Hip and Trending Holistic Medicine

Have you been dealing with stress and worries about the upcoming fire season? Today I want to talk to you a bit about PTSD as well as what you can do to feel a bit more prepared and okay during this rough time we’re having with COVID and the additional stress of potential fires. One of the best ways to deal with the anxiety about potential fires or natural disasters is to have yourself be ready in-case it happens. This is so important especially since, here in California, we have had a lot of fires over the last 3 years. Having a plan in place for yourself that you can execute easily in the event of a fire or disaster will ease a lot of your concerns and stress now and in the unfortunate event that something happens.   What to do if the power is out in your house: Pack your freezer full of ice. Buy a generator. Have lamps and lanterns around your home that are solar or battery powered. Have a stash of food that doesn’t need refrigeration or much prep to eat. Get a small...

  In my last post, we discussed heartburn and reflux so today I’m going to take the conversation a bit further to talk about GERD. Gastro oesophageal reflux disease is a very common problem. Up to 25% of the population of the United States has had symptoms of GERD at some point in their lives. It used to be prevalent in mostly older people but now it has become a very common issue with younger people as well. Lack of stomach acid There are several potential root causes of GERD.  As we age, we tend to have less stomach acid. The problem with this is that older people are often given medication to treat GERD by blocking stomach acid. Blocking stomach acid doesn’t do much to help the situation when you don’t have enough stomach acid in the first place. This is why these medications are often ineffective. Bacteria A common bacteria called H-pylori is often connected to heartburn. It can cause stomach ulcers, heartburn, nausea and many other types of problems. You can test...

Several years ago, I was presenting at a workshop and a man came up on the stage to “demonstrate” how Chinese medicine works. I asked him if he had any symptoms to tell me about. He said no, he was “just fine”. When I felt his pulse I felt like his digestion was off, so I commented on that. He said, oh yeah, “I have heartburn every day, I take TUMS all the time.” He was so used to suffering with the heartburn, that he didn’t even think of it as a problem. Are you one of the people who just thinks it’s “normal” to have heartburn? In stressful times, many factors can contribute to increased heartburn. Up to 25% of the US population deals with Heartburn or GERD (Gastro-esophageal-reflux-disease) at some point!! This has been a difficult issue for so many of my clients, I wanted to share some information and tips with you so that you can better combat it. Living with these symptoms doesn’t have to be a daily or life-long thing. The medications we use to “help” our reflux can provi...

  When it comes to detox, there’s a lot of bad information out there. The worst I see is the mistake of thinking that a cleanse is the same thing as a good detox. Cleanses have become so popular lately, but they really don’t do anything. Cleansing A cleanse really just makes you poop more. And for some reason, people think that makes them healthy! Which is true, but a cleanse is not the same as a good detox. With a cleanse, you’re not really excreting any extra toxins. You’re just pooping more. I talked before about the two phases of liver detox. Cleanses do nothing to help detoxify because they don’t provide nutrients, only laxatives. So when choosing a detox, make sure you’re doing one that focuses on adding nutrients, not subtracting crap. (Remember to be eating those veggies!) Detox and Diet Another problem I see with detoxing is restricting calories. Most people think a detox is a weight loss program so they eat less. You have to eat enough on any detox ...

Trying to figure out if you have Coronavirus or just allergies? As we move into Springtime, more and more people will be experiencing itching, sneezing, runny noses and more. At the same time, there will be confusion over what symptoms might be allergies and which ones might be related to the highly contagious Coronavirus. Today I’m going to talk to you about the difference between Coronavirus and allergies so that you can hopefully be able to tell them apart and treat them appropriately. Coronavirus vs. Allergy symptoms Spring allergy symptoms tend to start with itching and a clear runny nose. With Coronavirus, it is more likely to start with a fever and a cough rather than a runny nose. If you’ve had a history of spring time allergies – and your symptoms are the same as when you’ve had them before, you most likely have allergies again. One hallmark of allergies that isn’t common with COVID19 is itchy eyes, itchy nose, or possibly an itchy throat. The main symptom of COVID19 ...

COVID-19 Update : If you are feeling ill or think you may have come down with a coronavirus infection, please DO NOT come to our office without calling FIRST. We are taking extra precautions during this unprecedented time to ensure the health and safety of our patients, staff, and members of our community. These precautions include: Keeping well and unwell patients separate Vigorous cleaning between visits Wearing masks and gloves Waiting area social distancing We are doing “telehealth” and “telepuncture” appointments in lieu of some well visits Patients feeling well are in an area separate from patients feeling unwell. If you are feeling ill or think you may have a coronavirus infection, please stay home. We also offer telehealth and “telepuncture” visits in lieu of some visits. Please call so we can coordinate a telehealth visit. As an essential needs practice, we are available during our normal hours to serve you during this crisis. If you have a fever and respiratory sym...

Have you done a seasonal cleanse in the past? Do you know why you should have a cleanse every season? Whether you have participated in cleanses in the past or you’re just curious about what they are and how they work, this article is for you. It is so important to understand cleansing and what it can do for your body so I’m here to talk to you about my spring detox. The Spring detox is a cleansing tradition I do every year and invite you to join me for the experience. But why Spring? Why is it such a good time for a cleanse? It is a vitally important time of year if you have allergies, but also because Spring is the time of the liver. The liver is the organ that handles your body’s ability to detoxify. That is the main purpose of the liver – to cleanse. Your body has a natural ability to cleanse itself and it’s always paying attention to what goes in, and making sure that you are safe. Your immune system and detoxification systems are always at work taking care of you! My seasona...

  Are you concerned about Coronavirus and other unknown types of infections? We are always vulnerable to new or unknown infections coming along. And every few years there is a new infection.  Our big fear is a pandemic that will rage around the world putting all of us at risk for illness or death. Our immune system is at the root of our ability to protect ourselves from ALL infections.  I’d like to share some insight and tips with you on how to build up your immune system and keep away unwanted infections and illnesses. No more fear I have spent over 20 years perfecting taking care of people who have unknown or undiagnosed illnesses – many of those are hidden infections, and I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to be afraid. One of my specialties is in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For thousands of years, one of the most important premises of TCM philosophy is to take proper care of your immune system, since it guards you from outside invaders (also known as...

Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe that they can happen to you? I’m here to talk about the miracles of healing and why you should never give up on finding healing – no matter where you are or what your journey looks like. What is a miracle? A miracle in healing is an event that occurs that is unexpected or different from what you would normally think would happen. Many times we assume too much based on our condition and what we have and haven’t tried before. When it comes to healing, miracles happen all the time so never rule yourself out. Finding My Purpose I believe that one of my most important purposes in life is to help people experience miracles in healing. Ever since I was very young, my great grandmother was my very best friend. One day she collapsed in front of me and when that happened, I didn’t know what to do. A few days later and after she had been taken to the hospital, my mom came to tell me that my great grandmother had died. On that day I decided that I w...

How can renewal happen when you feel like you’re out of possibilities? When you’re having a hard time in your own body, it may feel like you cannot renew. Sometimes it’s hard to see past the roadblocks in front of us but all it takes to find renewal is to make one small change. Then make another small change. And another. Renewal ultimately comes over time and through continuous small changes in your life, tweaks to your daily routine or even adjusting certain thought patterns. Bigger changes and solutions come from small changes and adjustments so do not get discouraged. I am here to encourage you and ensure you that THERE IS HOPE for your healing in 2020 and beyond. It may not be easy, but it is possible. Where to start Begin with one small thing like an eating habit or a sleep habit. Pick one healthy item to eat more often. Set your alarm at a different time to create slight changes. Try making a habit of waking up every morning and drinking a glass of water and lemon juice ...

What’s happening to my body and why do I feel so weird? Why do I feel so tired when I shouldn’t feel tired? Why do I have trouble sleeping? Why do I feel crazy? Have you asked yourself these things before? Let’s chat about perimenopause and how it effects your body. Changes When the symptoms of perimenopause come, they come unexpected and they happen in a way that feels rather SHOCKING. You may remember when you were younger and going through puberty. During this time, you most likely had similar feelings of going insane and frustration about bodily changes. But now, you’re going in the opposite direction and things are starting to feel crazy again – but different. So what’s going on? Hormone Imbalances When your hormones go out of balance, your body begins to experience symptoms that don’t seem to be in tune with who you are. One of the symptoms is having trouble sleeping or another symptom could be weight gain that you didn’t expect. And of course there are more emotional mood...

Listening to your body is one of the 7 keys from my book, Healing When It Seems Impossible: 7 Keys to Defy the Odd . This is the 4th key that is nestled into the middle of the other keys. It’s important because listening to your body helps you to start finding your own healing path .   Your Unique Path When you have been dealing with a health issue for a long time and struggling to discover the relief you need – finding your healing path is the mission . Your body and everything that happens to you is unique so finding your own unique way to heal is important. As you listen to your body and learn about what works best for you, the answers and solutions will begin to show up and become clear.   How to Listen to Your Body So how do you listen to your body? What do you do and what does it take to truly listen and find clarity? I’m going to teach this throughout the month of October in a four-week series packed full of tips, tools and guidance on how to do it right and fin...

When it comes to making the next move in life or figuring out what to do next when you’re trying to solve a problem or pain point, it is so easy to become impatient. When impatience takes over, we often lose our ability to make the best decision – we miss signs and signals that are meant to direct us. So what does patience have to do with a praying mantis? Let me explain. The Praying Mantis I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and we were talking about the praying mantis. There had been a praying mantis hanging around near my doorstep for a few days, just sitting there! It fascinated me that he was sitting around for so long in the same place so I looked it up online. Apparently, patience and the praying mantis have a lot in common. The praying mantis never makes a move until it knows for sure what the next move is going to be. It is a simple, yet genius, principle that serves a significant purpose. Patience Within Healing As for me, I have never been the patient type...

Science shows that our body has a natural ability to heal —the information for healing is in our DNA and in each cell of our being. For example, when you cut yourself, your cells know that they need to divide and grow to fill in the wound. They know how to fight the infectious microbes that exist on your skin, and your DNA is replicated into each new cell that develops. Your body also knows how to gently turn off this process so you don’t develop skin tumors. The best part is that this process is automatic: you don’t have to mentally initiate healing. As long as you are alive, healing is possible. We don’t often think about this innate and miraculous ability to heal, but it serves us on a daily basis. Every illness has some mystery to it, and often, healing cannot be fully explained. This is why doctors and scientists continually seek new answers and solutions: there will always be more to discover. So, can there be a formula to heal? Is it reasonable to think that there could be a ...

For most of my career I believed fasting wasn’t a good idea. However, I have since learned that it can actually be a great tool when used properly and for the right reasons. Studying and reading more about the concept of fasting has really opened my eyes. If you have ever wondered about why people fast or the possible benefits of fasting, keep reading! What is fasting exactly? To fast means that you are not ingesting any calories. Generally, while fasting, many people still drink water, tea, coffee, seltzer water and other similar things with no calories and nothing added. Who shouldn’t be fasting There are some people that should not fast because of certain conditions they have. Here are a couple cases where fasting could be harmful – If any of these situations apply to you, please do not fast. If you have extreme adrenal fatigue, fasting can make it so that you cannot sustain your blood sugar. If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you shouldn’t be fasting. The bene...

Did you know that your emotions have a lot to do with your health? If you have ever dealt with confusing emotions or physical symptoms that seem to be mysteriously tied to something someone says or does, you may want to pay attention to what I have to share. I’m going to focus on the Chinese medicine approach to the relationship between emotions and health. This is because, as you’ll find, it makes a lot of sense. Get ready to learn more about Chinese medicine, the benefits of acupuncture on physical and emotional pain and one way that you can deal with emotional stress and pain right now.   What Chinese medicine says about illness and emotion In Chinese medicine, it is said that illnesses come from either inside your body or outside your body. Anything that comes from outside your body is generally like an infection. It could be bacteria, parasites, viruses or any kind of thing that comes from the outside environment. What comes from the inside are all emotions and feelings. ...

  Do you ever feel like it’s hard to get going in the morning? Like you’re gaining weight for no reason? Or do you have aches and pains that you cannot explain? Do you have this underlying feeling like you have the flu? All of these symptoms can be related to an autoimmune disease. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or you are experiencing symptoms like this, I’m excited to share the key to healing from these particular ailments because there is more to it than most people think. Autoimmune diseases are something that effect your energy, weight and health because your body is quite literally attacking itself. But, your body isn’t stupid, it’s not just attacking your own tissues for NO reason! Some of the common autoimmune diseases that people suffer from include: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – where your immune system is attacking your thyroid. Rheumatoid Arthritis – your immune system is attacking your tissues and causing chronic inflammation in the joints. I...

Energy is a vital element of healing. It is the element that spurs your body to begin healing in the first place.  But what happens if you don’t have the energy that is needed to heal? Today, I’ll be continuing the conversation of embarking on a healing journey, and using the powerful energy that’s available in Spring to jump start your growth and get on a healing path. I work with a lot of people specifically to help them gain the energy they need to heal. The Triangle of Wellness There’s a tool I’ve developed out of my years of work blending Chinese and Western medicine – called the Triangle of Wellness. It is the basis of healing – how your immune system, your nervous system and your hormones are all connected in the shape of a triangle. When you balance out these three points of the triangle, you have the building blocks for wellness. Ways to Use Springtime Energy Cleanse – it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can do a full on two week detox protocol or you can just aim...

What is rebirth all about and why is Spring a perfect time for healing and renewal? Many of you may already understand some of the significance of Spring when it comes to rebirth and rejuvenation but I’m going to go a little deeper into the effect Springtime has on our ability and willingness to heal. This is the best time to dive into new ways of healing and I’ll explain why. It’s a beautiful spring day and the leaves are green, the trees have bloomed outside my window, birds are chirping – it’s an amazing day. As the end of my Seasonal Reboot draws near and the healing effects of it are in full force and I am feeling a great desire to share with you the options and possibilities out there to bring healing into your life. A Time of Rebirth Spring is a time of rebirth that you can sense all around you. The trees start blooming again and the leaves, flowers and birds seem to burst into life again after a long period of hiding. In the same way, rebirth is also happening in our bodies...

What does it take to heal the seemingly inevitable onslaught of a migraine? I have worked with hundreds of patients to successfully discover the causes behind the migraines and relieve their suffering. If you’re interested in uncovering the causes and combatting your own migraines, here’s what you need to know : Migraines are caused by a blood vessel contracting inside of your brain and then expanding quickly. This can be triggered by quite a few different things, including: Hormonal imbalances, food related allergic or chemical reactions, a genetic imbalance called methylation and severe fatigue. Each of these causes can be discovered and healed in a few different ways. Hormonal Imbalance The best treatment for a hormonal imbalance is to use acupuncture and herbal medicine. These techniques do a great job of helping to balance your hormones at certain times. Food Related The first thing I advise to patients who suspect a food related reaction or trigger is to start with cutting o...