Barb E Brown

Health, Happiness & Heart's Desire Coaching

Health: Body, Mind, Spirit

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"If the body is sick, the mind worries and the spirit grieves; if the mind is sick, the body and spirit will suffer from it's confusion; if the spirit is sick, there will be no will to care for the body or the mind."
J.R. Worsley

A happy life is a balanced life; body mind and spirt.

When one area of life is out of balance we feel it in the other areas of our lives. If we are not feeling well physically, we won't feel well emotionally. Emotional upset also creates physical discomfort and illness. Having some kind of spiritual practice balances out the entire system and provides a centering point to come to in times of crisis, chaos, illness or change. So, the path to happiness and living our heart's desire is a matter of maintaining physical, emotional and spiritual health.  I advocate a holistic path to achieve this goal. This begins a journey into these various areas of our lives and how to care for each area in a holistic way.

Passionate About Holistic Health

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I'm passionate about holistic health! Yoga, Acupuncture, massage, reflexology, nutrition, naturopathy, homeopathy, Chiropractic, meditation, mindfulness, essential oils, herbal remedies, Qigong, Reiki, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shamanism and more! I've used these techniques as a client and studied many of them as a practitioner. They work! I'd like to share some of my favorites with you in the coming weeks. I hope you learn something new to try out.

I discovered Holistic health in the mid 90’s when my body couldn’t tolerate the antidepressants the doctor prescribed for me. They made me sick. Really sick. Two trips to the emergency room in the middle of the night sick. I knew I had to find another way.

I had a friend who was a chiropractor and also offered many holistic health options including homeopathy. She helped me with the side affects of the medication and eventually helped me to slowly wean off of the antidepressants. She introduced me to the world of holistic health allowing me to heal from the inside out. That started a passionate journey of healing and discovery for me. Today I’m also passionate about sharing my journey with others who may need to hear my message of hope about natural healing options.

Health is a balanced life. Mind, body and spirit. When one of those areas is out of balance the other areas will respond in an attempt to balance the whole. So when looking at ways to be healthy, I look at physical health, emotional health and spiritual health and the many holistic ways to bring those areas into balance.

According to the American Holistic Health Association, holistic health “is actually an approach to life. Rather than focusing on illness or specific parts of the body, this ancient approach to health considers the whole person and how he or she interacts with his or her environment. It emphasizes the connection of mind, body, and spirit. The goal is to achieve maximum well-being, where everything is functioning the very best that is possible. With Holistic Health people accept responsibility for their own level of well-being, and everyday choices are used to take charge of one’s own health.” You can read the full article here https://ahha.org/selfhelp-articles/holistic-health/.

There are many simple and natural ways to bring balance to the body. The best place to start is with your breath. So often, especially in times of stress we hold our breath or literally forget to breath. A deep breath is restorative to the body and tells our primitive brain that everything is okay. Another simple way to bring balance to the body is to get good sleep and rest when you are tired. Drinking enough water each day also helps the body maintain balance as well as eating a balanced and healthy diet. In addition, moving the body on a regular basis is also vital to living well. These are easy things we can do each day to balance our bodies. There are also a variety of natural treatment options when you need support.

This the beginning of a series about holistic health and the variety of options there are to seek holistic support to reach optimum health and wellness. There is such a wide array of techniques to choose from including acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, Chinese medicine, chiropractic, massage, yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Pilates, Reiki, meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, guided imagery, essential oils, supplements, herbal remedies and much more. In the coming weeks I’ll explore the benefits of each of these techniques.

I look forward to sharing this information with you and if you have questions please send me a note.

Holistic Health Options

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Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an ancient approach to health care. The three disciplines of traditional Chinese medicine have evolved over thousands of years and are considered to be safe for most who wish to try them. TCM traces its mixture of herbal medicine, acupuncture and massage therapy back to the origins of Taoism and Confucianism.

Health is Wholeness and Balance

In TCM, health is an inner resiliency that allows you to meet the demands of life. Being in a state of health helps you thrive in the face of environmental, physical, emotional and mental stress.

Qi (Also spelled Chi and pronounced chee)

Einstein showed us that everything is made of, and radiates energy. This subtle form of energy supports, shapes and enlivens our physical body and activates our lives. TCM practitioners call this energy Qi. Other cultures have named this energy calling it “prana,” “baraka,” “spirit,” “vital force,” and many more.

Qi is the vital energy in all living things, from the tallest tree to the smallest cell.

Our health is influenced by the quality, quantity and balance of our Qi.

Qi provides the power to accomplish everyday activities and is necessary for growth, movement, body temperature, protection against illness and overall regulation of our body.

When Qi is balanced and flowing freely, the body’s natural self-healing abilities are activated, enabling internal stability and harmony to occur. The body will flourish and true health and well being can be achieved.

Meridians

Meridians are like rivers inside the body. Wherever a river flows, it carries water that provides nourishment and sustenance for life on our planet. Similarly, meridians are the rivers where Qi flows inside us. Qi flows through meridians as in invisible current, energizing, nourishing and supporting every cell, tissue, muscle, organ and gland.

The stresses of daily life

Different stresses affect meridians and organ systems in different ways, disrupting or blocking Qi flow. A blockage in the meridians will restrict the supply of Qi required to nourish and support the cells, tissues, muscles, organs and glands. This blockage can manifest into various signs and symptoms.

Over time, the body as a whole becomes weakened, unbalanced, and its self-healing abilities are compromised. Eventually, it becomes susceptible to pain, disease, stress, anxiety and poor health.

The goal of Traditional Chinese Medicine is to improve the flow of Qi in the body providing relief from stress, improve overall immune health, balance the body, and provide healing.

When looking at TCM as an alternative treatment option, you might consider:

  • Acupuncture
  • Acupressure
  • Chinese Herbal Medicine
  • Qigong
  • Tai Chi

Acupuncture

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Traditional Chinese Medicine Practices: Acupuncture

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Acupuncture

The practice of acupuncture involves placing needles into specific points on the body in order to insure the healthy flow of energy (Qi). It is an ancient practice (more than 5,000 years) recommended to treat disease, relieve pain and maintain overall health and wellness.

As stated in my last article about Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi is the vital energy in all living things, from the tallest tree to the smallest cell and our health is influenced by the quality, quantity and balance of our Qi. It is the energy of our lives, what motivates us, our life essence and affects our entire being.

Qi provides the power to accomplish everyday activities and is necessary for growth, movement, body temperature, protection against illness and overall regulation of our body.

When Qi is balanced and freely flowing, the body is naturally able to heal and maintain internal stability and harmony. The body is able to flourish and true health and well being  is achieved.

Acupuncture is based on the belief that our body, mind, and spirit are fully integrated aspects of our being. Body, mind and spirit must be balanced in order for us to be healthy. When the Qi flows freely we feel well, balanced and whole. When the Qi is not flowing freely we feel out of balance and start feeling symptoms of illness or disease.

The World Health Organization accepts acupuncture as a treatment for more than 100 health problems including migraines, back pain, PMS, hay fever, arthritis, high blood pressure and even the common cold. Studies have also shown that acupuncture is helpful in treating drug and alcohol addiction, depression, anxiety, stress and sleep issues.

  • Acupuncture is safe and effective
  • Acupuncture is natural and drug-free
  • Acupuncture helps to relieve symptoms and signs of many health problems.
  • The goal of Acupuncture is to activate the self-healing abilities of the body

I’ve received acupuncture for a variety of issues over the years and continue to see an acupuncturist on a regular basis to make sure my Qi is flowing. I'd love to hear from you about how you have benefited from Acupuncture.  

Holistic Health

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“Health is primarily a measure of each person’s ability to do and become what he wants to become.” Rene Dubos

Holistic healing is the view of a person as a “whole;” mind, body, spirit and using a variety of natural modalities to help find and maintain balance and health.  Holistic healing focuses on health, prevention of illness, maintaining life balance, and self care. Patient education and participation is key in the health and healing process.  Holistic healing may be a helpful path for you if you agree that being healthy means to be able to function well emotionally, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually so you can live life to the fullest.

Holistic health can be defined as the limitless and unblocked flow of life force energy (QI) through the body.  The concept is that each individual is an integrated system rather than separate parts such as physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.  Preventative care is viewed as most important rather than treatment of symptoms.  There is personal responsibility to living a healthy life; being educated about health & wellness, including proper nutrition, healthy exercise, mental relaxation and proper rest.

Many traditional, alternative, and complementary methods are used to maintain health or to find health after illness has incurred.  And, underlying causes of disease are explored rather than just treating symptoms.

When you look at health and healing from this perspective the spiritual aspect cannot be denied and therefore the process of staying healthy or healing can also be a spiritual journey for many.  And spiritual health is an important factor in finding a healthy life balance.

 

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