16 Keys to Happiness: Simple Techniques to Begin Elevating Your Happiness Level Immediately

In prior blogs we’ve stressed the notion that happiness is an important condition for and component of wellness. This was noted within the context of many different studies pointing out an alarming decrease in the happiness factor in the U.S. at this time. In this article, we’ll explore one simple technique suggested by Dr. Joseph Mercola and which anyone can practice to begin elevating our personal happiness index immediately.

Of course, there are many reasons for why we may not be able to say we’re happy or well satisfied with our lives. These reasons can include physical factors affecting our physical, mental and emotional health and vitality. It is always best to seek the counsel of a more holistic-oriented healthcare practitioner who will look at all areas of your life with the goal of pinpointing any possible physical causes such as brain chemical/hormonal imbalance for profound unhappiness. Barring these, let’s look at what Dr. Mercola’s key concept for creating happiness.

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In his daily newsletter of August 9, Mercola reminds us that “only 1 in 3 Americans reports being ‘very happy,’ and nearly 1 in 4 experience no life enjoyment at all.” This sorry state has motivated a number of authors and researchers to find ways to combat what can be seen as a psychological dysfunction. Fortunately, there's hope.

As Mercola states,

“small changes in perspective and behavior can add up over time, and practicing gratitude is at the top of the list of strategies known to boost happiness and life satisfaction.”

That prospect is worth focusing on, particularly since it is not only a way to improve satisfaction in our lives but because, as proven by recent research, it also actually produces clear health benefits.

Mercola concludes:

“enhancing your health and well-being, then, may be as simple as taking the time each day to reflect on what you're thankful for.”

Here are the salient points from the Mercola article entitled, “Gratitude Makes You Healthier, Happier and More Popular.”

Enriching relationships are key to happiness.
When we appreciate our relationships it increases both our relationship experience and satisfaction. In turn, our sense of pleasure is boosted which reduces stress. Finally, the more we appreciate our relationships, the more we are able to meaningfully expand our social circle.
Gratitude for everyday things helps us to become better people. Just by feeling gratitude for the everyday little things in life, we become more patient and organically strength our willpower enabling us to make better decisions in every arena of our lives.

Gratitude is a form of generosity which is linked to happiness.
Whenever we give to another no matter how small the gift or gesture we get happier.
Gratitude has been shown to combat depression.

“Experiments have demonstrated that getting in the habit of listing three things you're grateful for each day results in considerable improvements in depression, sometimes in as little as two weeks.”

Gratitude has antidepressive effects, it helps regulate mood-regulating chemicals, reduces stress, improves work performance and enhances emotional resiliency.

Grateful people tend to pursue health enhancing activities and good self-care.
As a result of a consistent practice of appreciation, all sorts of physical benefits result such as better quality of sleep, improved cardiovascular health, reduced pain and inflammation, better mental and stronger immune function.

Dr. Mercola offers a number of methods for cultivating happiness and you may come up with your own unique ways. Some of Mercola’s suggestions include:

• Keeping a gratitude journal—

“Focus on the benevolence of other people. Doing so will increase your sense of being supported by life and decrease unnecessary anxiety. Also, focus on what you have received rather than what's been withheld.” —Robert Emmons, founding editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology

• Writing thank you notes—Show others your appreciation in writing often. This isn’t done very much these days so the impact you’ll make on the one you write to will probably be significant.
• Saying grace at mealtime—Foster your connection to the food and the earth that gives you life.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff—Most centenarians interviewed say that the key to their longevity and happiness is that they learned how to let things go. Always see the bigger picture. This will help you realize it’s not worth it to angst over most of what worries you and it will help you grow and evolve in a satisfying way.
• Follow your own counsel—If you’ve got a problem or are facing a dreaded issue, what advice would you give to someone else if they came to you with that same situation? You should probably follow it.
• Express yourself nonverbally—A soft and caring touch, a hug, a smile—all these will not only positively affect the receiver, they will affect you as well.
• Become more selfless—Give genuine ‘other-directed’ compliments often.

“Research shows that using ‘other-praising’ phrases are far more effective than ‘self-beneficial’ phrases. For example, praising a partner saying, ‘thank you for going out of your way to do this,’ is more powerful than a compliment framed in terms of how you benefited, such as ‘it makes me happy when you do that.’”

• Practice being in the now moment—Make prayers of appreciation or follow a mindfulness meditation practice to develop a habit of lingering in the now moment of safety and peace.
• Make a nightly ritual of appreciation—These can be any activity you create to reinforce your appreciation for everything in your life such as a gratitude jar where you add notes of gratitude on a daily basis.
• Put your money into experiences rather than things—

“… spending money on experiences not only generates more gratitude than material consumption. It also motivates greater generosity.”

• The key to happiness is learning to appreciate what we have, do and are in the moment.
• Running after more money does not necessarily bring happiness. Once we learn to appreciate what we have right now, we allow more abundance to come. When that increased abundance comes, we’re ready to receive and utilize it in a healthy way.
• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can help—Look into this simple meridian tapping technique that is proven to alleviate emotional stresses and restore inner balance and healing.

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Source
Mercola, Dr. Joseph. “Gratitude Makes You Healthier, Happier and More Popular.” Mercola.com, Mercola.com, 9 Aug. 2018, articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/08/09/gratitude-benefits.aspx?utm_source=dnl.

What Women Want: How Both Beauty and Wellness Objectives Empower Today's Woman

Each year, the Global Wellness Summit (GWS) identifies new trends they perceive will have a meaningful impact on the $3.7 trillion wellness industry. It is important to note that this is the only wellness forecast that draws on the insights of more than 600 executives who were delegates and presenters at the 2017 Global Wellness Summit. In addition, the GWS Forecast is the sole trends report based on the perspectives of renowned economists, medical and wellness professionals, academics, and leaders across all sectors of the wellness industry. Trend #8 for 2018 is “A New Feminist Wellness.” Here’s a brief summary of the ways in which GWS sees women impacting approaches to wellness and the greater industry in 2018 and beyond.

Less Me, More Us

A new wave of feminism–a new concept of self-care that involves political activism–is arising from a growing realization that governments and medicine aren’t hurrying to “solve” for women’s bodies and lives. As we move through 2018 and beyond, we will see powerful new intersections between women’s empowerment, feminism and wellness. The wellness world has long been quietly “solving for women” so it’s a natural outcome that today’s activist and wellness-oriented women will take hold of solving for their own bodies.

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Women Supporting Women

New women-only clubs, co-working spaces, and collectives are popping up designed for women to meet, network, support each other and each others’ businesses, learn and be politically active together and much of it served up in wellness environments. New York City's The Wing (pictured above) is a network of co-working and community spaces designed for women with the goal of creating new opportunities, ideas and conversations that will lead to greater mobility and prosperity for womankind.

FemTech

We are witnessing a whole crop of women doctors, technologists and designers who are identifying unaddressed issues surrounding women’s bodies and their lives. These fixes targeting women’s bodies and sexuality fall under an umbrella being called “FemTech.” FemTech may be about creating apps for easily accessible real-time fertility and hormone tracking for women, creating new approaches to menstruation like the diva cup or period panties. FemTech is also embracing women-designed and created “smart” bras and clothing that actually fits larger sizes. A new trend in fashion sports a more covered-up, loose, unstructured look for women’s business attire which acknowledges the actual size of real women’s bodies.

Solving for Women of Color and Revising #WellnessSoWhite

Women of color are a powerful customer base and they’re passionate about self-care. Specifically designed fitness and yoga classes and beauty brands rolling out cosmetic lines to suit dozens of skin tones are part of this new solving for women of color.

Women’s Empowerment Wellness Travel

Safe extreme adventure travel for the solo woman as well as more emotional healing retreats for women or retreats designed to help women get their sexual wellness back are catching on.

Painmoons is the new coined word describing how women’s wellness travel gets real about offering healing spaces for women to deal with their anger and sadness. Painmoon retreats acknowledge that women (like men) so often go through rough chapters at times when they need wellness the most. We are seeing more retreats focused on helping women get past emotions of hurt, sadness or low self-esteem and thinking you’re not beautiful enough.

Solving for HER Pleasure and Sexual Wellness

Sexual pleasure brands are currently and boldly aligning themselves with wellness while sex is quickly shedding its taboo.

The Power of Education and the Purse

“From 2013-2023, the global incomes of women will explode from $13 trillion to $18 trillion, and that $5 trillion increase represents more than twice the expected growth in GDP from both China and India. By 2028, women will control close to 75% of discretionary world spending.

In the UK it’s predicted that, by 2020, women’s pay will overtake men’s, and that they will own 60% of wealth by 2025, with a similar figure forecast for the U.S.”

Women are also massively gaining an education advantage.

“Women in the U.S. earned 42% more degrees than men in 2015  (to grow to 48% by 2022) while in Britain it’s predicted that a girl born in 2016 will be 75% more likely to attend university than a boy.

As women’s career success and spending power skyrockets, their spending on designed-for-them wellness will also soar."

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Source: McGroarty, Beth, et al. 2018 Global Wellness Trends Report. Global Wellness Summit, 2018, 2018 Global Wellness Trends Report, globalwellnesssummit.com.

Best Practices for Living In Harmony with Energetic Fall

In Chinese medicine, the Metal element is aligned with the energy of Autumn. In order to better understand this concept, visualize a majestic snow-capped mountain, itself composed of minerals of all kinds. Its base is wide and firmly rooted to the earth and at the same time it reaches upward with authority and might towards the heavens.

Keep in mind this metaphor of the mountain as you realize that Metal:

• gives us our sense of quality and value
• offers us an avenue for looking at the majesty that lies beyond ourselves
• extends to us the power to let go as it returns to us our essence
• represents a paternal energy.

Our inner attributes of the Metal element give us a sense of self-worth.

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Metal is meant to be the period of tranquility of our conduct.

Metal reflects back to us our core issues, the most refined aspect of ourselves. Even if we don't have a particular affinity for Metal, we are all called to deal with our core issues during Metal/Fall.

People with an affinity for Metal tend to to be drawn to beauty. They enjoy symmetry and find inspiration in purity. 

Metal qualities include fortitude, independence, focus, intensity, righteousness, fluency in speech, determination and power. 

Metal types inevitably learn the importance of becoming less opinionated, accepting change, and letting go of the past. Metal types tend to dwell on the past if they are unaware so they need to be attentive to the action of letting go.

In TCM, the emotion of grief is associated with Metal. The challenge is to express grief and then let it go otherwise it can fester into persistent negativity and abject sadness. 

There is often an acute awareness of time passing and growing old in the Fall. Know that this is part of the energy of the season. Just let those thoughts go without dwelling on them. 

In Fall, the Metal element is at its peak and particularly responsive to treatment. At this time of year, if we are out of Metal balance either physically, mentally or spiritually, the season's energies are very much supportive of bringing us back into Metal balance. The energies of the season can support the replenishing of depleted mineral stores in the body and/or bringing Metal back into balance mentally and spiritually. 

Metal governs human behaviors such as organization, order, communication, the mind, setting and protecting boundaries. 

Now is the time to explore the following for your best harmonious energetic Fall experience:

1. Engage in self-evaluation.
2. Be open to new experiences; let go of always only what is familiar.
3. Stand up for what is right.
4. Follow your heart.
5. Persevere through challenges.
6. Take action even if you’re fearful; embrace hope.
7. Consolidate and begin storing energy for the upcoming Winter months.
8. Take time to meditate.
9. Speak only when necessary; stop the small talk.
10. Exercise your will calmly and quietly.
11. Contain yourself and behave with a degree of restraint.
12. Gather your soul and spirit together; explore your core issues.

“There are three months of autumn,

they denote taking in and balance.

The qi of heaven becomes tense.

The qi of the earth becomes bright.

Go to rest early and rise early,

get up together with the chicken.

Let the mind be peaceful and tranquil,

so as to temper the punishment carried out in autumn.

Collect the spirit qi and cause the autumn qi to be balanced.

Do not direct your mind to the outside and

cause the lung qi to be clear.

This is correspondence with the qi of autumn and

it is the Way to nourish gathering.

Opposing it harms the lung…”

— from The Neijing Suwen

Editor's Note: This post was originally published September 20, 2017 and has been updated for freshness.

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

16 Ways to Prepare Physically, Mentally, and Emotionally For Energetic Fall Beginning August 7

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the Metal (金) energetic season begins August 7 and ends October 20. Here’s how to best prepare ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally for Fall in the days leading up to it.

As the wheel of the seasons turns to Fall, the days shorten, the earth cools, and the expanded energy of summer begins to consolidate. – Nishanga Bliss in Real Food All Year: Eating Seasonal Whole Foods for Optimal Health & All-Day Energy. 

• Metal energy is consolidating with an inward movement much like a flower closing its petals. Focus on being one with nature. It's okay to close your petals for awhile.
• Metal’s motion is determined, forceful, strong, unyielding, self-reliant, reserved and sophisticated. Utilize these attributes to your best advantage.
• Metal is associated with the lungs, respiratory system and is related to the nose. Consciously breathe in the heavenly chi (also known as prana).
• Metal is also associated with the large intestine, an organ of elimination. Through the lungs we not only regenerate ourselves from the prana in the air we breathe, we also eliminate carbonic gas produced by cell metabolism. Elimination and cleansing are both physical and psychological activities. They are the purposes of the Fall energetic season.
• Both courage and sadness are emotions associated with energetic Fall. Allow yourself to weep when you feel to but also find the courage to face what's ahead. 
• Metal represents the Westward direction (the direction of dreams and visions). In Taoist mythology, West is guarded by the White Tiger, known for righteousness, independence and determination. Make it a point to stand facing West and consciously honor the "Westness" of Autumn.
• This season's color is represented by white or blue. Light white candles to counter the growing darkness of the season.
• As we let go of Summer’s and Indian Summer’s growth and harvest, practice letting go in all things.
• As the new season comes close, allow its energies to assist you to release old resentments or hurts and begin anew.
• Sadness and discontentment can be prevalent in the Fall. If you are feeling sad or stuck, remember the Law of Impermanence. This too shall pass.
• As we approach cooler weather and a time for retreating, take the time and focus now to eliminate negative and destructive habits which could be uncomfortably intrusive during the Fall and Winter times of withdrawing and hibernation.
• Meditate or pray. Fall is the time of year when spiritual vision comes easier. Take advantage of these energies.
• Cleanse your body on the inside. Support your immune system by consuming more plant-based foods which align best with the human body (organic if at all possible) and less animal products.
• Help your body to rehydrate itself by drinking lots of pure water and eating high water content produce. As Winter approaches, the produce of the season is lower in water content so take advantage of the more watery produce now and into Fall.
• Breathe in and appreciate the new scents of nature and the season. Note the subtle or remarkable changes in the quality of the air we breathe.
• Now is optimum to complete unfinished projects. Prepare for the winter.

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Skin ‘Cliff’ Notes for Fall

Dryness is the ruling chi of the Fall/Metal energetic season. For skin, the Metal energetic season is the optimum time to address demineralization, surface dehydration, puffiness and congestion, and dull, lifeless skin. The PHYTO5 Metal energetic line has mineralizing and anti-inflammatory properties, increases circulatory energy, promotes oxygenation of skin, diminishes swelling and puffiness, and rehydrates and rejuvenates the skin.

Food ‘Cliff’ Notes for Fall

“Sour foods like lemon, plum, pear, and mango work to obstruct bodily functions, which makes them helpful in alleviating diarrhea, excessive perspiration, and hemorrhoids, among other conditions. Sour foods are most active in the liver, where they counteract the effects of rich, greasy food. Sour foods are related to the fall season. ”

— Rosa Ross and Suzanne LeVert in Chinese Healing Foods

“Your diet should be dictated by the rhythms of the external world. Food gains power to maintain health from its relationship to the external world...  Root vegetables such as burdock and turnips have downward-moving energy so give in to the natural desire to eat them in the fall.”

— Misha Ruth Cohen in The New Chinese Medicine Handbook: An Innovative Guide to Integrating Eastern Wisdom with Western Practice for Modern Healing.

For an excellent Fall season Qi Gong exercise to support your optimal lifestyle, check out the YouTube video below.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published July 29, 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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Photo by Lolame at Pixabay

Sources:

Bliss,Nishanga. Real Food All Year: Eating Seasonal Whole Foods for Optimal Health & All-Day Energy. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2012. Print.

Ross, Rosa and Suzanne LeVert. Chinese Healing Foods. New York: Pocket, 1998. Print.

Cohen, Misha Ruth. The New Chinese Medicine Handbook: An Innovative Guide to Integrating Eastern Wisdom with Western Practice for Modern Healing. Fair Winds Press, 2015. Print.

The Wellness Facial Is New and Trending But PHYTO5 Has Been Perfecting and Elevating Our Wellness Facials Steadily Since the Late 70s

The beauty industry has finally caught on to “Wellness Facials” and they’re now considered a beauty trend. It reinforces what PHYTO5 has been doing and talking about since the 70s. Good skincare practice should always provide a critical byproduct of not just a beauty glow but an enhanced level of wellness which is exactly what PHYTO5 is all about. PHYTO5 facials and scalp and body treatments become wellness treatments because PHYTO5 quantum energetic products are extraordinarily potent.

Our fundamental premise is that the body is not only vital matter but vital energy equally so. It’s an unimpeded flow of good vital energy (without blockages) that keeps matter vital, healthy and functional.

The subtle energy that Ayurveda calls “praña” and which traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) calls “chi” is the fundamental premise of all energy medicines and of PHYTO5 skin and hair care.

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Good vital energy is energy that enjoys a balance of its five major components which are known as the five elements or phases in TCM. These are named Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

These components must be in balance meaning that all work together synergistically with none of the five either dominating or being dominated by another. Such a vital energy balance is tricky since many factors can disrupt it.

Disruptive factors can be external ones such as climatic considerations, the energies of the seasons, the quality and the quantity of the food we eat.

Disruptive factors can be internal such as our psychological state. Indeed, our emotions are extremely important to our health and well-being. Positive emotions will sustain balanced vital energy whereas negative emotions are a factor of physical imbalance because they disturb the chi.

Because of its proprietary blends of premium grade natural essential oils first formulated in the 70s and steadily and constantly improved ever since, PHYTO5 energetic products have a proven record of successfully balancing vital energy. As a result, PHYTO5 professional treatments and regular home regimens with the energetic products maintain that essential balance of vital energy required to make us not only look but feel good as well.

But, actually, it even goes further. 

Since late 2017, a new formulation process created by our Swiss factory has boosted the vibrational frequency of the already energetic products to the quantum level. Since the higher vibrations provide greater potency, our now quantum energetic products enhance not only vital energy balance and bring balance to vexing skin conditions, they also balance our emotional state. This concept is explained by the well documented relationship between vital energy and emotions as part of the Five Element Theory of TCM.

We also know that wellness requires a balanced state of emotion with a healthy dose of happiness. Unfortunately, happiness is most often quickly chased away anytime we succumb to negative emotions for more than a passing moment. This should give all of us an extra reason to ensure that both our vital energy and our emotions are balanced which can actually be achieved in the same process that balances our skin condition when using PHYTO5 skincare or enjoying a PHYTO5 face or body treatment.

How Our Emotional Intelligence Affects Not Only How We Feel But How We Look

In 1996, I attended a business conference and was asked to participate on a Q & A panel. In one of my answers I mentioned I was encountering some significant pointers in a new book I was reading, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman, first published in late 1995. As soon as I uttered the name of the book I heard sneers of mockery or disbelief. How could those two contrary words belong together? In the time since 1996, the emotional quotient (EQ), coined by Goleman and in contrast to the traditional IQ, has been taking its place as a predictor of success in social and family relationships, in the management of people, and in teaching and learning (as stated by Goleman in his book). We have, as a culture, largely come to realize that our EQ often matters more than the intelligence quotient (IQ) for living enriching, fulfilled and healthy lives.

It requires a shift in focus to realize that, in fact, intelligence is not limited to rationality for indeed rationality and emotionality are dramatically different. But intelligence must not be limited to the intellect if we associate the intellect as the instrument of rationality.

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In the last twenty plus years, an enormous movement in collective consciousness has, at least for many, made sense of the notion of emotional intelligence to the extent that it is now. It has also been studied for some time in colleges and graduate business schools. After a few centuries since The Age of Reason when rational intelligence dominated our Western culture, it became more broadly recognized that skillsets other than IQ are necessary to successfully undertake a number of personal and professional activities. 

The five components of Goleman’s presentation are:

• Self-awareness of emotions
• Self-regulation of actions driven by emotions
• Motivation to achieve
• Receptivity to emotions of others
• Social skills/managing relationships

Emotional intelligence captures a higher view of the relationship between oneself and others. It is less egocentric and more inclusive of how others feel and react. It turns its back on coercion in favor of cooperation. In a word, it is more respectful and more civilized.

The clincher is that EQ is proven to be more effective. And for those reasons we need to pay attention to the idea and its approach. This is also true at least for those of us who have the objective to live in a way that enhances our state of well-being and promotes a sense of happiness.

PHYTO5 is a quintessential wellness skincare line. From its conceptualization in the 70s, in the method underlining the formulation of the products and in the method of their application, the notion of balancing vital energy was key. It was recognized by the founders of the method and products that balanced vital energy was a precondition to feeling and looking good.

That relationship between how we feel and how we look was so clear that the company’s slogan was: “Beauty is Health Made Visible!”

In 2017, the exclusive Swiss manufacturer of PHYTO5 skin and hair care pioneered a breakthrough process to elevate the vibrational frequency of the already energetic level of the products. Now the products were raised to the quantum level of frequencies. At such a high frequency level the products are able to not only balance vital energy with positive effects on the skin, they also have the potential to balance our emotions. As negative emotions are dissipated the natural surfacing of positive ones take place. What results is a renewed feeling of happiness which is an incredibly important component for wellness.

For additional info. on happiness and wellness, in general, and how PHYTO5 quantum energetic skincare has the potential to elevate both, we invite you to review the following blog posts:

A Theory of Happiness: We Probably Can't Be Totally Healthy and Well Without It

Energetic Swiss Skincare Pioneer Makes Yet Another Breakthrough: Swiss-Based PHYTO5 Creates the First Quantum Skincare Line

Do You Feel Truly Comfortable In Your Own Skin?

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Photo by Kyle Loftus on Unsplash

Sources:

Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ. Bloomsbury, 2010.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil: Amazing Remedy for Skin, Body and Emotions

Eucalyptus essential oil is a remarkably potent oil that is steam distilled from the tree’s leaves and twigs. With an aroma that’s clean, crisp and cleansing, it blends beautifully with lavender and rosemary (see Earth element Skin Toner). In addition to its rather cure-all physically therapeutic qualities as decongestant, antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal and analgesic, eucalyptus is very beneficial to help shift and uplift emotions and clear a confused mind for better concentration.

Eucalyptus is a fast growing evergreen Australasian tree that has been widely introduced all over the world. Because of the oil’s purifying, cleansing, clarifying, and immune-boosting properties, it is ideal for use in skincare and in aromatherapy. For this reason, eucalyptus essential oil is often used in PHYTO5’s Earth element line of skin and hair care. 

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Because of its its soothing, stimulating, and anti-bacterial properties, eucalyptus oil is a popular ingredient in balms, inhalers, massage oil blends, and dental hygiene products. It provides support for the respiratory system and soothes aches, pains and physical discomforts. Add analgesic anti-inflammatory eucalyptus essential oil to a warm bath to soothe stiff and sore muscles.

Eucalyptus essential oil will moisturize an itchy scalp and remove dandruff flakes. Enjoy eucalyptus essential oil synergistically blended with other essential oils and unique ingredients in PHYTO5’s Citrus–Cypress Shampoo. A natural insecticide, this oil has even been known to eliminate lice.

In addition to soothing irritated skin caused by wounds, cuts, burns, sores, stings and bites, it relieves pain while protecting skin lesions from infection and promoting quicker healing.

Eucalyptus essential oil “clears the air” both literally and figuratively. It can help you move emotional issues that are stuck or blocked as well as relieve headaches or mental exhaustion. The aroma boosts circulation to the brain and helps jumpstart the mind out of sluggishness so to speak. A rejuvenation of spirit often results.

• Place two to four drops (don’t overdo because it’s powerful) on a one-inch square piece of cotton cloth and sniff gently when you’ve become emotionally upset.
• Place a tiny bit of eucalyptus essential oil in a lit diffuser while meditating to help you get past a nagging issue, when you need some relief from mental overload, or when you want to make a positive change in your life.

This may help you ward off getting a cold as the 18-day period of Earth transitions to the next season, in the current case, Metal and Fall: place a very few drops of the oil on a small piece of cotton cloth and keep it under your pillow. This form of aromatherapy may help boost your immune system and keep you impervious to colds and flu.

If you already have a cold, cough, or sinus infection, diffusing four drops of the oil for 20 minutes three times a day can help bring you relief. This practice can help to clear nasal passages as well as eliminate harmful airborne bacteria.

Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash

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Sources:

Young, Kac. Healing Art of Essential Oils—A Guide to 50 Oils for Remedy, Ritual, and Everyday Use. Llewellyn Publications,U.S., 2017.

Kirkwood, John. The Way of the Five Seasons: Living with Five Elements for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Harmony. Singing Dragon, 2016.

8 Tips for Reaping the Fruits of Summer's Labor As We Begin Our Transition to Chinese Medicine's Energetic Fall

The next transition or "between seasons" period began on July 20 and lasts until August 6 when energetic Fall begins according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Just as it's wise to live in harmony with Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, let's not ignore the "between seasons" periods! One of the five between seasons periods for the year has just begun. 

“Why is it then that Earth is most specifically awarded the place between Fire and Metal? The qualities of nurturance, abundance, fullness and ripeness align it naturally to the time of harvest, that time of year when the energy is neither rising (Fire) nor falling (Metal), a period of balance and harmony. Earth finds its natural place in the seasons of nature’s maturing.” —John Kirkwood, The Way of the Five Seasons: Living with Five Elements for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Harmony

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We are an inherent part of nature. We are not separate from it. Logically speaking, living in harmony with nature will assist us to have physical bodies that are in harmony in all of its internal systems. We will eat in a certain way, exercise in a certain way, sleep and wake accordingly, give, love, contemplate, and nurture ourselves in alignment with the ways of TCM’s Earth season. Not only our physical bodies will benefit with health and vitality thereby preventing illness, our mental, emotional and spiritual aspects will be kept on balance and they will thrive as well. See also our blog post of July 15, 2016.

The element associated with this transition period is Earth, the color is yellow, and the organs are stomach and spleen.

Now is the time to think about harvesting what we have sown throughout the summer. It's simultaneously a time of "decrease" or slowing down and abundance. At this time, it’s helpful for us to incorporate the following insights into our everyday lives:

• Take a contemplative look at the fruits of our labor in a variety of arenas: in the relationships we enjoyed this summer, in our exuberance of life, and in the care of our hearts, both literally and figuratively.
• Start directing our focus to the nurturing of ourselves and in the ways that intuitively come to us.
• Intend to digest not only our food very well but our thoughts and emotions as well thereby enabling them to reach our minds and spirits.
• Begin winding down and gathering in all the energies we have created throughout the Summer.
• Direct our eye toward recognizing the bounty of the earth since harvest time will soon begin. We might look to see how we can be bountiful and generous in our lives with intentional giving to others.
• Contemplate the harvest aspect of our lives to see the areas that are bearing fruit and which are not and then to determine when energetic Fall arrives (beginning August 7) which ones can be let go or given focus.
• Decide on what is truly necessary in our lives and what is superfluous or a distraction and then take steps in alignment with these discoveries. This is important as we prepare to enter the Fall season where letting go is paramount.
• Observe and mirror nature at this time of year. The metaphor of the cycles of nature has much to teach us. Now is the time to begin contemplating how the seeds we plant (both physically and metaphorically) reap similar kinds of harvests. We can contemplate the seeds we have sown and realize that every harvest bears the seeds for the next one.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published July 16, 2017 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Photo by Brigitte Tohm at Unsplash

Source:

Kirkwood, John. The Way of the Five Seasons: Living with Five Elements for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Harmony. Singing Dragon, 2016.

There Are Really Five Seasons: Understanding the Rotation of the Seasons According to Chinese Medicine

The ancient Chinese saw how the cycles of the seasons profoundly impact everything from weather to plants and crops, animals and even human mental well-being. They surmised that to each season corresponds a specific energy that influences all life forms. They concluded that in addition to the cyclical movement of yin and yang, illustrated by the repetitive cycle of day-night, there must also be changing energies causing, and therefore related to, seasonal changes. The ancient Chinese subdivided yin and yang into five phases, also called elements which they named: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water.

But why five rather than four phases to correlate with the four seasons?

Since all these energies were seen by the Chinese as coming from the earth, they surmised that at the end of each season the energy goes back to the earth for its transformation before appearing as the energy of the next season.

This transition period necessarily repeated four times a year became known as the Earth season. 

A little arithmetic made it clear that each energetic season is approximately seventy-two days and that the Earth season occurs for approximately eighteen days four times a year (for a total 72 days out of 365).

The Earth element seasons or “between seasons” periods are:

• January 18 to February 4
• April 18 to May 5
• July 20 to August 6
• October 21 to November 7

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Get 10% Off Regularly Priced Earth Element Skin and Haircare Products When You Enter Promo Code EARTH at Online Checkout.

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PHYTO5’s Earth element skin and haircare products are formulated to help bring balance to what we call Earth imbalance.

An Earth type person whose skin is out of balance will manifest some or all of these: blemishes, toxicity, acne, psoriasis, enlarged pores.

Earth element products support balance by helping to detoxify, purify and normalize the skin using natural unique ingredients like: high grade essential oils of lemon, cypress, and eucalyptus. 

Lemon essential oil is an anti-inflammatory, anti-irritating and astringent that relaxes nervous energy while attenuating wrinkles. Lemon essential oil is best known for its ability to cleanse toxins from the body and purify the skin. It is widely used in lymph drainage treatments and to rejuvenate energy.

Recommended in treatments for conditions caused by poor circulation, anti-infectious cypress essential oil supports the body to remove excess water and salt that can lead to fluid retention. It also supports circulation. 

Eucalyptus essential oil is primarily used for its soothing and relaxing properties.

The synergistic proprietary blend of essential oils supports emotional balance when lightly inhaled. Earth types who are out of emotional balance will tend to worry, feel stuck and stagnant. They often have challenges saying “no” to others in favor of focusing on taking care of themselves.

“One of the imbalances of Earth types, however, tends to be lack of boundaries. It is evidenced in the volunteers who never say no and the friends who always offer a shoulder to cry on to the detriment of themselves. They have difficulty separating their lives from the lives of their friends or clients. They have forgotten how to take care of themselves. They have fallen into the groove of reacting to others rather than responding with awareness.” —PHYTO5’s blog post of October 24, 2016

Just one drop of Earth element Phyt’Ether serum lightly inhaled, for example, may enhance your innate but temporarily blocked sense of knowing and creativity. The aromatherapeutic fragrance of the Earth element product may help to open up abilities within you to begin new projects with clarity and focus.

“In balance Earth types are the people with the sunny disposition. They are very nurturing, caring and are wonderful friends. Earth types accept everyone into their world for they feel a kinship with all other human beings. When in balance, Earth types are very even, serene centers of gravity around which people love to gather. Tolerance is their guiding principle. They are able to feel empathy for another’s pain and can quite easily return to themselves without having taken on that pain. Balanced Earth types can do this because their boundaries are very well established within themselves. They give selflessly and are always available for their friends.” —PHYTO5’s blog post of October 24, 2016

If your skin is nicely in balance, now is the time for you to use Earth element products as well.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published April 14, 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

How to Live In Harmony with Summer for Maximum Enjoyment

“The three months of Summer are called the period of luxurious growth. Everything is in bloom and begins to bear fruit.

After a night of sleep people should get up early (in the morning). They should not weary during daytime and they should not allow their minds to become angry.

They should enable the best parts (of their body and spirit) to develop; they should enable their breath to communicate with the outside world; and they should act as though they loved everything outside.

All this is in harmony with the atmosphere of Summer and all this is the method for the protection of one’s development.”

— from the Neijing Suwen (The Yellow Emporer’s Classic of Internal Medicine)

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Summer Sales Bonanza! Go here for discounts on some of our most popular products.

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The time honored and proven Yellow Emperor’s Classic, an ancient Chinese medical text that has been treated as the fundamental doctrinal source for Chinese medicine for more than two millennia, tells us that we can continue to harmonize ourselves with Summer all season long and achieve the highest level of vitality possible for each one us in a number of ways. We should:

1. Go to bed most nights at a decent hour. 
2. Wake up with the sun early in the morning. Trade room darkening shades and draperies for sheer white curtains and let the sun wake you up naturally.
3. Forego taking a nap during the day. If we synchronize with the Summer sun’s rising and setting, we may not have a need for an afternoon nap.
4. Pause and breathe when anger bubbles to the surface. Let some space of time spent on focusing on taking some deep breaths help to dissipate the negative emotion we feel. Allow the events which we reacted to to become less and less important in our world. Visualize it fading away slowly into a mist.
5. Be physically active. Engage in the opportunities for outdoor activity, athleticism, sports, fun and pleasure that Summer so readily provides. Take in the healing nourishing rays of the sun, while maintaining proper sun protection. Emulate the activity of growth and blooming of Summer’s flora. Be like a radiant vibrant flower yourself.
6. Combine physical activity whether indoors or outdoors with spiritual practices like meditation or reciting any inspiring mantra or spiritual passage you’ve committed to memory over and over. Sing or chant a hymn, prayer or song that holds particular meaning for you while you’re taking a walk, riding your bike or watering your flowers.
7. Practice pranayama, the yogic practice of conscious breathing. Take this time to learn to slow down the breath to a maximum of six breaths per minute to achieve ultimate longevity and vitality. Be sure to do some of your breathing practice outdoors if at all possible. For more information on the six breaths a minute technique, visit our sister site’s blog at agelesslacure.com here.
8. Have fun and appreciate all the nature display that Summer brings. Appreciate the vibrant colors, lush greenery, the warm and brilliant sun, the cooling showers, the warm breezes and the sound of them blowing through the leaves and trees, and the sounds of other people having fun outdoors. Hopefully, you are one of them!

Photo by Sarah Diniz Outeiro at Unsplash

Methods for Non-Invasive Facelifting: Techniques, Products, Equipment

Acupuncture treatments are vital energy balancing modalities targeting acupuncture points and meridians of which, conveniently, there are many on the face. Acupuncture for facelifting and to reduce fine lines and lessen deeper wrinkles opens a world of possibilities not just for acupuncturists and doctor of oriental medicine but for estheticians as well. In addition to acupuncture and/or acupressure, estheticians and acupuncturists alike can use PHYTO5 quantum energetic skincare products which are conceived, designed and formulated according to principles of Chinese medicine and in particular the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

“The acupuncture facelift is not new, but it is quickly gaining popularity especially among millennials to aid in removing fine lines and reducing the appearance of deep wrinkles.”—Skin Inc. Magazine Daily Newsletter, 7/2/18

These treatments can be further and remarkably amplified when the skincare and Chinese medicine professional combine their service and PHYTO5 skincare with leading edge PHYTO5 proprietary equipment such as the Chromapuncteur (light machine) or the Biostimulateur (biostimulation device) for an added dimension for working on the points. 

(We invite skincare professionals to learn more about this exciting proprietary facelifting treatment by going here to our professional dedicated site.)

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Go here for a courtesy 10% discount promo code for regularly priced skin and haircare products even if you're an established customer.

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For decades, PHYTO5 professional protocols have used acupuncture points with great success. The PHYTO5 signature Chromalift treatment received a Prize for Innovation at the Paris Beauty Trade Show in 1998 and yet it is still very much a state-of–the-art treatment today.

The non-invasive, painless facelifting Chromalift requires PHYTO5 quantum energetic skincare products plus both the proprietary Biorhythmic-drainer and the Chromapuncteur mentioned above. In this leading edge treatment, we are able to balance the energy of fluids and perform both an “energetic drainage” and an “ascension of energy” to naturally accomplish the lifting action.

The Chromalift provides visible results after one treatment but it is intended and best utilized as a series of five (for more pronounced results) although an abbreviated series of 3 treatments is possible. We recommend to let one to two days elapse between treatments in order to allow the energetic activity unfold in the face before the next session.

The remarkable lifting effects obtained from a treatment series should be maintained on an on-going basis with a periodic booster treatment every three to four weeks, depending on skin condition and age.

The booster treatment is PHYTO5’s Water element facial of the Chromalift. It provides all the benefits of a first rate hydrating and toning facial plus the reenergizing lifting effect. 

The Chromalift non-invasive facelift series is a natural solution to a face in need of lifting at a certain point in time when more is required but when invasive modalities are purposely avoided.

The energetic products, with the enhanced action of the proprietary equipment are also powerful on any skin condition that stems from any one of the 5 elements out of balance. It is also an excellent way to stay balanced during the five energetic seasons and their effects on our body and skin. Such treatments are excellent preventive measures in general, and in particular for aging skin.

As soon as a condition appears, the alert customer should seek the advice of a trained PHYTO5  professional. Proper selection and application of home products is essential to achieve and retain improvements naturally. The Metal and Water element treatments and products offer quantum energetic anti-aging solutions on an ongoing basis.

“Cool Down” Eating in Harmony with Summer’s Heat

With Summer and its energies in full swing it’s easy to understand why the element of Fire is associated with the season according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With temperatures coming to a peak very soon, we look to sources for cooling our skin and bodies down. Aside from the obvious ice, air conditioning and fans, there are other ways to topically and internally cool down.

Foods have different warming and cooling properties. 

“The warming and cooling properties of a food have less to do with actual temperature, cooking temperature, spiciness or even individual ingredients—and more to do with the food’s balance and contrast among ingredients and the effect of these on the body when the food is ingested. TCM categorizes foods as cold, cooling, neutral, warming and hot.”—Yin-Yang Foods That Make You Feel Better, from bottomlineinc.com

In the Summer, we tend to naturally gravitate to cooling (yin) foods and nature ensures in such a timely way that we have all the local cooling organic fruits and vegetables in abundance. The higher quality of food we consume, the greater the outcome of our health, wellness and happiness.

“The quality of the raw materials is very important when you cook for health and happiness. High quality natural and organic foods are the ideal ingredients for daily use. They are the building blocks for a healthy and happy life.” —Aveline Kushi, author of Changing Seasons Macrobiotic Cookbook: Cooking in Harmony with Nature

When we eat in harmony with the season, we're going to feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. 

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Bonus Watermelon Cooler Recipe

• 2 cups watermelon flesh
• 1 cup young Thai coconut water (C2O canned brand in health food stores is good!)
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• raw blue agave to sweeten and to taste

Run a few seconds in a high speed blender with some ice and enjoy.

PLUS! Go here for a courtesy 10% discount promo code for regularly priced skin and haircare products even if you're an established customer.

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“… just as nature and our levels of activity change constantly, so should our food and methods of preparing it change in accordance with our needs… By being conscious of the changes in nature and in your body, you can adapt to them and realize the highest possible physical health and spirit.” —Michio Kushi, contributor to Changing Seasons Macrobiotic Cookbook: Cooking in Harmony with Nature

During Summer, we tend to intuitively know that stews and soups are more suited for our bodies in Fall and Winter. We find ourselves organically gravitating to crisp, fresh, live foods like salads and if we cook a meal, we’re more apt to prepare light sautés rather than fire food at high temperatures. We enjoy so much the high water content, sweeter and juicier produce of Summer that helps to cool our bodies down. 

In TCM Five Element Theory, each season and element has a color. As a general rule of thumb, choose the food of the season’s color to eat more in harmony with the season. Here’s a reference key:

• Summer/Fire: RED. Eat lots of red foods during Summer. May 6 to July 19  
• Between Seasons/Earth: YELLOW. Eat plenty of yellow foods during the four interseason periods of the year. January 18 to February 4; April 18 to May 5; July 20 to August 6; October 21 to November 7
• Fall/Metal: BLUE/WHITE. Eat a good amount of white foods during Fall. August 7 to October 20
• Winter/Water: PURPLE/BLACK. Eat an abundance of black or blue-black foods during Winter. November 8 to January 17
• Spring/Wood: GREEN. Eat bunches of green foods during Spring. February 5 to April 17
   

And now for a list of cooling foods for Summer courtesy of ChineseMedicineLiving.com. The foods listed which aren't red in color are cooling foods for Summer nevertheless:

• Apricot
• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Lemon
• Peach
• Cucumber
• Orange
• Asparagus
• Sprouts
• Bamboo
• Bok choy
• Broccoli
• Chinese cabbage
• Corn
• White mushroom
• Snow peas
• Spinach
• Summer squash
• Watercress
• Seaweed
• Mung means
• Cilantro
• Mint
• Dill
• Bitter gourd
• Mung beans
• Wax gourd
• Lotus root
• Lotus seed
• Job’s tears
• Bean sprouts
• Duck
• Fish

Editor's Note: This post was originally published May 8, 2017 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska at Unsplash

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Sources:

Kushi, Aveline, and Wendy Esko. Changing Seasons Macrobiotic Cookbook: Cooking in Harmony with Nature. Avery, 2003.

“Yin-Yang Foods That Make You Feel Better.” Bottom Line Inc, 22 Feb. 2017, https://bottomlineinc.com/health/wellness/yin-yang-foods-that-make-you-feel-better

15 Reasons Why Having Summer Sun and Fun Improves Your Vitality of Life

Every bright, fun-filled, cheery day of energetic Summer leaves very beneficial energies in its wake. When we take time to enjoy the warmth and light of the sun – with proper protection and in moderate amounts - whether directly or indirectly, we are taking advantage of the sun’s unique gifts.

• The sun is the largest source of cosmic that pours over the earth.
• It’s a primary driver of our weather.
• It boosts our body's vitamin D supply which is produced by the skin's response to ultraviolet radiation. It helps keep our bones healthy and supports our immune system.
• Both plants, animals and humans need the sun’s light to survive and grow. It works with our blood by cleansing it and encouraging better circulation.
• It kills bad bacteria and mold spores.
• It boosts serotonin in the brain to uplift our mood.

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For a limited time... during energetic Summer... Get 10% off all regularly priced skin and haircare products from the Fire quantum energetic line! Use promo code: FIRE.

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When we enjoy the sun’s many derivative gifts we feel better overall both physically and mentally. This can create a very positive momentum as feeling good attracts more of the same. The better we feel, the better we feel!

Summer is known for being the season of lively fun and social get-togethers. The fun we have during holidays, vacations, picnics and lazier Summer days and evenings spent outdoors or even indoors has its own set of health benefits.

Here are 15 spectacular benefits we can enjoy simply by having fun at any time of year, but especially during Summer:

1.     Pain can be relieved. The two “L’s” leisure and laughing can help alleviate pain. When we put ourselves in leisurely situations that allow our bodies to relax, we release blocked pent up energy that may be exacerbating pain. And as we know, laughing is like medicine. We can be feeling poorly one minute, but once we start laughing, after a few minutes, we often may notice, we don’t feel poorly any more.

2.     Brain function improves. As an example, the Swiss have reformed their educational system requiring children to study less and have more fun. It turns out that Swiss kids are now among the top performers in standardized testing. These students attend school fewer hours per week and they have more recess time. Swiss kids are proving that they learn better when they have more fun. Psychology Today shares in their article entitled, “The Neuroscience of Joyful Education,” that “brain research tells us that when the fun stops, learning often stops too.”

3.     Creativity surges. Sometimes we just need to get the cobwebs out of our heads by creating enjoyable diversions for ourselves. A walk in the park, a visit to the lake or beach or time spent just sitting in a lawn chair enjoying our natural setting can be enough to clear mental pathways of creativity.

4.     Mental and physical youth are fostered.

5.     Relationships are strengthened when we’re having fun with others. We build connections and solidify social bonds so necessary for rewarding lives, wellness and beauty.

6.     Emotional wounds may be healed. 

7.     Sleep patterns become more regulated as serotonin in the brain increases when we have fun in the sun.

8.     Our memory is enhanced. By balancing our lives with pleasant experiences, 

9.     Our body temperature becomes more balanced (again because of increased serotonin levels).

10.    Coping skills seem to be magically more available to us. Having fun helps us to strike a balance in life. When we achieve sensible balance in all or at least most arenas of our lives, things that used to bother us no longer do. We become more resilient. We respond instead of react.

11.    Our physical energy increases. Having fun causes us to use or hold our bodies differently and in a way that supports our flow of energy.

12.    Overall positive feelings and attitudes become the norm for us.

13.    We become more productive in our lives. Happy people experience tend to experience more abundance of all kinds.

14.    LOVE happens! When we’re having fun, our hearts open. 

15.    We become transformed at a cellular level. No thing or experience in the human being is isolated. We are holistic beings who experience within what we experience without.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published May 8, 2017 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Photo by Gianna Ciaramello at Unsplash

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Sources:

Willis, Judy. “Engaging the Whole Child: The Neuroscience of Joyful Education Brain Research Tells Us That When the Fun Stops, Learning Often Stops Too.” Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/4141/the-neuroscience-joyful-education-judy-willis-md.pdf

Lieberman, Isador H. “Vitamin D Can Reduce Back Pain.” Spine Universe, 2018, www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/back-pain/vitamin-d-can-reduce-back-pain.

Do We Remember the Spirit of July the Fourth? How Current Events Provoke Us to More Profoundly Value Our Nation's Beginnings

The 4th of July! A great day for outdoor celebrations, marching bands, barbecue, the beach… a welcome day off with friends and family. At the same time, how much thought goes into remembering what this holiday is about over and above the 13 colonies’ gaining of independence under the weight of the Crown of England leading eventually to the formation of our American Republic? These seminal events were the outcome of a collective state of mind of a handful of leaders representing those colonies and who have been referred to as the “Founding Fathers.” 

Their state of mind was anchored by strong convictions of the rightfulness of certain critical values. First and foremost was a sense of freedom and independence from the unfair and arbitrary treatment they suffered at the hands of the English government. But the new world had inspired many who were fleeing oppressive conditions and who had made a difficult trip across the Atlantic to enjoy a sense of freedom found and the potential to more fully enjoy the fruits of their labor.

That sense of freedom included the right to pursue happiness in whichever way they could that was both legal and possible and so much so that the Declaration of Independence stressed “the pursuit of happiness” as an inalienable right. 

Now why are we talking about all of this—and from our vantage point as a skincare company?

We consider that our unique skincare line based on the principles of vital energy is more than skincare. PHYTO5 quantum energetic products come with the very important added value and potential of balancing not only vital energy but the skin and emotions as well. This makes PHYTO5 an active modality of wellness.

Wellness is difficult to achieve without a reasonable level of happiness, therefore a national and a home environment that supports our pursuit of happiness is also an environment that supports our pursuit of wellness and vice-versa.

Media regularly reports about the escalation of physical and mental health crises. We are realizing alarming increases in suicides, opioid addiction and obesity. Our population increasingly suffers the effects of mental stress from a mounting number of sources. This mental stress pervades our lives as we unconsciously develop and suffer from a sense of separation as a result of immersing ourselves in technologies. Our relationships tend to be more with smartphones, tablets and computers than with people.

Given the documented drop of the “Happiness Index” in the U.S. (see our earlier blog posts on the topic: here, here and here), it is reasonable, if not necessary, to ask ourselves if things are on the right track in our government in terms of providing its citizens with what will contribute positively or negatively to our rightful pursuit of our happiness, wellness and vitality of life objective.

In this regard, it is clear that we need to make it known to politicians that their mission is more complex than crusading for a single issue. We must let them know that we are going to need more from them if they want our votes. We deserve this and must demand it!

This concludes our "In Pursuit of Happiness" blog post series. Here are the links to the other three posts:

• Why the U.S. Ranks 18th Among Nations According to the World Happiness Report, How We Lost Ground Over Time and How We Can Improve Our Current State of Insecurity; May 24, 2018
• Electoral Participation Goes Beyond Our Civic Duty—Learn How It Is Actually Part of Our Happiness–Wellness Strategy, June 4, 2018
• About Our Speaking Out, June 19, 2018

Photo by Patrick Brinksma at Unsplash

About Our Speaking Out

As a result of publishing two of our recent e-newsletters and blog posts, "Electoral Participation Goes Beyond Our Civic Duty: Learn How It Is Actually Part of Our Happiness–Wellness Strategy" and another with the opening line, “We hold these truths…” we received a number of reactions from “Unsubscribe” to “Great article!” so we thought we should tell you a little more about why we wrote these articles.

The roots of PHYTO5, both the method and the products, and going back to the 70s are the principles that led to the launching of our signature “energetic skincare,” namely, the skincare method based on the fact that the body is not only vital matter but vital energy as well. 

We fully espouse the idea that vital energy balance is critical to a healthy body and that beauty is health made visible—taking a broad view of health as physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

The principles of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda feed the thinking and the creativity behind the conceptualization of our method, protocols and Swiss-made product formulation.  

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Want a joyful life? Get your FREE white paper on Wei Chi and the Beauty of Emotions. Discover how to take your life to a higher level.

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We see energetic skincare well practiced as a modality of wellness along with many complementary lifestyle practices such as healthy eating, enjoyable and measured exercise, mindfulness and meditation, generous enriching relationships and more.

We have come to realize just how vital emotional balance is in health, beauty, and wellness. This has led us to express our concern about a number of studies that recently came to the surface and which address a very concerning trend in the U.S.—a reduction in the “happiness index” as compared to other countries coupled with evidence of increased levels of anxiety and stress for a large portion of the population.

Increasingly mindful that wellness without happiness is not achievable, any environment whether social, financial, or political that creates and maintains serious impediments to our “pursuit of happiness” is both bad for our health and, in fact, runs contrary to American ideals as expressed in the founding documents of our republic.

It is, therefore, both fair game and responsible to blow the horn to alert our readers how important it is to realize that our self-interests have a great deal in common. We can bring our shared fundamental individual survive-and-thrive instincts together as one so that we can actually do something proactive about an alarming growing trend that threatens to keep us from our fullest vitality of life potential and experience.

All of us, individually and collectively, make decisions that either encourage or discourage elected officials to do what will favor and support our pursuit of happiness and vitality of life. It stands to reason that our desire to do more than survive but thrive must broaden our views and choices when we perform our civic duty to vote.

We cannot be genuinely interested in our wellness and the wellness of our family and friends without considering the state of our environment, our air and water quality, and the sustainability of rich land to grow nutritious food free from harmful chemicals, to name a few. As evolved beings, we must recognize that these are equally as important as the safety of our country, our towns, and neighborhoods and it is why we find it so important at this time to speak out.

Photo by Tom Coe at Unsplash

Fire is the Element of Nature Associated with Summer According to Chinese Medicine: Understand These Tips to Enjoy Summer More

The Summer energetic season according to traditional Chinese medicine’s (TCM’s) Five Element Theory began May 6 and ends July 19. The element of the five that is assigned to Summer is Fire. Whenever we present imbalances in the skin such as redness, irritation, sensitivity, blotchy or allergic skin, excessive heat and perspiration, and couperose, this indicates that we have a Fire imbalance. These indications of imbalance also apply to emotions. For example, a depressive, unhappy emotional state is contrary to the emotion of the element Fire when in balance. TCM offers remedies for assisting us to get back in balance.

Summer obviously is the time of the sun, heat, growth, expansion, warmth, increased light, and abundance. All of these characteristics are very graphically demonstrated in the exuberant growth of flora during the energetic Summer. Nature always gives us clues. In fact, we can always look at how the weather affects plant growth to remind us that we as well can experience seasonal effects on our skin and emotional states during each of the five seasons when we are energetically out of balance.

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In Taoism. Fire is the most yang of the five elements, but let’s remember that in each of the five elements there is always a yin/yang balance. Consequently, even in the Summer, we can experience yin conditions in our skin and our emotional state. Taoist astrology refers to yang Fire energy with the color red and it refers to yin with purple.

Although we easily become aware of changes on our skin, we might be less mindful of our seasonal mood swings and of whether our outlook tends to be positive or negative during any given season. Since the emotion of Fire is joy, an energetically balanced individual should be in a positive and balanced joyful mood during the energetic Summer. Excessive exuberance is an emotion out of balance (excessively yang) just as a lack of joy also indicates a lack of balance (excessively yin).

Fire personality traits and emotions may include:

• love, both interpersonal and divine
• open-heartedness
• joie de vivre, joyfulness
• happiness
• generosity of spirit
• warmth
• playfulness
• flirtatiousness
• a compulsion to call attention to ourselves
• passion
• dynamism
• reason
• self-expression
• optimistic
• positive
• enthusiasm
• excitement
• vanity
• jealousy
• frustration

Symptoms of Fire imbalance can show up physically and emotionally as:

• excessive perspiration
• rashes, hives, hot skin eruptions
• sleep disturbances, insomnia
• palpitations, irregular heartbeat
• restless or explosive energy
• inappropriate laughter
• disaapointment as the logical outcome of an out-of-balance and immature approach to relationships

A balanced Fire type personality is one who expresses the Fire characteristics, both physical and psychological, on a year round basis. The Fire type often find success in life as a result of his or her predisposition to be warm-hearted and generous. They find experiences of love, compassion, fun, joy, and pleasure very healing while they may also find the sharing joy and laughter without the goal of a reward in mind very challenging.

However, like hot molten lava, uncontrolled or imbalanced Fire can be unpredictable and changeable, chaotic and challenging to contain. It’s active, combustible, energetic, animated, and powerful. It can burn and damage others.

In TCM, Fire’s body organs are the heart and small intestines. Therefore a sustained Fire imbalanced may predispose to heart problems such as heart attacks or may experience digestive problems in the small intestines.

Fire types are lovers and protectors of the heart. They tend to be driven to find love and intimacy sometimes at the expense of other important arenas of their lives. They can also be thrown off stable emotional course when experiencing traumatic events.

Other attributes of the Fire element include these:

• Color: red
• Taste: bitter
• Direction: South
• Voice quality: laughter
• Smell: scorched

            Symptoms of imbalance with Fire include:

• Expectation: true love
• Stress response: loss of joy
• Emotional perception: hurt

Editor's Note: This post was originally published May 8, 2017 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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Photo by Leonard von Bibra at Unsplash

Source:

Moss, M.D., Charles A. Power of the Five Elements: The Chinese Medicine Path to Healthy Aging and Stress Resistance. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 2010. Print.

12 Creative Ways to Feng Shui Your Summer Season and Enjoy Summer More

It's Summer and it's the time of year when we have more a tendency to enjoy the outdoors and social relationships with family and friends. These things we’ll do regardless of any knowledge we may or may not have of Chinese medicine’s advice to live in harmony with the seasons, but when we purposely choose to live in harmony with the seasons as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) teaches, celebrating Summer can take on a whole new meaning. In addition to backyard barbecues and nature park picnic get-togethers, we can elevate our total Summer experience by diving into what it really means to live in harmony with the season. We can begin with applying a few feng shui principles to our homes, properties or party sites. This article outlines a number of novel ideas to get Summer off to a great start.

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For a limited time, get 10% off Mild Facial Cleansing Milk and Purifying Cleansing Gel! Use promo code CLEANSE at checkout.

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In the Wu Xing (the Five Element Theory of Chinese Medicine), Summer is characterized by the element of Fire, the color red and the emotion of joy. It's a flowering, expansive, outgoing, social kind of season where relationships are enjoyed and nurtured. Taking this into account, we can devise creative strategies for enjoying the Summer even more. Here we go.

1. Brighten the path to your party or front door of your house with solar lights, torch lights or luminary bags.
2. Host a late night bonfire for friends or light up a portable metal fire pit. They’re easily and relatively inexpensively purchased in your local department store and will come in handy during Fall and Winter too.
3. Throw open your curtains, open your blinds, and allow the sunshine to cleanse your home of mold spores and bacteria. Let the sunshine draw its powerful cleansing energy into your home.
4. Light a lamp with a red lamp shade inside your home or burn red colored candles in the evening.
5. If your skin is red, irritated, sensitive, blotchy, allergic, excessively hot or couperose, use the Fire element line of skincare by PHYTO5. If your skin is perfectly in balance, now is the time for you to use this the Fire line, too.
6. Wear the color red in your clothing and jewelry. If you wear lipstick, now is the perfect time to sport your red lipstick. 
7. Enjoy the evening on your porch, patio or balcony with an oil lamp lit nearby.
8. Have picnics with traditional red and white checkered tablecloths, red plates and napkins, red beverages like strawberry lemonade or soda, organic vine-ripened red tomatoes in a fresh salad, and red grapes and watermelon.
9. Following point #8, focus more on eating fresh produce of the season that’s red in color: tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, red onions, radicchio, radishes, red bell peppers, and beets. They’re rich in vitamin C and antioxidants which stave off the signs of aging and make us feel overall brighter and healthier.
10. Be a kid again and stick some pinwheels (they resemble sunbursts) in your garden. The petals are sharp and pointy which is the symbolic shape for Summer. Choose pinwheels bright in color as in red, orange and yellow–the colors of the sun.
11. Grow some sunflowers and bring them into the home. Bring any colorful summertime fresh flowers into the home, for that matter. 
12. Keep things bright by day and intimately lit by night to very well celebrate the Fire element's blazing warmth, energy and joy!

Editor's Note: This post was originally published May 12, 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Photo by Daniil Kuselev at Unsplash

Electoral Participation Goes Beyond Our Civic Duty: Learn How It Is Actually Part of Our Happiness–Wellness Strategy

In our immediately preceding blog post, we focused on America’s recent drop in the happiness index as indicated in the United Nations sponsored World Happiness Report for 2018. This esteemed report ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels and 117 countries by the happiness of their immigrants. It studies the causes for ranking trends and makes important global conclusions such as the realization that wellness is not achievable without a “healthy level of happiness.”

In our previous blog post, we also had to recognize the political root factors that have lowered the happiness index for the U.S. The U.S. drop in ranking from 2017 to 2018 of four places–from 14th to 18th place in the world–is considered so important it begged an explanation which is suggested by one of the authors of the Report:

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“The U.S. is in the midst of a complex and worsening public health crisis involving epidemics of obesity, opioid addictions, and major depressive disorders that are all remarkable by global standards.” 

In the face of this depressing new trend in the U.S. and which is not likely to be resolved anytime soon both clients and professional skincare and wellness practitioners and technicians must develop a greater awareness of the issue and devise some mitigating solutions for their clients and patients.

The first level of awareness required is that our wellness goals are not subject simply to taking responsibility for our bodies and lifestyle and consciously choosing our wellness professionals.

There is also a third party that, unfortunately, plays a significant role. It is the government, both state and federal. They create an environment that is either constructive to our wellness objectives or in opposition to them. When their decisions oppose our wellness objectives, it makes it harder for us to achieve them. This is presently the case we find ourselves in.

The second level of our awareness should focus on the role each one of us can play in ensuring wellness for ourselves and others and to realize that the environment within which we live is significantly affected by the government we choose to elect. As we strive to make very conscious choices at election time, we must be mindful of the obstacles we face. In this regard, an analogy may be helpful.

One of the benefits of the high specialization of modern medicine is the extraordinary accomplishments we periodically hear of concerning amazing medical miracles, often in the surgical field. But the other side of the coin is that specialization of doctors, often for the purpose of getting to a position that yields a higher income, is also a very limiting trend whereby our medical community is so single-minded in their specialized outlook that they lose track of the whole being and can’t fully diagnose what is really going on in the patient’s holistic picture. That is in opposition to the die-hard holistic doctors, often of energy medicines or naturopathy, who strive to look at all the aspects of the patient in order to understand the root cause of their medical issues because they fully comprehend that everything occurring within a human being is interrelated.

The single focus of our politicians is reminiscent of the over-specialization of doctors. In fact, it is worse because the politicians get elected often on a single issue stemming from a simplistic slogan. They become so fixated on it alone that they no longer can negotiate and compromise for the benefit of the whole. They lose track of the broader picture. It is reminiscent of the proverbial hammer that sees all objects to be a nail.

Those of us more inclined to see a doctor with a holistic outlook who will take the time necessary for each patient rather than work within a seven minute time frame as is the current average will tend to bring the same mindset to the selection of government representatives. The only trouble is it requires an effort on our part. It used to be taught and referred to as our civic duty—to stay reasonably informed of the issues and the proposed solutions posed by various political candidates and then to express our choices for the good of the whole and not simply with only the short-term impact on our pocket book in mind.

And now we realize that electoral participation goes beyond our civic duty. It becomes a part of our strategy to attain a greater sense of our own wellness.

Renewed interest in energy medicines such as traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines is timely for many reasons. They provide an understanding of and tools to address all aspects of the patient including their emotional state which links wellness to happiness. Our 2017 blog post series on wei chi provides an explanation of the wellness–happiness link. (Enter wei chi in the search bar on this site to access all blog posts on the topic.)

In our next blog post, we will review the approach offered by Laboratoire Gibro of Switzerland, the exclusive manufacturer of PHYTO5 energetic skincare with its breakthrough formulation process that elevates the vibrational frequencies of the products to the quantum level where they demonstrate an enhanced potential to balance vital energy as well as emotions. Our quantum energetic skincare lines are designed to be a support to anyone desiring to live a happy, emotionally balanced life.

Photo by Jessica Podraza at Unsplash

Why the U.S. Ranks 18th Among Nations According to the World Happiness Report, How We Lost Ground Over Time and How We Can Improve Our Current State of Insecurity

“We hold these truths to be self-evident…” These famous words start the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson on behalf of the rest of the founding fathers. It goes on to declare certain unalienable rights such as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Under the influence of the enlightenment philosophers of his era, particularly from France and England, it was quite a progressive and prescient position to take on Jefferson’s part when he ranked the pursuit of happiness on the same footing as life and liberty. The United Nations sponsored World Happiness Report ranks the U.S. 18th among nations. Let's explore how this happened and what we can do to improve our standard of living.

Eleven years later, in 1787, the ratified Constitution of the United States is introduced by its first paragraph with the objective “to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” 

These two documents that most deeply define the very nature and core values of the United States of America highlight a fundamental vision for future governments to follow in providing critical elements for the safety and happiness of present and future generations of Americans. 

How close to that vision are we today? How faithful to these expectations have our past and present government officials been?

It is fair to say that at the time the founding fathers were trailblazers compared to the leaders of other countries, but today where does the U.S. stand in the world relative to these objectives and values?

The recent United Nations sponsored World Happiness Report gives us a basis from which to measure and compare. Their yearly report compares over 150 countries against six criteria: income, life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust, and generosity.

The U.S. has never made it into the top ten which is dominated by the Nordic European countries. In 2017, it ranked number 14. In 2018, it dropped to number 18. Dropping four places in one year is considered extreme. The drop is partly explained by one of the authors of the report as follows: 

“The U.S. is in the midst of a complex and worsening public health crisis involving epidemics of obesity, opioid addictions, and major depressive disorders that are all remarkable by global standards.” 

Of course, a public health crisis is a direct outcome of state and federal policies. They cover a wide spectrum of matters from agricultural policies, to the regulation of dangerous chemicals and practices affecting food, water and air, to the drug and health care industries.

The level of anxiety prevalent in the U.S. is exacerbated by widespread concern over lack of job security, low minimum pay practices, the possibility of personal bankruptcy resulting from having insufficient yet costly health care insurance and more.

The 2018 Trend Report from the Global Wellness Institute commented on this drastic development in the U.S. and noted that “there cannot be wellness without a healthy level of happiness!”

Over the last 20 years, the exploding spa and wellness industry at-large has created a demand for achieving an enhanced sense of wellness for its clients. The implication is that a committed patron of a qualified spa will achieve a reasonable level of wellness improvement. But now we learn that our individual wellness also depends on outside factors directly or indirectly related to the actions of our government.

Suddenly we are faced with a more complex problem: wellness solutions are not simply dependent on a relationship between client and spa professionals. It is not simply a matter of how much time and money the client is willing to invest in his or her wellness objectives. It goes beyond as we discover that the environment in which we live–physical, financial, social, and political–is always a part of the equation. 

But are these additional considerations really something new? Is it not that many of us have fallen into a state of oblivion forgetting the deep consequences our elected officials actually have on the quality of our lives? 

The founding fathers made a prescient statement when they expressed their vision. The first paragraph of the Constitution states its objective clearly: “to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” 

It’s appropriate for us to examine and ponder each part of the statement and evaluate how faithful we have been to this admonition:

1. Can there be “a more perfect union” when there is a systematic refusal on the part of the representatives of different ideologies to listen to each other and work toward compromises that achieve incremental progress?
2. Can there be “justice” when we have conscious and unconscious racial divide? And when “justice” often bends toward the super wealthy?
3. Can we enjoy “domestic tranquility” when we have such extreme issues such as those currently challenging us, from unchecked global warming to the consequences of extreme wealth concentration?
4. Do we need to spend such a large portion of our resources on “common defense” at the direct cost of underfunding our other objectives?
5. How should we “promote general welfare” when state and federal governments would rather provide tax breaks to high income earners rather than fully fund programs that fully constitute the very elements of general welfare such as education and health services?
6. How can we “secure the blessings of liberty” if our food is produced and distributed in a way that is detrimental to our health? If large corporations are allowed to deplete or poison our soil, our air, and our water? And if we replace farmland with still more strip malls or suburban housing developments?

Without jeopardizing the uniqueness of the American spirit of independence, why can’t we be willing to see that the “happiest” countries have managed to enjoy high income levels as well as provide the social services that make the individual pursuit of happiness easier than it currently is in the U.S.? Aren’t these countries offering lessons we might benefit from?

In this regard, we also point out that the six criteria used to make evaluations for the Happiness Index are not contrary to any of the elements of the vision outlined in the first paragraph of the U.S. Constitution. 

In short, isn’t it shocking to us that the ideals declared by our founding fathers have been achieved more easily by the Northern European and some of the Western European nations than by the Americans who, at least conceptually, had a clear head start over the rest of the world?

What is coming to our awareness is that our health and our happiness is not simply within our control even for the super wealthy. It cannot be separated from our political choices, and our choices cannot be made on simplistic slogans. Each one of us must understand the issues and the broad consequences of our choices before we cast our votes. Voting is not a passive activity. 

Our wellness and our happiness are interrelated. They require we make a greater effort than initially perceived. Just as wellness calls for responsibility concerning our bodies and lifestyle, we must also work at achieving a collective environment that more purposefully espouses the vision of the founding fathers.

Stay tuned for more on this topic in forthcoming blog posts.

Photo by Frank McKenna at Unsplash

The First Day of Summer In Chinese Medicine Is May 6: Here’s Why

While the Summer solstice on June 20 is widely regarded as the first day of Summer and the longest day of the year, it is not necessarily the best indicator of the first day of the Summer season. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Summer begins on May 6 and ends July 19.

TCM is a time-honored practice dating back to more than two centuries before the common era follows the principles set forth in the Wu Xing or the Five Element Theory. Many traditional Chinese fields use the Five Element Theory to help explain a wide array of phenomena from cosmic cycles to the interaction of internal organs and much more. 

The philosophy of the Five Elements are also known as the Five Phases, the Five Movements, and the Five Processes, among others. In the Wu Xing which is an extension of yin/yang theory we are given the dates for the four seasons plus the dates for four "between season" periods. The name Wu Xing is the shortened form of the complete term "Wǔ zhǒng liúxíng zhī qì” which can be translated as "the five types of chi which are dominant at different times.” 

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These five phases function metaphorically, providing images that ancient theorists used to organize their thinking about the physical world. The five phases describe a cycle that represents the inherent existence of change and reflects yin and yang movements in nature.

–Sandy Fritz, Mosby’s Essential Sciences for Therapeutic Massage

Traditional Chinese thinkers were fond of pondering the cyclical aspects of nature with the repetition of days, moons, seasons and years as they observed the effects of those cycles on all living organisms. Humans, like animals and plants, are affected by nature’s cycles so it is not surprising that the study of nature was the first basis in their understanding of vital energy. Knowing that there can be no effect without a cause, the predictable seasonal patterns pointed to the existence of a cause.

Unlike ancient Greeks and Egyptians who attributed cause to the whims of various gods, the Chinese simply saw chi (energy) as the mover of matter but not as a deity. They saw this energy being responsible for cyclical and predictable stages and changes. They evolved the more complex and subtle Law of the Five Elements which includes the energies symbolically named Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water and the multiple aspects of their interrelationship with each other.

The ancient Chinese saw how the cycles of the seasons profoundly impact everything from weather to plants and crops, animals and even human mental well-being. They surmised that to each season corresponds a specific energy that influences all life forms.

They concluded that in addition to the cyclical movement of yin and yang, there must also be changing energies causing, and therefore related to, seasonal changes. They subdivided yin and yang into five phases, also called elements that they named: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. 

In the Wu Xing, Summer begins May 7 and ends July 19. Shortly therafter and until August 6 is a "between seasons" period leading up to the Fall season.

According to the Wu Xing, the 72 day period of energetic Summer is a time of swelling and flowering full of energy and fire. The heart and the small intestine are the organs that require focus especially during energetic Summer so that their function may be balanced and in harmony with the season. The emotions of Summer are exuberance and joy.

Finding and feeling harmonious joy can be beneficial to the function of the heart.

When joy is not insistently accompanied by constant stimulus and sought as the only emotion to be had–which is to say, when it is spontaneous–it fortifies health. It distends and relaxes. It improves all the organs’ functioning and favors a smooth flow of blood, energy and fluids.

–Pablo Noriega, Bach Flower Essences and Chinese Medicine

It’s important to avoid prolonged exposure to strong sunlight especially on the head by wearing a hat or scarf. Avoid dehydration and avoid plenty of fluids during hot Summer weather which will help prevent imbalance. In Chinese medicine chrysanthemum tea is especially recommended at this time.

Hot or cold chrysanthemum tea cools and calms the nerves. It is especially beneficial for Water and Fire element people but suitable for all.

–Su-Mei Yu, The Elements of Life: A Contemporary Guide to Thai Recipes and Traditions

Editor's Note: This post was originally published May 10, 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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Sources:

Photo of Chrysanthemum Tea by Tim Chow at Unsplash.com

Sandy Fritz, Mosby’s Essential Sciences for Therapeutic Massage–Pageburst E-Book on Kno Retail Access Card Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, and Pathology. Mosby Inc, 2016.

Yu, Su-Mei. The Elements of Life: A Contemporary Guide to Thai Recipes and Traditions f. John Wiley & Sons, 2009.

Noriega, Pablo, and Loey Colebeck. Bach Flower Essences and Chinese Medicine. Healing Arts Press, 2016.