Anger: The Emotion of Spring

By |2024-04-24T13:04:56-04:00April 24th, 2024|Categories: Mood, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , |

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is associated with the Liver, the emotion of anger and the Wood element. The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of emotions, Qi (energy) and blood. When the Liver is functioning properly, Qi flows smoothly and emotions are balanced. However, when the Liver is imbalanced, Qi stagnates and emotions like anger can arise. Other emotions associated with Liver disharmony include depression, worry, and anxiety. Stress, as well as improper diet or exercise, can cause Liver imbalance. During the spring season, the Liver is thought to be particularly vulnerable to imbalance. This is [...]

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Our Fave Things from 2023

By |2023-12-26T10:04:31-05:00December 20th, 2023|Categories: 2023, Faves, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , |

Each of us comes across something that makes us smile or is particularly noteworthy throughout the year. To see what our team has loved in 2023, we've compiled a list of our favorites. Check out this "Best of" list for our staff's picks. An asterisk (*) denotes local business. Libby Ballantyne, Administrative Assistant Food: Cocina Luchadoras* (incredible tacos) To-do: The Revival Series at the Charles Theatre* Book: The Essential Rumi translated by Coleman Barks Revival Series at the Charles Theatre Dr. Brian Dougherty, D.OM., Acupuncturist Albums: Acts of Worship [...]

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Evil Bone Water

By |2023-05-10T10:16:25-04:00May 6th, 2023|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|

One of the things that I love about appointments at Mend is the specificity of so much of what we do. An herb added to a mixture to address your particular symptoms. An acupuncture needle adjusted a quarter of a centimeter to make it more comfortable. How the massage therapist adjusts the pillow under your knees to make sure your lower back is relaxed. But now there's one thing in the clinics that's so much less specific, and that's what makes it great – Evil Bone Water. What!?!? kind of bone water? Why is it called [...]

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Dream Interpretation in TCM

By , |2023-04-13T10:26:34-04:00April 10th, 2023|Categories: Mood, Self-Care, Sleep, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Dream interpretation, as a practice, is indigenous in origin. In spite of the fact that we may not always be able to recall our dreams, for centuries they’ve had the potential to fascinate, scare, and even inform us when interpreted. Like music and film, dreams can be abstract in their expression. The meaning of one’s dreams, and the method to interpret, is a reflection of social, cultural, and historical frameworks. In many ancient societies, dreams were thought to be a kind of supernatural communication and a divination of sorts. Later, dream interpretation had clear associations. For example, in traditional [...]

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Spring’s Organs of Creation and Growth

By |2023-03-08T08:46:56-05:00March 3rd, 2023|Categories: Organ, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , |

Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels Spring is upon us — a season of new life, new possibilities, revitalization and hope. Since I began studying and practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the Five Elements, I have become more attuned to the change of seasons, as they show up in nature and in my body. After all, our body is a microcosm that reflects the ebbs and flows of the natural macrocosm. There are two yin/yang paired organs, the Liver and the Gallbladder, that are particularly impacted by the arrival of spring. It is a time when the gifts of [...]

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Questions to Consider for Winter

By |2023-02-07T16:50:17-05:00February 7th, 2023|Categories: Mood, Prompts, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , |

Photo by David Besh from Pexels In Chinese Medicine, Winter is the darkest, slowest, most inward and reflective season. Just as its opposite Summer, is the brightest, most active and energetic. This is not to be taken lightly, as truly, these seasons are polar opposites, i.e. yin (Winter) and yang (Summer). Similarly to how Summer's abundant daylight beckons us with long days and "fun in the sun," Winter pushes us to confront darkness and slowing down. This vibe can feel incongruent to our modern world. But rest assured, in Chinese Medicine, this is for our own good. Winter instructs us [...]

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The Kidney and Root Chakra in Winter

By |2023-01-24T15:26:11-05:00January 23rd, 2023|Categories: Movement, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , |

I recently came across a Yoga With Adriene video, Grounding Into Gratitude: Root Chakra Yoga, and it ended up being a nourishing delight. Even though the chakras are a whole different system than Chinese Medicine, there is certainly some overlap, and this video got me thinking about how the first chakra is similar to The Kidney in the season of winter (and its corresponding emotion of fear) in Chinese Medicine. The chakra system originated in ancient India. Chakras are ‘discs’ or ‘wheels’ of energy that ascend the spine and relate to different parts of our emotional and physical wellbeing. The [...]

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The Winter Experience

By |2024-01-08T13:21:18-05:00January 4th, 2023|Categories: Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , |

Photo by Daniel Frese from Pexels Winter is the most Yin time of year in Chinese medicine. Yin being an energy that is dark, cold, slow, and inward, the antithesis of Summer’s Yang energy. The way we use our energy is particularly important during the most Yin and Yang times of year. During wintertime, nurture and nourishment is a necessity, introspection and reflection come easily, and planting seeds for the future is the strategy. This is the time to nourish the body, mind, and soul with slow, quiet, reflective, and restorative Yin activities. In addition, the winter season is ruled [...]

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Zhi: The Energy of Will, Purpose and Destiny

By |2024-01-09T10:51:09-05:00January 3rd, 2023|Categories: acupoint, Seasonal Changes, Wellness|Tags: , , , , , , , |

The spirit of the Water Element is zhi (pronounced zhur). This is one’s will, ambition, purpose, and destiny – a force that moves a person towards their destiny without much conscious thought or effort. In this blog, learn more about zhi and ways in which you can cultivate this powerful energy. Additionally, zhi is thought to be the innate power of life itself – life that wants to live and survive. Zhi is housed in The Kidneys. Therefore, a person with strong Kidney strength has strong zhi, i.e. a drive to be alive; a person with less Kidney strength may [...]

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Intention-Setting for the New Year

By |2022-12-31T17:35:14-05:00December 27th, 2022|Categories: New Moon, Prompts, Seasonal Changes, Self-Care, Wellness|Tags: , , , , |

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels As the New Year fast approaches, that nagging feeling starts to emerge – it’s a new year. Often there’s a feeling of potential for a new you, a new chance, or a new chapter. With the end of one year and the beginning of the next, a sort of reset button emerges. And, as we are in the depths of winter – the season of Yin, the Water element (wisdom, stamina and endurance) and the spirit of Zhi (one’s will, ambition, purpose and destiny) – there’s no better time to reflect on what has [...]

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