Tibetan Medicine Guidelines for a Healthy Spring

The Wood Element Expresses Internally & Externally

In Tibetan Medicine the spring season, known as Chyid Du དཔྱིད་དུས་, begins with the Tibetan Lunar New Year celebration of Losar ལོ་སར་. Specific constellations rise in the sky, plants begin to spring open, growing and spreading vigorously. One hears the sound of the Cho ga ཅོ་ག་ or lark singing, and this bird is emblematic of the season.

Spring is associated with the wood element, the liver and gallbladder organs, and the sense organ of the eyes. These are some of the key factors by which the seasonal qualities of the external environment match the characteristics of our internal terrain.

The springtime seasonal pulse expresses the exuberance and vitality of the wood element. It is said that during spring our pulse quality resembles the tight, rapid chirp of the lark.

Accumulated Stagnation of Winter “Melts” and Arises

Over the winter our bodies are more sedentary and our food is heavier. The weather is cold and damp. These seasonal factors accumulate excess stagnation of cold Earth & Water elements in our system, known as Pedkan Nyepa (བད་ཀན་ཉེས་པ་). When the weather warms up and we begin to be more active in the spring, this accumulation of cold Pedkan Earth & Water “melts” just like snow and ice. It then arises and is expressed in our bodies.

This presents as the flaring of many symptoms we often see in the spring. This time of year, our office is flooded with cases of congestion, lingering wet coughs, colds, respiratory infections, indigestion, joint pains, stiffness, and pain in the body. Many people feel stagnated, heavy, and lethargic, even as the weather grows warm and inviting.

Diet and Lifestyle Guidelines for a Healthy Spring!

Tibetan Medicine offers simple guidelines for maintaining our health this season. We must support the activation of the Wood Element and clear out the accumulated Pedkan Earth & Water.

Our diet should be light and mildly cleansing. This means using foods that are bitter, astringent, and spicy. These tastes have the nature of wind and fire elements. They are light and stimulating, to help purge accumulated heaviness. It is a great season for fresh herbs, young greens, citrus, honey, beans, and other legumes. As usual, it is a great time to sip on warm water several times per day.

The classical texts of Tibetan Medicine advise us to exercise vigorously this time of year. It is a good time to use the sauna and do frequent bathing. Tibetan Medicine specifically recommends scrubbing the skin with pea flour or other astringent, abrasive scrubs. The classical texts also advise us to spend time in shady gardens, enjoying fresh flowers and fragrances.

The Five Elements in Tibetan Medicine

Online | Sunday, April 14th, 9—12pm | Course fee: $65 | Register at: adam@ritualhealth.com

Tibetan Medicine is based on a system of Five Elements that comprise all phenomena in the universe. These Five Elements are alive within our human dimension, governing every aspect of our physiology in a cyclical, dynamic synergy.

How do the Five Elements work within our body, energy, and mind as human beings? How can we use this knowledge to empower our health and path of healing?

In this short course, we will discover the foundation theory of the Five Elements in Tibetan Medicine. We will explore their expression in the external world and within our internal dimension.

Join us to explore this theory for understanding health, healing, consciousness, and the universe according to traditional Tibetan Medicine!

Dr. Anne's Expanded Hours! Now in the Office for Acupuncture on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays...plus online for Chinese Astrology

Announcement: Extra Clinic Day with Dr. Anne - Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Anne will be offering an additional clinic day at our office, specifically dedicated to acupuncture and herbal medicine. Dr. Anne brings years of experience and expertise in these complementary therapies, fostering holistic healing for our patients. Starting next week, patients can book appointments with Dr. Anne for acupuncture sessions and herbal medicine consultations on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This expansion of services provides an more opportunities to feel amazing using a natural approach to heal and balance body and mind. Experience the transformative benefits of acupuncture and herbal medicine at our clinic with Dr. Anne's guidance in the Berkeley office at Walnut & Vine in the Gourmet Ghetto. Schedule your appointment today and sign up for the email list for infrequent announcements and helpful offerings!

Pulse and Chinese Astrology Mini Session

We’re at the Farmer’s Market this summer! Hope to see you there or in our office nearby!

Remembering Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche

I’m so grateful to have had Namkhai Norbu in my life. He touched many of us deeply. His worldwide offering of the Dzogchen teachings and preservation of Tibetan Medicine in its full integrity planted many seeds that we will watch root, grow, and flower. His teachings affect the way I work with each and every patient in my clinic.

My Tibetan Medicine teacher, Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo is the director of Norbu’s school, the Shang Shung Institute. I’m pleased that I’ll have her and all of her amazing graduates to continue to learn from and work with.

These traditions benefit everyone. I’m happy to be a part of it. In endless gratitude…

Workshop Announcement: Acupressure for Self-Care with Abrams Claghorn Gallery's show Healing Images: a Prescription for America

Anne Shelton Crute, LAc. is pleased to be teaching a workshop called "Acupressure for Self-Care" on February 8, 2018 from 6-8 at Abrams Claghorn Gallery. The space is right around the corner from the Pomona office in Albany, CA.

Abrams Claghorn is hosting events related to healing to complement their current exhibition, Healing Images: A Prescription for America, in which the art of Georgia Carbone is on display--art as medicine! 

We will be learning about acupressure points and techniques from Chinese Medicine that you can use at home for a healthier, happier life. We will touch on topics such as pain, digestion, psycho-emotional health, stamina, insomnia and even warding off the common cold.

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