The Emotion of Energetic Winter

There is a basic emotion for each of the five elements and five energetic seasons of Chinese medicine. Now that we are in energetic Winter running from November 8 to January 17, let’s explore the emotion associated with it and how we can best use this quieter, more introspective time of year to bring any out-of-balance emotion back to balance.

The emotion associated with energetic Winter is fear and the element is Water. How interesting that water has the potential to be a raging frightful destructive torrent, flood or tidal wave. It has the power to literally tear things apart, to wear down rocks and to take life away.

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On the other hand, water is essential to life. It is used in feng shui as a calming element. Fountains and water walls bring the sound of gently trickling water to our senses to pacify and soothe us. When a person suddenly falls ill or becomes injured, if we can, we give the person a drink of water to nourish and heal her. When we want to relax and let go, we take a bath or a nice long shower.

Water has the potential to destroy and also to take us to a place we call zen. To be sure, it isn’t the only vehicle for achieving moments or periods of zen, but it provides us a most apropos metaphor for the discovery of the “zenitude” we all seek.

Zen is a method of rediscovering the experience of being alive… The aim of Zen is to bring about a transformation of consciousness, and to awaken us from the dream world of our endless thoughts so that we experience life as it is in the present moment. —Mark Watts, What Is Zen?

Zen is not a religion and is not centered on deity.

… Zen is a practice based entirely upon a certain kind of personal experience, and no complete idea of its truths can be given in words… it is a way of liberation that centers around the things that are basic to all mysticism: awakening to the unity or oneness of life, and the inward–as opposed to outward–existence of God… the word God can be misleading because … the idea of a deity in the Western religious sense is foreign to Zen. —Alan Watts, What Is Zen?

We have all had the experience of zen—those times when we lapse into the “zone” and everything just clicks without much effort at all. In those moments, we feel our innate mastery and both know and feel we can do no wrong. Everything just falls into place and we find ourselves in a place of ultimate serenity. 

Zen is responsible for the moments we witness when an Olympic ice skater skates flawlessly, when an artist paints a masterpiece effortlessly and beyond the reason of time, and when we sit before a sunset spellbound and motionless.

It can occur when we give absolute attention and concentration to the most mundane aspects of everyday life: sweeping, washing dishes, writing a book, or practicing yoga.

In zen, nothing is separate and it is that absolute attention and concentration on the mundane as well as the auspicious that takes us to the realization that all is one. We realize this oneness either consciously or unconsciously, we lapse into zen.

It is embracing and understanding that all is one—that you and I are one, that we are one with all that we don’t enjoy or prefer in this world, that we are one with the flora and fauna, that we are one with the seen and the unseen—that we have peace at last.

In zen, there is no problem in the world to solve and there is no enemy to conquer because we are all of it. Life is a flowing process in which the mind and consciousness are intertwined. They are inside each other.

… there is behind the multiplicity of events and creatures in this universe simply one energy–and it appears as you, and everything is it. The practice of Zen is to understand that one energy so as to ‘feel it in your bones.’ –Alan Watts, What Is Zen?

We can begin by simply being open to the idea of zen, by intending it in our lives. We may be amazed to find ourselves lapsing into zen moments in which we find a real reprieve from the chaos of the world.

Let PHYTO5 assist you in your quest for the serenity of zen. Gift yourself the gift of the some or all of Water element skincare line. The Phyt’Ether serum and body gel will stimulate your olfactory system located so close to and working in conjunction with the pituitary and pineal glands and amygdala in the brain (involved with the experiencing of emotions). If you are presently fearful and agitated you may well notice a shift to serenity in your emotional state.

Along the trail’s edge

beside a sparkling river

in the willow shade,

I lingered to take a nap—

lingered, and I’m still here. 

—A Japanese Zen Poem, translated by Sam Hamill

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Watts, Alan. What Is Zen? New World Library, 2000.

Hamill, Sam, and Jerome P. Seaton. The Poetry of Zen. Shambhala, 2007.

Photo by Martin Reisch on Unsplash 

Phyt'Éther Eau [Water Phyt'Ether serum • quantum energetic]

$78.00

An essential oil rich serum. All five element lines are quantum energetic with that potency very much concentrated in the Phyt’Ether serums.

• Super-hydrate mature very dry skin.

• Increase elasticity.

• Balance moisture retention.

Use during energetic Winter if skin is already relatively well in balance. Because the five-element lines are quantum energetic, the products in these lines also help balance emotion. The Water line balances the emotion of fear. Achieve a sense of zenitude. 1 oz.

Due to the presence of potent natural essential oils, all products have the following warning: “Not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women."

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Quantum Medicine: A Modern Evolution of Energy Medicines

The key concept behind the various forms of energy medicines is that the body is not simply matter but vital energy as well.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines ‘vital’ as:

1. indispensable to the continuance of life, and

2. full of energy.

It is vital energy that makes matter vital. Health requires a proper flow of vital energy. Blockages of vital energy flow cause not just physical discomforts but disease.

The key concept behind quantum medicine is that it is not cellular biochemical exchange that determines our state of health. It is actually the electromagnetic information that cells communicate with each other that has a direct bearing on our health.

This suggests two things:

1. Vital energy carries information.

2. The information is intelligent. 

This intelligence implies that a constituent part of our being knows. That knowledge is within the being. It can be understood as the knowledge of our Higher Self, the ultimate observer.

A disease is not simply a biological problem as generally seen by contemporary Western medicine but a lack or blockage in the information carried by the vital energy flow. 

Quantum medicine is informational in nature and calls upon the innate intelligence of that which directs and regulates our biological functions. That notion is reminiscent of the quantum physics thesis that the action of the observer in a quantum experiment will affect the outcome of the observation. There is an implied recognition that a non-material aspect, call it intention or consciousness, affects the outcome of both matter and energy.

Quantum medicine accepts and counts on a patient’s natural propensity for auto-regeneration. The restored flow of intelligent information promotes an energetic coherence that heals.

Albert Einstein's famous equation E=mc2 can be seen as a precursor to quantum medicine. It can be translated as “matter and energy are interchangeable,” and further that “matter is energy in motion.”

All things vibrate. Plants, animals, humans, rocks and rivers all vibrate. Our physical senses are not able to necessarily perceive the vibrational aspect of matter because of the speed of energy movement.

All matter is energy. Everything has a vibrational frequency which can be measured in hertz (Hz). These electromagnetic frequencies have been researched for over a century. As modern equipment continues to improve, the subtle energy of our vital energy can be measured more and more precisely with biofeedback equipment. 

Quantum medicine forces us to no longer see the body merely as a complex of organs and tissues each of which can be treated separately. Instead we can now view the body as a complex of constantly vibrating electromagnetic fields where trillions of biophoton particles of light circulate within our physical and energetic bodies to carry necessary information to maintain homeostasis (the ability of the body or a cell to seek and maintain a condition of equilibrium or stability).  

Quantum therapies use a variety of biodynamic frequencies (frequencies that promote our physiological functions) to reset the information flow. The process by which the vibrational correction is made is called bio-resonance.  

Quantum physics and the work of Albert Einstein concerning the nature and behavior of light focused on the subatomic realm, the level even more fundamental than the atom. There it was discovered that there are no smaller amounts of matter but rather there are small quantities of energy (quanta of energy) in constant vibration, thus we come to the conclusion that the building blocks of matter are energy in movement determined by specific frequencies. To each organ, each tissue, and each cell corresponds a specific energy (thus a specific frequency and electromagnetic field) just as each cellphone has its own number by which it can be identified and to which it can be connected.

The recognition that the building blocks of the vital matter of our body are small bundles of energy called quanta of energy has led to a new vision of the body, its illnesses, and energetic healing therapies.

That approach and its solutions have become what is called quantum medicine of which there are a variety of modalities. 

The findings of quantum physics influenced quantum medicine in a number of ways one of which is the acceptance of the effect of mind over matter. Practitioners of oriental martial arts and of yoga know that where their attention and intention go so does their energy. In like fashion, many quantum scientists believe that consciousness influences matter. This gives light to Deepak Chopra’s quote from his seminal book, “Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine:”

Quantum healing moves away from external, high-technology methods towards the deepest core of the mind-body system. This core is where healing begins. To go there and learn to promote the healing response, you must get past all the grosser levels of the body–cells, tissues, organs, and systems–and arrive at the junction point between mind and matter, the point where consciousness actually starts to have an effect.

Looking to the past: It is remarkable that so much of what is unfolding in the last few decades so completely justifies the precepts of ancestral energy medicines, particularly traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda of India. 

Caveat: Google searches on quantum medicine will suggest that it is pseudo–science, even quackery, but of course, we hear the same comments about chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, and reiki, for example, to this day. Science generally proceeds with new and disturbing empirical observations that can be proven only at a later date and which are generally slowly accepted. Many scientists continue to dispute quantum physics, yet without its findings, we would have no iPhones, smart televisons, or GPS in our cars.

Do You Feel Truly Comfortable In Your Own Skin?

It might be surprising but it’s a fact that most people tend to be less happy when they are young. In many cases, still too young to be able to realize that social norms we've been raised to live by are actually keeping us toiling in stress and duress, younger people can experience many obstacles to happiness.

For most people, it's only when they mature that they begin to realize none of that is either worth it or important. With maturity people seem to more easily "feel comfortable in their own skin."

Elena Holodny of Business Insider points to a very recent Nielsen study in which participants self-identified their levels of happiness:

“According to Nielsen, there is 'scientific evidence that people get happier as they get older. While there are differing theories as to why this is, most agree that it is an acceptance of aging that promotes contentedness. Logically, this acceptance is more apt to happen with older people.' In OECD* countries, more than half of 65+ cohort report to be in good health, which means that not only do the elderly have more free time, but they would be equipped to take advantage of it.”

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

With maturity we also learn that we have some control over our emotions and that whatever emotion we choose as the predominant one shapes our experience in many ways. It affects the quality of our relationships, and therefore our health, and resulting from our level of health and vitality–our appearance.

All negative experiences in our lives, including sickness and the physical decline we experience as we age, negatively affect our emotional state. Emotional negativity can result also from poor lifestyle habits. Emotional negativity has a propensity to feed on itself and left unattended will become a spoiler in our lives. A great deal of self-awareness and discipline are required to maintain emotional balance.

The good news is that simple and affordable solutions for addressing emotional negativity are available based on the potential to balance one's unseen vital energy, and beyond that, one's emotional state.

PHYTO5 quantum energetic skincare can help you balance your emotions. It can take you to that place where you can feel good with and within yourself.

A new and groundbreaking method of product formulation has raised the vibrational frequency of PHYTO5 energetic skincare products to reach the quantum zero-point within our being.

Deepak Chopra, M.D. in his book Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine, explains:

"Quantum healing moves away from external, high-technology methods towards the deepest core of the mind-body system. This core is where healing begins. To go there and learn to promote the healing response, you must get past all the grosser levels of the body–cells, tissues, organs, and systems–and arrive at the junction point between mind and matter, the point where consciousness actually starts to have an effect." –Deepak Chopra

PHYTO5 has discovered a way to access this level and impregnate each of its five element skincare lines with this high vibrational balancing property.

Premium-grade, uniquely blended natural essences raised to the quantum level and added to skincare products do more than work at skin level. Vital energy begins to flow throughout the body followed by emotional release and a profound sense of calm and well-being. These essences work to remove negative emotions and lift the positive ones to our awareness.

In the same way that all colors derive from three primary colors, in traditional Chinese medicine, all emotions derive from five basic emotions, each with a yang/positive and yin/negative aspect. This is why PHYTO5 brings to you five energetic skincare lines including Phyt'Ethers. 

PHYTO5's new Beauty of Emotions professional therapy delivers the full potential of PHYTO5 quantum skincare in a very specific protocol also utilizing PHYTO5 proprietary equipment and designed to easily and effortlessly bring the client to a state of elation and immense well-being in addition to heightened vitality of skin. And the effects are lasting when following a simple home regimen.

We recognize, however, that not everyone lives in the vicinity of a PHYTO5 professional trained in the Beauty of Emotions protocol. There is a way PHYTO5 customers can begin enjoying the benefit of the quantum products without experiencing the full Beauty of Emotions treatment. It is possible to achieve this sense of feeling comfortable in your skin, feeling better about who you are, even feeling a sense of elation and yes, feeling beautiful too! 

Start with one of our next generation quantum Phyt’Ether serums. You will start with the Phyt'Ether that corresponds to your current dominant emotion. Since most of us experience many different emotions at various times in our lives and even in the course of one day, by having all five Phyt'Ethers, you will be sure to always have the right serum on hand to balance your emotional state.

…

*Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Holodny, Elena. “This Chart Shows the Age When Most People Feel the Least Happy.” Business Insider, 16 May 2016, www.businessinsider.com/age-people-are-happiest-2016-5.

Chopra, Deepak, and Rudolph E. Tanzi. Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine. Bantam Books, 2015.

White Foods that Keep Us Healthy During Fall

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), color is a pointer that assists us to better live in harmony with the season. 

The color for energetic Fall is blue or white. When it comes to food during Fall, white foods are the ones that will help fortify our health during Autumn. The white foods mentioned in this blog entry are suggested as either complements to your diet or as seasonal replacements for certain fruits and vegetables. Chinese medicine is all about balance so keep this concept in mind during Fall food prep. Do not eat white foods to the exclusion of most others.

The organs of Fall in Chinese medicine are lung (yin) and large intestine (yang). Our skin is so closely associated with the element of the season, Metal, and particularly associated with the lungs that TCM refers to the skin as our third lung. Lung needs to be strong enough to keep the dryness-causing wind out during Fall.

White foods, also known as clear foods, are very beneficial for the skin and they help us to nourish the lungs at a time when our bodies need the energy the most. 

Pear is just about as efficient as apple in Autumn. Its nature is cold and nourishing, balancing the yang in our bodies and helping to prevent dryness and coughing. Its properties are particularly activated when adding white flesh pear to warm soups.

White or snow fungus is one of the most popular fungi in the cuisine and medicine of China and is very nourishing to the skin. It can also help reduce lung damage caused by smoking. It has a refreshing taste and is best used in sweet soups along with pear mentioned above.

Some flower bulbs can be eaten and are enormously nutritious. The lily bulb is one of them. These bulbs can be gathered in Autumn, cleaned and sun-dried. The lily bulb’s nature is moist and it helps to pacify emotional anxiety and uneasiness as we transition from one season to the next. Consume sun-dried lily bulb with white fungus and honey or sautéed with garlic and celery.

Lotus seed has strong properties for healing colds and reducing fevers. Use less than a handful of lotus seeds (purchased in Chinese grocery stores and pharmacies) and make a warm, sweet soup with the above-mentioned ingredients (pear, white fungus and lily bulbs). Cook all together with some crystallized cane sugar (not common refined sugar) on low heat.

The water chestnut is very good for clearing the lungs and again, very beneficial for people who smoke. 

White beans are very detoxifying and rich in minerals. They also contain a little known trace mineral, molybdenum responsible for manufacturing a number of detoxifying enzymes. They fight against the storage of energy as body fat and their high antioxidant content provides anti-aging properties.

Abounding in vitamin C, lotus root helps to maintain the integrity of blood vessels, organs and skin. (Vitamin C is both antioxidant and an important component of collagen.) Lotus root can be steamed, stewed or fried.

To treat dryness that comes with Autumn, here is a more exhaustive list of white foods that can be very effective. They can help clear heat, promote fluid production and moisten the lung.

• almonds

• apple

• bamboo shoots

• cauliflower

• hempseed kernels

• jicama

• sun-dried lily bulb

• lotus root

• lotus seed

• pear

• pine nuts

• rice

• tofu

• water chestnut

• white bean

• white fish

• white fungus

• white mushrooms

• white radish

• winter melon

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Source:

Liu, Zhan-Wen, et al. Health Cultivation in Chinese Medicine. Peoples Medical Publishing House (PMPH), 2012.

A New Cycle: Energetic Fall

Autumn is a time of establishing a rhythmic order. There is a downward energy, grounding our bodies, minds and even our food into the earth. It is the ideal time to focus on the colon as life energy contracts and will prepare for a dormant state in the winter. Autumn is associated with white, and also the time of year our ‘white’ foods are at their peak. They are the digestives and immune boosting foods such as: apples, pears, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic and leeks. – Kate Kennington, Cleansing with Kate

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the energetic season of Fall has begun and will run until October 20. Now is the time to gently immerse ourselves in the quieter, more introspective energies of the season. It’s a time of harvest and of preparation for the upcoming energetic Winter.

In keeping with the theme of preparing for Winter, we will want to get ourselves more organized at this time of year, establishing more order in our lives. Throughout Summer, we’ve feasted and “fested.” We expressed ourselves more physically as we enjoyed vacations and social events and holidays, but in the season of Autumn, we’ll want to come more inside our body and mind and reflect on our lives in positive and productive ways. What can we learn from the past two seasons in a way we can constructively apply throughout Fall and Winter?

If we have unfinished projects begun in Spring and Summer, now is the optimum time to complete them. (See our blog post of last Fall for a number of tips on completing unfinished projects.) The energies of the Fall season will now support and encourage the beginning of indoor projects that involve more mental and introspective processes. 

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

The lung and large intestine are the internal organs associated with Fall and the Metal element. Lung is associated with the emotion of letting go. The very act of conscious breathing enables us to let go of the unwanted as we fully and deeply exhale.

There are many people who so love the Summer that Fall may be a challenging time since they have no choice but to give up longer days, warm weather and certain kinds of outdoor social activities. Utilizing the lungs to practice slowing down the breath can assist to maintain our physical vigor throughout the Fall and Winter and also bring us mental clarity and a nicely balanced emotional state. (Check out our blog post entitled, “Six Breaths a Minute…” at our sister Ageless La Cure site for a simple breathing technique anyone can do and which can transform your life.) 

Soul and spirit should be tranquil to keep lungs pure… – The Neijing Suwen

TCM finds the lung to be the "tender organ” since it is the uppermost organ in the body making it particularly susceptible to wind and cold. As the temperatures change, be proactive with your health by dressing appropriately for the weather even though we’ve become accustomed to habits of Summer dress.

Fall vitality is also encouraged by proper sleep. The ancient medical text, the Neijing Suwen, advises we should retire early at night and rise with the crowing of the rooster during Autumn.

“There was temperance in eating and drinking. Their hours of rising and retiring were regular and not disorderly and wild. By these means the ancients kept their bodies united with their souls, so as to fulfill their allotted span completely, measuring unto a hundred years before they passed away.


The wise man will surely conform to the changes of the four seasons, adapt himself to the cold of winter and the heat of summer, neutralize joy and anger and live a regular life.

”

— Both passages from the Neijing Suwen

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Sources:

Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine E-Book: A Comprehensive Text. 3rd ed., Elsevier Academic Press, 2015.

Kennington, Kate. Cleansing with Kate: A Whole Food Guide to Nourishing Your Whole Self. 3rd ed., Kennington, 2014.

The 411 On Essential Oils

An essential oil is a natural volatile material typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance, flavor and/or action of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.

Essential oils are found in various plant parts: leaves, stems, flower buds, open flowers, peels, barks, fruits, roots, needles, twigs, and resins. 

When we utilize an essential oil for our well-being and vitality, we are actually being bombarded by a wide array of chemicals, because chemically, an essential oil is a complex mixture of 30 to 100 or more compounds.

There are three primary ways to derive the benefits of an essential oil:

1. through topical application

2. by inhalation, and

3. by ingestion.

TOPICAL APPLICATION: Essential oils’ benefits can be enjoyed by topical application directly on the skin. Diffusing essential oils in bathwater is another way to apply the oils topically.

To increase aborption effectiveness, gently massage the area first to improve circulation in that area. Applying a drop of essential oil (not already blended into skincare products) on warmed skin will also enhance circulation which in turn enhances absorption. 

Taking advantage of proven and appropriate proportions and blends of essential oils in a reputable skincare product such as those manufactured by PHYTO5 ensure the wisest use of enormously potent essential oils. This protection comes from the fact that European made products such as those formulated by PHYTO5 must comply with the new and strict European regulations limiting the type and concentration of natural essential oils in skincare products, as opposed to products containing essential oils made in other countries such as the U.S.

INHALATION: Inhaling essential oils is another way to realize their healing benefits. Inhalation can affect the body through several systems and pathways. It can occur:

• by breathing the fragrance of the oil through the nose or mouth, and

• aromatherapeutically via diffuser or in a bath.

These two actions activate their energetic properties:

1. warming the oils slightly, and

2. tapping the bottle first two or three times.

The olfactory system is comprised of all the physical organs or cells which relate to the sense of smell. When we inhale the fragrance of an essential oil, airborne molecules interact with our olfactory organs and reach the brain almost immediately through a variety of receptor sites.

One of these receptor sites is the limbic system,*–what some refer to as the “emotional brain” or the “smell brain.”

The limbic system is a group of deep brain structures that are involved in the sense of smell and the experience of emotions… The limbic system works in coordination with the pituitary gland** and the hypothalamus*** area of the brain to regulate the hormonal activities of the endocrine system… [it] also influences immunity. Through their action on the limbic system, essential oils can have a positive impact on all of these functions by bringing balance to the body. – Roberta Wilson, Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Vibrant Health and Beauty

In addition to being transported to the brain, the inhaled essential oil molecules are also transported to the lungs to interact with the respiratory system.

INGESTION: Essential oils can also be internally ingested though EXTREME CAUTION is advised because of their potency. 

One or a few tiny drops of essential oil does not look like very much, but if they are premium grade, they are so powerful that to ingest more could actually be detrimental. 

If you desire to ingest essential oils, consult an expert in essential oils for your safety. In France, for example, essential oils are actually prescribed and dispensed by trained physicians and pharmacists.

The reasons for such caution concerning ingestion are to be taken seriously:

• Some essential oils can be toxic to the liver or kidneys when ingested.

• A chemical breakdown of essential oils during digestion can so alter the effects you may not achieve the results desired.

It is important to be aware that just because you may find essential oils in your local department or even grocery store, it does not necessarily follow that the quality is high. In some cases, they might even be synthetic perfume that smell great but have no wellness benefits whatsoever.

You are very wise to incorporate the use of essential oils into your holistic lifestyle. At the same time, we urge you to do your due diligence to learn about every aspect of essential oils to become a very well informed consumer and actually get what is your intention to pay for.

When it comes to essential oils in skincare (which is a profoundly therapeutic way to introduce essential oils into your system), it is wise to rely on the vast knowledge and experience of chemists who are well trained in the appropriate dosages, blends and use of the oils such as you will find abounding in PHYTO5 skincare.

##FOOTNOTES##

*a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain, involving several areas near the edge of the cortex concerned with instinct and mood. It controls the basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, care of offspring). –The New Oxford American Dictionary

**A pea-sized body attached to the base of the brain, the pituitary is important in controlling growth and development and the functioning of the other endocrine glands. It is the major endocrine gland. –The New Oxford American Dictionary

***a region of the forebrain below the thalamus that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems, and involved in sleep and emotional activity. –The New Oxford American Dictionary

##SOURCES##

The New Oxford American Dictionary

Wilson, Roberta. Aromatherapy: Essential Oils for Vibrant Health and Beauty. New York: Avery, 2002. Print.

Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash

Relief for Sensitive, Hot, Irritated Skin: Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Known as a beauty oil, ylang ylang (pronounced “ee-LUNG-ee-LUNG") is the flower of a tree native to Southern India, Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. Their flowers are powerfully scented and must be harvested from the trees at dawn or they will become bruised and discolored and rendered useless for fragrance and essential oils.

Romantic and aphrodisiacal, ylang ylang flowers are strewn on the beds of newlywed couples in Malaysia. Ylang ylang, translated as 'flower of flowers,’ is a principle ingredient in such legendary perfumes as Chamade by Guerlain, L'Air du Temps by Nina Ricci, Jean Patou's Sublime, Opium by Yves Saint Laurent and the iconic Chanel No. 5 created by Coco Chanel. Its scent is sweet, spicy, floral and intoxicating.

Ylang ylang’s aroma is distinctly feminine, or yin. When we find ourselves in an excessive masculine (yang) state, we can balance it by using an essential oil such as ylang ylang. This flower is often a component in men’s fragrance because it has been found to be healing and balancing to the male psyche.

Ylang ylang stimulates and supports the emotion of joy, the most prominent emotion of energetic Summer. It assists to relieve depression and its cooling properties are extremely beneficial to skin conditions associated with the Fire element/Summer season (according to traditional Chinese medicine). As outlined below, ylang ylang can provide significant anti-depressant properties.

Ylang ylang essential oil is analgesic, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aphrodisiacal, cooling, a nervine, sedative, and antispasmodic.

The array of benefits ylang ylang can holistically offer our lives, both physically and mentally, is impressive:

• helps prevent signs of aging

• protects skin cells from oxidative stress and DNA damage

• assists to restore a healthful glow to the skin

• fights the development of skin cancer cells and melanoma

• regulating and balancing to the skin and excellent for all skin types

• helps tone skin and hair

• calms and soothes sensitive, blotchy, allergic skin and couperose

• maintains the skin's moisture

• assists to reduce redness and irritation with antimicrobial properties

• prevents and controls acne

• naturally regulates sebum and is good for oily skin

• soothes dry, itchy scalp and repairs split ends

  • Check out Sweet Almond Oil Shampoo containing ylang ylang

• stimulates new hair growth and prevents hair loss

  • Have a look at Hairlixir Shampoo with ylang ylang 

• helps relieve symptoms of PMS

• balances hormones

• supports kidney and adrenal function; good for bladder control

• promotes healthy intestinal function

• calms and de-stresses (it’s aphrodisiacal); assists as an antidepressant and helps to maintain good temper; calms over-excited states

• helps diffuse feelings of fear, anger and tension

• assists with panic attacks by deepening cellular respiration and normalizing breathing

• improves ability to fall asleep and sleep well and peacefully

• increases blood circulation

• soothes tachycardia and hypertension

• comforts the heart after grief, trauma, shock and challenges to the nervous system

• helps to create a romantic environment: exotic, sensual, sweet, floral

• fights parasites

As always, for all essential oils, do your research on how best to use them whether it’s aromatically, topically or internally. Essential oils are very potent and not all of them can be taken internally. Most that can be ingested must be infused with a carrier oil and then only in very small amounts. Premium essential oils perfectly and precisely mixed in PHYTO5 skin and body care is a safe way to enjoy many of the benefits of a whole array of essential oils.

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Source:

Stiles, K. G. The Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide: Over 250 Recipes for Natural Wholesome Aromatherapy. Salem, MA: Page Street, 2017. Print.

Much of What We Require for Healing Is Found In Nature

With earth was the human being created. All the elements served mankind and, sensing that man was alive, they busied themselves in aiding his life in every way. And man in turn occupied himself with them. The earth gave its vital energy, according to each person's race, nature, habits, and environment. –Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), Medieval polymath

Approximately half of the top ten prescription medications in the U.S. might not exist if it weren't for the spectacular biodiversity of the wild natural world.

Modern pharmacopoeia still contain at least 25% drugs derived from plants and many others which are synthetic analogues built on prototype compounds isolated from plants. Since so many of our modern medicines were also derived from plants and such a small percentage have been accurately analyzed chemically, it is certain that there are many more to be discovered. –Professor Sir Ghillean Prance, FRS, Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London

The world's developing countries tend to rely more on what are called "traditional medicines"– or in other words, plant remedies rather than medicinal drugs. Sir Gillian Prance goes on to say:

The World Health Organization has estimated that 80% of the population of developing countries rely on traditional medicines, mostly plant drugs, for their primary healthcare needs.

The drug cortisone comes from wild yams from Mexico and Guatemala and is the active ingredient in birth control pills. Vincristine, derived from the Rosy periwinkle, is used to treat childhood leukemia. Pacific yew, a conifer native to the Pacific Northwest, is the origin plant of a somewhat new medicine for cancer.

Dr. Jim Duke, author of The Green Pharmacy, headed the USDA program seeking anti-cancer drugs in the rainforest for many years with pharmacists and physicians in the rainforests of Costa Rica. MedicineHunter.com says about Dr. Duke,

Dr. James A. Duke's preeminent contribution to USDA and the world is his integrated view of using plants for food, medicine and fuel; informed by his lengthy study of how people in remote jungles successfully use plants for all aspects of their economic existence. You might say that the author of the popular The Green Pharmacy was 'green' before the rest of the world recognized our need to use resources more efficiently. Another important contribution of note: Dr. Duke showed that almost all edible legumes contain estrogenic isoflavones, key cancer modulators.

PHYTO5 relies almost completely on flower and plant essential oils and extracts for our skincare formulations. Synthetic chemical formulations don't make sense to us when nature is so abundant with every healing, nourishing, restoring gift imaginable. 

Some of the unique and natural ingredients in our seasonal Fire element line for Summer  for example, include: marine algae, essential oils of lavender, lemon, cypress, sweet marjoram, thyme, ylang ylang, corn seed, rosemary, Sylvester pine, grapeseed, jojoba, avocado, rose hips, and peppermint, plus extracts of capsicum and rosemary. Visit the seasonal line of your choice and click through the product image for the list of unique ingredients specific to that product and their health and wellness benefits.

Despite all their promise, fewer than 10 percent of tropical forest plant species have been examined for their chemical compounds and medicinal value. In addition to the tropical plants, there are plants maybe right in your own backyard or in your local park or preserve that are among nature's most exquisite healing benefactors.

We haven't even scratched the surface of the cornucopia of healing gifts the earth has to offer. It's all there waiting for us to discover.

Watch for our next blog post about the mental component to healing and the synergy of mind and natural medicines.

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Sources:

Bingen, Hildegard Af, and Priscilla Throop. Hildegard Von Bingen's Physica: The Complete English Translation of Her Classic Work on Health and Healing. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts, 1998. Print.

United Kingdom. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Global Initiative for Traditional Systems of Health. Medicine Plants for Forest Conservation and Health Care. Ed. Gerard Bodeker. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1997. Print.

Everything We Require for Healing is Within Ourselves

In our previous blog post, we looked at nature's profusion of healing gifts in diverse flora that thrives all over the world. We talked about how pharmaceutical companies often go to the various rainforests of the world to find essential effective components for some of their drug treatments. And we learned that the developing world relies mainly on nature for remedies and healing. We pointed out how PHYTO5 relies almost completely on nature's flora for its unique ingredients abounding with life-enhancing vital energy. 

As we have all perceived, healing or management of disease and physical pain does not seem to rely solely on taking natural remedies, synthetic analogues to nature, or other drugs. Studies show that 18 to 80% of the time, people who've been given placebos (including fake procedures) completely recover from their sickness and this without adding any other drug, remedy, medical procedure or therapy.

The fact that people can be given placebos without their knowing and then completely heal from their illness is a strong indicator that the mind is a principal component in our health, healing, and wellness.

Humankind has evolved long enough to have realized the essential nature of our thoughts as powerful actors in the unfoldment of our human experience. We have learned that when we think a thought, a related emotion or feeling is immediately conjured new circumstances in our lives frequently take shape.

Sometimes the result is almost immediate, but most of the time there is a lag time between the thought, the emotion, and the manifestation. Any time lag between thought and manifested result provides the space for healing to occur. It’s a sort of fail-safe mechanism we employ by default until we gain a greater awareness of our state of mind and of our emotions concerning our situation and how we perceive our own being in it. In this way we also see illness or other limitations as a potentially constructive experience from which we emerge with a better understanding of self.  

Of course, this can only occur for those who are aware of their power of the mind and seek to gain mastery of it.

When it comes to self-healing, our state of mind is critical. It is expressed by our thoughts and emotions concerning our experience. Essentially, we either entertain positive thoughts/emotions or negative ones. Experience has shown that the positive ones contribute to healing and the negative ones do not and may well worsen the sickness or condition. The time lag between thought and manifested result actually allows provides the space for healing to occur. It’s a sort of fail-safe mechanism we employ by default until we gain a greater awareness of our site of mind and of our emotions concerning our situation and how we perceive our own being in it. In this way we also see illness, or other limitations, as a potentially constructive experience from which we emerge with better self understanding. complete dominion over our minds. It allows us to realize an error in thought and correct it before an unwanted event results. Of course, this can only occur for those who are aware of the power of their minds and who seek to gain mastery of it.

The more we practice having dominion over our thoughts and emotions, the more effective creators we become. With this practice, eventually, the need for thoughts and feelings that create healing will be more and more replaced by virtual homeostasis where there is no longer the necessity to even seek healing.

Tons of self-help books have said it over and over again: What we focus on, expands. This message is so repeated because most of these authors have achieved incredible success in their lives by employing the power of mental focus and also because it is a fundamental concept to human life on this planet.

The more energy we give a thing, the bigger and more prominent it becomes in our lives. We need to look at where we are placing our focus and our energy.

Focus is the key.

As long as the preponderance of our deep-seated thoughts and desires are for a certain outcome, that outcome is likely to occur (though it may not always happen with the exact expected outcome). This is considered a law of the universe.

Our mental practice doesn't have to be absolute, complete and total focus, but if we can come close with a preponderance of positive thoughts about our desired manifestation, our lives shift to reflect our new state of mind.

This can't help but feel good, thus creating a virtual cycle whereby our life experience more closely aligns with our higher nature.

The ultimate book on the power of thought, As a Man Thinketh, written in 1902 by James Allen says it beautifully:

“They [men and women] themselves are makers of themselves by virtue of the thoughts which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master weaver both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness.”

By the way, As a Man Thinketh is in the public domain and you can download a free copy by going to Project Gutenberg here. The booklet is also quite inexpensively for sale by booksellers.

Summer: Period of Luxurious Growth

How We Can Live in Harmony with Summer as Its Mirror Reflection

"In the months of Summer there is an abundance of sunshine and rain. The Heavenly (cosmic) energy descends, and the Earthly (telluric) energy rises. When these energies merge there is an intimate connection between Heaven and Earth. As a result, plants mature and animals, flowers and fruit appear abundantly.

One may retire somewhat later at this time of year, while still arising early. One should refrain from anger and stay physically active, to keep the skin breathing and to prevent the chi from stagnating. One can indulge a bit more than in other seasons, but should not overindulge. Emotionally, it is important to be happy and easygoing and not hold grudges, so that the energy can flow freely and communicate between the external and internal. In this way, illness may be averted in the Fall. The Summer season of Fire and Heart also encompasses late Summer, which corresponds to the Earth element. Problems in the Summer will cause injury to the heart and will manifest in the Fall.

Spring is the beginning of things, when the energy should be kept open and fluid; Summer opens up further into an exchange or communication between internal and external energies…

In the Summer, if too much sweating occurs in the heat, the chi will escape, the breath will become course and rapid, and one will feel irritable. This happens when heat attacks the exterior. If Summer heat attacks and enters the interior, it will affect the mind and spirit, causing confusion, mumbling and fever. For relief, the pores must be opened to release the heat.

In Summer, the weather is generally hot, and when there is extreme heat it produces Fire, which can burn and char things, producing the bitter taste. Bitter-tasting substances can clear the Heart. the Heart governs the blood, the Fire of the Heart produces the Earth, the Heart opens to the tongue, and therefore subtle changes in the Heart can be reflected in the tongue." -- From the Neijing Suwen, The Yellow Emporer's Classic

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Tips for Living the Mirror Reflection of Summer:

• The days are longer in Summer; Wake up earlier in the morning to get your fill of Summer life. When Winter comes, we'll soon realize how short-lived Summer was! Enjoy the season!

• Summer yields all kinds of luscious, colorful, vitality-laden foods; Eat the cooling foods of Summer like melons, peaches, cucumber, and fresh greens, some of which are transitory and sorely missed in colder seasons. Enjoy their flavors, textures, and nutritive gifts now, while you can!

• The sun is radiant with warmth, life, and joyful exuberance; Should anger bubble inside you, stop and take a look to see if you can’t transform it to love with the warmth of your inherent true self.

• The season is full of energy and passion; Seek out new exciting experiences and give your new discoveries your all.

• Summer is active and alive with the growth and ensuing maturity of abundant flora; Be more physically active, allowing your body to blossom with full blown energy and vitality.

• Summer is cheery; During this season, connect with what makes you laugh as often as possible. Bring colors into your environment for good cheer in all sorts of creative ways.

• Summer, in its aspect of maturity, connotes wisdom. Balance heightened levels of physical activity with spiritual practices such as conscious slow breathing techniques, meditation, and introspection for the life wisdom you seek.

• Nature is on full display in Summer; Focus on being all you can be during this season and allow yourself to blossom on full display and color!

Summer Fun: 12 Benefits~Physical, Mental, and Emotional

We’ll all agree that Summer is the time for having lots of fun. We get more social, expend more energy, laugh a little more, and enjoy the outdoors.

What we often don’t realize is that there are all kinds of fantastic physical, mental, and emotional benefits that come to us from the simple act of having fun. Take advantage of Summer's energies and get yourself so immersed in feel-good energies that you can easily carry them into Fall!

Having tons of fun during Summer brings  rewards we might not usually think of. Check these out:

1. Pain can be relieved. When we have fun, we laugh. Laughter is known, even proven, to alleviate pain. Time Magazine’s article, “It’s No Joke: Why Laughter Kills Pain,” says, “Genuine laughter releases endorphins in the brain, chemicals that activate the same receptors as drugs like heroin, to pain-killing and euphoria-producing effects.”

2. Brain function including better memory improves. In their article entitled, “Eight Habits that Improve Cognitive Function,” Psychology Today names physical activity and social connections as two of the eight principle ways to improve brain function.

3. Creativity surges. Pleasant and fun work and educational environments foster creativity in students and employees. When a positive mood is fostered by engaging in fun activities or even by simply being surrounded by a less rigid environment, activity in the prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex of the brain is stimulated. Complex cognition, decision-making, and positive emotion necessary for heightened creativity levels are improved. Spending more time outside, engaging in physical exercise enjoyable to you, going to outdoor parties and picnics, and having office meetings under the shade trees on the nearby lawn, all can foster the latent creativity within you.

4. Mental, even physical youth is fostered. If we don’t use our muscles, they atrophy. No matter what age we are, beginning to use our bodies more actively stimulates our musculoskeletal system making us stronger and more vital and alive. “More than just hobbies, chosen activities rekindle early passions, return people to nature, set creative juices flowing and stir the soul,” says Lisa Esposito for U.S. News and World Report Magazine. The constitution of the World Health Organization states, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” A positive mood sustained from regularly just plain having fun can be an important predictor of health and longevity.

5. Relationships are strengthened and love happens when having fun with others. It builds connections and solidifies social bonds.  Of course, we can have fun swinging on a park swing by ourselves, but fun is even more so when we do it with people we love. Laughing together, enjoying together, and taking in the Summer together fosters conditions where love grows.

6. Emotional wounds may be healed. In the book, Heal Your Spirit, Empower Your Life!, Dr. Jess Tregle Msc.D. advises that if we’ve had a rocky childhood, we should feel that our childhood is still taking place and to let it be way better than before. She suggests reconnecting with our inner child, our younger self, to heal emotional wounds. Be silly, be playful, and open up to enjoying life more and Summer’s the perfect time to begin!

7. Sleep patterns become more regulated because serotonin in the brain increases. The increased sunlight and physical activity we enjoy in Summer increases our serotonin levels. Serotonin can be found in a variety of foods, many of which we avidly consume in Summer like plums, tomatoes, kiwis, and pineapples.

8. Your body temperature and breathing become more balanced (again because of increased serotonin levels). “Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or chemical messenger, that mediates many complex processes in the brain. It’s perhaps best known for its role in regulating mood. It’s also thought to help regulate several life-sustaining functions, such as breathing.” –from the article, “Serotonin Helps Control Body Temperature and Breathing,” National Institute of Health

9. Coping skills seem to be magically more available to us. When we’re happy, everything becomes easier. Things that were challenging before, we now seem to be able to accept as part of our everyday stride.

10. Physical energy increases. When we’re bored or feel unstimulated, our body responds as if it is tired or lethargic. Boredom equals lethargy. When we choose to transport ourselves to the next minute where we can engage in a fun activity we love, all of a sudden, our lack of energy has vanished.

11. Overall positive feelings become the norm. Optimistic people live longer. Yale University researchers have found that, “Positive self-perceptions can prolong life expectancy.”

12. We become transformed at a cellular level. The same chemical operation that occurs within the body when laughter is the impetus for the healing of sickness is the same operation that transforms our entire physical being at the cellular level.

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Sources:

http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/14/its-no-joke-why-laughter-kills-physical-pain/ 14 Sept. 2011: n. pag. Web. <Time MagazineSzalavitz, Maya. "It’s No Joke: Why Laughter Kills Pain."

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201403/eight-habits-improve-cognitive-function12 Mar. 2014: n. pag. Web. Psychology Today. Bergland, Christopher. "Eight Habits That Improve Cognitive Function."

https://greatist.com/happiness/ways-to-boost-creativity. N.p., 3 Mar. 2016. Web. "33 Surprising Ways to Boost Creativity for Free."

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/slideshows/what-keeps-you-young?slide=1 6 May 2015: n. pag. Web. U. S. News and World Report. Esposito, Lisa. "What Keeps You Young?" Bloomington, IN: Balboa, 2017. Print. Heal Your Spirit & Empower Your Life! Tregle, Dr. Jess, Msc. D.

http://nutritionwonderland.com/2009/06/understanding-bodies-serotonin-connection-between-food-and-mood/. N.p., 24 June 2009. Web. Wilcox, Christine. "Understanding Our Bodies: Serotonin, The Connection Between Food and Mood."

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/serotonin-helps-control-body-temperature-breathing(2011): n. pag. Web. 8 Aug. 2011. National Institute of Health. "Serotonin Helps Control Body Temperature and Breathing."

"Thinking Positively About Aging Extends Life More than Exercise and Not Smoking." http://news.yale.edu. N.p., 29 July 2002. Web. http://news.yale.edu/2002/07/29/thinking-positively-about-aging-extends-life-more-exercise-and-not-smoking>.

Learning from Millennials About Authentic Wellness and Beauty

From integrative wellness studios to sound baths to silent spas and natural beauty, avocado oil, black garlic and sober socializing, millennials are driving wellness-oriented spas and centers to new heights in 2017.

PHYTO5 skincare and therapies offer a decidedly vibrational approach to skincare and wellness unmatched in the entire beauty industry. Working at the level, not just of matter but energy, true holistic natural beauty is achieved on subtle levels which radiate outward into the skin. 

Are you in position to address the very organic, discriminating demands and progressive intelligent lifestyle choices of today's millennials? 

Those lifestyle choices are what PHYTO5 is all about and PHYTO5 professionals all over the country are gratified by the success they achieve in addressing the more creative real-time lifestyle choices and concerns of millennials.

Carlyn Weiler of Weiler Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin says, "Here in the U.S., facials tend to be more about rubbing products on the skin. When I came back to the states after being treated to and learning about European style facials and body treatments, I was very relieved to find PHYTO5 that is truly holistic and wellness targeted and so superior to any other skincare system I've seen or experienced."

2017 Global Spa and Wellness Trends Established by the 10th Anniversary Global Wellness Summit, Kitzbuhel, Austria

"Wellness on the Rise: According to the latest figures from the Global Wellness Institute, the Global Wellness Economy has grown by 10.6% since 2013 to $3.7 trillion, far outpacing global GDP... The global spa market grew from $94 billion in 2013 to $99 billion in 2015 with 16,000 new spas and over 230,000 new employees." –psychologyofwellbeing.com

Many of PHYTO5's professional clients have been clients since PHYTO5's inception–a testament to PHYTO5 skincare's, technologies' and protocols' remarkable results. These skincare and chroma-technologies are at once time honored and on trend–an unusual characteristic in the beauty industry. The combination of our energetic skincare and proprietary award-winning vibrational light technologies elevates the wellness effects of facial and body treatments to levels that reach far beyond the typical spa treatment. It's safe to say that PHYTO5 embodies all that wellness truly means.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Today's Millennials Will Most Likely Choose Experience Over Material Items and They Value Authenticity

One of the first things you'll hear about millennials is that they "love and value authenticity, but what does that mean? Authenticity is a broad concept with a definition that's hard to put a finger on; authenticity comes from knowing your customers, their needs, and how to have that communicated," this according to Rakuten Marketing.

So Take a Good Look at PHYTO5

Millennials are propelling the wellness lifestyle forward full steam ahead and PHYTO5 skincare can stand up to the wise skepticism of this important group of discerning individuals. What's more, PHYTO5 offers much more than a product. It offers an experience from the moment the cap or jar is removed from the product container. 

Can your spa or does your chosen line of skincare authentically deliver what these highly discriminating consumers are demanding? 

Take a good look at PHYTO5 which is the embodiment of what Generation Y and all discriminating wellness and beauty product consumers avidly seek: authenticity • clean • vibrational • plant-based vegan • wellness generated on the cellular level

Wei Chi and the Vortices of Energy

We learned in school that matter is tangible, visible, solid, and real. There is ample empirical evidence to support this fact. Hardly anyone would dispute this.

We were also told that matter is made of molecules which are made of atoms composed of smaller particles such as neutrons, protons, and electrons, all assumed to be physical. And yet, we learn from quantum physics that all this is wrong although the public at large has not yet adjusted to that thinking. What we think of matter is, in reality, made of nothing material, tangible, or visible.

The quantum reality is that atoms are made of vortices of energy spinning and vibrating in their own particular way. Each one has a vibrating pattern that is unique, providing its own particular energetic signature. Atoms have no physical structure, therefore, physical things have no physical parts.

Another thing we learned from the discoveries of quantum physics and quantum mechanics is that we create our own reality. Indeed, the observer of a quantum experiment will affect its outcome by the simple fact of observing. It has led quantum scientists to the conclusion that our world, from our individual experience to our collective one, is a mental construction. The planet and the entire universe are the outcome of the collective consciousness of humanity.

In 2015, the Dalai Lama was participating at an international quantum physics conference in India and stated, "I hope conferences such as this one address two purposes: extending our knowledge and improving our view of reality so we can better tackle our disturbing emotions.”

It is significant to see an enlightened spiritual leader embracing the discoveries of science and feeling comfortable that no discovery, as earth-shattering as it might appear, is endangering the fundamental truth of spirituality.

The other significant element of the Dalai Lama’s statement is that we must be about “improving our view of reality so we can better tackle our disturbing emotions.”

In this statement we highlight three important thoughts:

1. We must “improve our view of reality,” implying that our current view is not nearly as right as taken for granted. Our belief in “Terra Firma” as a bedrock of our knowledge of what is right, real, and true, is actually on a shaky foundation.

2. Our “disturbing emotions” (what we often refer to as “negative emotions”) have a causal effect on our view and experience of our reality.

3. It is imperative that we “better tackle our negative emotions,” namely, developing our emotional intelligence as a way to achieve a greater degree of mastery over our (negative) emotions.

With these conclusions, we are brought full circle to our starting premise based on the following principles:

1. “The physical body is actually a complex of interwoven energy fields.” –Richard Gerber, M.D.

2. PHYTO5’s philosophy and motto: “Beauty is health made visible.”

3. The teachings of traditional Chinese medicine concerning how to increase Wei Chi, the energy of our immune system:

   1. Our best way to enhance our source of Wei Chi is in cultivating emotionally rewarding human relationships. Such relationships, however, can’t happen without first developing a proper self-appreciation free of negativity.

   2. The best way we can contain or mitigate the natural enemies of Wei Chi is by gaining mastery over our emotions so that we may avoid the destructive aspect of negative emotions.

The ABCs of Energetic Summer and the Fire Element

The Summer energetic season according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) begins May 6 and ends July 19.

Fire’s season is Summer, the time of the sun, heat, growth, expansion, warmth, increased light, and abundance.

Fire is the most yang of the five elements yet may also express as yin for all things are both yin and yang in balance in Taosim. Taoist astrology refers to yang Fire energy with the color red and to yin with purple.

Emotions can be either in or out of balance depending on whether the energy we are in is in or out of balance. Personality traits can be positive or negative.

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 themselves

• passion

• dynamism

• reason

• self-expression

• optimistic

• positive

• enthusiasm

• excitement

• vanity

• jealousy

• frustration

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

• excessive or lack of 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 Fire type tends to find success in life through his or her predisposition to be warm-hearted and generous. They find experiences of love, compassion, fun, joy, and pleasure very healing yet they may find sharing joy and laughter without the goal of a reward in mind challenging.

Like hot molten lava, Fire can be unpredictable and changeable, chaotic and challenging to contain. It’s active, combustible, energetic, animated, and powerful.

In TCM, Fire’s body organs are the heart and small intestines. Therefore a fire personality may have a disposition for heart problems, such as heart attacks or may experience minor 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

• Tastes: 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

For tips and tools on holistic Summer living, be sure to check out our former blog posts on the Summer energetic season:

• Eight Keys for Getting the Most Out of Summer Life… In Harmony with the Season

• Eight Refreshing Uses of Lavender to Cool and Soothe in Summer

• The Top Cooling Foods of Summer

• Eight Ways to Feng Shui Your House or Property for Summer

• 15 Spectacular Benefits of Having Fun This Summer

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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.

Enhance Your Wei Chi to Increase Your Well-Being

For thousands of years, mystics have known and advocated it and for several recent decades, so have quantum physicists: “ALL IS ONE!” Of course, the truth, ALL IS ONE, fundamental to religions and to science, has been expressed in different words, but the core idea is the same. And this is becoming clear to an increasing number of people regardless of their religion or degree of scientific education. Still, this core idea is held as truth by a minority of people. This is evident given the degree and spread of violence, disease and disparity around the world and the many other forms of man’s inhumanity to man. Peace, vitality, equanimity and justice for all in the world will occur only when enough people understand that hurting anyone else is actually hurting oneself and that hurting the environment including our animals is destructive to ourselves.

The extent to which we feel connected to or separated from whatever we perceive to be necessary to make us whole, happy and fulfilled, creates the root of all our emotions which, in turn, becomes the driving force in our lives.

If the absolute truth is that ALL IS ONE, the evidence of our physical senses, supported by our mental interpretation of our human situation, points exactly to the opposite. We appear totally separated from each other, and in most instances, from what we desire, be it relationships, material possessions, or conditions.

From the moment of birth, the baby separated from its mother longs to be reconnected physically and emotionally. This is deeply embedded in all of us. It takes different forms as we grow older but it stays with us. The need to connect with others and to feel like we belong is very much a part of the human experience. For some, the most expedient and available solution might be to belong to a street gang. But for most, there are a number of connections we feel driven to make, such as with a spouse or partner, a family, a sports or social club, a church or other place of group worship or philosophy, a professional association, or organizations celebrating ethnic or national identity. All of these are attempts to feel connected. That feeling is key to a sense of self-actualization, contentment, and well-being.

The sense of separation is, of course, the opposite. It prevents personal fulfillment. It permeates all our endeavors and human relationships. And, as we saw in our earlier Wei Chi blogs and newsletters, emotionally-nourishing human relationships are one of the few natural ways we have to improve Wei Chi, our energetic immune system. At the same time, we learned that the “5 devils” that attack Wei Chi are the negative emotions associated with the 5 elements of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). And, here again, we are invited to emotional maturity by gaining greater mastery over our emotions. We must avoid negativity and foster positive emotions. It is incumbent on each of us to gain an awareness of our emotions–what triggers and what controls them. That is how we develop our E.Q.–our emotional quotient, commonly known as emotional intelligence.

This sense of separation is pervasive. Mystics are among the few who experience the ultimate connection–communion with their Source, whatever that might mean to each one of them. For Jesus of Nazareth, it is what caused him to say, “I and my father are one.” 

Quantum physicists and others who embrace their conclusion experience intellectual communion and the satisfaction of embracing fundamental truth. Their vision, not unlike TCM’s vision, is that each one of us is made of energy and each with our own energy field that evolves in an infinite energetic substance (or field) that we call space.

A singularity of energy fields is that they can exist as a multitude within any given space. But as energy is polarized in positive and negative phases, there is an interplay between opposite energies while there is harmony with same polarity. More positive energy is elevating. More negative energy is abasing. This is our choice to make.

Now, back to wellness. We learn that we can’t ignore our emotions. They give us a clues on as to how to increase our sense of well-being, by increasing what adds to it and by eliminating what makes us feel unhappy, sorry for ourselves, fearful, or angry.

Once we have gained a fuller awareness of our emotions as a sort of guidance system, there are ways to mitigate the negative and enhance the positive.

PHYTO5 has developed one such exciting method with a new generation of wellness spa treatments. 

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This article was originally published May 2, 2017 and has been updated on March 12, 2020 for freshness and comprehensiveness.

Endnotes:

We are inspired by many authors when writing on the vital energy subject, but in particular, by:

1. Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 2003. Print.

2. Beinfield, Harriet, and Efrem Korngold. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York: Ballantine, 1992. Print.

3. Elias, Jason, and Katherine Ketcham. The Five Elements of Self-healing: Using Chinese Medicine for Maximum Immunity, Wellness, and Health. New York: Harmony, 1998. Print.

4. Gerber, Richard. Vibrational Medicine: New Choices for Healing Ourselves. Santa Fe, NM: Bear, 1996. Print.

5. The abundant writings of Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Wei Chi and the Beauty of Emotions

Nature’s richness lies in its power to nourish all living things;
its greatness lies in its power to give them beauty and splendor.  –The I Ching

Make a little time for things that ignite your joy!  –Heart-Math Institute

Maintaining an active Wei Chi is the best way to maintain a strong immune system. In our prior articles of the Wei Chi series we saw the importance of emotions in two ways.

First, Wei Chi is enriched by emotionally satisfying relationships, and second, an absence of negative emotions eliminates the five “devils” described in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as the natural enemies of Wei Chi.

We could say that a high E.Q (Emotional Quotient) is the best predictor of strong Wei Chi, and chi defense, in general.

Another way to say it is that mature emotional intelligence that is capable of managing both good relationships with challenging ones combined with a strong mastery over our own negative emotional reactions are the most important elements over which we have and could increase control for the benefit of our holistic health.

As the slogan of the Phytobiodermie method behind PHYTO5 skincare products states: “Beauty is health made visible!”

Even if we do a lot of other things right such as maintain a good diet, get appropriate amounts of exercise, practice breathing exercises, get plenty of sleep, and make regular spa treatments a priority, it will all be insufficient if our E. Q. is low.

Squarely addressing the matter of negative emotions as a barrier to wellness and of positive emotions as a booster of Wei Chi is so important for human wellness that PHYTO5 has evolved an extension of its well-known energetic method to contribute techniques and tools to assist anyone feel and look better.

This treatment approach will soon be presented as a new program called: “PHYTO5 and the Beauty of Emotions.”

The evolution of PHYTO5's new treatment approach is largely borne of two significant factors:

• the fundamental principles of TCM, and

• the evolution of PHYTO5 product formulation resulting in even higher potency levels.

We will explain this new program more fully when we roll out the Beauty of Emotions program and protocol in the near future. For now, and to summarize it into one brief statement, PHYTO5 has developed a new formulation method which has measurably increased the vibrational potency of select PHYTO5 energetic products.

Feeling good must be our objective. It causes us to enjoy life more fully and it makes us more pleasant to be around. Nevertheless, it is almost too easy to focus on the good part of feeling good while many of us are challenged to even recognize or identify our feelings in the first place.

In other words, we must first become conscious of how we feel moment to moment and the impact we make on others' feelings when we interact with each other. 

We cannot manage our emotions and reactions unless we are conscious of them. It is a sine qua non condition of developing our E. Q.

The Beauty of Emotions program as a program of wellness begins by assisting the client/patient to first become aware of how he or she feels.

At first, it may sound at once overly ambitious and somewhat invasive. In our society, we have a tendency to keep our true emotions hidden to such an extent that we either lose our awareness of them or we make efforts to hide them.

Still, there are ways to overcome these tendencies, at least with anyone who is willing. That is why an understanding of the importance of emotions in the process of achieving wellness is so relevant. That willingness borne of our understanding will assist us in improving our emotional quotient. As we improve our E. Q. we automatically elevate our health, happiness, character, and even our physical appearance.

The second part of the Beauty of Emotions program encompasses a number of new and specifically formulated PHYTO5 products which are essential tools of the program. From their very inception, PHYTO5 products were successfully formulated for the purpose of balancing chi. PHYTO5 accomplished this for many decades by creating products in alignment with the formulation principles of TCM and its foundational 5-Element Theory.

All along, PHYTO5 has understood that the "5 Devils” described as the natural enemies of Wei Chi (and of chi, in general) affect all aspects of our health, particularly the energy of our five pairs of organs and the function of the five major fluids. Balancing chi always has a beneficial effect on the emotions attached to each of the five pairs of organs. 

PHYTO5's new product formulation has significantly increased the vibrational rate of PHYTO5 skincare products causing them to work faster and more deeply to balance not only the physical but the emotional aspects of our being.

We'll be sharing more on this fascinating subject when we unveil the Beauty of Emotions treatment protocol at the end of May 2017.

Of course, this program will need to be adapted to functions that a well-trained spa therapist can effectively perform and which he or she is allowed to perform by relevant state authorities. Special training for the Beauty of Emotions protocol will be involved.

In the meantime, think about the benefits of such an approach when you know how most of our spa clients, in fact, most of our population, live daily life under the duress of all sorts of pressure and unprecedented levels of stress.

👉🏼To be among the first to know when The Beauty of Emotions Program is unveiled, please opt-in to our e-newsletter (see bottom of next column for sign-up).

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Sources:

We are inspired by many authors when writing on the vital energy subject, but in particular, by:

1. Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 2003. Print.

2. Beinfield, Harriet, and Efrem Korngold. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York: Ballantine, 1992. Print.

3. Elias, Jason, and Katherine Ketcham. The Five Elements of Self-healing: Using Chinese Medicine for Maximum Immunity, Wellness, and Health. New York: Harmony, 1998. Print.

4. Gerber, Richard. Vibrational Medicine: New Choices for Healing Ourselves. Santa Fe, NM: Bear, 1996. Print.

5. The abundant writings of Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Wei Chi and the Holistic Treatment

The word 'holistic' is often used in the health and wellness oriented industry, and frequently, very loosely, but what is a true holistic treatment?

As the word indicates, holistic encompasses an approach for a treatment that embraces the entirety of the being. It begs the question: What, in addition to the physical body, exists in and surrounding the patient that must be taken into consideration in order to fully embrace the whole being to make any practice truly holistic?

The first level of increased awareness, going beyond the physical, is fairly obvious and includes the mental and psychological aspects. What people think about themselves and others, combined with their emotional state, are relevant factors affecting any treatment, be it in a spa, a doctor’s office, or on a hospital bed.

At the second level of awareness of what is perceived as a part of the whole being is the notion of vital energy common to all energy medicines. This is sadly absent in so many wellness or medical practices. The fundamental idea that the physical body we see is but the tip of the iceberg is often ignored or considered too esoteric. Yet there is something else that is invisible but essential, namely, that the body is not only vital matter but also vital energy. Further, it is the vital energy that makes the matter vital.

To see a human being in a way that envelopes these two levels is already quite an accomplishment, yet it is incomplete, particularly when it comes to serious diseases with consequences devastating enough that the very spirit of the patient is also under attack. Critical to any possible healing are the core beliefs of the patient in view of the experience he or she is living. This is obviously a subject that concerns not only medical people but patients and would-be patients although this topic remains a very delicate one.

The third level has to do with the spiritual dimension of the one being treated. Some of us might be totally unaware of this aspect, or we might be simply putting it aside, maybe for examination at a later date. Another possibility is we might simply be genuinely oblivious to this part of our constitution. 

From an ultimate point of view, the spiritual state of consciousness of the patient is not only relevant but might be a critical factor in dealing with serious ailments. Clearly, rare are the practitioners who will embrace this view or be willing and comfortable enough to incorporate the patient's spiritual state of consciousness into the equation when faced with a deeply serious health issue which on the surface appears to be simply material or physical.

But how is all of this relevant to our wellness and beauty focus? It actually directly relates back to PHYTO5’s motto: “Beauty is wellness made visible!”

In our previous blog, “Wei Chi and the Three Levels of Defense,” we saw that wellness and beauty concerns are outside the picture at the third and fourth levels of defense, but they are reasonable ones for the first two levels even when both Wei Chi and chi are under attack. It is when Wei Chi is strong and an effective defender of our health that our wellness and beauty objectives are most effectively achieved. 

Maintaining a strong immunity with an active Wei Chi is of primary importance. The role of emotions and the matter of emotional intelligence as the arena we can most directly influence to maintain a strong immune system. Further, even if we do a lot of other things right, such as focus on a proper diet, get adequate exercise, practice breathing exercises, and get plenty of sleep, it will be in vain if our E. Q. (Emotional Quotient) is low.

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Sources:

We are inspired by many authors when writing on the vital energy subject, but in particular, by:

1. Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 2003. Print.

2. Beinfield, Harriet, and Efrem Korngold. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York: Ballantine, 1992. Print.

3. Elias, Jason, and Katherine Ketcham. The Five Elements of Self-healing: Using Chinese Medicine for Maximum Immunity, Wellness, and Health. New York: Harmony, 1998. Print.

4. Gerber, Richard. Vibrational Medicine: New Choices for Healing Ourselves. Santa Fe, NM: Bear, 1996. Print.

5. The abundant writings of Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Wei Chi and the Three Other Levels of Energetic Defense

When you look for it, there is nothing to see.
When you listen to it, there is nothing to hear.
When you use it, it is inexhaustible.
–Tao Te Ching

Wei Chi is the protector of our outer energy field (aura) and of the superficial layers of the body, the skin.

Any pathogen that will eventually attack the physical body needs first to defeat Wei Chi by penetrating through the aura and past it, through the skin layers. 

We outlined the four sources of Wei Chi:

• one of which (ancestral energy) we have no control over;

• two that are related to our lifestyle and environment and over which we have only partial control; and,

• the fourth one (our positive emotional relationships) over which we should be able to have the greatest influence.

Wei Chi has natural enemies. The first group of these enemies is what traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) calls the five “devils” (essentially climatic conditions) over which we have limited to no control. The second group of enemies is the negative effect of any of the five emotions when they are in excess, out of balance (out of control).

Each of the 5 emotions corresponding to one of the 5 elements is like a coin with two faces, a positive side and a negative side.

This is key: The negative aspect of each emotion diminishes wei chi while the positive side of each one of them becomes our greatest opportunity to strengthen our wei chi.

In short, the source of Wei Chi that we have the most control over is related to our emotional intelligence. It encompasses an ability to minimize the negative while increasing the positive aspects of our emotional life which is very nourishing to our wei chi, the energy of our immune system and the guardian of our health. It literally keeps us out of the doctor's office.

The original slogan of the Phytobiodermie (energetic skincare) method, and of PHYTO5, its skincare brand, “Beauty is health made visible” dates back to the 70’s and in today’s terms we might be more likely to say, “Beauty is well-being made visible.”

This motto is an expression of the Phytobiodermie philosophy and mission. It is the logical outcome of its deep roots in TCM that takes into consideration all the elements that constitute our being. 

Poor eating, poor breathing, lack of movement, climatic aggressions, or destructive emotions, significantly weaken wei chi and our immune system to the point that it might no longer be able to prevent pathogens from reaching deeper into our physical body.

Fortunately, as TCM tells us, there are not one but four different energetic protection levels.

If the first level of wei chi fails, the second level of protection is the chi which flows through the body along meridians or pathways of vital energy.

There are five basic functions attributed to Chi:

1. movement

2. warmth

3. protection

4. transformation, and

5. support.

When pathogens have pierced through wei chi to attack the chi, the illness becomes more stubborn, creating both physical and emotional disturbance in a more pronounced way, although it is not life-threatening.

When the illness gets deeper, the third level of defense–the vital energy of what TCM calls “blood”–has been affected. According to TCM, “blood” is an energetic function that goes beyond the arterial and venous circulation. It includes the movement of other fluids such as those from the hormonal glands and the transport of nutrients, among others.

When this master transportation system breaks down, the body enters a chronic illness level with severe health and emotional consequences. Pain is deeper and more prolonged. From this one and the next level, the body might never return to full health. Containment and mitigation might be the best available outcome.

Any worsening leads to an attack on the fourth level of defense, the energy of the organs. What is at stake at this level, is the very survival of the organs.  A defeated organic chi creates a domino effect, a negative spiral, since each organ affects the proper workings of all the others. When any organ is under siege, it deeply affects how we feel in all aspects of our life. 

At all levels, but particularly the third and fourth, illness is not limited to the physical aspects. Addressing psychological, emotional, and spiritual issues are the only way to bring all aspects of our being now under siege into restored healthy alignment. 

In this state, achieving wellness might be a distant dream.

At the fourth level, survival becomes the ultimate objective. Pain management is a moment-by-moment concern. Healing through the restoration of chi within the entire body requires a proper holistic treatment. In other words, a comprehensive holistic approach to getting well is absolutely required. It is this important topic which we will pursue in our next article and blog post of this Wei Chi series.

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Sources:

We are inspired by many authors when writing on the vital energy subject, but in particular, by:

1. Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with the Seasons. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 2003. Print.

2. Beinfield, Harriet, and Efrem Korngold. Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. New York: Ballantine, 1992. Print.

3. Elias, Jason, and Katherine Ketcham. The Five Elements of Self-healing: Using Chinese Medicine for Maximum Immunity, Wellness, and Health. New York: Harmony, 1998. Print.

4. Gerber, Richard. Vibrational Medicine: New Choices for Healing Ourselves. Santa Fe, NM: Bear, 1996. Print.

5. The abundant writings of Deepak Chopra, M.D.

30 Fun Ways to Get More Green Into Your Diet

Since we’re well into the Spring energetic season (until April 17), a time associated with life-giving, detoxifying green, it’s wise that we support ourselves with as many green foods as we can.

Not everyone enjoys green leaves and vegetables but what follows are a number of novel and fun ways to make sure you amp up your diet with green and enjoy the deliciousness of it too!

While most of these ideas provide ways to creatively add greens and green foods to your entrees and side dishes, don’t be afraid to make green the main event!

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

1. Scramble your eggs with cooking greens or add them to your frittata.

2. Add fresh fruit like strawberries to make your highly nutritious spinach salad more interesting.

3. Make a batch of green pesto to have on hand for adding to dishes like pasta or for garnishing dishes like scrambled eggs, soup or roasted veggies.

4. Learn to sprout! It’s so easy to do right in your kitchen with some mason jars, cheesecloth and sprouting seeds. In just a couple days you’ve got green sprouts absolutely brimming with nutrition that you can add to salads, add as soup garnishes or throw in your smoothies.

5. Learn to identify wild edible greens and pick them. Some might be in your backyard or favorite local forest preserve.

6. Everybody loves nuts and seeds so add them to your salads. Not only will they provide texture but lots of nutrition too.

7. Add a handful of spinach or other green to your favorite smoothie to make it green. We suggest spinach ‘cause it won’t alter the flavor intent of your smoothie.

8. Garnish your soups with parsley or cilantro.

9. Never miss adding a beautiful green leaf to your sandwiches. Experiment. Go beyond iceberg or romaine lettuce.

10. Garnish your sandwich plate or even top your salad with dehydrated kale chips. Depending on the sauce massaged into the kale before dehydrating, kids will love eating them instead of potato chips.

11. Add a handful of fresh basil, leaves and stems, to your blenderized soups for a subtle flavor enhancement and nutrition boost.

12. Add green legumes like pea pods and green beans to your side dishes for color, texture and vitality.

13. Learn to make a mean tabbouli. With the main ingredient being parsley, this minted salad is incredibly fresh tasting and you’ll feel so much better about yourself after eating it! You can sub quinoa for the bulgur wheat, if you prefer, and it will taste just as great.

14. Fold finely chopped parsley or spinach into your mashed potatoes or alfredo sauce.

15. Mush some not overcooked broccoli into side dishes for texture, flavor and nutrition.

16. Make some avocado topped toast or spread your toast with a mélange of peas tossed with a small amount of olive oil, quartered grape tomatoes, and edamame. Avocado toast is a current wellness trend!

17. Add shaved or grated courgette (zucchini) into your salad.

18. Have a nice spinach salad or other green leaf salad for breakfast. It’s a fantastic way to start the day.

19. Explore fresh green herbs (oregano, rosemary, basil, dill, cilantro, chervil, chives, tarragon) and learn how to add them to your dishes for an added dimension of healing and flavor.

20. Make green bean “fries” for an awesome snack. Toss washed whole green beans with a bit of olive oil, and then garlic granules, salt and pepper to taste, and munch!

21. Make your wrap sandwiches raw wraps using collard greens, bibb lettuce or swiss chard leaves; you can do the same when making tacos, too.

22. When puréeing your homemade hummus, throw in a half cup of spinach; it will lend a green hue to the hummus and give you added nutrition, but it won’t alter the flavor of the hummus.

23. Top your burger with lightly sautéed greens.

24. Make green dips; spinach-artichoke is always nice.

25. Make simple homemade green salad dressings in your blender; throw six to eight dandelion greens in the blender along with a cup of soaked raw cashews, a half cup of soaked raw sunflower seeds, a cup of water, a squirt of lemon juice, a half teaspoon of turmeric and Himalayan salt to taste and blend until smooth. Delish.

26. Double the amount of green vegetables and half the amount of animal protein in your dishes.

27. Be a sneaky chef; purée some greens and add them to marinara sauce or grate or finely mince the greens and add them to your burger and meatloaf mix.

28. Join the Meatless Monday movement and make green foods the centerpiece of the day.

29. Wilt your greens like spinach, arugula, mustard and dandelion greens; you can add them to your favorite dish or eat them straight with a little salt and pepper and a dash of olive oil.

30. Slightly blacken bundles of bok choy, broccoli or asparagus spears for a unique taste and nutrition treat.

Best Eating Practices For Living In Harmony With Energetic Spring: Part Two

“Adapting itself to obstacles and bending around them, Wood in the earth grows upward without haste and without rest. Thus too the superior man is devoted in the character and never pauses in his progress.”  – Nei Jing (475-221 B.C.)

We still are experiencing the remnants of the Water energy of Winter so though traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) says we have entered the energetic season of Spring, the new energy of the Wood element, as of February 5, it's a bit challenging to think Spring right now, but let's give it a whirl!

As we've said, in TCM the element represented by Spring is Wood. To live in balance with the 5-Element Theory of TCM and indeed, to live in balance with nature of which we are an inherent part, we’ll want to embrace the following attributes, characteristics and specific organ activity for the Wood element and Spring season.

If you are affected by liver problems (the organs associated with Spring are liver and gall bladder), it’s a sign your body may be suffering from insufficient or lack of Wood chi. You can strengthen your Wood chi by consuming more Wood element foods which tend to be sour in taste (sour is the taste for the Wood element). Sour foods facilitate clearing an overburdened liver.

Wood element foods act as astringents and help the blood to circulate, your energy to flow, and emotions to move more elegantly through you. Eating fresh greens during this season naturally cleanses the body of physical and emotional impediments. 

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Wood element foods are cooling and contracting and prevent leakage of body fluids. If you’ve been indulging in a rich, greasy diet, you’ll want to switch to the Wood element foods at this time. 

Check out column two for an exhaustive list of foods for Wood.

Additionally, there are some herbs and spices we can use in springtime food prep that have a sour taste: dill, sour jujube fruit, and hawthorn berry.

Certain pungent and sweet foods such as scallion, garlic, cinnamon, fennel and ginger tend to have an expansive, rising quality. They are very nice to add to springtime meals and will help you resist colds and allergies.

As always, avoid or reduce consumption of foods and drinks that have little redeeming value for the body such as deep fried foods, oil, fat (aside from the more beneficial oils and fat content derived from olive, avocado and coconut), salty foods, spicy foods, alcohol, and sweets.

While we slow cooked our food in Winter by preparing stews and hearty soups, best cooking methods for the Spring energetic season are sauté, stir fry, light simmer, blanch, quick boil, pickle, and marinate.

At this time of year, our diet should be the lightest to enable our systems to cleanse and strengthen the body, mind and spirit.

Check out PHYTO5's Wood element skincare line to address imbalance in the skin such as oiliness, blackheads, hyperpigmentation, and issues of vital energy circulation.

Best Foods for Wood Element (in alphabetical order)

• adzuki beans

• almonds

• baby spinach

• barley

• black cherry

• black currant

• blackberry

• celery

• cheese

• chicken

• chives

• cod

• collard greens

• grapefruit

• green beans

• green cabbage

• green tea

• halibut

• hazelnuts

• herring

• leafy greens

• lemon

• lettuce

• lime

• liver

• long string beans

• napa cabbage

• nuts

• oats

• olives

• peas

• pickles

• pineapple

• plums

• raspberry

• rose hips

• rye

• sauerkraut

• scallions

• sour grapes

• sour green apples

• sour green star fruit

• sourdough

• spinach

• sprouts

• tomatoes

• vinegar

• walnuts

• wheat

• yogurt

 …

Sources:

Nguyen, Phil N. Feng Shui for the Curious and Serious. New Jersey: Xlibris Corporation, 2008. Print.

Thunderhawk, Denise, L. Ac. The 5-Element Guide to Healing with Whole Foods. N.p.: Lulu, 2016. Print.