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Meditation on Thansgiving

November 22, 2014 10:26 pm

Happy Thanksgiving folks. It’s a time for families and friends to get together, and share a large meal. For some, this is a pleasant experience to look forward to. There is no shortage of picturesque Rockwellian holiday images during this time to remind us what Thanksgiving is suppose to look like. But there are many of us, for whom it is a stressful time, full of dramas and reminders why family get-togethers don’t occur more often. For others still, it is a lonely time, whether it’s because we don’t have any family, we’re living far away, or because we’re estranged from them. Regardless, it is a holiday to be had and enjoyed. From the health desk of Traditional Eastern Medicine, I would like to focus attention on those of us who are struggling during this holiday time. Remember to be grateful. I mean, that is the essence of the holiday, isn’t it? Gratitude may seem like a trivial thing, but it’s actually a powerful trigger that can cause a significant shift internally. Mahatma Gandhi once said that to change the world, one must start with him/her self. In a similar way, a change in perception must start with a change... View Article

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How Does Acupuncture Help With Infertility?

November 4, 2014 4:07 am

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of natural medicine practiced in the world. It works by stimulating specific points on the body along certain pathways, called meridians, using ultra-thin needles. Acupuncture helps with infertility in four major ways. Many infertile couples are dealing with high levels of stress, depression and anxiety. The first way that acupuncture can help them is by raising the levels of endorphins and certain neurotransmitters like serotonin. This naturally helps them to feel better and improve their ability to cope with stress, depression and anxiety. Secondly, acupuncture directly effects a woman’s ovaries and uterus. This is mediated through improving the the neuroendocrine modulations and improving the blood flow. The effective balancing of hormones can help regulate the menstrual cycle and aid in ovulation. The enhanced blood flow to the ovaries and uterus stimulates the production of healthy eggs and builds a rich uterine lining. For women undergoing IVF, studies have shown that acupuncture treatments significantly improve the success rates. In a 2002 study in Germany involving 160 women, acupuncture treatments raised the IVF success rate from 26 percent to 42 percent. In addressing the fertility issue, it’s also important to consider the male... View Article

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Fall Equinox

September 24, 2014 5:33 pm

Tuesday was the Fall Equinox. We think of the equinox as a day of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. It’s also a time when we transition from Late Summer to Autumn, from the time of the spleen to the season of the lungs. It can be 80 degrees and then 60 degrees during this transition season. To keep balanced keep some of your Late Summer habits while incorporating Autumn’s metal energy activities, like meditation, into your schedule. We’re still in an outwards season but moving towards more quiet and inward moments. A way to do that is have a potluck and incorporate some hot spices to your foods. Let us know what are some of your favorite Autumn activities! Open House 9/26 5:30pm We will be sampling Farmacy Tea’s and Brilliant By Nature’s Beauty Products. There will be complimentary smoothies made with Green Magma and chia seeds, along with some light refreshments. If you get in early, you could take part in a refreshing foot bath using Brilliant By Nature’s Beauty Products. There will be mini acupuncture treatments and chair massage by massage therapist Ed Goll. Give away prizes include Dr. Lee’s self designed t-shirts... View Article

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Traditional Acupuncture and Dharana Art at the Dragon Boat Festival

September 21, 2014 4:23 am

Traditional Eastern Medicine participated in this year’s RI Chinese Dragon Boat Race Festival in the Blackstone Valley. The race was a colorful spectacle of visually stunning Dragon Boats, thundering drum beats and cheering crowds. Hundreds gathered on this clear warm September day, eased by fall breeze. It was our first showing at a vendor event, and it couldn’t have been more exciting. I debuted my new line of Dharana products, which included limited edition fine art prints, tee shirts and tote bags, all of which can be viewed at http://dharana-art.com. Also for sale were Brilliant by Nature body products and Farmacy Herb teas. Days leading up to the event, Elon, our lovely project manager, and I worked long hours getting ready. There was so much to do: purchasing products and information packets, figuring out ways to display products, making banners, and getting shelving. There is a surprising amount of work that goes into preparing for a vendor event, especially for a first time vendor. Fortunately, Elon had years of experience doing vendor events during her undergraduate years, and her expertise was vital in getting everything done. Of course, we couldn’t have done it without Leila, our graphic designer extraordinaire and... View Article

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Entering Late Summer

August 19, 2014 2:08 pm

In Chinese Medicine, there is a fifth season, the Late Summer. The spleen and stomach are ruled by Late Summer. Yang is receding and Yin starts its role of becoming the dominant energy. Yang has a fiery energy and Yin is a cooler energy. Enjoy the heat that August brings, eat your watermelon and cucumbers, but start to introduce mustard greens to keep that stomach fire burning as the weather shifts to cooler temperatures. Earth is the element of Late Summer. The earth is giving us an abundance of vegetables and fruits. We may feel the need to eat all we can, but try and canning or pickling to store fresh foods for winter. Don’t fall let Earth’s energy become excessively lethargic and foggy. Try to start a meditation ritual that will keep your head clear during this transitional season. A half cup of cooked Swiss chard provides a huge amount of both lutein and zeaxanthin. These plant chemicals, known as carotenoids, protect your retinas from the damage of aging, according to Harvard researchers. That’s because both nutrients, which are actually pigments, appear to accumulate in your retinas, where they absorb the type of shortwave light rays that can damage... View Article

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Dr. Sanford Lee featured on local radio show

August 14, 2014 4:14 am

Providence Acupuncturist Dr. Sanford Lee was featured on Cardinal Points, a local radio show hosted by Ed Cardinal. The interview covered Dr. Lee’s journey into art, marital arts and acupuncture through the study of the ancient Chinese classic, the I Ching. “This week’s guest to Cardinal Points Sanford Lee, Acupuncturist, begins our show by explaining the Yi Jing(I Ching) an ancient Chinese classic text, compiled some 3,000 years ago. “Basically the concept behind it is that everything changes. The universe is in a constant state of flux.” …” To continue reading, follow the link: http://cardinalpointstalkradio.com/shows/august-5-2014-traditional-eastern-medicine-sanford-lee/

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Keep Cool This Summer

July 22, 2014 6:31 pm

Iced Chrysanthemum Tea Chrysanthemum is a delicious hot day drink. The flowers’ properties are slightly cold, sweet and bitter. It works with the Lung and Liver meridians and its actions are to expel wind heat, calm liver yang rising, clear liver heat and benefit the eyes. To make the tea, poor hot water over one 1 tablespoon of herb. Let it steep over night, on the counter or in the fridge, and you’ll have a medicinal infusion ready for your the next day. It can sometimes feel too hot and humid to get your exercise in, but keeping your heart pumping and muscles loose are important in all seasons! Start off your session with a few rounds of sun salutation and then move into pigeon pose. Exhale and lean forward, leading with your heart and head toward the floor. Repeat, moving like a wave through your spine: Roll up on the inhale, and reverse as you release on the exhale. Do this 5 to 10 times, then rest your head on your thumbs or the backs of your hands. Follow the link the this website to find more poses.

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Acupuncturist’s Meditation on the I Ching: Nourishing

June 30, 2014 1:47 am

27. Yi/Nourishing Mountain over Thunder The great Mencius spoke of nourishment of the spirit, not only of the body. The image conveys an act of mastication. The implication is that in order to get the nourishment, we have to first break down and digest the food. The raw material must die in order for us to extract its essence for our nourishment. While we give thanks for it, there is no way for us to exist without destroying the food stuff we consume.

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Summer Solstice

June 26, 2014 5:17 pm

In Chinese medicine, the summer season is related to the heart and it is the season of Fire and Yang. It’s a time that offers tremendous growth, but make sure you don’t get swept up in the heat of the moment. It can be a challenge to keep grounded during the summer. There’s always some event going on, the beach is always calling or the heat alone can be too much. Living within the seasons help to stay grounded. Wake early with the sun and go to be bed later than you would during the winter. Work yoga into your daily routine. On the weekends, take a nap during the afternoon and make sure to get exercise during the cooler times of the day. Water is fire’s opposing element, which means you should find ways to incorporate it into your day. Always, always make sure you stay hydrated during the summer months. Drinking water helps eliminate toxins, allowing your body to focus on other tasks. Take cold showers, or baths, and find time to swim to cool your body down. Tomorrow will be the longest day this year, take advantage and watch the sun rise and set. Fill your day... View Article

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Acupuncturist’s meditation on the I Ching 20. Xun/Proceeding Humbly

June 21, 2014 10:06 pm

Xun: Wind over wind: Proceeding Humbly. The winds of change blow relentlessly. The effect is constant changes, which can occur in two ways: visible changes that are apparent and less visible ones that are subtle. Despite their differences, the essence of change is the same: it occurs at all times, constantly. The Yi Jing (I Ching), or the “Book of Changes” is devoted to observing the variety of discreet patterns of changes that emerge over time. Over time, the myriad observable patterns were distilled into 64 distinct symbols, or Gua, which make up the text. Among these, Xun, more than any other, signifies this very essence of change. So the changes keep on coming. There is nothing to be done about that. We are all in amidst of changes, practically swimming in the sea of changes. So the question is, how does one proceed? Well, the Yi Jing proposes that the better able one is in reading the changes, the better able one would be to come out ahead. Because, ultimately, that is what you want to do in this wonderfully chaotic world. There are times when everything seems to be going the right way. And other times, not so... View Article

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