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The Essence of Metal

Carol Griesmeyer

This video came to me on my Facebook page the other day. It really spoke to me.

This is a time of loss and grief for everyone. We can’t not be affected by recent events.

The Metal Element which involves the Lungs and Large Intestine is about – living your values. Appreciating what you have, allowing grief to flow when there is loss. Grief must happen to keep us whole and in balance. But we cannot remain mired in it or remain a victim of circumstances. There is much learning in loss and the grief process. It can make us stronger. As we allow the tears to flow we breathe in deeply, become ‘inspired’, motivated to carry on. We re-ground, anchor ourselves and become steadfast in our values as the non-essential is released in the tears. Focus on breathing, slow and steady. Don’t be carried away by the enormity of the experience. Look inside and let yourself let go and reemerge whole and stronger.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34862437

Acupressure for fall and winter

Carol Griesmeyer

The body is covered with acupressure (acupuncture) points. If you aren’t putting a needle in a point it becomes an acupressure point. You can use the tip of your finger, your nail, a knuckle, the finger pad, your fist. Depending on the site and what you are trying to accomplish there are many ways to stimulate a point.

These points can be very helpful. A lot of them on are the Lung and Large Intestine channels and are useful at this time of colds and flus.

Lt hand dorsum with points

Large Intestine 4 – Hegu, Tiger’s Paw

Moves qi (energy) for anything.

Helps with headaches in the forehead area, frontal sinus
headaches. Connects the Lung and Large Intestine channels to
support qi movement

Half way between the knuckled of the index finger and the thumb.  On the fleshy side of the bone.

Lung 7 – Broken Sequence. A point just off the dominent line of the channel.

Helps the sinuses and Lungs. It opens to the nose and descends the
energy to assist breathing.  Helps with difficult breathing, asthma, sinus congestion
Helps cough, cough with phlegm, sinus congestion common with cold  symptoms

On the side of the wrist just above the bony prominence of the radius bone.

Scott with face points_edited-1

Large Intestine 20 – Welcome Fragrance

Opens the nasal passages.  Nasal congestions, with phlegm, polyps, sneezing

In the groove on the side of the nose by the wing (ala)

Yintang – an extra point
Often called the 3rd eye point
Helps to relax
Open the sinuses

In the area at the bridge of the nose and extending up about ½ inch.

Bladder 2
  Helps with sinus pain, frontal headache,   Blurred vision, tearing from irritation, colds, itchy eyes

Above the inner corner of the eye along the boney ridge at a small notch.

Tai yang – an extra point
One sided headache, dizziness
Toothache
Eye disorders – dimness, redness and swelling, pain

In the depression at the temple between the end of the eyebrow and the outer corner of the eye.

Stomach 8 – Head’s Binding
Benefits the eyes
Severe headaches with chills, fever, nausea and vomiting

On the corner of the forehead just into the hairline.

You can rub these points on anyone with these problems. Can be helpful with young children or other don’t want to or can’t medicate. Of course the best action is to go to an acupuncturist. Herbs will be of great assistance. And it is best to get their assistance in prevention also.

Eat to the Season

Carol Griesmeyer

Eat to the season

Here’s a recipe that fits the bill in the Fall.Mushroom linguini

The color of Fall relates to the Element to which it is connected – Metal – and this is white.  So I gathered up a bunch of white food which will make a great dish. This is the first of Fall recipes I will share.

You can do this all organic or very healthy. You can do it gluten-free or whatever. Get creative and see how great it tastes to eat in one color.

Of course you can add other colors. Chinese medicine is about balance and eye appeal of the food is important also.

Start with ½ lb pasta – gluten-free or use rice or rice threads or quinoa. This will be your base. Depending on what you choose you can eat it hot or room temp. Chinese medicine doesn’t like a lot of cold, especially in the fall and winter. You can make your quinoa or rice ahead of time and add the mushrooms, etc. later.

Now the other white stuff.       

½ lb chanterelles or white button mushrooms. I know chanterelles aren’t white but they do add some color and you may be able to hunt some yourself, which adds to the enjoyment of this dish.

1 leek – white part only – You can slice in rings or lengthwise. They will wilt down in the butter.

2 T butter

Salt and white pepper to taste. Many Italian cooks use white pepper when they do’t want to ‘dirty’ the pasta.

3 cloves garlic finely chopped

1/3 c white wine

Fresh herbs – don’t have to be white – to accent

In a large frying pan melt the butter. Add leeks and season with salt and pepper. Sauté over medium heat for about 4 minutes, or until the leeks begin to wilt then add the garlic. Cover the pan and sweat the mixture until the leeks are tender (about 5 minutes).

If using chanterelles try tearing them apart from the top into slender pieces.  Then, first dry sauté the chanterelles in a very lightly oiled pan to cook off moisture. Now add them to the leeks. Save this liquid from the mushrooms. Add back into the dish in the next step.

The button mushrooms can be left whole, chop off the stems or chop it all into smaller pieces and lightly sautéed also or added directly to the

leeks, etc. Add the mushrooms to the pan and stir in then add the white wine. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook gently, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. Cook your pasta and drain in a colander. Add to the frying pan along with any other herbs you choose and toss everything together.

Serve in a pasta bowl along with freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.

If you want it spicier you could add pepper flakes (yes, color) or more garlic.

The Organs of Autumn – part 2

Carol Griesmeyer

Well now we get to talk about the ‘Letting Go’ organ – Large Intestine. When we talk about letting go we are not only talking about removing waste from our physical bod

transparente organe mit markiertem dickdarmy but also the toxic stuff that has collected in our spirits and mind.

Not everyone is blessed with a happy-go-lucky childhood. There can be many ugly memories of abuse or abandonment. Maybe there wasn’t always a roof to sleep under or food on the table. Even having a teacher from hell is quite disturbing for a young person to deal with. How many times were you dumped by someone special or rejected before you even got off the ground.

These experiences all leave toxic waste in us and can immobilize us for years or our entire life.

Fortunately you have the Large Intestine to help you with this. It comes to our aide after the Lungs have taken in clear qi and moves the garbage out. Now we are on the road to healing.

This is a great time for you to take an internal inventory of all the things you have been carrying around in your head – I’m no good, he/she is no good, old resentments, jealousies. These are often long standing issues you just can’t let go of or they may be relatively new. What principles were you brought up with that no longer serve you?

This is a tough season and tough organ to deal with. We don’t want to go in the cave and look at all the bad things we’ve been hauling around forever. What happens if we actually get rid of it? Who are we then? Our personal story will change, excuses will be gone. You may grieve the loss of these ideas, traditions, patterns. However, if they are no longer healthy or useful it is wise to take them out our your backpack.

Be patient with yourself.  You don’t have to have a huge purge in one day. No one is very capable of surviving that kind of experience. Take it is small steps. Continue to review issues over and over. When you stop feeling the ‘hit’ in your guts as you review each one you have probably let go of it and can move on. Sometimes this takes years – but it took years for you to get here and you will keep going. Just don’t put a cork in it.

When qi gets stuck we experience pain and discomfort or dis-ease. Use the Lungs bringing clear qi with the breath to move the qi. Allow the process to do what is knows how to do. Our egos often throw everything out of balance and we are striving for balance. Nature always wants balance.

So… just let go of non-essentials and search for your deepest values.

The Organs of Fall – part 1

Carol Griesmeyer

No I’m not talking about the old pipe organ in the skating rink or the Wurlitzer you may have had in your living room.

In Chinese medicine we are connected in body, mind and spirit to everything. The season we are connected to right now is Fall or Autumn. You can feel the impact of the shortening days and the change in weather. The cold and damp start creeping into many areas (even our car doors start to creak) and we notice we are more susceptible to colds and flus. So while you may think that we are above this environmental stuff we are very much attached.transparente organe mit markiertem dickdarm

Each season or phase has two organs associated with it, one Yin, one Yang. The organs connected with this season are the Lungs and Large Intestine or Colon. Notice that the problems that nail us in this season – colds and flu – impact these organs.

The Lungs (Yin) sit at the top of our body and are connected to the outside through the nose and mouth. The viruses that attack us are taken into us through the nose and mouth. When a virus attacks, our nose, sinuses and lungs are impacted. The Lungs are also in charge of the Immune system. We say that the immune system or Wei Qi is between the skin and muscle. Ever notice how you often get achy when you get sick also?

When we get attacked by a virus we call it an “External pathogenic influence” – EPI.

This is the season to nourish our Immune system and Lungs if we weren’t doing it in the Summer season. Actually, how susceptible you are to colds and flus is an indication of how well you nourish yourself in general. If you have a history of colds and flu in the past there is a weakness that is underlying. This needs to be addressed all year, but the best time to do it is now, in its season.

So how do you do that.

Number one – get more sleep. We don’t know how to do that in this country. Whoever said we need to go, go, go, never stop was an not the norm in the energy department. Yes there are some with those genetics but it’s not common. Actually as fall and winter progress we should be sleeping more when the sun is down, ie go to bed earlier and get up later if we want to stay in rhythm with the earth and seasons. Of course this won’t go over at all with your boss in the morning but you should have some control over your evenings.

  1. Exercise is always good. Keeps you breathing deeply to expand your lungs and get the gunk out of the nooks and crannies. Need to keep the qi moving to stay healthy. Tai Qi and Qi Gong are excellent ways to exercise and focus on your breathing. They are very powerful and you can easily do most forms inside without special equipment. The Lungs are the organs of ‘inspiration’. They draw in the energy of the heavens and fill us with pure or clear qi. We want that. Of course what we are really breathing in anymore is up for grabs. Still breathing is important.
  1. When it starts getting colder, more wind, rain wear a scarf around your neck. We have points at the base of our skulls and the tops of our shoulders that are weak points for Wind / Cold invasion. Colds / flu are Wind/Cold or Wind/Heat invasions. If you have more chills than that would be Wind/Cold. If you have more fever – Wind/Heat. Wind/Cold can move into Wind/Heat if a few hours. It’s often hard to tell the difference. That’s one reason to see an acupuncturist.
  2. Develop an attitude of gratitude for everything that has come into your life. We even have a holiday set aside to do that. I would suggest, though, that you start and /or end every day with a gratitude meditation being that Thanksgiving seems to be getting short shrift with the capitalistic attitude around the holidays anymore. It’s a great way to put everything into perspective, remember what is valuable to you and celebrate that.
  3. Remember how I said the defensive or Wei Qi is between the skin and muscle? Our largest organ in our skin. Intact skin is a huge defense system. Keep yourself hydrated and your skin intact and you can keep a lot of stuff out of your body.
  4. Start moving away from the cold and raw food. They will chill you internally and are hard on the digestive system.

Stick with me and you’ll learn about how to eat for the seasons, which herbs help, emotions involved. There’s so much and I don’t want to overwhelm you.

For now, come back tomorrow and I’ll discuss the Large Intestine.

In celebration of Autumn

Carol Griesmeyer

“To everything there is a season….” We are deep into autumn now. In Chinese medicine this is the season of letting go.  Most of the brilliant leaves have fallen off the trees. Even in the Northwest things are starting to look a bit barren. What was a bright splash of their last glory is now naked tree limbs or plants withdrawing into the ground.

Just like the trees and plants letting go of their leaves and no longer needed parts and energy we must take a look at what we no longer need. What does not provide us with strength, helps up fulfill our purpose or drains us although we don’t want to accept that?

Each season or phase of life has an emotion. In the Fall the emotion is Grief. We may feel a sense of loss at this time of year. Think of how you may be more dowFall woods Camassia webn, depressed as the days grow shorter. We don’t want to stay inside, we want to be energized by the sun. We grieve the loss of daylight, activity and, perhaps, the moving away of people we enjoy and love.

In this season we are drawn towards introspection. Daily there is as onslaught of negativity directed at our bodies and minds.  This needs to be cleaned out – let go of the garbage. There’s more of it than you think. We live in a materialistic society, though you may try to not actively participate on a large scale. It still has influence over how you think and behave.

Now take time to look inside yourself. What would be best to release? How were you raised and what influences are there that you could let go of? Are you living your agenda or someone else’s agenda for you?

As you prepare to move deeper into your cave for the winter it is always wise to clean it out first. Explore all the ’things’ you have gathered this spring and summer. How much fun were they? Do you need to keep them? It has been fun having it around but does it really serve the same purpose? What is that purpose? Perhaps this is the time to let go in gratitude, and keep all the wonderful memories they bring. Let someone else experience the joy you felt having this item. Question it all.

If you are afraid you will offend someone by saying good-bye or spending less time with them understand that this is the season for less activity. More time for looking inward, being quieter. Talk with them and dive into what they value and discuss how it may not support you and your values any longer.

Metal is about value and purpose. Are you strong in yours? Take this time to celebrate what is great about you. Flaunt it a bit. Bring some light and bling into your life and these dark days. Remind  yourself of your uniqueness and be grateful for it. Accept praise and let it nourish you.

Fall is the time to strengthen your Metal. Bring in inspiration and let go of the unneeded.

Activities Fall woods 2 Camassia webto nourish your Metal:

Clean your desk, dining room table or a closet

Make a list of your strengths. Look at it and breathe in gratitude for what you can do and what you have accomplished. Let go of your self-sabotage.

Be grateful for all you have, what you have had and all you are.

Find time for quiet and meditate on all this.

Enjoy this season. Know that you are not alone in the challenges it brings. Keep your best assets – friends, treasures – near for support as you let go.

Spring’s up. GET OUT NOW!

Carol Griesmeyer

Spring into action and get moving 

Answer to call to MOVE and get out and explore. Increase your metabolism and lose some weight.  Dog tooth violet
There are so many places to get out and walk in the  Pacific Northwest.
We are blessed with a temperate climate all year, for the most part. And  remember it is possible to walk in the rain. I’m  not suggesting climbing a mountain in a howling gale  but being in under the forest canopy can be  very relaxing. The earth and  environment take on a whole new look and feel when raindrops cover  leaves and moss. Noise is subdued because you have the gentle patter of the rain on your jacketWild Iris  hood and the ground gives gently under your footsteps.
It causes you to get deeper inside and closer to the ground and reconnect to the cooler and calmer.
If you are in the Portland, Oregon area I strongly suggest you get moving and explore one of the  many great natural areas we have around the city.
One area near my house is Mt Talbert.Oregon Grape
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/parks/mount-talbert-nature-park
I love to get over there every few weeks and see what’s up. Last week I was there and was greeted  by a very lovely wild iris just a few hundred feet from the trail head at Mather Rd.
Farther along the trail up toward the summit you run into dog tooth violets and Oregon grape and  many other beauties.

I also highly recommend that you visit Tryon Creek  State Park.
http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkPage&parkId=103Trillium
The trilliums are in bloom. They are always a special  treat. The Trillium Festival is just past but there
is always more to see and learn about there. Please check them out. You don’t know you are so close to the city when you are out there.

Another very special place is Camassia Preserve in West Linn. The Nature Conservancy  of Oregon just had a guided walk through the area and it is peak for camas right now. Other  flowers are out in profusion and there will be a continuous shift from one species to another for a while.  It is amazing. We plan on visiting often.
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/oregon/placesweprotect/camassia-natural-area.xml

Camas 2