Dear friends and family,

Welcome to my blog post exploring the Late Summer season we are currently in. Late summer is the shortest season, starting at the end of summer around August 15th and going through the Autumn transition on September 22nd.

It is the time of year for rejuvenation of the spleen and stomach – our digestive system. This brief season is a time for making plans, reviewing goals, preparing for and starting the new school year, and for reaping the harvest we planted in spring.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are 5 seasons that relate to our 5 major organ systems: the Spleen, Lungs, Kidneys, Liver and Heart. The seasons in Nature and the systems of our bodies weave together forming the 5 elements. Late summer is the Earth element relating to our Mother, both mother Earth and our maternal mother, the center and our Spleen and Stomach.

The Earth element gives us the power of manifestation, abundance and creativity, which brings our intentions to life. As the stomach receives nourishment, the spleen transforms it into nutrient rich energy that fuels our entire bodies. Just as our intentions, visions and dreams fuel and guide our actions and gives us motivation for our goals.

The way in which we are able to nourish ourselves, and our ability to both give and receive love directly, relates to the health and strength of our digestion system. When we can love and nourish ourselves in body, mind and spirit we have the capacity to share that love with others.

As the Earth element and Late Summer relate to the Mother, it is the best time of the year to strengthen and heal our relationships with our mothers, our children and ourselves. It is a time to connect within and receive nourishment and support, and to release all that does not bring love and light into our lives.

The emotions of this season and of the spleen and stomach are worry, overthinking and melancholy. If you are feeling these emotions to an extreme, your digestive system may also be suffering and need support. Feeling these emotions is normal when they have an opportunity to be acknowledged, expressed and released. It is when we try to hide or stuff our emotions that they can affect our health. Journaling, listening to soothing music, spending time in nature and talking to a friend or counselor are all very helpful.

Stay tuned for my next blog discussing the upcoming autumn season and how to keep yourself and your family healthy through the cold and flu season.

With much love, light and many blessings of abundance and vibrant health for you and your family,

Lisa

Dear Friends and Family,

Spring is here, its time to cheer! This is the time to come out and shine; to dance to sing and to rejoice.

Spring is Nature’s birthing season, a time of creation and development where all is restored. For the next 6 months we will be blessed with the light and warmth of the sun, which in Chinese Medicine is Yang and encourages movement, exercise and being outside in nature.

The seeds we nurtured in body, mind and spirit throughout the winter will bloom with fresh inspiration and a spark of energy allowing us to act upon our ideas, aspirations and intentions.

Nature awakens in her green flowering beauty. New growth in our lives, relationships and in our work is stimulated now as we have the opportunity to flourish in this season of new beginnings.

Spring is a great time to make plans for moving forward. What do we need to clear out of our external environment and what do we need to release from within ourselves? What do we want to create? It is a fresh start where our dreams can blossom into reality. What are your dreams?

In the Chinese System of the Five Elements the spring season correlates to the Wood element, which governs the liver and gallbladder. The Wood element relates to the roots and limbs of trees and plants and the spine, limbs and joints in our bodies. Imbalances of the liver and gallbladder often appear with symptoms of weakness and or pain in our joints, tendons and ligaments. Walking outside, deep breathing, yoga or gentle stretching is very supportive of these structures and also aids the release of toxins from our systems, especially when you work up a slight sweat!

Green is the color of the Wood element and sour is the flavor or taste. It is good to eat some sour foods such as olives, tart apples and grapefruit as well as dark leafy greens such as arugula, kale, spinach and cilantro. Green vegetable juices are a great way to support the liver in its spring cleansing and fermented foods also support the liver and colon with increased healthy bacterial flora. Spring is a great time of year to add lemon to your purified drinking water and to increase green tea and decrease caffeine.

The liver is our body’s master laboratory. It stores and distributes nourishment for the entire body as well as filters and detoxifies the blood and aids in digestion. In the Chinese 24 hour clock 1:00-3:00 AM is the time of the liver and if we find ourselves waking at this time the liver may be over worked with its numerous jobs of detoxification.

Anger, irritability, depression and indecision are the associated emotions of the liver and gallbladder. If any of these are coming up for you, it is a good time to gently process them out through journaling, guided meditation and prayer, support from a friend or counselor if needed. This is also a very good time to get an acupuncture session or a massage to support the release of tensions and emotions and to support the liver in its cleansing time.

Each spring brings us an opportunity to start anew. It is the optimal time for cleansing and rejuvenating the liver allowing for greater energy, deeper sleep, improved mental clarity, enhanced sex drive and a deeper enjoyment of our lives.

Lets spring forward together creating Vibrant Health by combining new, fresh and healthy thoughts and habits of spring. By taking care of what we eat, how we exercise, and by treating ourselves with loving kindness and choosing ways to relieve stress and tension from our lives, we will create more health, happiness and harmony.

Join me in my annual spring refresh and chose from a 7, 14 or 21 day cleanse to clear, clean and restore your body, mind and spirit. Your inner radiance will burst outward bringing forth your glowing skin, shinny hair, smooth lean muscles and overflowing energy!

Details on the cleanse options to follow this week. Let get started in the next week to 10 days!

For more information call me at 760-942-1128,
Send me an email at lisadavishealing@gmail.com
More details will be posted to my blog this week on the cleanses

With love, light and blessings of spring,

Lisa

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope the Holiday Season was filled with warm loving gatherings and delicious nourishing meals. As we move into the New Year planning our 2016 we are also moving deeper into winter, which began on December 21.

In Chinese Medicine the winter season relates to the Water Element and is associated with the kidneys, adrenal glands and bladder, the organs of energy, regeneration and filtration. The emotions of this season are fear and anxiety and we need extra rest and self-care to gently release what does not serve us and increases stress.

It is the time of the greatest Yin, and is Nature’s resting season. It is an emotional and sensitive time where we turn inward to reflect on what areas need support, clearing out and how we can create harmony between rest, work, exercise and family. It is also a time to tune into our deepest intuition and wisdom, which illuminates our path forward into the
New Year.

Chinese Medicine teaches us to live in Harmony with the seasons creating more balance between our bodies and the external environment. It gives us tools such as herbs, spices and foods that keep our immune systems strong and healthy.

The foods that are the most beneficial during the winter season are; squashes such as acorn and butternut, yams and sweet potatoes and vegetables such as chard, kale, bok choy, cabbage, carrots, beets and onions. Avocados, apples and pears are also seasonal fall and winter foods as garlic, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg are warming, nurturing spices that help to warm the center and extremities.

Grass fed beef, bison, lamb, turkey and game hens are strengthening to the bones and immune system especially prepared in a hearty soup or stew adding many of the vegetables and spices above. Bone broth can be purchased already prepared at most health food stores and makes an excellent base for a soup or stew.

Black beans, kidney beans and lentils also add good fiber and support the kidneys specifically. A slow cooker is a great way to set your self up for a hearty and nourishing meal to come home to at the end of the day!

Sending you love and blessings for a Vibrantly healthy, happy and abundant 2016!

Lisa

Welcome to our glorious fall season! Thankfully we are finally moving into the autumn season following a few extra weeks of late summer with increased heat and humidity. The incredibly beautiful orange full moon/eclipse last week signified the major shift into the fall season where we are feeling a slightly cooler breeze and a little rain.

Autumn is the season of gathering the harvest in preparation for winter. This includes adding more apples, pears, squashes, pumpkins, nuts, sautéed and steamed veggies and greens as well as organic grass fed meats into our diet. During this harvest season we are also receiving the fruits of our labors from the past six months of effort we have put into our projects, relationships and health.

This is the beginning of a cycle of personal growth and turning within. Its first day is usually September 22, the equinox where the nights become longer than the days. It is a time to clear away and finish projects, allowing space for inner wisdom, contemplation, writing, reading, and nurturing yourself and your family.

In the Chinese Five Element Theory, the autumn season relates to the Metal Element, which represents the mineral ores and salts of the earth creating structure and communication. The Metal element is also associated to Air in the East Indian and North American Indian systems and relates to mental clarity, creative ideas, writing, and speaking.

The emotions associated with the Metal Element are grief and great sorrow. This is an important time to look within and consciously release these emotions past and present. I find journaling, meditation, prayer, and creative visualizations including positive affirmations and intentions help to clear the grief and sorrow allowing for expansion and the opportunity to embrace self love, self confidence, self expression and greater alignment with the Divine.

The organs associated with the Metal Element are the Lungs and the Large Intestine. The lungs relate to the sinus and the skin and it is a good time to sweat slightly allowing the release of toxins and to flush the sinuses with a saline wash. As these are the two main eliminatory organs in the body, this is the time of year for a Fall Refresh anti-inflammatory cleanse to clear, rejuvenate and prepare for winter.

Please join me for my Vibrant Living Lecture Series where I share information on how to keep yourself and your families healthy through the change of seasons.

Wishing you health, love and peace,

Lisa