies in making manageable changes to one’s lifestyle in order to cultivate true, lasting health. While a great deal of attention is focused on the diet, TCM also utilizes natural remedies of Chinese herbal formulas. All the different combinations of herbs, in either teapill or raw herbal form, have been developed and refined over hundreds, some even thousands of years. These Chinese herbal formulas, because of their unique and well-thought out combinations, have the flexibility and focus to address a root problem. The healing power of these formulas is unlike any I have ever experienced; it is quite remarkable. In order to diagnose disease, TCM focuses on identifying the root of disharmonies within the body through analyzing patterns. Patterns are descriptions of the organ systems’ environmental state, but also describe the interrelationship between organ systems. TCM draws all disease back to five main organ systems: the Spleen, the Liver, the Kidneys, the Heart and the Lungs. Each of these organ systems have specific responsibilities. In fact, they even rule other organs systems and more importantly, the understanding of how they interrelate is essential to TCM’s success. Another reason why I like TCM is that its practice is founded in nature. All the herbs used are raw, natural, found in nature. Our diet is a natural part of our being and should also be of the earth in order to support our systems properly. You cannot deny that our planet and all its resources and living things were created to sustain and support each other in some way; it is imperative that we respect this and recognize it is essential to our health & wellbeing. This is why TCM has stood the test of time: it is of nature, and that will never change. I have offered only a small taste of the incredible world of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I encourage you to do a little research and just read about the TCM perspective- it is a truly unique way of looking at how bodies and health operate. Heaven and Earth Chinese Herbs offers loads of information, all broken down into various topics, making it easy to read what you are interested in. David Akrish is the TCM practitioner that I worked with through my healing journey. TCM World Foundation offers valuable information that incorporates a more Eastern-spiritual view, but still easy to read & understand. Be sure to read through the different articles that explain the perspectives of TCM! For more in-depth information, the Institute for Traditional Medicine offers amazingly detailed articles relating to TCM and breaks down certain perspectives. Guest Post by Kaity Hello Everyone! This month I would like to introduce you to Bikram Yoga. *Cue Applause* Bikram yoga is a series of 26 asanas (postures) precisely strung together so that each asana prepares the body for the next, and systematically works every inch of the body from the inside out, from the top of the head to the tips of the toes. It is, in my opinion, THE BEST exercise you can give yourself. So what is so amazing about Bikram? The list is endless… Promotes true healing through postures that activate the body’s natural healing abilities and detoxification system Promotes mental clarity by reducing stress & anxiety levels and building concentration levels Promotes healthy metabolism Expands lung capacity and strengthens the heart Improves the spine’s flexibility and health Lubricates the joints Strengthens bones, and stretches and tones the muscles Supplies oxygen and nutrients to parts of the body that have been blocked or stagnant Builds energy and stamina And much, much more!Yoga is traditionally considered a discipline, used to focus the mind through physical movements that quiet the body and nervous system. Bikram takes discipline to a whole new level. First of all, you’re basically in a sauna; 105 degrees, 40 percent humidity. Bikram himself refers to his studio as the ‘torture chamber’; I think you can understand why. But there is a method to the madness- the heat warms your muscles, making them more malleable, allowing for greater ease of stretching. It does the ‘warm-up’ part for you and allows for more focus on the postures. Along with the humidity, the heat also promotes the body to sweat (profusely; I mean you will be drenched by the end of class), aiding in the detoxification process. Second, Bikram tests your willpower. Standard Bikram dialogue tells students to push themselves: go farther, stretch harder, focus deeper. Each Bikram posture forces you to focus 110% on your body; lock the knee, suck the stomach in, stretch and stretch and STRETCH! Oh, and don’t forget to breathe! Bikram purposely designed his series to challenge the student; it is all about pushing past the limits your mind has made up, and building your confidence and inner strength. Every posture is a fight against yourself because the ego cannot stand the thought of accepting defeat. Like the little train chugging up the hill- I think I can, I think I can- you must break the boundaries fabricated between your mind and body and persevere. Regular practice builds one’s focus by quieting the mind and channeling the attention into the moment, into each breath and movement. It is not about just going through the motions, but putting intention into each movement in order to gain the greatest benefit from each posture. This is true discipline. I fell in love with Bikram yoga my first class in September of 2011. I LOVE the challenge; I practically feed off of it. You’re basically working against yourself; I get extreme satisfaction from pushing past my boundaries and testing myself. I often smile in class because that is when I break past boundaries and take a posture to a whole new level. It makes me feel like a child- “Look what I can do!” The personal gratification Bikram practice brings helps to build your confidence and ground your energy, or make you more connected with your inner self. I have learned more about myself through practicing Bikram than I ever have through a therapy session; it makes me feel like a better person. Other things I have noticed change throughout my practice are my eating habits, my energy level, and my anxiety level. My eating habits become cleaner; my cravings for junk food subside considerably and I naturally crave healthier, more fulfilling foods. I am more able to sustain my energy throughout the day, as well. Exercise in general is a great stress buster, but Bikram really does the trick for me. I am less anxious and more able to deal with stressors and let things go. My practice also provides incredible emotional maintenance. Each posture works not only on a physical level but on an emotional level, too, releasing built up energy. If you are holding onto things (emotionally) be sure they will come up during practice. Don’t be wary though, it is just as important to cleanse the physical self as it is the mental self. Physically, I feel and look healthier and more vibrant. My skin becomes clearer, my posture is normal, and I am more able to enjoy other physical activities, such as hiking. I believe in Bikram so deeply because I have experienced the healing powers it can provide and know others that have experienced it too. It is a truly amazing practice! Bikram clears the mind, renews the spirit, and rejuvenates the body. A complete package! There is a type of yoga that suits each individual, but I strongly encourage you to try Bikram. I promise it will be worth it! You can find out more about Bikram yoga, the postures, and find a studio near you at this website: http://www.bikramyoga.com/ Check back next month for my article about Traditional Chinese Medicine! |
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