chinese medicine
Developing Your Herbal Intuition
Herbal medicine is becoming increasingly popular, and many people are increasingly turning to herbalism as a healthcare supplement, or even a substitute to conventional pharmaceutical medicine. Plants, flowers, and herbs all have unique energetic qualities that make them suitable for various purposes. They are alive and respond to their environment and how they are treated in the same way humans do.
When we think of herbs, we tend to narrowly categorize them according to the medical conditions they can be used for, or what aspect of our health and wellness they can improve. However, like people, herbs are much more complex and multi-faceted, and have many uses and applications, alone or in combination with other herbs.
To obtain the most benefit from any herb, we need to take the time and have patience to truly get to know the herb. When you meet someone for the first time at a social event, would you diminish the other person’s true worth by instantly deciding they have only one useful trait or redeeming quality, and leave it at that? Taking the time to get acquainted with a particular herb is much like getting to know someone in an intimate friendship.
Selecting herbs to work with or draw upon for healing is a highly intuitive process. The appearance, aroma, taste, texture, and energy vibration of the ideal herb for a specific purpose must speak to us mind, body, and soul. They convey a distinct energy signature and frequency of healing that the intuitively aware user will innately know is best to use at that time.
Simple Energy Work To Balance The Elements
The ancients believed that the Universe is composed of five elements, namely Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit (Ether). These classical elements are an important theme in Ancient Greek, Indian and Japanese philosophy, Hermeticism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Medieval Alchemy and Western Astrology.
The elements are therefore also a key aspect of various ancient healing practices and metaphysical traditions. Traditional Chinese Medicine in particular stresses the important role of the elements in healing. Working with the elements is believed to create and maintain energetic harmony and balance which is essential to good health and holistic well-being.
The classical elements are also a key component in Neo-Pagan, Wiccan and Druid teachings and practices. When casting a protective circle in a ritual, for example, the practitioner traditionally calls the four cardinal directions or ‘the four corners’ (North, East, South and West), along with the corresponding elements for each.
The five elements are essentially energies. Energy can be experienced in different ways, however, when the elements are aligned within us, we tend to be able to better handle imbalance and adversity in the outer world.
The energetic harmony of the elements within us can easily get ‘out of whack’ and become imbalanced or blocked due to everyday life events and circumstances, but with increased self-awareness and a few simple self-care habits, you’d be surprised how easily your natural state of energy balance will come back into alignment.
Sound Vibration Heals Our Brain Chemistry
Thoughts have metaphysical power. Words, speech, singing and sound also have power. Everything we say, sing and chant has vibrational sound frequencies that changes the chemistry of our brain and the physiology of our body.
A positive sound vibration changes the brain to a calm, compassionate, highly intuitive state. Think of a baby laughing and how it brings joy to everyone who hears it.
A negative sound vibration abruptly shocks and damages the nervous system. Think of someone scratching the chalk board or yelling racist epithets, and how both make you nervous and angry.
We can actually improve our health with positive vibrations in the form of mantras. A mantra is a set of words, with a positive meaning that also has a positive vibration. When repeated over and over, this vibration permeates every cell of the body, igniting, healing and repairing these cells. It moves through every muscle, bone and organ.
This process changes the entire energy field, aura, and expands it. Done with enough practice and an open heart and mind it can increase our light to the point where we can heal ourselves or help others to heal.
Have you ever walked into a silent room and felt that there had been a conflict between the people who have been there, before you arrived? That vibration, positive or negative, leaves an energetic residue and is absorbed by everyone entering into it, unless that person has increased their vibration to the point where they become psychically impervious to other’s negative energies.
Healing With Herbs
The past two years I have turned increasingly to herbs for natural healing. A good friend told me about herbs and how they help her family and I begin to do research. Soon I started taking herbs and have had excellent results.
Herbal medicine has gone from alternative to mainstream. The proper use of many common herbs (some of which can be easily grown at home) can help keep you healthy. Try herbal infusions in teas, lotions and soaps to see what works best for you.
You may not know the many uses for these common herbs and plant extracts, so I have compiled a list of those I often use in my personal life:
Ginger – known as the ‘universal medicine’ in Ayurvedic tradition for its many uses, including anti-nausea and motion sickness, digestive aid, and circulatory aid. It can be consumed in powder or fresh form.
Basil – has a spicy scent which can be used to revive faintness. It is also useful for an overactive thyroid, improving one’s concentration, and as an antioxidant packed with Vitamins A and C.
Curry – like ginger it is a popular herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Some of its uses include pain relief, ‘brain power’ to help ward off Alzheimer’s disease, and antioxidant. It also has been shown to improve skin tone.
Peppermint – thought to be the world’s oldest herbal remedy. It is used to combat nausea and vomiting, increase mental stimulation, and boost energy levels. It can also be used as a mild analgesic.
Parsley – in addition to being a popular food garnish it helps prevent gall bladder infections and kidney stones. It’s also loaded with antioxidant and deodorizing properties.
Clear And Ground Your Energy Before You Shield
Psychics, mediums and healers often mention the importance of shielding your energy. I have learned the hard way as an empath that it is equally important to clear and ground your energy and this should always be done first.
Shielding implies psychic defense. This is wonderful and necessary, but along with a strong shield one also needs good armor. My angels told me that for me to serve most effectively it was critical that my energy be clear, grounded and shielded daily. Early in my career as an empath, I made a practice of shielding at the beginning of every day. It worked very well initially. However, after a few weeks I noticed that in spite of this I was feeling drained at times, even slightly irritable and frustrated. Then I discovered the important of clearing and grounding.
Being shielded without first clearing any negative residual energy is akin to not showering or bathing, or letting garbage pile up in your home. Additionally, shielding without being grounded causes our energy and our purpose to be untethered, distracted and easily blown off course. Incorporating these practices allows for a much stronger shield for body, mind and spirit.
If you always clear and ground before you shield, your mind will be clearer, your emotions more balanced and your body stronger. You’ll find yourself better equipped to deal with chaos at work or at home. Decisions and appropriate courses of action will flow more easily. You will be in essence more effectively linked to your natural intuition and inner guidance, without confusion or uncertainty.
I clear my energy every evening. I am a huge advocate of massage, acupuncture and energy work, such as Reiki, but it isn’t practical for me to incorporate that on a daily basis. Meditation, prayer and the visualization of cutting cords, are fabulous tools available to us daily.
The Art And Science Of Cheirology
Cheirology is no longer a trendy healing modality in modern times, but it has so much to offer in terms of alternative healing and spiritual practice. It is an esoteric art and traditional healing science based on an ancient Chinese Buddhist hand analysis system in combination with Palmistry.
Cheirology is however not fortune-telling, because it is non-predictive. The principle of cheirology is that everything is energy, which cannot be destroyed and simply transforms itself. Thoughts and intentions are aspects of energetic relay, and the lines created in the hand through these thoughts and intentions can change as often as every three months.
Cheirology helps us to view our life from a higher perspective, and gives clarity on our individual personality, purpose and potential. The interpretation process takes into account the lines, ridges, fingers, patterns and segments of the hand, with each segment of the hand representing the elements of earth, wind, fire, water and ether.
Prior to the reading, a handprint is taken of both hands, just like giving fingerprints. The cheirologist I consulted said that much deeper levels of the client can be read by taking a print and analyzing it, as opposed to merely reading the palm in person.
When I had an in-depth cheirology session a few years ago, it revealed that in relation to my personality my nurturing manner and need for security is strong. I have a bow of intuition and the loop of nature, suggesting I should dedicate much time to animals or to the environment (no wonder I keep rescuing dogs and cats).
My ultra sensitivity shown in the reading, was a reminder of the importance of protecting my own energy field at all times, and the need for some quiet time to myself. In relation to my life purpose, the prominent healing stigmata highlighted the desire I’ve always had to give of myself and to be of service to others.
The Healing Power Of Herbs
Herbs have a potent healing power that can help us in every area of our life. For every dis-ease or ailment there is usually an herb specifically designed to cure it.
I was originally drawn to the study of herbalism years ago, in search of ways to improve my own health and well-being. After many years of my own research, I decided to take a course to become certified as a master clinical herbalist, which included studying the energetics of herbs and not just their medicinal uses.
There are thousands of herbs on the planet, however only around 600 are more widely used and generally recognized. Just like people, herbs have their own personalities and unique energies.
For example, a skinny person with dry skin and tendency towards lower body temperatures can be placed into a category of ‘cool-dry.’ They would be more susceptible to certain conditions both from the weather and climate they’re live in, as well as their core body temperature and mental-emotional state.
This type of individual might need some warming and lubricating herbs that will get their circulation going and energy flowing. Cardamom and Turmeric provide such warming qualities, while Licorice Root and Marshmallow are helpful to lubricate or provide moisture for someone who has very dry skin.
Herbal teas are one of my favorite methods for ingesting herbs for medicinal use. The other is tinctures.
For herbal teas, I have found maximum benefit by drawing the medicinal constituents out of the herb through herbal infusions and decoctions. Infusions are made from the flower or leaf of an herb, and typically involves boiling water and then turning off the burner, before adding your herbs into the water to steep for at least four hours. Personally, I like to leave them overnight in the water. For proportions, some herbal compendiums use ratios like 1:3, or parts, like one serving of herbs to three parts water.
