Find Balance in Your Life by adding A Chinese Herb

Posted by Cathy on
Balance with Chinese Herbsby: Jennifer Dubowsky
Today I want to talk about balance, one of the most fundamental concepts in Eastern Philosophy and Chinese Medicine. Striving for balance is the search for harmony or equilibrium in our lives. This idea is often pictured as the Yin Yang symbol. There are many examples of yin and yang in our every day lives.  Your more active energy is considered Yang in nature and Yin is your calm energy. You feel best when Yin and Yang work together, for example, if you get good nights sleep (sleeping/nighttime is yin), you wake up refreshed and are able to have an active and fulfilling day (running around with kids/daytime is yang). This is an example of how the concept of yin and yang helps you to create balance in you life.
In my practice I often see parents, especially mothers, who are out of balance because they lack yin energy.This calming yin energy is depleted because so many parents, especially those who have children with special needs, are required to be always active and alert. So, if you have only a few moments to capture some calm,

Here are 5 quick ways (most take fewer than 5 minutes) to nourish your yin.

1. Place one hand on your lower abdomen and breathe deeply until you feel your stomach rise. Exhale slowly and repeat 10 times. When you are stressed, you breathe into your chest and that increases anxiety but these slow and deep breaths will help you regain your calm.

2. Eat a handful of Goji berries. They are great snack and they nourish your yin or try almonds before you go to bed. Almonds contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps induce sleep and relaxation.

3. Use lavender essential oil in your bedroom on your bed sheets, in your bath, or as a perfume.Lavender’s scent is relaxing.

4. Take 5 minutes of silence every day, away from children, spouse, TV, Blackberry, cell phone, everything. Silence is the balance to all life’s unavoidable stimulation.

5. Remember one thing for which you are grateful. Write it on a post-it note; carry it with you if you need too. Being grateful helps balance out the difficult periods.

Jennifer Dubowsky, a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in downtown Chicago, Illinois. You can find more about Jennifer at  Acupuncture Chicago.

This article is designed to provide the reader with clinical research results and the potential benefits and or risks associated with CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicines). The author advocates neither for or against any particular therapy and recommends individuals speak with licensed medical practitioners before using any Chinese herbal supplements or other health supplements.