Traditional Tibetan Medicine: An Ancient Healing Practice of Asia

Traditional Tibetan Medicine: An Ancient Healing Practice of Asia

In October 2016, 400 Traditional Tibetan Medicine practitioners, scholars and experts conferred in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital city. They came together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Men-Tsee-Khang, also known as the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute, a Tibetan hospital that was pivotal in the development and preservation of Traditional Tibetan Medicine throughout the ages. Since the 1950’s, Tibet, or Xizhang …

Australian Bush Medicine: Australian Aboriginal Healing Practices

Australian Bush Medicine: Australian Aboriginal Healing Practices

When you say “the bush” in the United States, you likely think of shrubbery and landscape design. But, the bush in Australian culture is as iconic as the Outback. To Australians, the bush means lush, barely-inhabited regions of their mainland (whereas Outback represents the more dry, interior areas of the continent). And, Aussies have attached bush to many terms over …

Meditating to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Meditating to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

In the early to mid-1970’s, Dr. Herbert Benson, Harvard Medical School professor of mind/body medicine, founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, writes in his book, The Relaxation Response, about a simple practice of counteracting the flight-or-flight response. The Relaxation Response practice in the book outlines nine steps, but the essential elements are the use of a …

Chakras: Yoga Wisdom for Managing Energy Centers

Chakras: Yoga Wisdom for Managing Energy Centers

In the yoga tradition, your body bases its fulfilling your healing and wellness maintenance needs on the use of a conceptual framework called chakras. Chakras have a long history within Hinduism and Buddhism with varying degrees of similarity to what is commonly understood of chakras in modernity. Chakras can be understood today in integrative medicine as metaphors for the energetic …

Celebrating the Hawaiian Lei on May Day

Celebrating the Hawaiian Lei on May Day

In Hаwаіі, thе ѕауіng gоеѕ thаt Mау Day (May 1st) іѕ Lеі Day. Ruth and “Red” Hawk write in their song аbоut thіѕ сuѕtоm back from 1927, аnd thе ѕоng іѕ often performed аѕ a hula dance in present day. But, there іѕ much more tо Lеі Dау than thе ѕоng thаt is so familiar to Hаwаііаnѕ. The lеі іѕ …