Since 1991, the HeartMath Institute has researched heart-brain communication and its relationship to managing stress, increasing coherence and deepening our connection to ourselves and others. One of the most interesting research areas has focused on the heart’s magnetic field. Each time the heart beats, a magnetic field is produced that travels out from the body,… Read more »
Shingles is a brutally painful infection from the varicella-zoster virus known as chicken pox. As the acute infection from chicken pox fades, the virus remains dormant in the body, sleeping inside nerve cells. Later in life the virus can reactivate in the form of shingles. The condition is most likely to develop in people with… Read more »
Herbal soups have been used in many cultures throughout generations to prevent and treat diseases. In China for example, many soups tend to be mild in nature and easily absorbed and digested. Around the world, families revere and swear by their traditional recipes, and pass them along through the ages. Popular soups include Tom Yum… Read more »
There’s nothing like starting the day with a good steam shower, infrared sauna, hot yoga, intense workout or rapid walk to leave you feeling invigorated and energized. Cleaning out your system can clear your head and reset your mind and body for the new day ahead! We often feel that sweat is our best… Read more »
Do you remember “Puff the Magic Dragon” who lived by the sea in a faraway land called Honah Lee? The 1963 song by Peter, Paul, and Mary is about the ageless dragon playmate for little Jackie Paper and his imaginary dragon daydream adventures. Well, you may hear more of Puff as we enter 2024, the… Read more »
The sun sets with a beautiful orange pink glow as it is sitting closest to the earth this time of year. We can see and feel that early yin evening is upon us, as it now gets dark and chilly at 4:30 p.m. This is the time of year when nature retreats to build up… Read more »
Electroacupuncture (EA) is evolving every day with new research and studies on how best to harness its power and effectiveness for various health issues including pain management, chronic or acute conditions, inflammation reduction and tissue repair, and healing. As an enhancement to traditional acupuncture, EA adds a very slight electrical current via tiny clips attached… Read more »
Dizziness, or vertigo, is a frequently reported symptom among those seeking medical attention. Patients often describe their symptoms as their body moving in a swaying or rotating motion, the environment around them appearing to do so or both. Vertigo can have a diverse range of causes and presents with varying characteristics. However, certain factors can… Read more »
The Coachella Valley is well known for being a resort destination where individuals enjoy fine dining, shopping and poolside relaxation. But the Coachella Valley also offers a more physical side. We have dozens of beautiful hiking trails, world-class golf courses, a famous international tennis tournament, professional polo, bike events, national pickleball tournaments, our new professional… Read more »
A good friend and I were discussing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the role it plays in the health of veterans. During the conversation, we did not mention the possibility of other individuals experiencing the condition. The unfortunate reality is, however, that PTSD is more common in society than what popular media may portray. In… Read more »
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pulse diagnosis dates back thousands of years. It is a means of identifying and differentiating diseases by feeling pulses in the radial wrists. It is one of the four major assessments in TMC along with inspections (general observation of patient), auscultation (listening), olfaction (smelling) and questioning (obtaining medical history and… Read more »
A close family friend has been suffering from a progressive condition that effects more than 22 million Americans each year.1 It started with a tingling sensation in his toes that was relieved by simply shaking his feet for a minute or so. Over time, the tingling grew more constant becoming an unwanted companion throughout the… Read more »
Most people understand qi (chi) to be “oxygen creating life force energy,” or simply breath. But did you know there are many types of qi that help our body function properly? Knowing how they work helps traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, and each of us, correlate symptoms with deficiencies. In traditional Chinese medicine, radiant health… Read more »
A circle is both an image and metaphor of wholeness and bondedness. The more we see circular patterns in the architecture of our lives, the more we realize that we are drawn to forms conveying round, soft-curving lines of connection. At first glance these symbols appear to be nothing more than circles; yet the shape… Read more »
In the spring of 2021, I went to the dentist for my annual checkup and cleaning. He identified two cavities that had formed, one on the lower right tooth and one on my upper right and performed a routine procedure to fix them. The next day my right cheek was swollen to the size of… Read more »
If you’ve ever eaten a rich or greasy meal, then wondered how get rid of that heavy, sluggish feeling, let me introduce you to the perfect after dinner beverage to aid digestion and cut through the fat: pu-erh tea, a fermented drink from Yunnan Province in southern China that alters your gut bacteria and lowers… Read more »
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the original “wholistic” medicine practices and affirms that all our bodily functions are connected and work together – physiologically, neurologically and emotionally. The theory of acupuncture and acupressure, as used in TCM for thousands of years, is that our bodies contain 12 meridians through which energy, or qi… Read more »
This year has taken a toll on us all. Many feel out of balance, and anxiety, stress, fear and depression are on the rise. Amidst the chaos, more people than ever are turning to meditation, yoga and other calming practices to help restore balance while adding peace and tranquility to their day. When considering self-care… Read more »
While many look negatively at China and their cause and effect of COVID-19, there is much we can learn from their actions, insights and use of both Eastern and Western medicine. One of my teachers, John Chen PhD, OMD, is a pharmacist and fifth-generation Chinese medicine doctor who graduated from USC. He explained that China… Read more »
When it comes to competition, both professional and amateur athletes are always looking to gain an edge on their opponents. While strength, conditioning and core training are still essential in the daily regimen, recovery and injury prevention is now a primary focus. Over training can often lead to injury, and many pros are taking extra… Read more »
