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      Increase Energy, Focus, and Creativity with this Powerful…

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Joyful SpiritLoving HeartQigongVibrant Health

The Immune Strengthening Power of Qigong

by Dr. Patricia June 4, 2020

There is a tidal wave of information going around right now about ways to strengthen your immune system.

Some of that information, like getting enough Vitamin C, eating well, and reducing stress is accurate and helpful.

However, there’s a lot of fear-based, sales-driven hype flying around too. Our immune systems have an amazing organizing intelligence, and while there are wonderful herbs and formulas that may be helpful, I’ll invite you to shift perspective for a minute from “What can I take/consume?” to “How can I harness and radiate this amazing intelligence that is my immune system?”

[Notice I said “harness” not “boost”! For more immune-nourishing strategies, check out my previous post: “Strategies to Support and Fortify (vs. “Boost”) Your Immune System: A Classical Chinese Medicine Wisdom for Optimal Health”.]

That’s what I LOVE about teaching and practicing Qigong.

This humble, gentle, meditative martial arts-based practice is accessible to anyone willing to learn, and will fortify your immune system just as well (if not better) than most pricey “immune-boosting” supplements. Please don’t misunderstand, as an herbalist, I love herbs, and I am so grateful to have witnessed their amazing power of healing in many patients throughout the decades. I guess I am somewhat of a health economist, in that why not use what you already have inside, and then if you need something outside yourself to supplement that good foundation, it is a great return on your investment: investment of time, money, energy, and consciousness.

This is why Qigong has been recommended in combination with acupuncture, nutrition, and herbs for centuries to prevent disease, provide for healing, and promote optimal quality of life physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Today, modern science has begun proving what the ancients have always known about the immunomodulating effects of Qigong.

Let’s learn more about the science with these five incredible proven ways Qigong helps strengthen your immunity.

Four Proven Ways Qigong Strengthens Immunity

#1: Qigong increases your body’s ability to adapt to pathogenic invaders

Your body’s ability to “adapt” its response to defend itself against bacteria, viruses, etc. is known as immune modulation or immunomodulation; and it is paramount to health and vitality.

A study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine showed that after a month of daily Qigong practice there was a significant increase of immune cells, specifically higher B-Cell counts (a type of white blood cell that secretes antibodies, antigens, and cytokines) compared to the control group 1.

Your body’s ability to adapt its response to invading pathogens is the bedrock of strengthening the immune system using TCM practices.

#2: Qigong is proven to have immediate immune benefits post session.

Not only has Qigong shown a positive effect after 1 month of daily practice, there is evidence demonstrating increases in both white blood cells and lymphocytes immediately after a single Qigong session 2!

So even if you can’t practice every day, your immune system will gain instantaneous benefit from just one session.

If this doesn’t scream instant gratification then I don’t what does.

#3: Qigong enhances your immune signaling mechanism

The immune signaling system of the body is critical for strong immunity.

The “signaling” referred to is the ability of immune cells to perceive and accurately respond to their environment to maintain balance.

So, not only do you want a robust immune response when a pathogen is detected, but you want a strong signaling system in place to alert your body’s defenses ASAP.

One study suggests that this response system is enhanced immediately following a Qigong practice by the increased release of growth hormone which primes the immune response 3.

#4: Qigong can prevent upper respiratory illness

In this pilot study, members of the University of Virginia Swim Team were given 3 weeks of Qigong classes. Swimmers are particulary prone to upper respiratory infections, so the goal of the study was to see if Qigong could reduce infection among participants.

The results were pretty impressive:

“Cold and flu symptoms showed a significant non-linear association with frequency of qigong practice (R(2) = 0.33, p < 0.01), with a strong, inverse relationship between practice frequency and symptom scores in swimmers who practiced Qigong at least once per week (R(2) = 0.70, p < 0.01).”

Imagine how much more beneficial Qigong could be if practiced more than once per week! Perhaps this information should make it into the pandemic news cycle.

I hope this information draws your awareness to the infinite healing power which resides within your own body.

So often, we believe to the myth that what we need to feel fulfilled, to feel safe, to feel powerful, to feel loved, to feel strong, to feel protected, etc. must be bought, or found outside ourselves.

During a vulnerable time like this COVID-19 pandemic, it seems the media, advertisers, and other entities try to drive this myth home even harder.

BUT, as you can see, when it comes to something as essential as caring for your immune health, nothing could be further from the truth.

You have what you need to heal from within. You always have, you always will.

The key lies in making time and space to cultivate and care for that healing power…and it will always serve you.

I hope this research and newfound knowledge empowers you to see passed any fear that may be standing in the way of your innate happiness and well-being.

To learn more about Qigong, check out:

  • What is Qigong (plus how to get started)?
  • Increase Energy, Focus, and Creativity with this Powerful Qigong Pose

June 4, 2020 0 comment
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Joyful SpiritLoving Heart

Full Circle: Returning to My Alma Mater – Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine – to offer a Commencement Speech

by Dr. Patricia June 13, 2019

I recently had the honor of returning to my alma mater – Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine – to deliver a speech to the graduates. Below is a transcript of the speech.

 

Good afternoon, Dr. Kim, members of the faculty, administration and staff of Emperor’s College; family, friends, and especially the graduating class of 2019!

 

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and honor you the DAOM (Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)  and MTOM (Master’s of Traditional Oriental Medicine) graduates. You are here today because of your dedication, hard work, steadfastness, and commitment to being a beneficial presence on the planet.

 

As a proud alumna, Emperor’s College has continuously remained near and dear to my heart since I first entered its doors in 1989, and on this sacred day I have the honor of celebrating you – the graduates – who have responded to the call to allow yourselves to be vessels to radiate this phenomenal medicine–Traditional Chinese Medicine. Although TCM has been in continuous use for thousands of years, we know the best is yet to come – as you – Emperor’s College graduating class of 2019 – will carry this medicine forth in ways that haven’t been seen before!

 

Today we officially welcome you, the master’s graduates, into a community of healthcare providers offering a remarkable medicine that, on one hand, comes to us with a phenomenal history, and yet, as we observe the more recent explosion of popularity, interest, and successful application all over the world, Traditional Chinese Medicine is “really just getting started” – it’s a new era – as its need has skyrocketed in these interesting times we are living in.

 

And we enthusiastically salute you the doctoral graduates who’ve made the wise decision to complete the best DAOM program ever  — and dive deeper into this remarkable medicine which will allow you to expand the breadth and depth of how you beautifully serve your patients as well as the community.  I look forward to calling you doctor, as I know first hand the unwavering dedication that has brought you to this day.

 

I often think of those who have contributed to the development of the medicine over the thousands of years with sincere gratitude and reverence:

 

When I am in my office and a new patient remarks with relief “wow, that didn’t hurt at all; who would think being stuck with twenty needles all over my body could be such a relaxing and blissful  experience” – I am reminded of how fortunate we are to have hair-thin needles readily available as opposed to the sharpened stones and bone materials believed to be used for acupuncture that have been found as far back 6000 BC.  As my patients are lying on a comfortable table with soft music playing and a heat lamp warming their feet, I often think about those patients who must have experienced significant discomfort as the medicine developed.

 

When I order my herbs from various high-quality suppliers, I don’t take for granted that I have easy access to many amazing formulas and bring to mind those who have gone before me: some foraged, hoping to find herbs for their patients; they dealt with weather and situations related to growing and procuring the herbs that we can only read about. One click of the button and the perfectly designed formula is on its way to our office…often by the next day.

 

We will forever be grateful to our very own Dr. Bong Dal Kim, the founder of Emperor’s College, visionary and pioneer who worked to legalize the profession in California in the 1970s and help create the first professional standards in Oriental Medicine.  

 

Yes, I often take pause with gratitude of those who came before us to pave the way for us to practice this profound medicine in  these fascinating times. It is also my absolute joy to be surrounded with those about to carry the medicine to the next level. Chinese medicine students never cease to amaze me with their fresh perspectives in the practice and application of the medicine….

 

Although I completed the Master’s program in 1992, I remember sitting in those chairs like it was yesterday. Years later, I returned to Emperor’s to complete my doctorate (which I hope all of you Master students are applying for) mostly because I felt my inner voice, that voice inside that has always led me in the right direction telling me it was the right decision.  I enthusiastically enrolled knowing I would learn a lot, however in addition to deepening my knowledge, practice, and love for the medicine, I was truly invigorated as, even as a seasoned clinician, I found I was so inspired from the perspective and insights of recent graduates of the Master’s program who came right into the DAOM program. It deepened my love for the fact that we are not simply individual acupuncturists with our private practices, we are part of a greater community. We continue learn so much from each other.

 

Graduates, I know that you all have what it takes to have a successful practice with your excellent education at Emperor’s and the wonderful spirit of the Emperor’s community infused in your experience.

It truly makes my heart sing for acupuncturists to know the joy of a truly successful practice.

 

I remember falling in love with Chinese medicine when I first came to Emperor’s and smelled the herbs and the moxibustion and learned about the basic principles. Something felt so right, deeply right. And I felt it in my heart. Chinese medicine has definitely been kind of a soulmate to me and I can gratefully say I am in love with it even more after twenty five years of practice. At the Santa Monica Wellness Center, we have had the honor of have many students from Emperor’s serve on our administrative staff over the years, and it has been a joy to watch them blossom and share their love for the medicine.

 

As I was contemplating the best way to share words of encouragement, insights, and inspiration for what makes a practice successful both inside and out, drawing on my own experience as well as those of my colleagues, three significant points came to mind:

Be the medicine, share the medicine, and stay passionately curious!

1: Be The Medicine

We often hear how hindsight is 20/20. I know that’s often the case for me; sometimes if I am stuck in a dilemma, I notice if I focus on the dilemma, that doesn’t really get my very far. I often look back at all of the undercover angels that have blessed my life in ways that I often appreciate down the road on the journey of life.

An example I remember very clearly to this day: It was my first day of treating patients at Emperor’s clinic. I was 1990 and I was nervous, mostly at the idea of inserting needles in a total stranger. A senior intern said to me, “Your intention is the most important thing.” Something in my soul shifted and I received that wisdom and had a great first day in the clinic. To this day, I come back to that awareness and I often check in to make sure my intention is coming from a place of love, sincerity, and integrity. Having a clear and focused intention has guided me to deliver beneficial treatments to tens of thousands of patients over these past few decades.

I have come to observe that a truly successful acupuncture practice is the outer manifestation of a practitioner whose inner practice cultivates the three treasures of qi, jing, shen —  radiating qualities such as joy, love, presence and enthusiasm. Your treasure is continuously cultivated by your steadfast unconditional love for the medicine, yourself, and your patients.

 

There is a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi we may have heard many times, and I believe it has a specific application for our graduates today: Be the change you wish to see in the world; in other words, cultivate the qualities within you wish to experience – don’t wait for outer circumstances to change. Gandhi didn’t wait for peace in the outer world before he realized peace within; he cultivated & radiated peace as his very presence which was the catalyst for profound transformation and his way of being has inspired us to this day.

 

If we reflect on  the mission of Emperor’s College which is

to cultivate brilliant healers, teachers, and leaders in Oriental medicine who create the future of health care by word, deed, and through partnerships,

we are reminded of the importance of cultivation. That concept is often overlooked in modern society. We are often trying to get rid of things, kill this bacteria, remove a wart, etc.

Chinese medicine invites us to consider the abundance of the universe and unlimited availability of qi in every treatment plan. When a patient tells me they are having difficulty getting rid of anger, I will ask them what are they doing to cultivate kindness or forgiveness. When they share that they are constantly worrying, I teach them about spleen qi and the importance of relearning to trust themselves.

 

As we often compare the health of the body to a garden, using metaphors such as planting seeds, feeding and watering the soil, clearing the weeds, and being patient that the seeds will produce an abundant harvest, and of course making sure that the five elements are in balance, —  – Graduates, as you are navigating the adventures of your Chinese medicine practice, I invite you to consider your practice as your garden. As no two gardens look alike, each practice will have a unique signature.

Should you ever worry about your patients or your practice too much, I invite you to tonify your spleen, guide your thoughts to thought of truth – remember there are 7 billion people on the planet many of whom need your services – recalibrate with a reality check- engage in meditation and qigong – cultivate Trust.

Rather than wondering “How can I get patients,” I invite you to ask, “How can I be of service,” – the answer will show up as patients who are the perfect match for you.

 

Should you ever feel frustrated about your patients progress or any aspects of your practice— I invite you to check in with your liver qi to make sure it is flowing smoothly, so you can be a clear channel of healing;- perhaps through hugging a tree, wearing green, releasing old resentments, …cultivating the virtue of Kindness and allow more flow in your life.

 

Should you ever catch yourself feeling fearful about your future I invite your to tap on kidneys, make sure you are breathing properly and nourishing the dan tien, perhaps the healing sound of ‘CHUI’ to dissolve fear and allow Wisdom to be realized –  and to remember that you have infinite intelligence within you with more wisdom than anything you could ever google.

 

Should you ever feel anxious or overly excited and feel that your energy is scattered, I invite you to put your hand on your heart, tune inward, and allow yourself to find order amidst the seeming chaos,  letting love lead the way.

 

Should you ever feel sad or depressed, I invite you to check in with your breath, to honor your feelings and your humanity…and get the support you need so the sadness can be transformed not suppressed and you can step into your next level of greatness with integrity.

 

Embodying Chinese medicine truly invites us to cultivate authentic humility, the profound opportunity to allow ourselves to be a clear channel for this sacred medicine to come through us to the people we are called to serve.

 

Graduates, please remember that each one of you has unique gifts, each one of you is infinitely creative; so while it is wonderful to draw inspiration and support from each other via social media, I encourage you to refrain from the “compare and despair” black hole; please remember that nobody else can do you –the way you can do you. Please do you, boldly, proudly, and unapologetically!

 

2: Share the Medicine

Sayings such as

“You only get to keep what you give away”  &“The love we give is the only love we keep”

 

remind us that we are part of a larger community; it is natural to share – not hoard – your treasure — sharing the medicine keeps the qi flowing and keeps the adventure interesting!

 

There are so many ways to share this remarkable medicine — you may decide to write a book, a blog post, teach a course at Emperor’s, volunteer with veterans, hold a Chinese nutrition class or a qigong class for your patients or the local community, get involved politically with the state and/or national organizations, get creative with social media, cultivate relationships with your Western medicine colleagues, write healing music for your patients…there are infinite possibilities..

 

When I think of sharing the medicine, I am reminded of the ancient times when I was in the master’s program  – There was no internet -A couple of students had pagers..

We wrote every. Thing. Down. Students didn’t have laptops. There may have been a few computers in the admin offices. I know there were some typewriters. And calculators.

 

And still we spread the medicine. Far and wide.

 

As many of you know, acupuncture was relatively unknown in the United States until 1971 until when James Reston, a journalist with the New York Times who was involved with President Nixon’s trip to China, experienced the benefits of acupuncture, and wrote an article that opened the doors for acupuncture awareness in this country.

 

In more recent times Chinese Medicine is making itself known to new audiences in fascinating and innovative ways:

 

Ricky Williams, our next speaker, has been spreading the word about acupuncture and Chinese medicine in amazing ways, one example being when he appeared earlier this year on CBS’ Celebrity Big Brother.

 

And most recently Dr. Kara MoraMarco’s love cupping and acupuncture was featured in Katy Perry’s new music video – the video has only been out a week and it’s up to 37 millions views last I checked !

Even though I know I just highlighted some high profile ways of sharing the medicine, however you feel called to share as long as it is authentic to you is what is most important. I have had very enlightening conversations about Chinese medicine at the grocery store!

 

Sharing the medicine goes beyond sharing information…there is a saying that we are drowning in information and starving for wisdom – As you practice the medicine and embody the medicine – your presence will be sharing the wisdom that is Traditional Chinese Medicine.

 

3: Stay Passionately Curious

 

One of my favorite quotes is a saying by Albert Einstein:

I have no special talents – I am only passionately curious”

 

While I certainly applaud the amazing advances in Western medicine, I sometimes get overwhelmed knowing there are 68,000 ICD-10 codes. For the non-medical people in the audience that means there are 68,000 possible diagnoses or descriptions of conditions! While sometimes patients can get  fixated on the holy grail of a diagnosis, it gives me great peace to remember the principles of Chinese medicine let us remember that there are infinite applications to awaken the wisdom and intelligence of the body for self healing…. far more than 68,000!

 

We have the honor and privilege of reminding our patients of this truth every day. A great part of my day at the clinic is supporting patients in remembering the power within and guiding them to practical ways to realize that truth.  Sometimes they are offered so many pills, potions, and procedures they sometimes forgotten the unlimited self healing power of the body, mind, and spirit.

As we stay passionately curious and discover innovative ways to be the medicine and share the medicine we are agents of transformation to our patients as well as to the global community.

As much as I appreciate the integrative nature of my practice, often using lab testing and collaborating with Western medical doctors, it is the fundamentals of TCM that I always find the most helpful as they unlock the code for the body’s capacity to heal in practical, applicable, and often poetic ways.

 

I still find that the four pillars of assessment: Looking,  listening, touching, and asking are the tools which never fail to guide me to solve even the most difficult cases. As we remain passionately curious continuously on how to deepen our aptitude in these areas, we will be guided to the most amazing revelations.

There are countless examples of how passionate curiosity and incorporating the assessment tools of Chinese medicine have assisted me in solving some of the most challenging cases.

I will share a recent example; a patient came into the Santa Monica Wellness Center for help with a chronic digestive concern. He had been to four specialists and brought in a pile of lab test results.  He said to me – his words not mine – “I find it strange that I don’t feel like any of the doctors really listened to me and none of them even touched me. ” He shared his frustration that he felt rushed at those appointments, and how it seemed like more time was spent entering his responses into the computer than looking into his eyes. As we progressed through his treatment plan, it turned out that what helped the most to get to the root of the issue was deep listening, palpation, and passionate curiosity which led to the asking of more questions. As he followed through with the treatment plan, his digestive issues resolved.

Graduates, I invite you to cultivate a passionate curiosity, leaning on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine which will always lead you in magnificent ways to be of service to your patients in ways you never imagined.

 

In closing,

My prayer for you:

May you know the joy of service to your patients and experience abundance.

May you radiate peace and navigate the ever changing waters of your practice.

May you cultivate wisdom that comes with experience yet maintain the enthusiasm of beginning again in each moment.

May you allow the Eternal Tao and the fundamental principles of TCM  to inform your consciousness to practice from a place of oneness; and as you embody the medicine, share the medicine and stay passionately curious, may you and your patients realize wholeness, vitality and the joy of being.

May you be an illuminating presence to all who seek your care.

 

Congratulations Emperor’s College Class of 2019. You are the ones we’ve been waiting for –to shine your lights brightly as only you can!

 

Presented with love on June 8, 2019 at UCLA.

June 13, 2019 0 comment
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Joyful SpiritLoving HeartPeaceful Mind

February Workshop: Activate Your Inner Superpowers: Realizing Radical Peace, Love and Well Being for 2019 and beyond

by Dr. Patricia January 17, 2019

Activate Your Inner Superpowers: Realizing Radical Peace, Love and Well-Being in 2019

Saturday, February 16, 2019 – 11 AM-1PM –  Presented by Drs. Patricia Fitzgerald and Lauren Howard

In this workshop, we will learn how to let go of what is not serving our highest good, such as toxins, unhealthy emotional patterns and limiting belief systems. We will learn to access inner wisdom to create a life with more peace, harmony and love, independent of outside circumstances. We will explore the ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine transformative practices of qigong and healing sounds, meditation, nutrition, and  herbal medicine–all presented with modern applications to allow for more joy in 2019 and beyond…

Presenters: Santa Monica Wellness Center Practitioners Drs. Patricia Fitzgerald and Lauren Howard

Location: The meditation/yoga studio at Have Body Wellness (upstairs from Santa Monica Wellness Center)

12304 Santa Monica Blvd , Suite 200 , Los Angeles, CA 90025

Fee: $30 Prepaid, $40 at the door (based on availability); sign up at info@havebodywellness.com or mindbodyonline.com

Bonus: Have Body Wellness is offering our patients and their friends/family members who attend our workshop a week unlimited pass to their beautiful yoga-meditation-pilates studio for just $20!

Each workshop participant will receive a free copy of Dr. Fitzgerald’s bestselling book , The Detox Solution: The Missing Link to Radiant Health, Abundant Energy, Ideal Weight, and Peace of Mind

 

 

January 17, 2019 0 comment
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Inner GuidanceLoving Heart

HeartMath: The Ultimate Tool for Building Emotional Resilience

by Dr. Patricia November 14, 2017

It’s no secret that stress is a top cause of acute and chronic disease. Many of us have experienced this in the form of a minor stress-induced cold, or possibly a more serious health condition, like heart disease or an emotional breakdown.

There’s plenty of research to prove it and an abundance of “stress management” products, classes, and strategies to help us better cope with this foreign-invader known as stress.

But, is stress something outside of ourselves? Some evil force that sneaks in when we’re not looking and wreaks havoc on our unsuspecting souls?

I would suggest to you, today (as I have to countless patients throughout the years) how important it is to look within, to our own reactions to circumstances we perceive a certain way.

Without looking within to cultivate our resilience, life can seem like a journey of solving one problem after another without feeling more inner peace over time. I’ve often described this reactionary state as a game of whack-a-mole, where we’re constantly reacting to our circumstances with no hope of victory.

So, if stress—or more accurately, our response to stress—comes from within, how can we measure our internal reactions objectively so we can learn to reduce our feelings of stress and increase our awareness of peacefulness within our very being even in the midst of challenging circumstances?

After all, many of us have been conditioned to see stress as something outside ourselves. That perceptions allows many of our reactions to be largely unconscious. We can feel justified in our reactions to circumstances, looking at the outside forces as a reason for our lack of inner peace. The challenge becomes how to find a way to learn how to develop inner peace and resilience if we are feeling overwhelmed by life. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wave a magic wand and when we have a challenge or problem we could go to that place inside us that has the wisdom to guide us how to handle challenging circumstances? I haven’t found that magic wand yet, but I believe I do know the next best thing.

There is a way, and it’s called: HeartMath or Heart Intelligence.

This widely accepted method and science has been proven to measure and improve your stress response, and consequently your overall health, for over 25 years.

In today’s post, my intention is to share how stress manifests from within, and how to use HeartMath and principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine as natural stress relief to change your baseline reactions and create a healthier, happier and more resilient life (and end the seemingly never-ending game of whack-a-mole).

What is HeartMath? The Ultimate Objective Measure of Your Stress Response

I was introduced to the science of HeartMath as a way to measure and control stress 20 years ago, and it’s been one of my passions and go-to tools ever since.

Founded in 1991, The HeartMath Institute has been dedicated to studying the innate intelligence of the heart, specifically heart rate and rhythm, and its powerful connection to our brain, emotions, stress response, and to other organs and systems.

Thanks to their researchers, we now know, for example, that the heart’s rhythmic beating creates the body’s largest electromagnetic field, which sends important messages to the brain. In fact, the heart sends more messages to the brain than the brain does to the heart.

What does this have to do with overcoming stress?

First off, it is well known that heart rate variability (HRV) is a key factor in our overall health, fitness, and ability to adapt and respond to stressful situations. If we have a steady, congruent heart rate, we will be resilient in the face of stress; whereas if we have an erratic, unpredictable heart rate we are more likely to succumb to disease when stressful times hit. Please note as you read further that we are looking at heart rate variability which is different than simply looking at how many times your heart beats per minute.

Now, here’s the really interesting part: researchers at the HeartMath Institute found one of the most powerful factors affecting our heart rate and rhythm is: our feelings, breath, and emotions.

For example, they found, in general, that negative emotions create an erratic heart rhythm, which disrupts our nervous system and leads to a reduced ability to cope with stress and other ailments.

While positive feelings and emotions produced a smooth, congruent heart rate variability that promotes a calm, balanced nervous system resulting in (you guessed it) emotional resilience, a stronger ability to overcome stress, and better overall health.

This research is ground-breaking for those of us who wish to address our response to stress, and its detrimental health effects, at its root cause: in a word, attitude.

In the years since its inception, HeartMath has created a variety of research-based biofeedback tools, designed to help balance the heart-brain connection and help you overcome stress by using breath work and exercises that enhance positive emotions.

I’ll get into that technology, known as Inner Balance™, coming up. But first, let’s take a look at a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective on what’s now known as HeartMath.

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Views Heart Intelligence

Long before HeartMath researchers came along, Traditional Chinese healers had an advanced beat on the power and true function of the heart.

They viewed the heart as much more than muscle or valve that moved blood around, rather they saw it as the king or ruler of the body.  The “fire” organ, that controls and affects all others, and that all others will bend and sacrifice to support.

They also were keenly aware of the heart’s living consciousness, or “spirit” if you will, which is called “shen.”

Now you’ll know what your acupuncturist means when they talk about the importance of “calming and balancing your shen,” they are essentially working to restore balance your body at its life source: the Heart meridian.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, symptoms of an imbalanced Heart Meridian often show up as stress-related ailments such as insomnia, anxiety, a lack or overabundance of joy, an inability to speak freely, and eventually heart disease.

The heart is also intimately connected to the health of the stomach and liver, which may suffer if the heart meridian is imbalanced, or vice versa.

Remedies for an imbalanced Heart meridian include addressing chronic stress and reconnecting with your Heart center through practices such as Qigong, meditating, or spending more time with loved ones.

As a Doctor of Acupuncture Oriental Medicine who was taught and seeks to teach the importance of honoring Heart Intelligence and balancing “Shen,” the advent of HeartMath and their tools for restoring and resetting that inner stress response have been an immense blessing. I love to have practical tools to pass onto patients to make this journey easier and more enjoyable.

It’s been incredible to have something tangible, beyond explaining TCM theory, that I can recommend to patients to start addressing stress at its root cause.

Let’s look at those “tangibles” right now and how you can use them.

How to Use HeartMath Tools to Address Chronic Stress at its Root Cause and Build Emotional Resilience

Now that you understand how our inner reaction and conditioning to circumstances produces stress, and how that stress affects our central governing organ, the Heart, let’s look at my favorite tool to address this issue at its core.

Yes, there’s an app for that!

It’s called Inner Balance™ by HeartMath, and it’s available as an app to help you track your heart rate so you know when you’re defaulting to those old reactionary stress patterns. And it helps coach you, through breath work and positive imagery, to return to that restorative, peaceful place of balance.

Here’s how it works.

Because breathing patterns modulate the heart’s rhythm, the app tracks your breath and alerts you when you need to slow down and breathe more deeply and rhythmically.

This, along with positive imagery and thoughts, returns your heart rate variability to its optimal, coherent state which promotes health, emotional balance, and clear thinking.

Qigong and meditation provide the same benefits, and are highly recommended in addition to Inner Balance. The great thing about Inner Balance is it provides objective data while facilitating a consistent, conscious awareness of your stress response. Plus, you can use it anywhere, anytime.

This assisted-awareness is so crucial to your success in overcoming old programming, as our society is so conditioned to thrive on the whack-a-mole reactions to stress, that most of us are hardly conscious of it.

And the app makes those reactions impossible to ignore, so we can adjust them…and return to our true state of gratitude, calmness, and health.

There is much more to say about the heart-brain connection, heart intelligence, and its direct affect on the cause of stress and stress-related ailments, but I will leave it here for today.

Your mission (if you choose to accept it) is to try out the Inner Balance app for one week, and see for yourself what an incredible difference it will make to your ability to handle stress, your brain power, and overall emotional resilience and well-being.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

To learn more about Heart Intelligence and Heart Math science and studies, visit the Heart Math Institute at: www.heartmath.org.

In heart-felt appreciation,

-Dr. Patricia

 

November 14, 2017 0 comment
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Emotional WellnessJoyful SpiritLoving Heart

The Healing and Detoxifying Power of a Good Cry

by Dr. Patricia October 17, 2017

When was the last time you had a good cry?

If you’re like some people you may find yourself resisting, or, like others, you may allow the tears to start flowing but soon after start apologizing.

Fortunately, no matter how hard you resist, eventually the tears will come…and you will most likely feel so much better for “indulging” in a good cry.

While sometimes judged as weak, being vulnerable and allowing a good cry can be quite the opposite. Crying is like a built-in emotional detoxification system—washing away hurt feelings, grief, disappointments, pain, or unexplained feelings of sadness.

In fact, new research has proven tears are extremely beneficial to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Unfortunately, a significant portion of our culture views crying as cowardly. Especially in boys, men, and women in positions of power.

In light of these new scientific discoveries, I would love to see this cultural view shift.

For it is in our acceptance of crying—with all the discomforts and drama that lead up to it—that we can experience powerful healing of our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Let’s take a big leap in shifting our perspective today, by exploring the science behind the detoxifying power of tears.

How Tears Prevent Chronic Disease

According to researchers, emotional stress is a major contributing factor to six of our nation’s leading causes of death, including: heart disease, cancer, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, respiratory disorders, and suicide1.

Stress is also known to promote inflammation and weaken the immune system—both of which contribute to a slew of chronic and autoimmune conditions.

While it’s not “news” that stress contributes to disease, what is not widely known is that tears are one of your body’s most powerful stress-busters.

When we experience tearfulness resulting from emotional stress, those tears help us destress by releasing specific toxins and stress hormones2 and reducing our manganese levels—which are notably higher when we are stressed out or anxious3.

Some reasons why we feel so much better after a good cry.

The Role of Tears in Liver Detoxification and Heart Health

Westerners don’t often associate tears with liver detoxification, or liver health with heart health.

However, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is directly connected to the health of the eyes and the heart.

And the liver/heart’s greatest emotional “enemy” is: unprocessed, repressed anger.

Case in point, researchers at the European Society of Cardiology have found outbursts of anger significantly increase your risk of heart attack and stroke4, while crying can reduce these effects by relieving stress.

If you suffer from a short temper or anger outbursts, you would be wise to have a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner assess the health of your liver/heart system.

I have often witnessed patients brought to tears during acupuncture or body work sessions designed to treat stagnant liver Qi. And the healing they report afterwards is often remarkable.

So, before you embark on another liver detox cleanse, be sure to consider the power of tears in cleansing your liver and strengthening your heart.

Tears Connect Us to Each Other and the Divine

It has been said, taught, and proven to some extent, that we are all connected to everything (and everyone) within the Earth.

And though every animal has some sort of tearing mechanism to protect vision and cleanse the eyes, human beings are the only species brought to tears by emotions.

Over millennia, these tearful episodes have helped build community by spurring feelings of empathy, compassion, and kindness towards our fellow man5. The fact we can be moved to tears by witnessing someone else’s sorrow is a clear indication of how deep our inner-connectedness goes.

In religious teachings, the vulnerability and humility experienced through crying was often seen as a path to the divine and unity with all things.

Hence why tears may be one of the most important biological reminders of our infinite connectedness.

Finally, Tears Allow us Greater Vision, Clarity, and Strength

One of the main physical roles of tears, is to cleanse our eyes and maintain our ability to see.

Without tears we would literally lose our vision.

The same principle applies to our mental, emotional, and spiritual vision for our lives and circumstances.

As our minds and hearts are cluttered with worry, stress, frustration, anger, and judgements, we become blind to the opportunities, solutions, and blessings right in front of us.

An honest tearful detoxification, allows you to flush out that clutter so you can get a good sleep and regain that mental and emotional strength you need to find clarity in your circumstances.

Only through a clear and expansive vision can we see our sources of true strength.

The takeaway from all this? Allow yourself the blessing of a good cry. Your immune system, liver, heart, social life, and vision will thank you.

-Dr. Patricia

October 17, 2017 0 comment
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About Dr. Patricia

About Dr. Patricia

Hi, I'm Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald. I have always been very curious...

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