When assuming the role of caregiver for a loved one with a chronic progressive disease we know we are in for a long journey. It would be helpful if we had all the answers and information we needed, right from the start - but it doesn't work that way. So what, in hindsight, did I learn about staying whole? I learned that I needed to constantly nourish my body-mind-spirit, my total self.
The body only works properly when it receives healthy nutrients, purposeful exercise, rest and relaxation. This has to be part of the contract. Time out for good food, sports or walks, sleep, spa days, massage and yoga are not luxuries. They are a defense against breakdown or "on the job injuries." They are no different that wearing a hardhat or steel toed shoes on a construction site. Those around us will not understand the comparison. That is why our assertiveness on this issue is imperative. But we have been indoctrinated with the belief that our needs are worth less than the person for whom we care - after all, we are healthy. The bottom line is that to succeed at this task we must take care of our body.
The mind must be clear on its goal and the value of its task. We must understand that the impossible cannot be expected of us. Positive attitudes towards disability and care giving must be adopted. We have choices. We must distance ourselves from beliefs - our own and those of others - that belittle our worth, see disability as a punishment and our efforts as a waste of time and life. We must surround ourselves with the energy of those who validate the journey. We must reaffirm at the end of each day we truly have done the best we could have done.
The Spirit lives and grows when we accept change as a normal part of life. We learn from the past, we do not dwell there. We honour the present and we do not waste one moment of it. We must not live in isolation; we must share the journey, this honourable, worthwhile journey with others. We prepare for the future without fear or resignation, but secure in the knowledge that we are not alone. The spirit is nourished when we respond with our instinct or gut reactions not the chatter of a critical mind. The spirit is awakened when we find joy even in the small things we do as care givers. The spirit is liberated when we cease to play the victim role and become the grandest version of whom we are supposed to be.
My care giving sojourn has ended. I am blessed with the knowledge that I am a better human being because of it and I can now share those gifts with the universe. Being a care giver is not a waste of time. It can be a time well spent for growing into our wholeness. But you are right - no one said it would be easy!
While contemporary acupuncture typically focuses on symptoms, classical five-element acupuncture not only looks beyond symptoms to root causes, but treats the body, mind and spirit in harmony with the laws of nature. Ancient Chinese philosophers identified five laws or elements of nature: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. These five elements, present within and around us, must be in balance and flow harmoniously from one to the other in body mind and spirit for optimal health and well-being.
Five-element acupuncture identifies acupuncture points associated with these five elements of nature. Within everybody, one element will go out of balance under stress and affect all the other elements. Because most diseases start on the spirit level and eventually manifest in physical symptoms, the five-element practitioner treats not only the body, but also the mind and spirit. The practitioner focuses on acupuncture points associated with a specific element while providing the spirit with support, thereby treating the whole person.
Five-element acupuncture names points associated with each element. For example, a patient presented with headaches but underlying his symptom was indecisiveness and frustration about not manifesting his dreams. Wood points like ?Gate of Hope? and ?Yang Mound Spring? helped the patient regain hope and clarity and his headaches disappeared. Wood is associated with spring and exuberant growth. It goes with the liver and gall bladder and addresses anger, decision-making, logic, vision and hope. Another patient was feeling isolated and disconnected, unable to give and receive love. The Fire points ?Inner Frontier Gate? and ?Outer Frontier Gate? helped her feel and share the warmth within. Fire goes with summer when nature reaches its full expression. Summer also goes with the warmth and joy we experience when connected to life and others. Physically, fire goes with the heart and small intestine and is associated with sexual hormones and regulating body temperature.
A patient complained of constant hunger, stress and lack of support her marriage. Earth points such as ?Abundant Splendor? helped her experience the richness of earth within her spirit, and ?Great Enveloping? was like a big hug, helping her reconnect with her own internal support. Earth is associated with late summer and the bounty of harvest. A healthy earth element enhances the ability to nourish one's self and others and to feel at home anywhere. Physically the earth element goes with the stomach and spleen. Mentally, it helps digest information. When this element is nourished, we feel relaxed, grounded, stable, and secure.
A constipated patient could not let go on any level and benefited from ?Great Eliminator.? She also could not recognize her own value and needed ?Heavenly Palace?, in order see the richness within herself. Metal is represented by autumn when the trees lose their leaves. Like trees, one needs to let go of past beliefs, plans, and attachments. Physically metal goes with the lungs, large Intestines and the skin. Metal represents what is valuable and precious, like the divine essence within and around us. Metal restores the ability to see beauty within and without.
Five-element acupuncture also identifies many additional points that can be used locally for pain and specific illnesses. But by treating the whole person, the positive qualities of all five elements will interact. Regular treatments of five-element acupuncture typically result in physical health, mental clarity and feelings of well-being, providing the balance needed for increased health and happiness.
Both Susan Ellis & Marcia Torrey Jay are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Susan Ellis has sinced written about articles on various topics from Elder Care, Auto Insurance and Elder Care. Susan Ellis is a keynote speaker on topics related to aging, care giving, death and dying and spiritual growth. She produces , a t. Susan Ellis's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Marcia Torrey Jay has sinced written about articles on various topics from Elder Care. Article author, Margaret Olmsted L.Ac., M.Ac., is an acupuncturest and a member of the laspirit.com community of healers. Margaret works with people of all ages who want to improve their health in Body, Mind and Spirit and lead healthier, happier and more. Marcia Torrey Jay's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.