• More relaxed, less stressful emotional states
• Deeper, more restful sleep
• Physical and Emotional detoxification
• Renewed enthusiasm for the adventure of life

I want to make it clear up front that I do not advocate against conventional treatment for depression/anxiety or other psychological issues . I know for a fact that some people do very well on modern pharmaceutical drugs for these conditions, and I would never encourage anyone to stop taking their medication . Each patient must make his/her own decision regarding what works best for him/her. I do, however, believe that drugs only address part of the problem, namely the physical/organic imbalance, and that natural methods are an essential complement to conventional methods, as they more completely address the emotional and spiritual levels of psychological disorders. Additionally, the Herbal and Food Therapy principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine are an excellent adjunct and provide optimal nutritional support for those who want to more completely adjust their mental/emotional well-being . In Chinese Medicine we do not see the body, mind, and spirit as separate, distinct entities, but as a complete integrated whole. In fact, Chinese Medicine for millenia has attributed spiritual, mental, and emotional energies to the major organs of the body:

The Psycho-Spiritual map according to Chinese Medicine
Organ	Physical aspect	Mental/Emotional aspect	Spiritual aspect
Heart	Circulation	Positive: Joy, enthusiasm, mental clarity Negative: Lack of enthusiasm, mental restlessness	Residence of the shen (Divine inner spirit)
Spleen	Digestion/assimilation	Positive: Clear, quick understanding Negative: Worry, excessive/obsessive thinking	Residence of the intellect
Lungs	Immunity and respiration	Positive: Courage, strength, leadership Negative: Grief, fear, susceptibility to disease	Residence of the Earthly soul (Physical instincts)
Kidneys	Physical strength	Positive: High capacity for physical/mental work, ability to reach goals Negative: Fear, anxiety, physical weakness	Residence of the willpower
Liver	Physical movement of muscles and tendons (action)	Positive: Decisiveness, imagination, diplomacy Negative: Anger, indecisiveness, rudeness	Residence of the eternal soul

Using this map I prescribe herbal therapy and Acupuncture treatments that will help you achieve greater balance on all levels. Additionally, I will walk you through several Qigong exercises and meditations that will serve as tools to help you maintain that balance.

In Chinese Medicine, we understand the Universe to be an infinite sea of Energy (Qi), which is constantly moving, changing, and forming patterns. It is these patterns which allow us to experience the same things over and over, such as the tree in the front yard of the house, the office where we go each day to work, our friends and families, and all things which are to us "real" and "solid". Yet, as we all know, everything changes. Change is a reflection of a shifting away from a familiar pattern and movement towards a new one.

Most psychological problems, in their mental/emotional aspect, are rooted in a resistance to change in some form or another. Due to fear, anger/resentment, or grief, we are unable to accept the changes that are happening around us. This leads to a disconnect between our outer and inner realities, which then leads to unhealthy or self-destructive mental and emotional patterns.

Most of the time this disconnect happens during a stressful or traumatic event that is too much for us to process all at once, such as the death of a loved one, or physical or sexual abuse, or combat stress. As children we are even more prone to become disconnected because we do not have the emotional or mental maturity to process the traumas of life. However, whether we experience the trauma as adults or children, at that moment a part of us becomes "frozen in time" as we struggle to "move forward" while not succumbing to the overwhelming terror, anger, and/or grief that is gripping us.

All of us experience these traumas, and all of us carry their hidden effects with us. Any time that a person suddenly feels hurt, angry, or sad in response to an external event, it is because that event somehow triggered the energy of that trauma to come to the surface. Most of us suppress those reactions because they are "inappropriate", and it is true that they can be disruptive and disrespectful in certain social situations.

At some point, however, the forces of change overtake our ability to resist them, and we find that these trapped negative emotions become amplified and cause problems in daily functioning. Whether it is anxiety, depression, and/or some other imbalance, what is needed is to let go of the resistance that is supporting the negative emotional experiences and to embrace the changes with an open heart and clear intent. At that point, a window of opportunity is created where we can consciously create a new, healthier pattern for ourselves and those around us.

Chinese Medicine provides many tools to use in making the transition from unhealthy and/or self-destructive patterns to more healthy, positive ones. Herbal therapies and Acupuncture can be used to calm the mind, reduce anxiety and tension, improve sleep, and increase resistance to stress. Food Therapy is excellent in providing guidance on the right foods to eat to support emotional health based on the unique imbalance of each patient. Qigong exercises can be used to tap into the imagination and subtle energies of the body to accelerate and strengthen the transition to new mental and emotional patterns. Individualized herbal therapy under this program generally focuses on the following areas, with specific modifications unique to each patient's constitution and particular type of psycho-emotional imbalance:

• Herbs to nourish the blood and calm the spirit.
• Herbs to cleanse and purify the Liver (the most commonly affected organ in mental/emotional disturbance)
• Specific herbs to address the above mentioned organs that are out of balance

Self-Healing Qigong Therapy under this program consists of simple, targeted exercises that the patient practices at home between clinic treatments. They generally focus on the following areas, with specific modifications unique to each patient's constitution and imbalance:

• Purify the Internal and External Qi
• Balance the Qi Flow to calm the mind and emotions
• Release toxic emotions from the organs and infuse them with healthy Qi

Food Therapy is similar to nutritional counseling, with the goal of using food as medicine. Patients in the BodyMindSpirit program are strongly encouraged to adopt a Food Therapy regimen. General Food Therapy under this program will focus in the following areas:

• Reducing the intake of foods that promote stagnation and accumulation of dampness (fat)
• Increasing the intake of foods that detoxify and cleanse the Liver, Kidneys, and Large Intestine
• Increasing the intake of foods that promote the healthy movement of Qi in the body

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