Our country is experiencing trauma in the form of intense and vacillating changes in our political climate, as well as our actual climate! Our nation’s schools don’t feel like the safe haven they should be. There is far too much suffering. Our brothers and sisters of the world are seeking a safe place to call home and in the difficult journey are being torn from their families. This trauma can rattle the very foundation of our well-being. I certainly have felt it, and it’s trickled into every aspect of my life at times . . . So how do we remain unshaken in a world of such trepidation?
PTSD, chronic stress, anxiety, and depression are manifestations of imbalances — these imbalances can come from our environment, our food, and from lack of self-care – typically all of these. I try to stop often, take a deep breath and ask the question, “What do I need right now?” At times, the answer is a little sunshine — I’m a solar powered girl; sometimes it’s as simple as a glass of water (with lemon!), putting my bare feet on mother earth, or a night under the stars . . . Find your go to self care ideas.
Top among the things I do to feel grounded in a place I can do the most good is The NADA Five Needle Acupuncture Protocol. When I want a deeply effective long-lasting remedy, I turn to NADA — a short and simple ear acupuncture treatment. And I love to share this treatment with my patients and friends. NADA helps patients tap into their inner quiet and calm strength so they can experience the peaceful silence we all need at times to heal.
SOME ISSUES TREATED WITH NADA PROTOCOL
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Emotional trauma
- Insomnia
- Irritability, anger and agitation
- PTSD
- Pain
- Substance Abuse — Reduced cravings for sugar, alcohol and drugs, including nicotine (we have a vaping epidemic in our nation’s teens).
- Minimizes withdrawal symptoms
- Stress reduction, and more
Our personal wellness is easier to reflect upon when we approach it from a calm, steady place. Admitting our brokenness is necessary to heal. If we don’t honestly reflect upon ourselves, we remain stagnant in our problems, both physical and mental. Acupuncture moves stagnation! Specifically it moves liver qi stagnation (stuck energy). Then the magic happens — our body goes into a deep relaxation, restoring the natural energetic flow to our organ systems which nourishes our tissues and cells. Through a more balanced flow, our mental function is positively charged — helping us get off the spinning wheel of worry!
Deep relaxed breathing has been used to soothe the mind for thousands of years, and is a key element of meditation and yoga. BREATHE yourself to wholeness — peaceful calm is just a few deep breaths away! I use a simple deep breathing technique called 4-7-8 which shifts you from fight-or-flight mode into your parasympathetic nervous system to rest and restore. Each time we breathe out we have the opportunity to let go that which is not serving us. On our inward breath we can rejuvenate — pulling in all the love, light and calm we desire. Try it!
Deep breathing also has a physiological affect on the body because the increased oxygen encourages a resting heart rate. Dr. Andrew Weil refers to the method as a “natural tranquilizer for the nervous system,” and states, “Practicing a regular, mindful breathing exercise can be calming and energizing and even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders.”
HOW TO DO 4-7-8 BREATHING
Sit or lay with your back straight to allow your lungs to fill properly. Make sure you are in a comfortable place. Exhale all the air from the lungs before starting the following steps.
- Inhale quietly through your nose to the count of 4.
- Hold your breath for the count of 7. I like to imagine at this point the air moving through my body like a river to nourish my tissues and cells.
- Exhale through your mouth to the count of 8, while making an audible ‘whoooosh’ sound.
Repeat this cycle a total of 4 times — this is one round; you can do two rounds. Do this whenever you feel life’s stressors creeping in.
To close, I’d like to share a Poem by Rachel Naomi Remen that came to me recently through my wonderful yoga teacher Anna at annagyoga . . . It helped me tap into the silence and calm I needed for myself that day. Then we can offer that peacefulness to others . . .
“Perhaps the most important thing we bring to another person is the silence in us, not the sort of silence that is filled with unspoken criticism or hard withdrawal. The sort of silence that is a place of refuge, of rest, of acceptance of someone as they are. We are all hungry for this other silence. It is hard to find. In its presence we can remember something beyond the moment, a strength on which to build a life. Silence is a place of great power and healing.”
If you would like to try a calming NADA treatment, or have a family or friend you feel would benefit, click here to set up an appointment. My appointments are affordable and very relaxing. I also offer much more in my clinic — see my website for more about my Traditional Chinese Medicine practice. I treat the entire family from babies to grandparents, and would be honored to be a part of your families wellness team.
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Onward into the peace and quiet of your heart and it’s steady beat.
Namaste,
Charlotte
Seasons Health 