Healthcare Paradigm Shift: Use of Ancient Healing Techniques

A few years ago when I asked an audience how many people did a meditation practice on a daily basis or knew what Reiki was – very few would raise their hands. I am pleasantly surprised to now observe more hands rising when I ask about meditation, or other ancient healing techniques (like Reiki).  More people are seeking alternative healing …

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 …

Ancient African Healing Methods, Part 2_ Traditional African Medicine - Four Directions Wellness

Ancient African Healing Methods, Part 2: Traditional African Medicine

“The future must come and look at the past, to learn from the past.”      ~ Erick Gbodossou, MD (traditional healer and Western-trained physician) from the Andrew J. Young documentary, Strong Medicine: The Secret Power of African Healing. Dr. Gbodossou’s words ring true today more than any other time in history. Scientific advances have learned (using CRISPR technology) to …

Getting to Know…YOU!

Do you remember the musical “The King and I?” If so, you likely remember the song “Getting to Know You.”  Remember?  The chorus sings “Getting to know you. Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you. Getting to hope you like me…” Getting to know a person you just met, or even learning more about someone you have known for decades, offers us …

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 …

Ancient Egyptian medical texts

Ancient Egyptian Medical Texts, Modern Medical Research

Over 3,500 years ago, Egypt, a country that sits on two continents (northeast corner of Africa  and a southwestern portion in Asia), experienced some of the primary forms of literature, agriculture, urban development, and precursors to the sciences we know today. While astrology and religion were among those “sciences” back then, the Ancient Egyptians were renowned for their medical knowledge. …

The Practice of Silence

In every religion and in all ancient healing practices, one of the common themes is the practice of entering into silence…. How does that feel to you?  Does the thought of entering into complete silence scare you?  Do you think – “how do I even begin to become silent?”  Or “no thanks – that’s not how I care to spend my time.”  In …