Author Archives: Charlyce Davis

6 Practical Uses of Reiki

https://videos.files.wordpress.com/keKxEtij/6-practicle-uses-video-pin.mp4

Simply ways to use Reiki in your everyday life.

Reiki is a healing tool typically used in a state of meditation.  Most of us perform Reiki treatments on ourselves while seated, laying down with very little distractions.  When possible, a full self Reiki session is the best.

Do you ever use Reiki in other ways?  Reiki is a tool, meant to be invoked whenever and wherever possible.  Let’s review some of the simple ways to add more Reiki to your life. 

Keeping Reiki in my life everyday has helped me cope when I work with my patients in clinic. Let’s explore ways to use Reiki in everyday life.

1. Reiki in the Morning

The first few minutes of waking up sets the tone of your day.  The few  minutes are so very precious.  This is a perfect time to invoke Reiki. 

Before starting your day, rather than immediately turning on the TV or checking social media, use this time to perform Mental/Emotional Reiki (or meditate if you are not a Reiki Practitioner).  Doing this allows you to set an intention for your day.  You take ownership of your energy, and you can claim control of your day.  

Guided 9 Minute Reiki Session

No need for timers, just plug and play to start your daily session now. My 9 Minute Guided Reiki Session is great for morning Reiki.

2. Reiki While Driving

Reiki while driving?  Absolutely!

You can do this by drawing CKR on your steering wheel.  While you’re driving, Reiki can be flowing from your hands to your car then all around you.  

You can also draw or envision SHK on the hood of your car.  This ensures you remain safe, as well as sends vibrations of safety and calmness to the drivers around you.

New to Reiki? Sign up for my course Self Care for New Reiki Healers

3. Reiki to Make Work Better

Before I get to work, I get some coffee, do some yoga, listen to an inspirational audiobook on my way to work.  Once I arrive at work, I give myself Reiki.  Before I enter the exam room, I use Reiki to set an intention with each patient.  I intend to assist in each patient’s healing, and to clean up any of my own negative thoughts.

If I feel a patient had a difficult visit, I will often use Distance Reiki after the visit.  Sending Reiki back to the visit can help heal the emotional burdens for the patient. 

Reiki can be used in many ways at work.  Reiki can help make learning skills easier.  SHK can be used before doing any training.  Any Reiki symbol can be used to ease workplace conflict.  Reiki also can help in big career decisions, such as starting or leaving a job.

4. Reiki Naps

Napping is one of the most underutilized tools for health and wellness.  I found that I often have trouble relaxing during the day.  I will use Reiki to help myself relax into a nap.  My like using a 9 Minute Reiki session to help me initiate a restorative nap.  

5. Journaling

Keeping a journal serves many purposes.  Planning, processing, and digesting emotions can all be done effectively with a planner.  Using Reiki with journaling is a beautiful way to help in this process.  Reiki can be applied to the journal.  You can turn your journal into a “Reiki Box”.  Write down what you are worried about, or your hopes and dreams.  Then perform Reiki directly to the piece of paper. This is one of my favorite ways to reduce my own worries about the future.

6. Reiki in Emergencies

Emergency situations push us to our limits. Anxiety attacks, hearing bad news, or anything that activates the Flight-or-Fight, or Sympathetic Nervous System,

Anyone coping with the early stages of grief can also use Reiki to help the pain of grief.  Doing Reiki on the heart chakra can help calm down the intense feelings of early grief.

Doing Mental/Emotional Reiki on the head after the dust has settled can help to calm the severe anxiety of an emergency situation. This can easily be done with using SHK on the crown for 3-5 minutes.

There are no limits to how you can use Reiki in your everyday life.

Wanting to start you Reiki journey? Healing Arts has resources to help you explore Reiki and get started with your training today!

6 Things that Happen During a Sound Healing

Sound healing is a healing modality that embraces the power of sound waves to heal the mind, body and spirit. Sound Healer and Reiki Master Kathy Harmon-Luber shared a sound healing session on the Art of Healing podcast:

Download the Episode

I asked Kathy what happens during a sound healing, and she shared with me that 6 things happen to the mind and body during sound healing.

1. The Water in Our Bodies Resonates with Sound

Photo by Aleksandr Slobodianyk on Pexels.com

The human body is mostly made of water. According to Kathy, sound travels through the water in the body, and this is where the resonance can lead to healing. Water can be programmed, as shown by the scientific studies conducted by Masuro Emoto show that water responds to different sound vibrations. In his studies, Emoto showed that positive words such as love, hope and thank you, cause water to form well organized crystals. When words such “you fool” caused the frozen water to form disorganized crystals.

Read more about Masuro Emoto’s studies here:

Using Your Words to Heal Your Body

2. Sound Frequencies Work In Ranges we can’t hear

Photo by Magicbowls on Pexels.com

Kathy states that many of the healing tools used in sound healing generate frequencies that are much higher and lower thatn the range of the human ear.

A sound bath creates healing by immersing the body in the sound frequencies, so hearing the sounds on a conscious level is not necessary in order for the healing to occur.

3. Sound healing creates a Theta waves in the brain

The human brain generates electrical activity that varies in frequencies. When we are awake, the electrical patterns generated by the human brain are alpha, gamma, or beta waves. Theta waves are associated with a higher level of subconscious activity.

Download Relaxing Music, music you can add to your library for Reiki, Meditation, and Healing.

4. Sound Healing Helps old cells regenerate

The vibrations generated from sound healing help cells regenerate. A small study showed an instrument called a Cymoscope was able to restore red blood cell membrane integrity.

Loss of red blood cells leads to anemia, which causes fatigue and reduced ability to heal. Using sound to renew red blood cells also has little risk, and can be combined with other healing modalities for healing.

5. Sound Healing can help cells that have gone dormant wake up

Kathy states that sound healing can help cells become restored. The combination of relaxation from theta waves in the brain along with the healing frequencies can create an environment that allows cells to heals.

6. Sound Healing Balances the Energy in our bodies

We feel our bodies in solid form, but quantum physics teaches us that solid matter is simply light particles slowed down enough to form a solid. Sound healing allows the energy center in the body to balance themselves. Energetic alignment allows the mind and body to heal themselves.

New to Reiki? Sign up for my course Self Care for New Reiki Healers

Sound healing

Want to learn more about sound healing?

I recommend having a look at Kathy’s website www. survivetothrive.com to learn more about sound healing and schedule your session. I’m getting my sound healing session soon! I’ll let you know how it goes.

3 Ways You Are Making You’re Anxiety Worse

Download my book 9 Ways to Ground Your Energy and start calming anxiety now.

This post contains affiliate links.  Clicking on these links takes you to products I trust, and I may receive a commission on any purchases you make.

April is Anxiety Awareness Month.  Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disparities, affecting as many as 25% of the population during the pandemic.1  Anxiety can be a temporary state of feeling nervous, or a chronic condition such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 

Anxiety Disorder frequently begins at or around the age of 30. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic, unfocused, excessive worry and stress associated with clinically significant distress and functional impairment, often accompanied by insomnia, restlessness, muscle tension, and fatigue.2 Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic increased the number of individuals experiencing anxiety.

Severe anxiety can lead to anxiety attacks. Anxiety attacks are an episode of feeling a sense of doom, palpitations, sweating, hyperventilation, and digestive symptoms.

If you are living with anxiety, it’s important to know that small actions throughout your day can make you anxiety better or worse. Let’s explore three things you may be doing right now that could be making your anxiety worse.

Rapid Breathing Makes Your Anxiety Worse

How is your breathing right now?  Is it fast? Sleep?  Deep? Shallow? Do you notice you’re holding your breath at times?

I noticed that my patients tend to breath rapidly, shallow, and even hold their breathe.  When I’m with a patient who is upset, agitated, scared, or angry, the quality of the breath often indicates what’s going on internally.

Patients coming in to discuss anxiety breath rapidly.  When they discuss their anxiety symptoms, they will increase the rate of breath.  Hyperventilation, which is rapid breathing associated with decreased carbon dioxide in the bloodstream often accompanies panic attacks. You can create anxiety in your mind and body with intentional rapid breathing. 

How you sit controls your mood…have a listen to this podcast to practice

Try This Instead

Learning to breath with slow, deep breaths helps reverse the habit of rapid, shallow breaths that can create a state of anxiety. 

Noticing the breath is a practice commonly done during Mindfulness Practice.  Observation of breath can help slow down the mind and create a sense calmness. 

Start you Mindfulness Journey Today

Hay fever and allergies can disrupt  your breathing as well as anxiety.  Check out my recommendation to support respiratory health at FullScripts.

Being in touch with your breath is a healthy habit you can develop easily.  Practicing breath work through mindfulness is an easy practice.

Giving Your Thoughts too much Power Makes your Anxiety Worse

One of the main symptoms of generalized anxiety is excessive worry. Worry can’t be avoided. It’s part of being human. How do we not worry about the things we care about such as our family? Our children? Our parents? Finances? Health?

I ask my patients when they discuss their worries, did focusing on these worries actually solve the problem? No it does not. Worrying about many different things will most likely create more worries.

Try This Instead

Try questioning if your worry thoughts are really true. As each worry thought enters your mind, simply respond with a question of it’s true.

In the podcast, Cleaning Up Your Thoughts, we walk through how do redirect anxiety thoughts while journaling. You can to this anytime of day. If you find you have made worrying a habit, spend a few minutes every day redirecting your thoughts.

Junk Food Is Making Your Anxiety Worse

Many of us rely on food to calm our anxious mood. Snack foods such chips, cookies, or candy seem like a quick fix for feeling anxious an overwhelmed.

Eating the wrong kinds of food can make your anxiety worse. Ingesting excessive amounts of sugar increases insulin production. High insulin causes increased production of cortisol and adrenaline from the adrenal glands. Ingesting sugar to alleviate anxiety will make anxiety worse. As the insulin levels rises, you will get hungry very soon after eating. You may also notice episodes of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, that feel like anxiety.

Try This Instead

In this podcast, Health Coach Lisa Airhart shares her wisdom on how you can approach eating to attune to the needs of your mind or body. In her book, she shares how you can approach your food in a loving way and help choose foods that are better for your mood.

Anxiety is hard on your mind, body and spirit. Doing everything you can to support your mind and body with breathwork, mindfulness and mindful eating helps you to avoid experiencing anxiety.

References

  1. Santabárbara, J., Lasheras, I., Lipnicki, D. M., Bueno-Notivol, J., Pérez-Moreno, M., López-Antón, R., De la Cámara, C., Lobo, A., & Gracia-García, P. (2021). Prevalence of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic: An updated meta-analysis of community-based studies. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 109, 110207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110207
  2. DynaMedex. Generalized Anxiety Disorder. EBSCO Information Services. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.dynamedex.com/condition/generalized-anxiety-disorder

What Supplements Should You Take for Spring Allergies

Don’t Miss the Spring Supplement Sale, create your Fullscript Account Now

Spring is here! The days are getting longer and warmer. All of us are ready to shed the winter and get out more. The flowers, trees, and grass are blooming. What does that mean?

I’m going to share my favorite supplements to get ready for spring allergies to help you be proactive before your allergies start.

Optimize Your Vitamin C

Getting more than enough Vitamin C helps your immune system work efficiently. Allergies are a result of your immune system overreacting to pollen, dander or dust.

I recommend taking Vitamin C in a form that will be well absorbed and easily available to your system. Getting enough Vitamin C assures that your immune system will be able to handle infectious threats as well as stabilizing your system during allergies.

There’s a sale (March 14 – 15) on Fullscript!

Spice Things Up with Tumeric

Photo by Karl Solano on Pexels.com

Turmeric can help with many inflammatory illnesses. Having turmeric in the kitchen is a good idea for this reason.

Turmeric (or Curcumin) “was found to exert diverse immunomodulatory effects, including suppression of IL-4, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α and increased production of IL-10 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule” 1

I recommend Theracurmin (find my recommendations in my Fullscripts Cedar Fever and Allergy Survival Protocol)

Stay Calm

Photo by Oluremi Adebayo on Pexels.com

Anxiety and depression often occur, or get worse, during allergy season. The same inflammatory markers that worsen allergies also worsen depression. Having allergies can worsen these conditions as well2.

I recommend keeping calm during allergy season. Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System using tools such as meditation or Reiki is one way to calm your nerves.

Magnesium is an excellent way to relax especially at night. Adequate magnesium can decrease headaches, muscle spasms, and improve sleep.

Check out my magnesium recommendation with Fullscripts, and take advantage of this great sale.

  1. Wu, S., & Xiao, D. (2016). Effect of curcumin on nasal symptoms and airflow in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 117(6), 697–702.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2016.09.427
  2. Rodrigues, J., Pinto, J. V., Alexandre, P. L., Sousa-Pinto, B., Pereira, A. M., Raemdonck, K., & Vaz, R. P. (2022). Allergic Rhinitis Seasonality, Severity, and Disease Control Influence Anxiety and Depression. The Laryngoscope, 10.1002/lary.30318. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.30318

Beginner’s Guide to Reiki

If you are curious about Reiki, you’ve landed in the right place. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of Reiki for beginners and how to get started on your Reiki Journey.

Reiki is a healing modality that uses channeled energy to heal.  Reiki can be done by a Reiki Practitioner, or you can give yourself Reiki with training.

If you are new to Reiki, is it better to get a Reiki session?  Or should you start learning Reiki right away?

Many healing modalities (medicine and acupuncture, for example), requires years of study and practice.  These healing modalities often require another practitioner for treatment.  You can’t practice medicine on yourself (and I’m a physician saying this).

Reiki can be done by someone else, or you can do it on yourself.  So how to get started?

Want to learn more about Reiki ? Download the free Reiki 101 book now.

What Is Reiki?

Reiki is  a healing modality that channels energy into a receiver via a trained Reiki Healer.  The energy that is channeled is from a source that serves only the highest good.  The Reiki Practitioner channels energy from a higher source to the recipient.

Reiki Energy currently can’t be measured or quantified.  Researchers have attempted to quantify Reiki in the form of the Human Biofield.  Currently, it is difficult to place a direct measurement on Reiki Energy.

Reiki Healers use intention to channel healing energy.  The intention is to heal the client. 

I often explain Reiki as acupuncture without the needles.  Reiki can be applied directly to meridians and chakras.  Reiki can be used an any part of the body with direct touch or with hands off the body.

Healing beyond space and time.

Learn how Reiki goes beyond the limits of space and time to heal.

Reiki can be sent over distances.  This is one of the most power aspect of Reiki.  Reiki can be sent to any person, any place, and in any time.  Only your imagination limits who Reiki can be used. 

Distance Reiki can be sent across a room.  Distance Reiki can be sent to another room, like if you’re visiting a loved one in the hospital who is in isolation. 

Reiki is a healing practice, a spiritual practice, or a mindfulness practice. Practicing Reiki does not go against your religious practice in any way. You can combine Reiki with your other practices. If you already meditate, Reiki can be a form of meditation.

What Reiki Is Not

Reiki is not a religion.  It is considered to be a spiritual practice, but there is no doctrine or structured religion with the practice.  Because of this, Reiki is available to all people, including atheist.

Reiki is not a way to change or alter someone else’s behavior. Reiki can be used to bring blessings or ease a situation such as a difficult relationship.

Where did Reiki come from?

The origin story of Reiki starts in Japan, at the famous Mount Karuma. The first Reiki Practitioner, Dr. Mikao Usui, created Reiki after taking a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Karuma, fasting for 21 days and becoming attuned to the healing energy of Reiki. Although Reiki started in Japan, it has been taught and practiced all over the world.

Does Reiki Work?

Yes and no.

I advise my clients and patients that I consider Reiki to be part of a spectrum of healing modalities that can definitely help to heal, but if it does not match the energy of the disease, it may not work quickly enough.

Does Reiki Work? Watch to learn more Reiki

Where Beginner’s Can Learn More about Reiki

If you are new to Reiki, there are some great online resources you can consider researching.  You can start learning about the various types Reiki.

Online Resources to Learn about Reiki

Art of Healing Podcast

The Art of Healing Podcast has several episodes on Reiki.  Check them out!

Art of Healing Podcast on Reiki

Can Reiki Replace Seeing a doctor?

No, it can’t replace an evaluation with a medical or psychological specialist. Reiki not a diagnostic tool, although it can give you insight.

Can Beginner’s Learn Reiki?

Reiki is a healing modality in which you can learn it yourself! While I love the idea of seeking a professional especially if you’re new to Reiki, no need to wait.

Reiki Training can be completed live, online, or on a self-paced course.  The training tends to be a healing in itself.  Reiki Training typically involves studying, reading, an attunement then practices.

Curious about Reiki Certification? Check out Healing Arts Reiki I and Reiki II.

Online Resources

Here are some of my favorite resources to learn about Reiki here.

Reiki Rays

This is one of my favorite websites, full of freebies and fantastic resources on Reiki. 

IARP

The IARP is mostly for professionals, but has fantastic articles for everyone to help you learn about Reiki.

Many Reiki Professionals list their practices with IARP at this link:

IARP Practice Locator

4 Signs you are in a Dark Night of the Soul

4 Signs you are in a Dark Night of the Soul, and what to do next

I first heard the term “Dark Night of the Soul” during a Reiki class. This is a time of major disruption in life. This can be job loss, breakups, illness, fear, anxiety, and overall feeling like you can’t take one more thing. If you are experiencing this, there is no accident. You are likely starting, or currently in a time of your life of intense growth.

What are the signs of a Dark Night of the Soul?

During an interview, I asked Psychic Development Teacher Heather of heatheryish.com, we did a deep dive into the “Dark Night of the Soul.” She shared her personal experiences with how she navigated these rough water.
Here is some of the knowledge she shared during the interview.

1. Weakening of the Foundations of Your Life

When you are going through a “Dark Night of the Soul”, it appears as if your world is falling apart. The aspects of your life that create our daily routines, such as relationships, work, home, and health began to change quickly. This results in breakups, endings, being fired or laid off, or becoming ill.

Even more uncomfortable is that major changes may happen all at once. It may feel like the sky is falling, and in your world it may be. One unwanted change may lead to another, then another.

You may find yourself suddenly with much more time on your hands because of the end of a relationship, or the end of a job. If the loss is the death of a loved one, this can feel like a chasm that is painful and you desire to fill immediately.

Why This Happens

Many spiritual leaders and coaches see the journey in to the Dark Night of the Soul as a time of transition. The choices you have made may have served you at that point in time, but not must be let go. Relationships that hinder your growth on a soul level must change or end.

Breakups, financial losses, career setbacks are emotionally painful and are powerful teachers on your soul journey. They are not meant to be easy, but they always serve a purpose of crating a major shift.

How to Survive The Crumbling of the Foundations In Your Life during the Dark Night of the Soul

Your were built to survive this challenge. Your faith has likely taught you that you can survive, and thrive in any challenge that comes your way.

Heather advised us during her interview that feeling emotional overwhelm is expected to happen. She encourages us that higher guidance from your spirit guides and your God are with you.

During the tumultuous times of the Dark Night, you can find your emotional center using meditation. Daily meditation calms your nervous system. During times of change, your Sympathetic Nervous System will be heightened. You may have trouble with appetite, sleep, and finding inner calm. Working with your nervous system through intentional meditation daily can help you find your inner calm, and create a buffer for you during this difficult time.

My 21 Day Meditation Challenge can help you start and continue your meditation. Course includes downloadable meditations.

2. Desire to Withdraw from Others

During out interview (which you can download here), I asked Heather for some of the subtle signs that a Dark Night of the Soul is coming. She noted that in her clients, withdrawing from what’s familiar, particular from the community you’re in, is a sign that big change is coming.

Why This Happens

This kind of withdrawal may be accompanied with fatigue. You may be so tired that getting out of bed feels monumental. You previous relationships also may be draining your energy, so it is now impossible as you move through this change to connect with others.

Creating a Safe Space During the Dark Night of the Soul

As you journey through the Dark Night of the Soul, energy preservation is necessary. It may feel selfish, but your mind, body, and spirit demand that you allocate your resources to yourself.

Heather’s advice is to create your own safe place. Create space and time to heal, feel protected and to rest. How do you do this?

Creating your own safe place can start with developing and enhancing your healing rituals. Starting a daily Meditation Practice such as the 21 Day Meditation Journey helps you create a healing ritual you can return to day after day.

Reiki creates a safe place to recover during the Dark Night of the Soul. Receiving Reiki from a trusted Reiki Healer is wonderful, but did you know know you can learn Reiki and heal yourself?

Start your Reiki Journey Today

Reiki creates a safe space for gentle healing. Performing Reiki on yourself daily will create a safe space through healing ritual. It is possible to do this for yourself. Learning Reiki is therapeutic as well. You learn about you Chakras, the history of Reiki, and your anatomy. What you learn in Reiki can serve as guiding lights as you navigate the Dark Night of the Soul.

3. Disconnection from Your Own Desires

Being unable to identify with your desires, your wishes, and your passions is a sign that you may have drifted from you path in life. If you feel that you are busy, doing many things, but none of them bring joy to your life, this is a sign that you are entering a Dark Night of the Soul.

Why This Happens

Failure to acknowledge your feelings, desires and needs leads to disconnection. This disconnection form yourself creates a crisis in the mind, body and spirit. Each of us has a purpose, a calling, or a chosen mission that our souls selected before we came to exist in this time. If decisions you have made have taken you away from this, you will experience trouble with knowing what it is you want.

How to Reconnect With Your Desires During the Dark Night of the Soul

Finding ways to reconnect with your desires requires quiet, reflection, and intentional healing. During our interview, Heather recommended using therapy as a way to reconnect.

Working with a counselor, such as my podcast guest, Brandi Gibson, can help you understand when you feel stress in your body. Have a listen to her episode, Stress Awareness in the Mind Body to learn how therapy can teach you to reconnect with your physical body.

My podcast guest Dr. Seleena Smith also recommends seeking help if you see 6 changes in your life that signal working with a therapist can really help. If you notice these 6 signs, it is time to ask for help.

4. Desire for a Major Change

Longing for major changes in your life may be more than fantasy. If you’ve had a dream of a career change, or longed for living in a different place, these desires may be much more than fantasy. You may have feelings of guilt about these longings, but as we learned during this podcast episode, you want to approach these desires with loving kindness.

Why This Happens

Experiencing a Dark Night of the Soul is a sign that major change is coming. Changes in your home, career, personal life and yourself are coming. Embracing that change is eminent makes this easier to accept.

Embracing the Changes That Come with the Dark Night of The Soul

During this time of transition, educate yourself abundantly. Reading, taking courses, listening to podcast and reading blogs that support your journey through the Dark Night of the Soul will help you embrace these changes and grow from them.

Reading has helped me through my own Dark Night of the Soul. Reading as a therapeutic intervention is known as bibliotherapy. I have a list of recommended books that I have found inspiring and helpful.

Recommended Reading-my recommendation for books that nourish the mind, body and spirit

Thriving during the Dark Night of the Soul

My wish for anyone who is in a dark time is that this time will serve to help you heal, progress, and grow. Accept the signs that you and your life must change. Use this time to learn meditation. Learn Reiki to heal yourself. Understand that as you progress on this journey, it is for a purpose.

5 Things To Know about Mindfulness

5 facts to know about mindfulness.

Curious about mindfulness? Let’s talk about some of the basics of Mindfulness.

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment. It involves paying attention to one’s thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in a non-judgmental and accepting way. Mindfulness can be cultivated through meditation, yoga, or Reiki that focus on awareness and acceptance. It is often used as a stress-reduction technique and has been shown to have positive effects on mental and physical health.

Mindfulness is simple to practice once you understand what is involved. It is a practice that you can easily integrate into your life, with some guidance and training.

#1 Is Mindfulness the Same as Meditation?

Mindfulness and meditation are not the same. Mindfulness refers to the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment. Meditation is a specific technique or practice that is used to foster mindfulness and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. While mindfulness can be practiced in many ways, meditation is one way to practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness can be practiced during meditation (Mindfulness Meditation for example). This is what is known as a formal Mindfulness Practice.

You can practice mindfulness informally. This is known as being in a mindful state. Mindfulness in the moment can help calm and center the mind. Mindfulness can also enhance everyday experiences such as meals.

Mindful eating is one easy way to make an everyday activity mindful. In the podcast, Mindful Eating with guest Health Coach Lisa Airhart, we discuss how slowing down, focusing on the meal, the setting and truly enjoying your meals can lead to a healthier relationship with food.

Mindfulness meditation is now my personal favorite way to practice meditation. It’s as simple as setting an intention on what your focus will be, settling into the meditation, then completing the meditation.

Focus Points for Mindfulness Meditation

  • Focus on the Breath
  • Focus on the Body (Such as the Body Scan)
  • Focus on the Mind

Meditation for Complete Beginners

#2 Can I practice Mindfulness without Meditation?

Mindfulness is a state of being It can be practiced during a Meditation. It can also be practiced outside of a meditation session. Mindfulness during activities such as walking simply means keeping the focus on the current activity. We all have thoughts that stray from the activity we are doing. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed, agitated, and discontent.

One my my favorite mindfulness practices is Mindful Walking. You can try this here.

This is the power of mindfulness, that it can be done at anytime and any place. The key is to learn mindfulness as a discipline, making it apart of your daily healing practice.

#3 How Does Mindfulness Change the Brain?

Practicing Mindfulness creates changes in the brain that can be long lasting. According to authors Danial Goleman and Richard Davidson, “mindfulness strengthens the brain’s ability to focus on one thing and ignore distractions.”1

The authors were able to demonstrate through research that mindfulness can improve focus, improve memory, and decease distractibility.

A regular mindfulness practice also lowers the threshold for reactivity. Regular practice reduces anxiety. Engaging in mindfulness trains the brain to shift away from the “Fight and Flight” in which stress hormones are elevated, to “rest and digest” mode. This is when the parasympathetic nervous system is engaged. The body prefers to operate in a “rest and digest” mode to allow for healing and recovery.

#4 What Conditions Can Mindfulness Help With? What is it Effective?

Mindfulness, in particular, Mindfulness Interventions can improve anxiety. Many treatments for anxiety, such as medications, can have side effects. Psychotherapy is a corner stone for treating anxiety, but is not always accessible or affordable. Mindfulness can be a healing modality available to anyone and has been shown to be effective.2

People living with chronic pain often have few treatment options to help them cope with pain. Mindfulness can help those living with chronic pain learn to separate themselves from the emotional reactions to the pain. Although this does not eliminate the pain, it can help with coping with the pain.

Many people trying to find relief from insomnia complain of being plagued with worries or racing thoughts when they try to fall asleep. Learning mindfulness can help train your brain not to get caught up on repetitive thoughts. This allows for natural relaxation and easing into sleep.

Similar to a regular meditation practice, mindfulness is a tool that can alleviate many conditions with few risks.

#5 What is the Best Way to Practice Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is best seen as skill. Initially having an instructor for guidance can help you develop confidence in your practice. After training, you don’t need any tools to practice mindfulness.

I like guided meditations as there is no pressure to try to sort out what the goals are of the meditation, but I’m moving towards practicing mindfulness because it is a simple practice. My favorite is simply to count each breath and note my thoughts, emotions during that breath.

Mindfulness Meditation Mastery Course

  1. Goleman, D. & Davidson, R. (2017).  Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes your Mind, Brain, and Body. New York, NY: Penguin Random House
  2. Zhang, D., Lee, E., Mak, E., Ho, C. Y., & Wong, S. (2021). Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review. British medical bulletin, 138(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldab005

3 Ways to Become More Resilient to Stress

Resilience is the ability to recover from injury, setback, or trauma.  While it’s easiest to avoid anything that causes harm, it’s impossible to avoid everything that can harm you.  Illness, emotional upset, trauma, loss and anger are apart of life. In this article, we will explore three ways you can increase your resilience to stress in all forms.

While you have no control over the world around you, you have complete control over yourself. You can prepare your self for life’s challenges long before they cross your path.

I think of resilience as a savings account of energy.  You are free to use the currency in any way, and while its in savings, it can accrue extra interest depending on the environment.  When it’s time to make a purchase (a major life change, a birth, a death, a move, a new star, and ending for example), the funds will be used. 

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

If the account has a low balance, it may go into the red once the inevitable stresses of life hit.  A negative balance in your Resiliency Bank will draw form other accounts.  The available accounts to draw from are the mind, body and spirit.  

You can make deposits into your Resilience Bank all the time!

#1. Resilience to Stress Using Meditation

Many people turn to meditation during times of stress, or when they have many questions about life. Many feel that meditation is only needed for a short period of time.

Meditation is fantastic during times of stress. Being able to stop the hectic pace of life even for 3 minutes is better than continuing forge ahead without taking a break.

Making deposits to your Resilience Bank before stress hits allows you to increase your resilience stress even more. When your life get’s stressful, it is possible you may not have time to stop and meditate. Stress often accompanies major life transitions, such as a birth, a death, a new job, a move, a marriage or divorce. Even if the transition is something you’ve hoped and prayed for, you will undergo many changes that are out of your control.

Making daily meditation a practice that comes to you naturally is a way to make automatic deposits to your Resilience Account. Having a high amount in your Resilience Bank assures that you will have more resilience to stress when it inevitably occurs.

Your daily meditation practice can be accessible, easy, and rewarding.

Start you Meditation Journey Today with the 21 Day Meditation Challenge at Healing Arts

#2. Resilience to Stress Using Mindfulness

A formal meditation practice is an excellent and guaranteed to increase your resilience to stress. Mindfulness, either a formal meditation practice, or as an informal practice also increases your resilience to stress.

Mindfulness is a deceptively simple way to increase your resilience to stress at any time during your day. I am a full time physician, seeing patients in a hospital owned clinic daily. My days can be busy, often leaving very little time for me to pause and meditate. Practicing mindfulness during my day, such as setting an intention with my patients, creating healthy boundaries, and performing mindful hand washing help me increase my resilience to stress.

Curious about Mindfulness?

Start your Mindfulness Meditation Journey Here.

#3. Resilience to Stress Using Reiki

Reiki is a holistic healing modality that allows for energy to be channeled into the mind and body for healing. If you are new to Reiki, feel free to check out my primer on Reiki here.

Reiki treatments on a regular basis can help you stay rested, prevent disease, and stay healthy. Many people seek Reiki during times of illness and emotional distress. Reiki is healing at these times, but consider staying with Reiki even once you feel healed.

Practicing self Reiki is an easy way to receive Reiki at any time. If you already are a Reiki Healer, I have created a 9 Minute Guided Reiki Session that can be used to conduct short sessions with no need for a timer.

Conclusion

Investing in your Resilience Account with Meditation, Mindfulness, and Reiki is worth your time. Need some inspiration? Check out my program here!

5 Tips from an Integrative Pharmacist for Managing Prescriptions

5 Tips To Manage Medications Safely for Anyone Taking more than one prescription

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Integrative Pharmacist Dr. Nguyen.  Dr. Nguyen shared 5 tips (and more) for managing medications safely at home during her podcast interview with me. Anyone taking more than one prescription should be aware of potential interactions with multiple medications and food. In this article, we will 5 tips Dr. Nguyen frequently shares with her clients to manage medications safely.

Dr. Nguyen is a board certified geriatric pharmacist. In 2017, she founded Mimosa Health LLC. Her mission is to provide expert advice in the use of medications by older adults promoting healthy aging and educating seniors about polypharmacy as well as medication safety.  Integrative Pharmacy approaches patient care holistically. Pharmacist such as Dr. Nguyen train to approach the patient as whole, examining their diet, activity level, and overall health.
Currently, she is a consulting pharmacist for skilled nursing facilities and a fellow in training at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine.

Here is some of the information Dr. Nguyen shared during her interview with me:

What Type of Drug Interactions should a person be aware?

According to Dr. Nguyen, prescription medications can interact with many things other than other prescriptions.  According to Dr. Nguyen, these are the possible interactions that can affect how well a prescription is working:

  • Drug-Drug Interaction
  • Drug-Vitamin Interaction
  • Drug-Gene Interaction
  • Drug-Disease Interaction
  • Drug-Herb Interaction
  • Drug-Alcohol Interaction
  • Drug-Food Interaction

How Does an Integrative Pharmacist Approach Proton Pump Inhibitors?

Dr. Nguyen and I discussed a type of medication that is frequently prescribed for heartburn, ulcers, and esophageal disorders, Proton Pump Inhibitors.

Common Proton Pump Inhibitors

  • Omeprazole (Prilosec)
  • Omeprazole with Sodium Bicarbonate (Zegrid OTC)
  • Esomeprazole (Nexium)
  • Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
  • Pantoprazole (Protonix)
  • Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
  • Rabeprazole (AcipHex)

Proton Pump Inhibitors, also known as PPI’s are great for treating heartburn, ulcers, and esophagitis. They should not be taken long term as they can create other problems.

According to Dr. Nguyen “if you take a proton pump inhibitor for more than 12 weeks, you start losing vitamins such as magnesium, iron , calcium, and your bones will have issue. You will have nausea, vomiting, or you may have anemia.”

“If you take more than 12 weeks, you start losing vitamins such as magnesium, iron , calcium, and your bones will have issue. You will have nausea, vomiting, or you may have anemia.”

-Dr. Nguyen, Art of Healing Podcast, Season 3 episode 2

Can Food Interfere with Prescription Medications?

I asked Dr. Nguyen about common interactions between foods and medications. Sometimes you get a prescription and the pharmacist makes it clear to avoid certain foods, such as Coumadin and Leafy Greens. Dr. Nguyen shares with the listeners that other foods can interact with medications and have an impact on how effective the medication can be.

According to Dr. Nguyen, foods high in calcium or iron may weaken the effect of antibiotics. It may be a good idea to avoid consuming dairy when taking an antibiotic such as Amoxicillin.

How Does an Integrative Pharmacist Recommend Managing Multiple Medications?

People taking multiple medications often must make the choice of taking medications that interact. I asked Dr. Nguyen what is her advice for people that take multiple medications. She recommends first speaking to your pharmacist about which prescriptions interact, then getting your prescriptions organized. Many dangerous interactions can be avoided by simply not taking medications at the same time. She describes a common scenario which a patient is prescribed Fluconazole for a yeast infection and also takes simvastatin for high cholesterol. She recommends discussing with the pharmacist if simvastatin should be held while on fluconazole.

What is Deprescribing?

Starting a prescription medication is a big deal. Although millions of prescriptions are done daily, patients and doctors often take for granted the significance of starting a prescription medication. It is also significant to discontinue a medication. Many medications can not be stopped without a complete medical plan, medical supervision, and frequent exams. Deprescribing is developing a plan to lower a medication dose, or to slowly discontinue the medications.

It is very important to understand that you need to be working with your physician on deprescribing a medication. Many medications can be dangerous is stopped suddenly.

Listen to the Entire Episode-

Art of Healing Podcast Interview with Dr. Nguyen, Integrative Pharmacist

Managing Depression with Lifestyle and Reiki

We all have times in which we feel depressed.  Feeling down, disappointed, or hopeless is a part of life most of us must journey through.  If these symptoms persist for several weeks or months, treatment with therapy or medication may be needed in order to recover.

In this article, we’ll explore depression, as well as how it can be managed with your doctor, and steps you can take at home to feel better.

What is Depression

Clinical Major Depression is defined by the DSM 5th Edition 1 as the following:

Signs and Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder

  • Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness on most days
  • Loss of Interest or pleasure in activities
  • Significant weight gain or weight loss
  • Insomnia or Sleeping Excessively
  • Restlessly moving (agitation) or moving slowly
  • Fatigue nearly everyday
  • Decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions
  • Reoccurring thoughts of death, suicide; plans to act on suicidal thoughts

We all have times that we feel depressed. We may feel overwhelmed, sad, or we may be grieving a loss. These temporary feelings we may label is being depressed, but these are vastly different from the medical illness Major Depressive Disorder.

If you suspect you have depression, you must be evaluated by a medical professional.  You will likely have a physical exam, answer several questions about your mood, and possibly complete labs to make sure there is no medical issue causing depression.

LabAbnormality
Autoimmune PanelAutoimmune Disease can cause depression
Thyroid PanelThyroid Disease can mimic depression

What To Do if you have Major Depression

You should contact your physician right away if you complete the questions and your scores consistent with major depression. If you did not have a physician you should contact your insurance company to find who you can see.

Alternatively if you do not have insurance you can dial 211 from any phone in the United States to find what local resources are available to you.

If you are having thoughts of suicide you need to call 911, or call the national suicide hotline for immediate assistance. 

National Suicide Hotline

1-800-273-8255

Treating Major Depression

Major depression is a disorder that presents with primary psychological symptoms but does have physical symptoms. The biochemical changes that happen within the brain lead to several derangements in the body that can predispose you to other illnesses including increased risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, and cancer. This is why we treat major depression just as seriously as any other clinical disease.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with major depression by your physician or psychiatrist, there will be a discussion of medication. There are several types of medication and this is a very individual choice. For some people their symptoms may be mild enough that psychotherapy alone may be enough to treat the symptoms. however, because of the risk of major depression becoming a severe chronic disease it is often best to follow your clinician’s advice about treatment. discuss with your clinician what medications you’ll be on and what side effects to anticipate. It’s also important to know that it is not unusual to have to try different medications to get the optimal treatment period do not feel discouraged if the first medication you start is not right for you.

Lifestyle Management

What you’ve been diagnosed with depression is important to know that lifestyle choices can help in your recovery. Have a look at your diet and make sure to eliminate foods that cause excessive inflammation. These include:

  • Sugary Foods and Drinks
  • Overly processed foods
  • Excessive Caffeine
  • High Carbohydrate Foods
  • Alcohol

You do want to include foods that will boost the feel good hormones in your body and make starting your medications easier. I recommend including the following Foods:

  • Raw raw, organic greens such as kale, spinach, or any dark leafy greens
  • One one to two cups of green tea that you brew at home consume this in the morning
  • Severalseveral servings of organic vegetables throughout your day as well as organic fruits
  • Foods foods high in good fats such as organic nuts, wild caught fish, and small fatty fish like stockings and anchovies
  • Plenty plenty of water

Movement

Movement and exercise are always important in disease prevention and treatment. if you are suffering from major depressive disorder movement can help to improve your mood. I often advise my patients if you are not participating in any exercise please start with something gentle such as walking or restorative yoga. if you are engaging an exercise make sure to serving your body well. While you are suffering from depression you may not have enough energy to perform rigorous high impact exercise. You may do better stepping down to something less rigorous especially while you’re adjusting the medication.

Reiki and Energy Medicine

If you’re reading this blog you are probably interested in already engaging some sort of energy work. Reiki and energy Medicine compliment ongoing medical treatment for depression wonderfully. As a Reiki practitioner one of my favorite conditions to treat is major depressive disorder. I’ve discovered that the gentle, flowing energy of Reiki works best with someone who has depression recycling suffering from multiple assaults to their energy body. I found that my clients with major depression often sleep much better after Reiki session and feel a quick improvement in the physical symptoms of depression, particularly pain that may be associated with major depression.

If you do not already have a Reiki practitioner, you can easily perform some of your own energy Medicine until you find one. You can start with a simple meditation practice. Here is a meditation that I’ve created that’s brief and can help with any and wanted emotions.

Add  channeling meditation here

Reiki I technique

If you are a Reiki practitioner I recommend treating your root chakra daily for at least 21 days. Preferably I would like for you to do a full treatment on yourself daily but if time does not allow treating your root chakra for 3 to 5 minutes will help to boost your overall energy.

Reiki II technique

If you are a Reiki 2 practitioner and you’re feeling some depression you may want to apply some of your more advanced skills by sending distance Reiki to the past. Often major depressive disorder will center around past events. Working on yourself in the present will always help but if you are noticing that certain issues come back from the past you may want to invoke HSZSN and spend a few meditation sessions sending Reiki either to the event, to yourself in the past, or anything similar to help heal this emotional wound. If you are major depression centers around a medical illness if you’re able to pinpoint when it started it may help to send Reiki to that point in your life.

I’m happy I have this space to emphasize the importance of managing an illness that major depressive disorder holistically. The medications are important, and therapy is important. You’re going through depression taking steps to care for your mind body or equally as important. I hope this article is helpful for you or anyone you may know who is going through depression at this time .

References

  1. Tolentino, J. C., & Schmidt, S. L. (2018). DSM-5 Criteria and Depression Severity: Implications for Clinical Practice. Frontiers in psychiatry, 9, 450. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00450

3 Supplements to Help You Survive Spring Allergies

The recommendations in this post link to my Fullscripts Dispensary; See my disclaimer on informational vs medical advice information. I may receive reimbursement for any purchases made through the links in this post.

My Spring Allergy Protocol

Spring is my favorite time of the year.  I love the longer days, getting outside more, and watching nature bloom all around me.

Unfortunately, my nose does not agree.  Like so many people, my allergy symptoms in the spring have evolved, and I have become vulnerable to sneezing, congestion, sore throat, and even feeling tired.

 Allergic rhinitis is “the most common chronic disease in the United States, affect[ing]  between 10 and 30% of adults and up to 40% of children”¹.

The symptoms of allergic rhinitis start at Mast Cells

Mast Cells are an important part of the immune system that also play a role in allergies.  Mast Cells are equipped with receptors for antigens (a signal to the immune system that an invader is within the body).    Someone that has allergies produces antibodies  (IgE) which function to tag antigens as they enter the body.  An antigen tagged with IgE circulating in the bloodstream will land on a mast cell, causing the mast cell to launch its weapons (histamine, cytokines and other inflammatory  chemicals),  These chemicals will land in the nasal passage, sinuses, and lungs leading to allergy symptoms.

Allergies are an excellent reminder of keeping a healthy immune system.  Allergies such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and eczema remind us that the immune system can become overactive.

Fullscript gives my patients convenient, 24/7 access to top-quality supplements and features to help them stay on track with their wellness goals. It’s easy. I send a recommendation to their device, they purchase supplements, and Fullscript ships the products to their front doors. Fullscript also sends helpful educational content and refill reminders!

Sinol-M Allergy

Many of my patients attempt to treat nasal congestion with over-the-counter decongestants.  Unfortunately, overuse of these makes congestion much worse.  After the medication wears off, the tissues have a rebound swelling that only goes away with another dose of the nasal decongestant.  Rhinitis medicamentosa can be devastating and dangerous.

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Liposomal Vitamin C

Vitamin C is fantastic for supporting your immune system.  When your immune system is called into action, Vitamin C is used up very quickly.  Your immune system will require more Vitamin C during times of stress, infection, and allergies.

Liposomal Vitamin C is better absorbed, more available to your body when it needs it.

Check out my recommendations for Vitamin C here.

Calm

Did you know stress makes your allergies worse?  Did you know that allergies also can make mental illness worse?

According to researchers, suffering from asthma or hay fever may put you at an increased risk of developing a psychiatric disorder. The study reports over a 15 year period, 10.8% of people with allergies developed psychiatric disorders, compared to 6.7% of people without allergic diseases.

via Asthma and Hay Fever Linked to Increased Risk of Psychiatric Disorders — Neuroscience News Updates

I frequently recommend and take magnesium to relax the mind, the muscles, sleep better and improve digestion.  Calm is my favorite! It tastes fantastic and can be made as a cooling tonic or a warm, comforting bedtime concoction.

Check out my recommendations for high quality supplements today.

5 Facts to Know About Fatty Liver Disease

This blog post contains affiliate links. These are affiliates hand-picked by me as I feel that they are very helpful, and I may receive a small reimbursement if you purchase that help support my website. Please see my full website disclaimer here.

Fatty Liver, Common, Under-diagnosed, and a treatable disease.

Many of my patients come to my practice with advanced liver disease from fatty liver.   Many of them have no idea they have Non-Alcoholic Hepatosteatosis, also known as Fatty Liver Disease.  I spend a lot of time educating patients on what Fatty Liver is, and how to repair the damage.  

What is Fatty Liver?

Fatty liver disease is the name that is often applied for the condition called non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis. In this disease, normal liver tissue is replaced by fatty deposits. This is problematic because the liver loses its ability to perform important detoxing and metabolism.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a global prevalence of about 25%. Incidence is increasing with rising levels of obesity, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, and NAFLD is predicted to become the leading cause of cirrhosis requiring liver transplantation in the next decade (1).

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The liver has many important functions. It is an organ of detoxification and metabolism. Every chemical that enters the body must pass through the liver.  The liver is responsible for making substances less toxic, easier to excrete, or easier to absorb.

The liver also helps in energy maintenance. Every time you consume calories, some of those are stored in the liver in the form of glycogen, a form of sugar that is stored within the liver. Glycogen is released very slowly between meals to maintain blood sugar.

If too much sugar is available in the bloodstream, the liver is forced to store more sugar than needed.  In order to maximize space in the liver, glycogen is converted into fat in a process called gluconeogenesis.  

The fat stored in the liver causes damage by occupying usable space in the liver.  The fat is also inflammatory, causing damage to the liver.  The pathological progression of NAFLD follows a ‘three-hit’ process namely steatosis, lipotoxicity and inflammation. The presence of steatosis, oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators like TNF-α and IL-6 (2).

Who gets Fatty Liver Disease?

Fatty Liver Disease is common. Nearly 25% of the world’s population. People living with Diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol are at increased risk of developing Fatty Liver Disease.

Fatty Liver Disease often proceeds the development of diabetes. Many diabetics present with Fatty Liver Disease before starting treatment for diabetes.

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Is Liver Disease Fatal?

Death from Fatty Liver Disease is rare, but if the disease is not reversed, and can lead to permanent liver damage.

How is Fatty Liver Disease Diagnosed?

Fatty liver diseases diagnosed from blood work and imaging of the liver. Blood work can detect abnormal levels of ALT, AST, Alkaline Phosphatase, and Bilirubin.  It’s usually a good idea to check your kidney function, hemoglobin and platelets.

If you’d like to order your own labs through YourLabWork.com, please use my affiliate link! Using my link costs you nothing. You receive discounted labs in a safe, confidential and convenient way and a small percentage of your purchase goes to support my work here at Healing Arts Thank you!!

How Do I Heal Fatty Liver Disease?

Healing Fatty Liver Disease is very possible. It starts with healing your lifestyle. This means improving your nutrition, sleep, stress, reducing unhealthy habits and increasing healthy movement.

Healing Fatty Liver disease also heals Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Depression, and Fatigue.

A personalized, tailored plan would include addressing nearly every aspect of your life. While this seems like a lot of effort, it would be worthwhile to prevent severe disease.

Next Steps

Fatty Liver, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, autoimmune disease all in common: Inflammation.

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References
  1. Maurice, J., & Manousou, P. (2018). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Clinical medicine (London, England), 18(3), 245–250. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.18-3-245
  2. Cobbina, E., & Akhlaghi, F. (2017). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – pathogenesis, classification, and effect on drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Drug metabolism reviews, 49(2), 197–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/03602532.2017.1293683

4 Facts to Know about the Heart

4 facts to know about the heart, the smartest organ in your body.

I have always found the heart to be the most interesting organ in the body. I have the privilege of listening to the beating hearts of my patients every day as a part of the physical exam.

Each “lub-dub” I hear speaks volumes about a person’s health, mind, body and spirit.

In preparing for my upcoming book, The Heart of Being, I’ve been doing some research about the mystique, miracle and wonder of the human heart.

1. The Origin of the Heart Shape

Photo by Ashley Williams on Pexels.com

Do you know where the heart shape comes from? Before starting my research, I assumed the origin of the heart shape related to Valentine’s Day. The origin of the heart shape is not so obvious.

According to Art and Object , the heart shape may have been used as a decorative symbol in ancient societies as far back as the Indus Valley civilizations It was often in use in decorative jewelry, and the shape appears to derive from the heart shaped plants such as fig leaf, Ivy or water lily, These plants have heart-shaped leaves.

According to History, a theory concerning the origin of the heart comes from the silphium. This is a form of a giant fennel, that once grew in North Africa on the coastline near the Greek colony of Cyrene. The ancient Greeks and Romans use silphium as a food flavoring. Silphium worked as a medication to alleviate cough.

The silphium was most famous as a form of birth control. Ancient writers and poets scribed about silphium for its contraceptive powers. These plants power to work as a contraceptive lead to over-cultivation, and eventual extinction around the first century A.D. The seed pod of the silphium seems to resemble the traditional heart shape.

The heart shape’s origins are a mystery. Although this popular symbol is ubiquitous, its origins may been a cough suppressing plant that could function as birth control. Maybe the association with love is that as a contraceptive, sex could be enjoyed without fear of an unwanted pregnancy?

2. The Heart Develops on the 21st Day after Conception

The heart is the first organ to develop and function in the human embryo. The baby’s heart will start beating about 21 days after conception.

The healing art of Reiki honors 21 days is an important time after the first attunement. The new Reiki practitioner will perform Reiki on themselves for 21 days in a daily basis. During this time, the new Reiki student goes through a process of transformation and healing.

Just completed your Reiki Training? Download my 9Minute Reiki Session to help support your daily practice.

I find it interesting that 21 days seems to be a significant time of transformation in life, as in conception, as well as personal transformation.

3. The Heart is Intelligent

Did you know that your heart has its own nervous system? The heart actually has to have its own little brains.

These small brains are call nodes. There are two nodes, the Sinoatrial Node and the Atrioventricular Node. These are collections of nerves that communicate with the Vagus Nerve. Together, they determine how fast and how intensely the heart beats.

“Your heart is connected to your mind, your mind controls everything, control your mind to heal your heart.”

-Dr. Kathy Hays, Interventional Cardiologist

According to my dear friend, board certified cardiologist, Dr. Kathy Hays, “your heart is connected to your mind, your mind controls everything, control your mind to heal your heart.”

She tells me that she often longs to share with her patients the importance of calming their mind to ease their cardiac symptoms.  She shared with me recently that she is surprised at how much psychology she practices in cardiology. Over the years she’s frequently share with me how often patients come in with anxiety as the source of their palpitations.

Calm your mind now, pick up a copy of the 21-Day Meditation Journey today

4. 4 Chambers of the 4th Chakra

The Heart Chakra, also known as Anahata, is located in the chest. The Heart Chakra is the Chakra in a 7 Chakra system of Ayurveda.

The heart has 4 Chambers.

According to Numerology, the number four is typically associated with order with service.

The positive attributes of the number four include being highly organized and grounded, being dependable and reliable, trustworthy with attention to detail and manual dexterity, dexterity.

Positive attributes of “4”

  • Being Grounded
  • Being Dependable
  • Trustworthy

The negative attributes of the number four are limiting beliefs, being “boxed in”, stubbornness with tend to change being shaky or unstable, or unable to create a solid foundation to support goals and desires and being untidy.

Negative attributes of “4”

  • Being disorganized
  • Being Untidy
  • Stubbornness

When your Heart Chakra is open, it is easy to give and receive love. Compassion comes easily. You can easily love yourself and others.

A blocked heart chakra is often associated with many of the negative attributes of the number 4; being stubborn, closed off, and lacking of empathy for self and others.

Interested in Learning More about The Heart and Heart Chakra?

Heart of Being

Cultivating resilience, gratitude, inner peace, compassion and self nurturing through an intimate journey of the anatomical chest and Heart Chakra.

The upcoming book, “The Heart of Being” will take an intimate journey through the heart, lungs, thymus and chest to cultivate gratitude, resilience and overall well being. Sign up to stay in touch on the book release!

Reiki in Medicine

Reiki can be used in medicine. Reiki can, and should be offered along with traditional treatments.

Check out the video, Reiki in Medicine.

Check out the YouTube Video Here

Reiki for Fatigue

Reiki has been shown to improved Cancer Related Fatigue1

A small study performed at the University of Calgary with 16 patients sought to measure if Reiki treatments could improve Cancer Related Fatigue. The study showed high compliance of participants (inferring increasing interest in complementary care).  This study compared prescribed rest periods with Reiki sessions in patients being treated for cancer. The overall results show that repeated Reiki treatments helped to improve Cancer Related Fatigue.1

Reiki for Anxiety

“REIKI IMPROVED PAIN…ANXIETY BY 59.8%²“

Anxiety can be crippling. Anxiety attacks are a culmination of chronic stress that causes the autonomic nervous system to shift form a “rest and digest” mode to a “fight or flight” mode. When the autonomic nervous system maintains too much sympathetic tone, anxiety is one of the results.

Reiki creates immediate relaxation. During a Reiki session, but client and practitioner feel a sense calm as the Reiki energy is channeled. The setting is usually calm, allowing for surrender to an inner sense of peace.

Medical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment commonly cause anxiety. Most of my new patients are anxious to be at a new clinic meeting a new doctor. They are also nervous about possible diagnosis.

Reiki is an amazing way to alleviate anxiety. My Reiki clients find anxiety resolves quickly. I use Reiki for my own feelings of anxiety.

Reiki for Pain

  1. Tsang, K. L., Carlson, L. E., & Olson, K. (2007). Pilot crossover trial of Reiki versus rest for treating cancer-related fatigue. Integrative cancer therapies, 6(1), 25–35. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735406298986
  2. 2. Vergo, M. T., Pinkson, B. M., Broglio, K., Li, Z., & Tosteson, T. D. (2018). Immediate Symptom Relief After a First Session of Massage Therapy or Reiki in Hospitalized Patients: A 5-Year Clinical Experience from a Rural Academic Medical Center. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 24(8), 801–808. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2017.0409

The Labs to Know to Heal Inflammation and Decrease COVID Risk

The COVID Pandemic is not giving us a break. Despite massive vaccination efforts, the disease continues to spread due to genetic variation.

Beyond vaccination status, a strong, efficient immune system protects you from COVID and chronic disease. This requires a healthy metabolism.

Do you know what Diabetes, Hypertension, COPD, Coronary artery disease all have in common? At the root of all these disease is inflammation.

In my Internal Medicine Practice, I manage the most common diseases that decrease life expectancy. Many people don’t realize that these diseases (also known as Modifiable Factors), also correlate with Inflammatory Status.

Risks Factors for COVID

Risks of developing severe infection from COVID is known to relate to COVID. There are factors are considered non-modifiable (you can’t control these). Most of risk factors for becoming infected with COVID are controllable.

  • Age greater than 60
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Heart Disease (Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure for example)
  • Being a Current Smoker
  • Cancer1

Naturally, it’s not that you will cure any of these diseases. They are chronic, and took many years to develop. Helping your immune system means you want to know the status of each of these issues that are treatable.

If you have a diagnosis of one of these disease, here are some of the numbers you should ask your physician.

DiseaseNumber to Know
Diabetes MellitusA1C-90 Day Blood Sugar Average
COPDFEV1-Stage of Lung Damage Present, Oxygen Saturation
Heart DiseaseBlood Pressure, Pulse
CancerWhite Blood Cell Count
Numbers to Know for Chronic Diseases

Once you know these numbers, you will want to make a goal to improve them. Diabetics that have controlled blood sugars will overall do better than having high blood sugars.

Know Your Inflammatory Status

COVID does its damage to the body by causing a cascade of damages through acute inflammation. Our immune systems are designed to create inflammation in order to fight infection. We are learning that having a baseline inflammatory system increases a person’s risk of becoming critically ill with COVID.

Chronic Inflammation in the body can come from diseases, untreated metabolic issues, elevated cholesterol, autoimmune diseases, or cancer. Abnormalities in these labs means the body is struggling. Symptoms may or may not be present.

Inflammatory MarkerWhat it Means
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)Elevated levels means there is infection, damage or overall inflammation in the body.
C-RP (C Reactive Protein)General inflammatory marker that can be used to detect disease or monitor chronic illnes.
HDLLarge cholesterol particle that when it’s low can mean overall poor metabolic function and inflammation.
TriglyceridesElevated levels mean metabolic disturbance and inflammation
VLDLSmall, dense cholesterol that may elevated in chronic inflammation
FerritinMarker used to check for anemia, can be elevated in chronic inflammation.
WeightObesity has been shown to increase risk of death from COVID

These inflammatory markers can be easily checked in blood work. Many are part of typical panels that are drawn in yearly labs. Knowing and monitoring these numbers is a great way know if you are treating your body well. Inflammatory markers will respond positively when the underlying condition, such as diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol.

Know Your Nutritional Status

There is a temptation to feel that if your weight is normal, or if you are overweight that your nutritional status is good. Unfortunately, being overweight often increases your risk of being malnourished. Having low levels of needed nutrients in your body not only increases you chances of infection, but also of cancers and advanced aging.

Lab/MarkerRisks of Disease or illness
Vitamin DLow levels increase risk of contracting COVID, bone disease, and cancer.
Vitamin B12Low levels can damage nerves and brain health
PotassiumLow levels usually in a diet poor in fruits/vegetables; can worsen high blood pressure
BUN/CreatnineMarkers of kidney function. Even small elevations require a workup.
AST/ALTTest for liver function. Elevated levels may be marker of metabolic disease
Protein/AlbuminMarkers of protein levels, which help the body heal and recover.
MagnesiumElectrolyte that helps blood vessel function and can help in blood pressure control.

Healing Inflammation

Knowing your inflammatory status can help you feel better now, and prevent disease in the future.

If you’re ready to take a deep dive into Inflammation, including the labs to know, the signs to look for, sign up for updates:

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1.Zabetakis I, Lordan R, Norton C, Tsoupras A. COVID-19: The Inflammation Link and the Role of Nutrition in Potential Mitigation. Nutrients. 2020 May 19;12(5):1466. doi: 10.3390/nu12051466. PMID: 32438620; PMCID: PMC7284818.

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