As Recommended in the book, Healthy Aging, by Andrew Weil, M.D. Many diseases today are caused by inflammation, e.g., heart disease, asthma and autoimmune disorders. Stress and stress hormones can also cause inflammation and pain, not to mention the acidic food and drinks we may consume. Andrew Weil maintains that the Mediterranean and traditional Japanese diets are the healthiest, and that the typical American diet is the least healthy. Following are Dr. Weil’s recommendations for an anti-inflammatory diet: GENERAL Aim for variety. Include as much fresh food as possible. Minimize your consumption of processed foods and fast food. Eat an abundance of fruits and vegetables. CALORIE INTAKE Most adults need to consume between 2,000 and 3,000 calories a day. Women and smaller and less active people need fewer calories. Men and bigger and more active people need more calories. If you are eating the appropriate number of calories for your […]

By Linda Joy Stone, O.M.D., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. A Different Way of Viewing A State of Being Depression seems to be affecting millions today, with anti-depressant medication becoming the most widely prescribed drug. In the past, this emotional state was referred to as melancholy, feeling mournful, gloomy or in grief. My Mac thesaurus lists “doldrums, down cycle, rut, apathy, boredom, emptiness”, as a few synonyms for depression. I prefer “gap, space and opening”. What is it we’re really feeling? Are we afraid to feel emptiness or our dark side, which may be essential to our growth? In a culture outwardly directed and geared to feeling good, darker, more reflective moods associated with depression can feel very uncomfortable. Thomas Moore, in his inspirational book, Care of the Soul, says, “because of its painful emptiness, it is often tempting to look for a way out of depression. But entering into its mood […]

By Linda Joy Stone, OMD., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. and Alex Holland, M.Ac., L.Ac. In the Chinese language the heart is related to all affections. It is not just that rhythmic organ that controls our circulation, but is also viewed as the sovereign ruler of the body and the master of the emotions. These definitions developed by way of the many interpretations possible that stem from the artistic nature of the Chinese written language, for each pictograph, or character, is a symbolic representation of an action, object or concept. The written language is beautiful and lends itself to numerous translations for any given character. Within the context of the Chinese culture this allows for creative and thoughtful renderings for the meanings represented by the many thousands of written characters. When reading Chinese medical literature, each character will then by nature have multiple meanings, some symbolic, some more concrete, but each open […]

By Linda Joy Stone, OMD, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. We have all experienced some form of pain, whether it be physical, emotional or psychological, and Iʼm sure most of us would rather live without it. However, perhaps there is a dimension to the pain from which we might learn something about the way we are living our lives. Perhaps if we took the time to sit with it and study it, instead of treating pain as an enemy to be eradicated, we might find it to be our ally, a protector and informant. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) looks at pain as a disharmony or imbalance that manifests in our body, mind or emotions. These energetic centers are inseparable from each other. The focus of TCM is to restore harmony and offer insight into the imbalance and help prevent it from recurring. Pain often results from a physical blockage or stubborn resistance […]