Forest bathing 101
Imagine a therapy that is completely free, readily available, and virtually without side effects that can radically transform your health. It’s called “nature exposure,” or forest bathing. And it's easy as 1-2-3-4-5.
Get outside: fall/winter edition
It’s official – fall is here and winter is coming. It’s rainy and grey outside today in Toronto and I just want to stay inside, wrap myself in layers of wool, and cozy up on the couch, preferably near a fireplace. Sometimes, that’s exactly what this naturopathic doctors orders, but every day, I’m still pushing myself to gear up and get outside. […]
Move to meditate
I’ve never been good at mindful meditation. You know, the kind where you focus on your breath and develop awareness of your personal news ticker. The kind where you notice and name that voice inside your head that reviews your day, questions your every action, worries about everything, and can be your worst critic. And then you focus again on your breath. You’d think I’d be a pro. My mother was a yoga teacher in the 70s. She taught me breathing techniques and progressive muscle relaxation and visualization in my tweens. She introduced me to mindfulness and meditation and mindful meditation with the hopes that it would help lift me out of my depression. It didn’t. […]
5-4-3-2-1 Countdown to Calm
I love simple ways that help calm anxiety and bring your attention to the present moment. Stop feelings of panic in their tracks with this exercise that makes use of your 5 senses to focus on the here and now. […]
Trauma, a tech analogy
It’s hard to describe what happens when panic sets in. People who don’t experience chronic acute anxiety episodes or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or dissociation often struggle to understand. As I woke the other day with a feeling of great distress, I found a new, truly geeky analogy to explain both the sensations and the management. […]
Hearing voices
The idea of hearing voices is one of the most vilified aspects of mental illness. Hearing voices is frequently attributed to those living with schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder, but is much more common, and complex, than its portrayal on TV or in media. Although auditory hallucinations can pose significant problems in some cases, voice-hearing can be positive and even, non-clinical. […]
![By Nathan Keirn from Kadena-Cho, Japan (NAK_2421.jpg; to the Commons uploaded by odder) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i1.wp.com/www.cyndigilbert.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/protest.jpg?resize=320%2C202)
4 herbs to help you resist
It’s been a rough year so far for everyone, including those of us who work from a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive model in healthcare (and anyone with even an ounce of humanity). I’ve added a new diagnosis to my medical charts – sociopolitical mixed anxiety-depressive disorder – to acknowledge the heightened fear, anger, and sadness that many people are now experiencing, especially so for those who are BIPOC or LGBTQ. So what to do in your day to day? How do you find the strength and vitality to fight back against environmental destruction, racism, misogyny, and transphobia? How do you stand up, stand in solidarity, and stay standing without falling down? How do you go on, when you are afraid of the future, or too angry or sad to get out of bed? Here are my top four herbs to support you through the next 2-4 years, even if you are currently lying in the fetal position under multiple layers of blankets (I know I’m not the only one): […]
Make your own anti-inflammatory capsules
Herbal medicine doesn't have to bust your budget. Even if you don't like the idea of sipping medicinal tea or drinking your herbs, you can still craft your own herbal anti-inflammatory capsules. Here's how. Get yourself a capsule maker. I use one that fits '00' size capsules. Follow the instructions provided with your capsule maker [...]
Speaking of sexual assault
This election is spinning me every day and I'm incapable of keeping up with my usual media diet that limits my exposure to misogyny, bigotry, and violence. And I live in Canada. Yet in a way i'm grateful for what this election has forced me to reflect on. A few years ago, I did a [...]
Herbal medicine for the senses, or why I love tea
It’s no secret – I ❤ tea! I love everything about it from the experience to the accessories. Don’t get me wrong, coffee and I have a serious morning relationship but I can have tea anytime of the day. Tea is versatile. There are so many different kinds of tea, so many herbal blends to explore. […]
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