"I pledge allegiance to the flag..." is one of the first formal oaths I learned growing up and I remember taking it pretty seriously as a kindergardener (although I was am overly serious child to be sure.)

Civic and official duties, military service and the practice of medicine all generally involve the swearing of oaths.

I'm proud that the Oath of Practice I have sworn (inclu as an Oriental Medicine practitioner is one that I believe to reflect universal principles of love and service to ones own wellbeing as well as the health of those we serve and that it feels appropriate for me to commit to in this lifetime.

While oaths can be a powerful force, I also want to say that more often than not, I tend to see the negative repercussions of them in terms of healing.

The truth is that our personal lives are filled with promises, contracts and agreements and these utterances have an energy that is just as serious as an oath sworn with one hand in the air. 

In the laws of the Universe, a word represents a thought, and a thought is an actual thing, especially when spoken with strong intent and emotion.

Think about the difference between making a request at the deli counter and making a request from God.  Feel the difference?  We're talking more than words. 

So the positive aspect of a promise, when made in an appropriate context is that it is an energetically binding statement that brings our intent, our will and our actions into alignment.   

Marriage vows are a great example : "I promise to love and care for you in sickness and in health...."  

A vow becomes like a supportive program we create and commit to to give shape for what we wish to create in our life. 

The problem with promises, vows and oaths is often that time passes, lives happen, and somewhere down the road in the future, we find ourselves at different stages of life, in places we couldn't have imagined with a new set of circumstances but that energetic contract is still running in the background, now an outdated relic. 

This can create a conflict of energy that can really muck up the works especially when promises include strong conditions like "til death do us part." 

What happens when it's 10 years down the road and the marriage didn't work out the way you'd planned.  You parted, but nobody died.

The official divorce papers may have been signed but if nobody addresses the energetic component, agreements just keep right on existing exerting their subtle or not so subtle effect on our lives.

Signs that you've got some energetic contract issues often manifest as stuckness around a certain issue or theme, feelings of guilt that seem hard to explain or an experience that no matter what you do you just can't seem to ______ (fill in the blank.)

Healing our bodies and our lives always involves becoming more whole in some way.  When we've had a certain amount of energy locked up in an agreement that no longer serves us, this can keep us stuck in our growth because that energy is elsewhere engaged.  It's like trying to drive with one hand tied behind your back. 

In your physical health, this can show up as a great fatigue. Chronic or difficult to explain aches and pains can sometimes also be attached to blocks around agreements.  Maybe you promised you would take care of someone or "never let anything happen to them" and if something does happen, we can end up unconsciously punishing ourselves without even realizing it. 

There's a lot more subtle nuances to weeding out what's happening in your physical and energetic field, but here are some basic steps to try if you suspect you're being dogged by an oath or agreement that no longer serves you. 

If you're unsure as to what the deepest cause is, you won't do any harm in trying it out and seeing if it helps. Notice if you feel a sense of relief, or if you get more movement or change around the issue you've been struggling with. 

1. Forgive yourself (our loud) for whatever you have not lived up to. Ex. "I forgive myself for not staying married to Suzanne". This one seems simple, but forgiveness is a powerful force for change. 
2. Acknowledge (out loud) what the agreement was and that you tried your best to honor it, but that now it is no longer appropriate. In your mind's eye, imagine standing with the person or situation that the contract as if you are holding an official document between you.  Together see yourselves tearing it up.
3. Literally feel a sense of gratitude in your physical body for the learning experience of the situation, even if it was painful and state that the agreement is finished and you are going forward to live your life. 

 An energetically minded acupuncturist, hypnotherapist, EFT practitioner or skilled energy medicine person can be a great resource for helping you release the sneaky baggage under the surface so you are more free to be You!

Be Free!

Below is the Oath of Practice from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, in case you want to see what's behind the service of your acupuncturist :) 

I have a confession, I used to be a bit of a heliophobe. That's right, afraid of too much sunlight. I don't know where it came from as a child, but recall one family vacation as a teenager, walking down the boardwalk on the Jersey shore, my family making fun of me. While they were all dressed for the hot summer weather, I had added a hat, long sleeves, and a towel over my shoulders. I was off course, wearing sunscreen.

I'm also someone who has a lot of moles and freckles and was always told by doctors that this meant I had a much higher risk of developing skin cancer. Somehow this sinking feeling of always having to be on guard, watching for irregular borders, any changes in mole patterns, engendered me with a worrysome avoidance of the sun. 

As I matured, learned more about natural health and the importance of sunlight and Vitamin D, I was able to outgrow my sun avoidance, coming into a more balanced view.

Now, as a wholistic health expert, I recommend that people make sure to get health sun exposure as well as time outdoors with the healing influences of nature. 

Living in Japan for a few years, I saw how many Asian women went to extremes to avoid sun exposure, this time not for fear of sun cancer, but because in the Japanese culture esthetic where white porcelin skin is considered an ideal of female beauty.  

These days I make sure to get a healthy amount of sun exposure, although I'm still careful about my good 'ol nose getting too burnt, and you'll often find me in one of Portland's many parks getting some earth and sun time.

This past week, during one such glorious lying on the ground times, I over did it a bit. Has this ever happened to you? You're sitting with a friend, enjoying the conversation and time just seems to slip away. Before you know it, there's that tender, uncomfortable foreboding feeling coming from your dermis and you know you're going to be hurting. 

That sunny day, knowing I'd overdone it, I came home, gave myself a Chinese herbal formula and acupuncture treatment geared towards 'Clearing Heat" and spent the next two days slathering myself in aloe and clay.

While prevention is always the best medicine, I wanted to share some ideas for treating any sunburns you and your skin may encounter while enjoying the love of Nature this summer.

Lavender is another heavy hitter for burns and this included burns of any kind, not just sunburn.  Use pure lavender oil from a quality source and apply over the affected skin.  

Essential oils and blends can also be a helpful companion for sunburns.  Cool natured oils such as peppermint and eucalyptus can be used, especially at first to "vent the heat" as their herb properties are cooling and aromatic.

Chamomile and calendula add soothing, calming properties to your blend and do well mixed with aloe or in the yogurt based lotion below.

Yogurt (and dairy products in general) have a cooling nature and can soothe sunburned skin.  Use yogurt by itself, or combine it with a few drops of lavender oil and aloe for a refreshing skin soother. 

Naturally, that burning sensation on the skin and our Rudolph like noses keep us focusing many sunburn solutions on the skin itself, but more systemic treatments can help your body heal faster and nix and residual lingering symptoms, speeding your recovery.

Acupuncture can be very helpful at "releasing heat" from the system and can relieve the general fatigue and malaise often present after a major sun exposure.

There are several Chinese herbal formulas for "clearing heat", like the one I described taking above and this is an excellent course of action if you can get into see your herbalist within a day or so of a major sunburn.  

Chinese medical herbalism is quite a specific modality and so I won't list any specific recommendations of formulas here.  This type of herbalism is serious medicine and needs to be used under the guidance of a medically trained herbalist. 

Especially if you've had some above average, serious sunburn that includes large areas of your body, I recommend following up with more systemic treatment.

I hope you've found some useful tips and I'm wishing you a wonderful summer in the sunshine!!

Leslie Huddart, L.Ac., M.A.O.M.

** These recommendations are for educational purposes, have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any disease. ** They'll empower you to take charge of your health just the same :)

Our skin is our largest organ ! It not only holds us all together but is a super smart organ at that, deciding what to let it and how to let things out.

Our skin is a big part of our interface with the world and pops up with themes of appearance, self esteem and how we feel we're "seen" by others.  Emotionally, the skin is a boundary between what we let in or not, what "gets under our skin."

Skin brushing is a simple natural health technique that can increase the vitality and appearance of your skin while improving your overall health.  By gently stimulating the lymph system, the body is assisted in eliminating excess interstitial fluids and bacteria, while increasing blood flow to the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin.) 

The lymph system has no pumping system of its own and relies on body movement to do its job. Needless to say, in our mostly sedentary society, lymph could sure use a helping hand from time to time.

When you skin brush regularly, you'll be helping your natural and dynamic body balance keep on humming while enjoying an increased "glow" of the skin. Function and esthetics, there's something in it for everyone. 

If cellulite is something on your list of things you'd like to change, daily skin brushing is effective at reducing the appearance of this lumpy bumpy skin presentation. (Diet and quality of foods is also a cellulite issue but that's for another post.)

I have used a skin brush for several years now and I can immediately see the difference in the tone of skin after finishing just one leg.  The brushed leg is a nicer pink with a better overall skin tone.

Here's the How To's:

When: Morning is best and before a shower is optimal.  Skin brushing is done on dry skin so do it before you turn on the shower.  

How: Use gentle, long sweeping motions generally in the direction of the heart.  As you get to the chest area you can aim a bit towards the underarms as there is important lymph collection going on there. 

Less is more where pressure is concerned. Be gentle. The skin should not be scratchy irritated. 

Below is a general diagram. Some sources say brush the belly in a clockwise direction, but I tend to just go straight up which I think gets the job done just as well. See what feels best for you. 

Have fun! I hope some invigorating skin brushing will add a little boost to your day and be one more thing you can feel great about in your self care and self love routine!

Health is wealth!

It’s in the air! Stepping outside my door this morning I felt a breeze of excitement at feeling the hint of warmth and Spring in the air. 

The sight of those amazing purple crocuses poking through lawns never ceases to make me pause and admire.

This is the time of year the “yang” or active, upward, growth propelling aspect of nature’s energy is truly on the rise.  We feel this in our own bodies with the urge to get outside, to clean stuff out of our houses and get ready for the new beginnings of Spring.

For some though, there’s a lingering dread in the background when thoughts of flowers and pollen come to mind.  Yes, Spring allergy sufferers, this is for you.

Millions of people in the United States deal with “hayfever” or seasonal allergies, one estimate I saw was as high as 30%.  Although Western conventional medicine has no known cause of allergies, natural and ancient health modalities look at several different factors including the individual’s constitution, digestive capacity and early environment.

I’d like to share with you some small things you can do to make a big difference in how you feel as the yang grows and the flowers bloom….

Here we are mid-February and I hope this finds you knee deep in chocolate and full of love, the deep Self-Love kind.
You see, we all know that our culture, whether it's Hallmark, or the movie industry puts a ton of juice into the oh-so-magical-seeming version of romantic L-O-V-E.

You know how it goes, you catch their eye across the room, there's instant chemistry, suddenly they're your special person around whom your world and thoughts revolve. You've found your "magical other".

Maybe you've actually experienced something like this at some point in your life, I know I have.  It all seems, well, magical and then somewhere down the line, "reality" sets in.

Wonderfully terribly existential exclamations arise like, "You're not who I thought you were!"  "What happened to "us" !"  Maybe you stick it out, maybe you break up.

One thing's for sure though, as you reflect back on the different people you've drawn into your love life, undoubtedly, certain themes will emerge.

"Hmm, interesting that I tend to date men who...."
"Why is it that I always end up with women who..."

Have I hit a chord here?

Truth is, it's never truly about "the other". 

Yes, your boyfriend may do stupid and annoying s***. They may have bad habits, cheat on you, act like a jerk or ultimately just not be a good fit for you. 

And certainly each individual is responsible for their own actions, but what they are not responsible for is making you feel a certain way about yourself.

When it comes down to it, it is only through a deep and unswerving love of our Selves that we can move towards truly extending Love, our true nature, out into the world.  All other arrangements eventually tumble like a house of cards.

Too often, our references for how good, how loveable, how deserving we are all get pinned on outer circumstances. 

This is huuuugggee in healing.  I have faced these demons in myself and see them pop up in every area of life from food to family to healing physical pain.

One of the reasons I'm launching a series of classes this Spring is to incorporate the areas of Inner work into the seemingly external issues of weight, food and health.

If it calls to you, I'd love for you to join me on these adventures.

In the meantime, may we all be filled with an overflowing gratitude for ourselves in this moment, no alterations needed.

With love,
Leslie

Check out more about upcoming free classes here or jump on over to Facebook and tell me know you're thinkin.

New Years, new adventures, and for me a new living space.  Sitting amidst boxes and a jumble of furniture I’m reflecting on the process of moving.  More specifically on the process of change.

Moving house is such a process! At first it seems simple: put some things in boxes, then move them to another location.  Soon, things start to get messy. 

More stuff, objects, possessions seem to endlessly flow from shelves and closets, reminding us of just how much stuff we actually have accumulated (and don’t really need). The numerous packed boxes seem to barely leave a dent in what needs to be done.  That sweater and do-dad that was forgotten about for at least a year, still seems a little too precious to get rid of. Really?

Some people are great purge-ers and can toss items left and right into the Goodwill box. It’s a skill I’ve cultivated more and more in myself over the years but still struggle with in stressful moments.

Then there’s the actual moving process. Our home is more than just a location. It’s a safe haven, our protected space and having that shaken up is a challenge in many ways.  I got to ride the edge of my comfort zone and notice what deep inner patterns surfaced in ways that had not arisen in “normal” everyday life.  I noticed my own reluctance to ask others for help on moving day and worried about little things like whether the moving day lunch would be liked by everyone.

I marveled at this gift of dredging up lingering patterns to be looked at and dealt with in the light of transitions.  Just when things are going smoothly, there’s a sharp curve in the road to test just how good our balance really is.  

I realized that this is also the way of illness.  Health imbalances come to a head as a way of nudging, sometimes shoving us to the edge and out of our comfort zone.  This is where significant change and growth can occur. 

Individuals who find it hard to relax, often find that their body “helps” by putting them out of commission in some way, a twisted ankle here, maybe a back spasm there.  There is often frustration that comes from not being able to “do” as they’ve always done, keeping busy with normal routines.  When those same individuals are able to embrace and explore what a more restful existence might look like for them, or what drives them internally to always be on the go, the threads of healing begin to weave themselves into a new pattern or wholeness.   

On a soul level, there are lessons that we are meant to learn and I have seen over and over again that the Higher Self, our own deep Knowing, will bring forth situations, sometimes scenarios that seem quite drastic to ensure that these lessons come to fruition.  As the great Dr. Carl Jung put it, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

Life is not happening to us, it is happening from us.

So how can we harness this process intentionally without having to box up all our possessions?  Not getting quite so cozy in our comfort zone is a key. Doing something novel, a little intimidating, or outside our normal routine can bring new insights and the satisfaction that comes from testing and expanding our boundaries.   

There is a caution not to confuse the process of embracing change with that of actually creating chaos or busyness in our lives, which is a smoke screen in itself. One man’s chaos is another man’s strict sense of order. Both are yelling, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”

By tuning into our inner currents and impulses, by questioning where our reactions and comfort zones come from, we tone up our intuitive sense of what needs to fall away to becoming more and more our true Selves.

Here’s some questions for reflection and I’d love to hear what comes up for you in the comments below:

1.  When is the last time you felt awkward and persevered? What did you learn about yourself?

2. What’s one thing that you know you should be doing but are avoiding due to your comfort zone?

In health and inner adventures,

Leslie

Balance Blood Sugar Naturally
What holiday would be complete without the sweets!

I like a little cheesecake just as much as the next acupuncturist :) This holiday season I encourage you relish any desserts you may happen to eat, guilt-free, chewing and savoring slowly with self love.

To love your blood sugar levels, I recommend these two tricks to keep your pancreas happy ....

Add cinnamon!  Cinnamon naturally lowers blood sugar as well as lowering LDL (less desirable) cholesterol levels.

Cinnamon is an important herb in Chinese herbal medicine and is used for its warming and tonifying properties.  Modern research shows it regulates blood sugar, preventing that "sugar high" spike followed by a crash, and helps sensitize the body to insulin.

I recommend that diabetic individuals include regular cinnamon intake as part of their self care plan.

Here's an excellent article by Dr. Mercola on Cinnamon, cholesterol and blood sugar.

Another handy blood sugar regulating trick is lime water! Juice one whole lime and add about two cups of water, sipping throughout the day. The secret is to include the whole lime in the jar along with the water. The properties of the lime skin add an extra blood sugar leveling boost.

It's important to use an organic lime here as you wouldn't want to be sipping the residue of pesticides in your lime water all day.

Diabetics should use caution and pay extra attention to their blood sugars as using this lime water technique on a regular basis can alter their need for insulin and medications and could cause a low blood sugar event.

I'd love to hear your results with this! You can email me at [email protected]

 We are surrounded and intertwined with natural cycles whether we stop to notice or not. We move from morning to night through our daily routines and the seasons progress with weather and a string of holidays and our bodies correspondingly go through natural cycles.   One of the most infamous of these is the menstrual cycle in women. (Hang in there men, you are not devoid of cycles yourself!) Unfortunately, because issues such as painful cramping, mood changes, breast tenderness and heavy bleeding are common phenomena in our society, many women assume that this is normal. If you or someone you care about experiences pain and discomfort during their period, please let them know that actually, this is not normal and there are plenty of resources including Chinese medicine that can bring the body back into balance.

Regulating the menstrual cycle in important not only to relieve women from pain, but also to promote good reproductive health into the childbearing years and maintaining optimal iron and nutrient levels to name a few.

Balancing hormone cycles also assures a healthier aging process and allows women to go through menopause without the unneeded side effects of hot flashes (also NOT normal and very treatable with natural methods, foods, herbs, acupuncture, etc.)

There are two main phases of the menstrual cycle:
Phase 1:(Follicular Phase) From Day 1 of the menstrual period (bleeding begins) until Ovulation.  Estrogen is the superstar here working towards ovulation for around the first 14 days (or a tad longer if you have longer cycles)

Phase 2: (Luteal Phase) From ovulation to the first day of menstruation.  This part of the cycle is when Progesterone is produced and is generally 14 days long.

Seeds offer a great benefit in promoting hormone regulation as they contain components called lignans and essentially fatty acids such as Omega-3s and Omega 6s to assist the hormone pathways and receptor sites. (My best non-sciency short summary,)Here's how to make it work for you:

During the 1st Phase: From day 1-day 14. New Moon ("Estrogen Party - Omega 3s")
1 to 2 Tablespoons of Organic, Raw and GROUND FLAX seeds, PUMPKIN seeds or whole CHIA seeds.

Combine this with a high quality Fish Oil (also promoting Omega 3s) Store in the fridge to prevent it going rancid. (I use Isagenix Brand and also like Nordic Naturals brand)

During Phase 2: From day 15-28. Full Moon - Ovulation to Menstruation ("Progesterone Pals - Omega 6s")
1-2 Tablespoons of Organic, Raw and Ground SESAME and/or SUNFLOWER seeds.

You can combine this with Evening Primrose Oil which is available at local health good grocery stores and online.

KEY POINTS:

* GRIND the seeds. I have a coffee grinder specifically for this purpose. Seeds must be ground in order to get the goodness into your body. You're a human, not a nut cracker.

*TIMING:  The moon has often been a symbol of women's cycles. Ideally, we'd like to ovulate on the full moon and menstruate on the new moon.  I recommend that women in their childbearing years begin with how their physical cycles are now.  Women with very irregular cycles or post menopausal women without cycles may choose to follow the moon cycles.

*MEN can support a healthy balance of hormones as well by reversing the cycle described above. From the new moon until the full moon: 1-2 tablespoons of ground sesame or sunflower seeds and from the full moon until the new moon: 1-2 tablespoons of ground flax or pumpkin seeds.

Questions? Comments?  I love to hear how this is working for you. Feel free to post a comment here or let me know through the Contacts page.  Enjoy!
-Leslie

I'm really excited to announce the option of this nutritional cleansing system at Mountain Lake Wellness!  As some of you know, I've been looking for an optimal weight loss system to assist patients in their weight loss and health goals for quite some time. As your trusted health advisor, my priorities were a clean product with sound nutritional backing. I have to say that the products offered by Isagenix have truly exceeded my expectations (and I don't say that often.)

Their system is unique in that it involves a "cleanse" day and is actually in line with the principles of Chinese medical herbalism.

In a recent University of Ilinois Chicago (UIC) study, researchers compared the 30 day, Isagenix to a Heart Healthy Diet.  The results, again, are impressive.  Participants in the Isagenix group had superior results across several clinical parameters including body composition, body weight, body fat, cardiovascular risk factors, and oxidative stress markers.

One of the most impressive results was that the Isagenix group lost up to double the visceral fat compared to the Heart Healthy Group. This is very significant as visceral fat, or the fat the surrounds the internal organs is particularly detrimental to health.

The researchers also found that participants had better compliance because the system felt easy to use with a great taste and consistency.

As many of you have experienced, Chinese herbs are powerful medicine and really get the job done. They don't always taste super delicious which I realize can make compliance a little more challenging at times.  The ease and great taste of the Isagenix products are another strong reason why I'm so excited about this system.  I've also been using the products myself and continue to be impressed.

Beyond just the release of weight, Isagenix provides several excellent nutritional products and packages to address your health, energy and wellness concerns which I'll be highlighting in coming Newsletters.

If you'd like to know more, I invite you to ask me in person at your appointment or by giving me a call.  As part of your health and wellness team, I look forward to serving your individual needs.