Lotus Healing Blog - All About Acupuncture, Health, and More Holistic Approach

after trying many different pillows over the years, i settled on a buckwheat pillow.  it is not fancy like memory foam.  it's just a pillow filled with buckwheat hulls.  it can be shaped and is firm enough to support the neck in different sleeping positions.  it feels cool and refreshing throughout the night.

for people with neck pain/stiffness issues, i strongly recommend this type of pillows.  there are many selections on amazon.

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my plans for this holiday season was working on 12/23 and 12/30 to conclude the year and take a couple road trips in between those days off.  traveling is very important to me.  I am always able to feel recharged, refreshed, allowing new flow of ideas, and new plans or perspectives for things.  i like to visit places that i haven’t been to, even just a little town on the map.

and things couldn’t go my way this time.  i caught the flu and my body gave in after barely hang on to work on the 23rd.  well, this time, it’s the whole nine yards, the usual package people get and my old asthma attacks.  oh, boy, i thought i was going to die as i fought so hard to grasp little air into my lungs.  as usual, i refused to take any cold medicine.  but i had to surrender, and to use an inhaler which saved my life.  yes, i administered the acupuncture, the herbs, gua sha, and cupping.  but it seemed that after a year of hard working, my body needed this chance to recoup.  it forced me to stay in bed for a few days and slept a good number of hours.  i was even able to working on some of my beading jewelry projects, updating biz web site, studying lessons from astrology certification course i signed up, and watch some old macgyver tv episodes.  i felt guilty of slow down.

i was first upset about my plans gone into the thin air.  but if this was what the universe had in mind for me, i am ok with it now.  it’s another exercise for me to learn looking at things from different angles, to appreciate, and to be peaceful with the experience.

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one of my recent interests is sound therapy.  i was introduced to crystal singing bowls before.  i finally did a search online and found a decent site to purchase them from.  This is Omnivos therapies.  they carry a huge selection of sound therapy tools.  prices are fair and the site pages are neat and easy on the eyes.  i was  amazed by how courteous, knowledgeable  and helpful the owner was.  i appreciate his recommendation on crystal singing bowls and tuning forks that i ordered.

even though i am still new to sound therapy, i strongly believe that it must hold certain values in holistic healing.  imagine that if we don’t like to hear loud squeaky noise screaming in our ears, how the pleasant sound can be therapeutic then.

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Finally Lotus Healing Wellness Center has a presence on facebook. I see this as a great communication tool to connect, network, exchange information and more. I am very excited!

please let us know how we are doing by becomeing a fan, posting your reviews, or leaving a note on the wall.  we are looking forward to seeing you there.

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It’s october again, the national breast cancer awareness month.  it’s so nice to see many various fund raisers for the research fund.

to join the force promoting, we are giving our patients/clients and their loved ones a free 30 minutes Reiki session.  for those i haven’t come across, please accept our invitation.  I am looking forward to meeting you and working with you in the near future.

Online appointment booking is convenient via here.

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oh, boy, there have been a few more hot waves combing the area since last month. I am definitely looking forward to the arrival of winter, hmmm, more precisely late fall/pre-winter.

an acupuncture point called “da zhui” is located at the based of the neck parallel to the shoulder level on the spine. its usage in acupuncture includes such as clearing heat, lowering fever, and detoxifying. so here i try to cool down myself in hot weather, i wet a towel and place/hang it on the back of my neck right where the acupuncture point is at. right away i feel a cooling breeze sweeping over my system. i was surprised that this actually works even only with a wet towel.

please give it a try and see for for yourself.

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another heat wave arrived this week.  here are some little tricks of mine to share for surviving hot days.

• place a big bucket of ice in front of your fan on the floor.  cool air flows lower than hot air.  the fan can circulate the cool icy breaths into the whole room.  it’s not as good as an AC but it helps.
• for sleepless hot nights, go to bed with an ice pack behind the neck.  it will cool you down and fall asleep quickly.
• ice pack behind the neck is good for the day also.
• spray self with the water spray bottle to feel fresh and cool.

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even in the warm summer days, caring for our health is essential. here are a few notes of mine to share.

• be aware of the temperature change from warm days to cooler days, from AC environment to warm outdoor, or from hot mid-days to cooler nights.
• not to be overloaded with icy drinks or foods. the digestive system may be overwhelmed and therefore the indigestion or summer stomach flu occurred.
• be hydrated. sweating means drinking.  don’t wait ’til feeling thirsty.
• fruits and veges are summer delights as always.
• watermelon is definitely a summer good eat. it is a natural coolant especially the part closer to the skin. it has the similar function of a clear-heat herbal formula called “white tiger concoction.” there are Chinese dishes cooking with watermelon skin. some ladies even slice watermelon skins and place on the face just the same as using cucumber slices. however, watermelon may not be suitable for people with diabetes ’cause of it high sugar content.
• mung bean is a Chinese traditional summer good eat. you will probably get this from a Chinese supermarket. mung bean is known of its detox and clearing heat property. here is my recipe if you feel adventurous enough. buy a bag of mung bean usually 14oz or 16oz bag for $1.50. pour a half bag into a pot and wash them, with 1000cc water and cook on low to medium fire. it takes about 20-30 minutes to be fully cooked.  when you see the beans opened up, they are ready.  you can add a bit sugar and/or a can of coconut milk to finish cooking.  wait ’til it’s cool, serve by itself or with some fruit cocktail.  it’s a very simple healthy summer dessert.

have a wonderful summer!

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have this ever happened to you? not enough time in hand? I do. 24 hours seems not enough anymore.

when I was a kid, time just wasn’t going fast enough. i wanted to enjoy the freedom of being an adult so bad. now still 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but i feel the time wheel turns so fast. just when new year merely arrives, Christmas shopping madness begins. i wonder why.

it could be that i don’t manage time well. yes, very possible. i tried multitasking. i tried concentrating on one thing at a time. Still time just isn’t enough.

finally the light bulb in my head lights up, i realize that “I” complicate myself my life with tons of thoughts, to-do lists, and more without knowing. of course i wouldn’t have enough time to sort out all while i create more to do post-it notes and that takes time too. and while i am too busy jogging on the hamster wheel, i forget to stop and appreciate the flow of time.

what’s your pace today? join me to stop, breathe, and smell the flowers.

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it’s been awhile since the last post. lots of changes again. the biggest one is that my sister came to work with me as a massage therapist.

so far so good as the sister team goes out to conquer the world. though it took me some time to get used to seeing her so many hours in a week. when people ask us how it goes working together? we always reply a big smile first. and of course, there can be tons to talk about following that.

i do appreciate her joined me and working the business together as our beliefs about healing and business are identical. and that empowers us.

as she grows her massage and spiritual reading business as i grow mine, i look forward to great success in the near future.

the herb “gou ji zi” or called “wolfberry” or “gou ji berry” is a very common and good herb. they look like raisins but in red color, tasted sweet, rich in vitamin A, benefits eyes, the liver and kidneys.

besides being used in Chinese herbal formulas, it can be added to soups, or I have seen it being added to cereal. my dad used to eat a handful a day or put in his tea. there was one time I was making oatmeal raisin cookies and I forgot to buy raisins. I put in this herb instead of raisins. it turned out to be a success. there is a Chinese bakery in Milbrae even carries “Gou Ji bread”.

they can be purchased from major chinese grocery stores, such as 99 ranch market, or the herb shops in china town. but before consuming and if any concerns, please consult with your healthcare physician first.
Here is a copy of a segment from wikipedia, please click the link to read the complete article,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_berry

oh, boy… i realize that i haven’t had the chance to post on this blog for over a month now. feeling a bit guilty as i promised myself i would do it at least weekly or twice a month.

i am going through some significant changes in my personal life. it’s as if i was positioned on a speedy lane on the super highway of maturity and growing pain. as i was told by a dear friend who is an astrologer, this is the work of Saturn in my home house, supposed to make me stronger and realistic after making me throw away my rose colored glasses. 2 years! it was my turn to go through this for 2 years. and i am so glad that i am at the end of the cycle.

i believe it. i believe we are affected by the stars above, being emotional on the days of full moon, like the tides of ocean influenced by the moon. i believe we all take turns having good years and those more challenging. i also realize that the difference is that some become tougher and wiser after the difficult times and some are defeated and can’t stand tall again.

in spite of favor cosmos effects or not, i believe life can be better as long as i choose to do good deeds and stay with positive thoughts. after all, i also believe what goes around, what comes around.

ever since my father passed away 11 years ago, i’ve frequently thought about or visualized the moment when it’s my turn to go. what would i be thinking? would i want to say some last words to certain people? would i be sad or angry? would i hold any regrets?
talking about death was a big no-no in front of my mom. but that doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen to her or me. and i always believe that it’s not about the length of years I am around but about the quality of those years what i do for people in my life. certainly i can’t reverse the global warming. at least, i am proud to be a decent honest person loving my job to help people within my power.

and then today there was this moment had me go over these thoughts again. I ALMOST got hit by a car this afternoon. the driver seemed to be on the phone or simply didn’t pay attention. I saw this car took off from the stop sign and coming at me so fast as i was crossing the street on pedestrian path. the driver stopped abruptly only a few inches away from me.

the thought of me being killed right at the moment flashed by. surprisingly i felt very calm, peaceful, no regret, no what if, should have, etc. i was ready if that was the time my clock meant to stop ticking.

I guess i was somewhat prepared mentally. I gave myself a few points on this. but there are always more homework to do, thinking positively, utilizing my skills and the time i am still around, and more. life IS too short!

finally i watched “the secret” the movie/documentary after a few people kept reminding me. and i am glad that i finally did. following “what the bleep do we know”, there are more movies about spiritual awareness in the recent years.

what’s the secret? it’s the law of attraction. i am somewhat familiar with the concept through personal experiences and am still practicing daily. it introduces the thinking pattern totally opposite of what i learned and was accustomed to. we can attract what we want, to be, to have, etc. and our emotions are the fuel. each of us holds the key to ultimate happiness. it’s the same as the popular manifestation concept.

i totally recommend this one movie. there are more info at this link, http://thesecret.tv/home.html

have fun attracting what you like and enjoy a wonderful life!

i think this is a simple question to see if a person carries optimistic perspectives or not.

since my childhood, i was taught there was never enough for everyone and i was never good enough according to my parents’ standards. among lots of things not enough, being a girl was not good enough; 95% of test scores on math was not good enough. and so i learned to look at my world bad enough.

the glass was always half empty to my parents. finally i was tired of trying to pleasing them. understanding and trying to break the “not-good-enough” belief took me a long time. be able to enjoy the half full glass of water now is great. it’s a great practice for me to look at things from different angles and so earn different perspectives. it’s still a good exercise for my mind everyday.

what’s your take on your glass of water?

my last post was about having that peaceful moment in a day, like having that essential cup of coffee for some people, and tea for me.

so when is the right moment? it all depends on one’s preference. it may not sound much like an answer.

here are some ideas of mine to share…

i stopped listening to music when I am driving; that’s peaceful for me.

after the shower before the bed, i sit down on the side of my bed, feel the blood still rushing from the hot shower, enjoy the silence in the dark, and feel grateful for the day passed; that’s peaceful for me.

waiting for my laundry to be done at laundry night, looking up to the sky, counting stars, and feeling how tiny i am compared to the universe; that’s peaceful for me.

I am still discovering more peaceful moments everyday. How about yours?

10 minutes is so little compared to 24 hours in a day. yet recently i found myself being so “busy” that i can’t even give myself a 10-min peaceful break by simply doing nothing in that 10 minutes.

it’s an alert finding myself being literally on top of everything. but wait, it doesn’t mean that i have had everything done, instead being so edgy that i don’t have anything done. i need to go back to the routine of having at least 10 min or ideally 30 min with myself, either meditating or just sitting by myself without interference. i forgot keeping myself grounded is essential.

how about you? if you already have that cup of coffee for the day, how about the 10 minutes or more with yourself to collect thoughts or better yet observe those thoughts flow by?

it’s the year of pig and good fortune. my best wishes to everyone!

Lotus Healing Wellness Center

one of the segments on ABC “medical mystery” show last night was about a small village in Italy where people share the same last name and the average life is 90 years old. while eating fatty foods regularly, these people have no cholesterol problem, heart diseases, and diabetes. it amazes scientists who wonder what the medical secret is in their blood. besides their unique tolerance to modern diseases, they are a happy bunch, singing folk songs and going to church are just as regular as showing their big smiles.

to me, in spite of the possible secret hidden in their gene pool, being happy and satisfied with life may be one of the keys to their longevity. Other important keys could be living in an isolated non-polluted environment, breathing fresh clean air in the mountain, eating no hormone or chemicals added produce, and living simple life.

“don’t worry, be happy!” as the song goes; this is just possibly where we can start cultivating our own longevity legend.

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do you tend to hold your breath when you’re nervous? do you ever notice how great you feel after taking a long deep breath and exhale all the way? like tons of weight being lifted off. sometimes our body even automatically set to inhale and exhale deeply, especially after we’re stressed.

in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), this is a DIY to promote Qi (energy) circulation. per one of diagnostic techniques, if i see a person keeps taking deep breaths unconsciously, i know this person has some qi (energy) circulation issues needed to be addressed.

so consciously taking deep breaths is healthy. try taking a five to ten minutes break, sit or stand comfortably and concentrate on the rhythm of your breathing, feel and visualize fresh air in, out with any fuss you no longer need. you will feel the difference.

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on my way to work this morning , a thought came through, i realized that i’ve been saying “oh, i am getting old…” a lot lately. it seems that i use it as an excuse when i made mistakes. but is it really that i am simply getting old or just not ready to get wiser by learning from my mistakes? or maybe i dislike the fact that i am getting old and so i blame on it whenever?

in life we all have the time being young and naive and the time with hair thinning out, turning white and wrinkles down the road. but what’s the difference beside the age number adding up year after year and accumulation of material owning?

i think it’s maturity, wisdom, and life experiences. these are valuable things money can’t buy. they make us unique. “never stop learning and evolve”, an old Chinese proverb said.

i am so glad that i was able to catch this thought and readjust my attitude accordingly. now i am ready to show off my white hair, wrinkles, and share my two cents.

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“there are only two types of people in the world, winners and losers. the only difference between the two is winners don’t give up.” these are the lines of the dad from “little miss sunshine” movie. I thought that was a very simple way to categorize people. maybe it’s too black and white, yet i think it’s true to some degree.

in the past, i often would come up with some brilliant ideas or dreams and then i would kill them right at the next second. i realized that i drew a very tight circle around myself and thought i would never have the ability to step out of it. i didn’t think i was capable. i didn’t believe in myself enough to even give myself a chance to try. some friends said that i was too hard on myself. and i thought it was one of the unhealthy beliefs i picked up from my parents since my childhood.

over the years, it has taken lots of efforts to try to break out of that nutshell, to engage with healthier beliefs, and not to give up. i am not all the way on the top of mount everest yet since there are so much more to learn and chances to outgrow myself. I am only proud of what i have achieved up-to-date and looking forward to being wiser tomorrow. and along the journey, i am always humble to learn from others and ready to share my thoughts with those interested.

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have you ever count the times you brush your hair everyday? once in the morning and once at night? 20 times a day? well, not enough.

according to ancient traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, they recommended to brush our hair at least 100 times a day. brushing can quickly stimulate the blood and acupuncture energy (Qi) circulation in the head region. over 50 acupuncture points plus Chinese and Japanese scalp acupuncture regions are identified on the head. And there are very rich capillaries distributed on the scalp. with blood circulation improved and oxygen level increased to the brain, we easily feel sharper and fresher. it also prevents hair loss.

since it’s so easy to do, why not give it a try? now start counting, you will notice your tiredness being brushed away immediately.

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one of the old Chinese longevity practices my father used to practice was taking a relaxing walk after meals. at the time, i was a kid and thought that was a ridiculous ritual. now i can understand that there are so much to learn from this ancient wisdom.

for busy people taking a relaxing walk after meals can be a luxury though. most of people always on the run, including me. to confess some of my bad practices, i often go back to working on my computer after eating, or sometimes even worse, eating while working. these are definitely no-no, bad for digestion system.

what the walk does is able to stimulate meridians, especially stomach and spleen channels. boost the energy in digestive system. and take a break from busy schedule is a bless.

if you’re able to try this and or become part of your daily routine, it would a healthy way to go very long way.

Lotus Healing Wellness Center