Lessons From 20 Years in Practice
A Healthy Curiosity
In September 2023, my Chinese Medical practice turned 20 years old. This episode started off as a retrospective on lessons learned in these two decades as a self-employed Licensed Acupuncturist, herbalist, and coach. While it starts with the role of a clinician and the nature of healing, it explores issues that parents, givers, and people who care about what they do may well relate to, like: If you'll never know it all, when is enough enough? How healing happens -- and who is responsible The work that happens before showing up for work Detaching the ego from outcomes, even when you care How...
info_outline
The Hormone Balance Pyramid
A Healthy Curiosity
Moving from overwhelm to a more healthy life is often about small steps. One such step can be embracing the philosophy of seeing how so many things can be connected. Approaching symptoms we're experiencing through the lens of the mind-body connection can help us do things like calm down our nervous system and reduce stress while still doing everything we need to do in our lives. Ali Damron, a colleague in the Chinese Medicine field, joins this conversation to dig into this philosophy of connectedness, particularly with regard to hormone balancing. When we attune to the part our hormones play...
info_outline
Care and Feeding of Your Microbiome
A Healthy Curiosity
Taking steps in the direction of better health is a multi-faceted process. Not only do we have to take care of ourselves, but we also have to take care of the trillions of microbes that call our bodies home. Rooted in the Earth element of Chinese Medicine, the ecosystem of our bodies is integral to our health in a variety of different ways from our ability to produce energy to feeling grounded and centered. Dr. Chris Damman joins us in this conversation to geek out on where the science of the microbiome verifies aspects of Chinese Medicine. On Today’s Episode of A Healthy Curiosity: ...
info_outline
Questions from the Treatment Room, Answered
A Healthy Curiosity
This season of the podcast has focused a lot on demystifying different aspects of Chinese Medicine. From acupressure to qi gong, we've spoken with experts to dig into the details of how these practices can help us move toward better health. In this conversation, we're exploring some of the most common questions from patients in the clinic in an asynchronous q+a session. These questions cover a broad range from the concrete, tactical side to the more theoretical side to help gain a deeper understanding for how the practice of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine works. On Today’s Solo...
info_outline
Self-healing with Acupressure: There’s an App for That
A Healthy Curiosity
A consistent theme in this show is empowering you to embody self-respect through daily actions; to take small steps in the direction of better. The body is always seeking balance and homeostasis through its own intelligence and there are usually actions we can take to help support that process. One such way is using points on the body to take care of yourself through acupressure. Katie Pedrick, L.Ac. joins us for this conversation to unpack some of the self-care possibilities that come from putting your own hands on your body. As another proponent of empowering you to support your body's...
info_outline
Immunity, Digestion, Focus and Relaxation Practices
A Healthy Curiosity
Whether dealing with a COVID infection or just moving through life, a lot of us may be hitting energetic walls these days. In times like this, employing methods rooted in Chinese Medicine, like qi gong, can be very powerful in taking care of ourselves. Dr. Juli Kramer has practiced and studied qi gong intensely for years and she joins us in this conversation to discuss building strength through the gentle movements of qi gong. In addition to the value of using both yin and yang practices in our wellness efforts, she shares how clearing stagnation in different parts of the body helps to avoid...
info_outline
Why Acupuncture is the Best for Musculoskeletal Pain
A Healthy Curiosity
What do you do when your back hurts, or when your neck and shoulders get tight and sore? Acupuncture is a potent medicine for joint pain, muscle pain, and nerve pain that provides an immediate relaxing, anti-inflammatory effect in a way that other healing modalities can’t. A growing body of research shows that acupuncture is a potent medicine for joint pain, muscle pain, , , as well as chronic conditions like . But people often try it only after drugs, physical therapy, chiropractic, massage and aren’t yielding optimal results. In this episode, Licensed Acupuncturist and host Brodie Welch...
info_outline
Move Your Stuck Qi with Breathwork
A Healthy Curiosity
Chances are, if you're checking out this episode, you're looking for tools and techniques to help tune into yourself and be a better self-healer. You're probably also aware that the things we do every day can make a massive difference in how we feel as opposed to only finding healing in a bottle. In this conversation, Amy Kuretsky, L.Ac. joins us to examine the deceptively simple, yet powerful technique of breathwork. As a broad term, breathwork is about simply bringing some intention to how you are using or manipulating your breath to reach specific outcomes such as regulating energy,...
info_outline
Deep Listening, Gifts of Winter, Overcoming low motivation
A Healthy Curiosity
Winter is cold, dark, slow time of year, and since we’re a part of nature, it’s easy for us to feel the same way: sluggish and more inclined to hibernate than to get things done. This most yin of seasons is necessary to balance the yang of life, and we ignore its gifts at our peril. In this episode, we examine how we can embrace the yin nature of winter, along with: The connection between slowness, empathy, and connection What winter is about according to Chinese Medicine How qi gong can make you a better listener Why doing less is seasonally appropriate How to overcome winter’s...
info_outline
The Shiny & Dark Sides of Habit Change: A Personal Story
A Healthy Curiosity
What would you really like to make time for on a regular basis, that somehow keeps getting pushed to the back burner? Whether it's writing a book, starting a meditation practice, or dropping a few pounds, developing a consistent routine is often the key to realizing your goal. And developing a new routine -- or stopping an old behavior -- is hard. And it's about more than just willpower. It takes time, energy, strategy, planning, and support. It takes examining the emotional triggers, and being able to see what hidden subconscious forces might be holding us back. In this episode, Brodie shares...
info_outlineAs the world slowly begins to emerge from the worst of the COVID era, there is a lot of collective trauma that we'll be working through for years. While any healing takes time, there are ways to move through trauma in accordance with the principles of Chinese Medicine that invite more ease into the process.
Bringing with her some practical tips for processing grief, being soft with ourselves, and aligning with the season of spring, Ellen Goldsmith joins this conversation to elaborate on ways that Chinese Medicine can support us as we heal from trauma.
On Today’s Episode of A Healthy Curiosity:
- What aspects of Chinese Medicine Ellen identifies as helping to work through difficult times
- What we can learn by learning from and aligning with the patterns of nature
- The advice she has for those of us having difficulty being with what is
- Why resilience and flexibility are so crucial
Ellen Goldsmith is a licensed and board certified acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist with over two decades of experience helping people solve their complex health challenges. Her integrative, body- centered and intuitive approach is grounded in years of study and experience in helping people from all walks of life. She is the author of Nutritional Healing with Chinese Medicine: + 175 Recipes for Optimal Health. She teaches and speaks frequently to professionals and the public as well as consulting for companies and organizations. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
Links:
Nutritional Healing with Chinese Medicine by Ellen Goldsmith
Episode 104: Nutritional Healing with Chinese Medicine with Ellen Goldsmith
Episode 006: Energetics of Food with Ellen Goldsmith
Connect With Ellen Goldsmith L.Ac.:
--
Use code "friendofthepod" for 20% off of the 12 Treasures Qi Gong course!