Methods for Non-Invasive Facelifting: Techniques, Products, Equipment

Acupuncture treatments are vital energy balancing modalities targeting acupuncture points and meridians of which, conveniently, there are many on the face. Acupuncture for facelifting and to reduce fine lines and lessen deeper wrinkles opens a world of possibilities not just for acupuncturists and doctor of oriental medicine but for estheticians as well. In addition to acupuncture and/or acupressure, estheticians and acupuncturists alike can use PHYTO5 quantum energetic skincare products which are conceived, designed and formulated according to principles of Chinese medicine and in particular the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

“The acupuncture facelift is not new, but it is quickly gaining popularity especially among millennials to aid in removing fine lines and reducing the appearance of deep wrinkles.”—Skin Inc. Magazine Daily Newsletter, 7/2/18

These treatments can be further and remarkably amplified when the skincare and Chinese medicine professional combine their service and PHYTO5 skincare with leading edge PHYTO5 proprietary equipment such as the Chromapuncteur (light machine) or the Biostimulateur (biostimulation device) for an added dimension for working on the points. 

(We invite skincare professionals to learn more about this exciting proprietary facelifting treatment by going here to our professional dedicated site.)

For decades, PHYTO5 professional protocols have used acupuncture points with great success. The PHYTO5 signature Chromalift treatment received a Prize for Innovation at the Paris Beauty Trade Show in 1998 and yet it is still very much a state-of–the-art treatment today.

The non-invasive, painless facelifting Chromalift requires PHYTO5 quantum energetic skincare products plus both the proprietary Biorhythmic-drainer and the Chromapuncteur mentioned above. In this leading edge treatment, we are able to balance the energy of fluids and perform both an “energetic drainage” and an “ascension of energy” to naturally accomplish the lifting action.

The Chromalift provides visible results after one treatment but it is intended and best utilized as a series of five (for more pronounced results) although an abbreviated series of 3 treatments is possible. We recommend to let one to two days elapse between treatments in order to allow the energetic activity unfold in the face before the next session.

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The remarkable lifting effects obtained from a treatment series should be maintained on an on-going basis with a periodic booster treatment every three to four weeks, depending on skin condition and age.

The booster treatment is PHYTO5’s Water element facial of the Chromalift. It provides all the benefits of a first rate hydrating and toning facial plus the reenergizing lifting effect. 

The Chromalift non-invasive facelift series is a natural solution to a face in need of lifting at a certain point in time when more is required but when invasive modalities are purposely avoided.

The energetic products, with the enhanced action of the proprietary equipment are also powerful on any skin condition that stems from any one of the 5 elements out of balance. It is also an excellent way to stay balanced during the five energetic seasons and their effects on our body and skin. Such treatments are excellent preventive measures in general, and in particular for aging skin.

As soon as a condition appears, the alert customer should seek the advice of a trained PHYTO5  professional. Proper selection and application of home products is essential to achieve and retain improvements naturally. The Metal and Water element treatments and products offer quantum energetic anti-aging solutions on an ongoing basis.

Cool Down Summer Tip #1: Eat Red Foods

When Summer's in full swing it’s easy to see why Fire's the element associated with the season according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With temperatures coming to a peak, we have to look for ways to cool our skin and bodies down. Aside from the obvious ice, A/C and fans, there are other ways to topically and internally cool down. One way is by eating “cool down Summer” produce.

Cool down Summer foods have natural cooling properties for skin and body. 

“The warming and cooling properties of a food have less to do with actual temperature, cooking temperature, spiciness or even individual ingredients—and more to do with the food’s balance and contrast among ingredients and the effect of these on the body when the food is ingested. TCM categorizes foods as cold, cooling, neutral, warming and hot.”—Yin-Yang Foods That Make You Feel Better, from bottomlineinc.com

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In Summer, we naturally gravitate to cooling (yin) foods. Nature ensures in such a timely way that we have all the most perfect seasonal and local cooling fruits and vegetables we need and in abundance.

Note: The higher quality of cool down Summer foods we consume, the greater our health, wellness and happiness.

“The quality of the raw materials is very important when you cook for health and happiness. High quality natural and organic foods are the ideal ingredients for daily use. They are the building blocks for a healthy and happy life.” —Aveline Kushi, author of Changing Seasons Macrobiotic Cookbook: Cooking in Harmony with Nature

When we eat in harmony with the season, we're going to feel better physically, mentally and emotionally. You want to be able to always “keep your cool” and cool down Summer foods can help you even mentally and emotionally.

“… just as nature and our levels of activity change constantly, so should our food and methods of preparing it change in accordance with our needs… By being conscious of the changes in nature and in your body, you can adapt to them and realize the highest possible physical health and spirit.” —Michio Kushi, contributor to Changing Seasons Macrobiotic Cookbook: Cooking in Harmony with Nature

Cool down Summer food prep should be different than for the other seasons.

During Summer, we intuitively know that stews and soups aren’t right for the season. We organically gravitate to crisp, fresh, live foods like salads. If we cook a meal, it should be a light sauté unless we grill outdoors.

Grilling outdoors on an open fire aligns very much with Summer’s element of Fire.

Cool down Summer foods are foods high in water content to give us a natural cooling effect.

In Summer, we get to enjoy high water content, sweeter and juicier produce that helps to cool our bodies down.

You ‘extinguish the Fire’ by eating high water content produce.

Though drinking lots of water during Summer to stay hydrated is important, eating juicy high water content produce helps you stay hydrated too. Nothing’s more enjoyable than biting into a juicy peach or red grape during Summer.

With mass transportation methods of today, fruits like citrus and apples show up in your produce department during Summer. But they’re not the fruit of the season and therefore not ideal to eat during Summer. Though they’ll offer you water and some cooling, they’re more closely aligned with Summer’s opposite season: Winter.

In TCM Five Element Theory, each season and element has a color. As a general rule of thumb, choose the food of the season’s color. It’s an easy way to identify best foods to eat in harmony with the season.

• Summer/Fire: RED. Eat lots of red foods during Summer. May 6 to July 19

• Between Seasons/Earth: YELLOW. Eat plenty of yellow foods during the four interseason periods of the year. January 18 to February 4; April 18 to May 5; July 20 to August 6; October 21 to November 7

• Fall/Metal: BLUE/WHITE. Eat a good amount of white foods during Fall. August 7 to October 20

• Winter/Water: PURPLE/BLACK. Eat an abundance of black or blue-black foods during Winter. November 8 to January 17

• Spring/Wood: GREEN. Eat bunches of green foods during Spring. February 5 to April 17
  

Here’s a list of cool down Summer foods courtesy of ChineseMedicineLiving dot com.

(See chart above for a visual list.) TCM considers non-red foods in this list to also be cooling foods for Summer:

• Apricot

• Cantaloupe (member of the cucurbit family)

• Watermelon (member of the cucurbit family and quintessential cool down Summer food)

• Strawberries

• Tomatoes

• Lemon

• Peach

• Cucumber (member of the cucurbit family)

• Orange

• Asparagus

• Sprouts

• Bamboo

• Bok choy

• Broccoli

• Chinese cabbage

• Corn

• White mushroom

• Snow peas

• Spinach

• Summer squash (member of the cucurbit family)

• Watercress

• Seaweed

• Mung means

• Cilantro

• Mint

• Dill

• Bitter gourd

• Mung beans

• Wax gourd (member of the cucurbit family)

• Lotus root

• Lotus seed

• Job’s tears

• Bean sprouts

• Duck

• Fish

…

Cool down Summer food recipe: Watermelon Cooler

• 2 cups watermelon flesh

• 1 cup young Thai coconut water

• 1/4 cup lime juice

• raw blue agave to sweeten and to taste

Run a few seconds in a high speed blender with some ice and enjoy.

15 Reasons Why Having Summer Sun and Fun Improves Your Vitality of Life

Every bright, fun-filled, cheery day of energetic Summer leaves very beneficial energies in its wake. When we take time to enjoy the warmth and light of the sun – with proper protection and in moderate amounts - whether directly or indirectly, we are taking advantage of the sun’s unique gifts.

• The sun is the largest source of cosmic that pours over the earth.

• It’s a primary driver of our weather.

• It boosts our body's vitamin D supply which is produced by the skin's response to ultraviolet radiation. It helps keep our bones healthy and supports our immune system.

• Both plants, animals and humans need the sun’s light to survive and grow. It works with our blood by cleansing it and encouraging better circulation.

• It kills bad bacteria and mold spores.

• It boosts serotonin in the brain to uplift our mood.

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For a limited time... during energetic Summer... Get 10% off all regularly priced skin and haircare products from the Fire quantum energetic line! Use promo code: FIRE.

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When we enjoy the sun’s many derivative gifts we feel better overall both physically and mentally. This can create a very positive momentum as feeling good attracts more of the same. The better we feel, the better we feel!

Summer is known for being the season of lively fun and social get-togethers. The fun we have during holidays, vacations, picnics and lazier Summer days and evenings spent outdoors or even indoors has its own set of health benefits.

Here are 15 spectacular benefits we can enjoy simply by having fun at any time of year, but especially during Summer:

1.     Pain can be relieved. The two “L’s” leisure and laughing can help alleviate pain. When we put ourselves in leisurely situations that allow our bodies to relax, we release blocked pent up energy that may be exacerbating pain. And as we know, laughing is like medicine. We can be feeling poorly one minute, but once we start laughing, after a few minutes, we often may notice, we don’t feel poorly any more.

2.     Brain function improves. As an example, the Swiss have reformed their educational system requiring children to study less and have more fun. It turns out that Swiss kids are now among the top performers in standardized testing. These students attend school fewer hours per week and they have more recess time. Swiss kids are proving that they learn better when they have more fun. Psychology Today shares in their article entitled, “The Neuroscience of Joyful Education,” that “brain research tells us that when the fun stops, learning often stops too.”

3.     Creativity surges. Sometimes we just need to get the cobwebs out of our heads by creating enjoyable diversions for ourselves. A walk in the park, a visit to the lake or beach or time spent just sitting in a lawn chair enjoying our natural setting can be enough to clear mental pathways of creativity.

4.     Mental and physical youth are fostered.

5.     Relationships are strengthened when we’re having fun with others. We build connections and solidify social bonds so necessary for rewarding lives, wellness and beauty.

6.     Emotional wounds may be healed. 

7.     Sleep patterns become more regulated as serotonin in the brain increases when we have fun in the sun.

8.     Our memory is enhanced. By balancing our lives with pleasant experiences, 

9.     Our body temperature becomes more balanced (again because of increased serotonin levels).

10.    Coping skills seem to be magically more available to us. Having fun helps us to strike a balance in life. When we achieve sensible balance in all or at least most arenas of our lives, things that used to bother us no longer do. We become more resilient. We respond instead of react.

11.    Our physical energy increases. Having fun causes us to use or hold our bodies differently and in a way that supports our flow of energy.

12.    Overall positive feelings and attitudes become the norm for us.

13.    We become more productive in our lives. Happy people experience tend to experience more abundance of all kinds.

14.    LOVE happens! When we’re having fun, our hearts open. 

15.    We become transformed at a cellular level. No thing or experience in the human being is isolated. We are holistic beings who experience within what we experience without.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published May 8, 2017 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Photo by Gianna Ciaramello at Unsplash

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Sources:

Willis, Judy. “Engaging the Whole Child: The Neuroscience of Joyful Education Brain Research Tells Us That When the Fun Stops, Learning Often Stops Too.” Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/files/attachments/4141/the-neuroscience-joyful-education-judy-willis-md.pdf

Lieberman, Isador H. “Vitamin D Can Reduce Back Pain.” Spine Universe, 2018, www.spineuniverse.com/conditions/back-pain/vitamin-d-can-reduce-back-pain.

Do We Remember the Spirit of July the Fourth? How Current Events Provoke Us to More Profoundly Value Our Nation's Beginning

The 4th of July! A great day for outdoor celebrations, marching bands, barbecue, the beach… a welcome day off with friends and family. At the same time, how much thought goes into remembering what this holiday is about over and above the 13 colonies’ gaining of independence under the weight of the Crown of England leading eventually to the formation of our American Republic? These seminal events were the outcome of a collective state of mind of a handful of leaders representing those colonies and who have been referred to as the “Founding Fathers.” 

Their state of mind was anchored by strong convictions of the rightfulness of certain critical values. First and foremost was a sense of freedom and independence from the unfair and arbitrary treatment they suffered at the hands of the English government. But the new world had inspired many who were fleeing oppressive conditions and who had made a difficult trip across the Atlantic to enjoy a sense of freedom found and the potential to more fully enjoy the fruits of their labor.

That sense of freedom included the right to pursue happiness in whichever way they could that was both legal and possible and so much so that the Declaration of Independence stressed “the pursuit of happiness” as an inalienable right. 

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Now why are we talking about all of this—and from our vantage point as a skincare company?

We consider that our unique skincare line based on the principles of vital energy is more than skincare. PHYTO5 quantum energetic products come with the very important added value and potential of balancing not only vital energy but the skin and emotions as well. This makes PHYTO5 an active modality of wellness.

Wellness is difficult to achieve without a reasonable level of happiness, therefore a national and a home environment that supports our pursuit of happiness is also an environment that supports our pursuit of wellness and vice-versa.

Media regularly reports about the escalation of physical and mental health crises. We are realizing alarming increases in suicides, opioid addiction and obesity. Our population increasingly suffers the effects of mental stress from a mounting number of sources. This mental stress pervades our lives as we unconsciously develop and suffer from a sense of separation as a result of immersing ourselves in technologies. Our relationships tend to be more with smartphones, tablets and computers than with people.

Given the documented drop of the “Happiness Index” in the U.S. it’s reasonable, if not necessary, to ask ourselves if things are on the right track in our government in terms of providing its citizens with what will contribute positively or negatively to our rightful pursuit of our happiness, wellness and vitality of life objective.

In this regard, it is clear that we need to make it known to politicians that their mission is more complex than crusading for a single issue. We must let them know that we are going to need more from them if they want our votes. We deserve this and must demand it!

Photo by Patrick Brinksma at Unsplash

Summer Lifestyle Tips: How to Feng Shui Your Summer Season, Home, Party and Even Yourself and Enjoy Summer More

Summer’s the time of year to enjoy the outdoors and social relationships with family and friends a little more than usual. Without even learning about any kind of Summer lifestyle tips, these things just come natural to us. But most of us don’t know that after centuries of observation, traditional Chinese medicine’s compiled similar advice for energetic Summer.  Little did traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) know it was prescribing Summer lifestyle tips already thousands of years ago. It teaches us that celebrating Summer following principles of TCM can take on a whole new meaning and enjoyment for us.

Summer Lifestyle Tip: Dive into what it really means to live in harmony with the season according to TCM.

More than backyard barbecues, nature park picnic get-togethers and sports, TCM’s Summer lifestyle tips are about a whole lot more.

There are many things you can do to elevate your total Summer experience. Start by applying a few feng shui principles to your homes, property, party site and literally, yourself.

The valuable Summer lifestyle tips below will help you live better and even increase your vitality.

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Summer Lifestyle Tip: Understand what ‘energetic Summer’ and the Fire element truly mean to get the most out of the season.

The Wu Xing (the Five Element Theory of traditional Chinese Medicine) characterizes Summer with the element of Fire, the colors red (yang energy) and purple (yin energy) and the emotion of joy. There are more than colors and an element for each season. There are tastes, sounds, organs, sensations, body tissues, directions and weather too.

All told, for example, Fire’s attributes combine to give us important clues or season of Summer lifestyle tips.

• Fire’s taste is bitter and burned: Grill food outdoors.

• Its sound is laughter: Have fun.

• The weather during the Fire season is hot and the direction is South: Embrace the southerly and Summer heat.

• Fire’s sensation is taste and sense organ is tongue: Enjoy the foods of Summer, especially the fresh produce now in abundance.

• The organs of Fire are small intestine and Heart: Small intestine keeps you healthy by processing nutrients from all the fresher foods you can eat during the Summer season.

• Its body tissues are vessels: These vessels carry blood through the body to nourish it.

• Both blood and Heart are synonymous with joy of life.

• And joy-in-balance is Fire’s emotion.

TCM calls every season energetic meaning it embodies the energy of not just the season but its correlating element. The four seasons we commonly know come a little earlier in the calendar than the established Gregorian system. For example, energetic Summer begins May 6 every year. Though the four major seasons seem to come a little earlier than we’re used to, if you tune in, you can feel the energy of the season coming into being.

So often we just run through life without stopping to feel energies. Every season brings a distinctive energy all its own. When we pause to sense and feel them the energies give us pointers for living in harmony with the season. And when we can live in harmony with the season we demonstrate we know our place in the world: We are one with the natural world.

Living as part of the natural world life goes easier for us. That’s perhaps the best Summer lifestyle tip or any season lifestyle tip for that matter. Simply try to live like you’re part of the natural world.

We feel better, happier, more healthy and alive. We benefit on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Each of the four seasons is sandwiched between an inter-season 18-day period of the year. These four inter-seasons of the year correlate with the element of Earth. Beyond just Summer lifestyle tips, each one of these seasons has its own distinct set of lifestyle tips.

They make way for one major season to transition into the next. Just before energetic Summer, we lived through the 18-day between seasons period of Earth and will do so again just before we move into energetic Fall.

Summer Lifestyle Tip: Attune yourself to the season and respond to it creatively.

Energetic Summer’s a flowering, expansive, outgoing, social kind of season. We enjoy and nurture our relationships in social settings quite a lot during Summer.

Tune in and come up with your own Summer lifestyle tips like these so you can fully enjoy this energetic season which lasts until August 7 according to TCM.

• Brighten the path to your party or front door of your house with solar lights, torch lights or luminary bags.

• Host a late night bonfire for friends or light up a portable fire pit. You can easily and relatively inexpensively purchase a portable fire pit in your local department store. It’s good investment. It will come in handy during energetic Fall and Winter too.

• Throw open your curtains and open your blinds. Allow the sunshine to cleanse your home of mold spores and bacteria. The sunshine will also draw its powerful cleansing energy into your home too.

• Light a lamp with a red lamp shade inside your home.

• Burn red colored candles in the evening.

• If your skin is red, irritated, sensitive, blotchy, allergic, excessively hot or couperose, use the Fire element line of skincare by PHYTO5. If your skin is perfectly in balance, now is the time for you to use the Fire line too.

• Wear red clothing and jewelry. If you wear lipstick, it’s the perfect time to sport your red lipstick.

• Enjoy evenings on your porch, patio or balcony with an oil lamp lit nearby.

• Enjoy some traditional Summer picnics complete with:

  • red and white checkered tablecloths

  • red plates and napkins,

  • red beverages like strawberry lemonade, soda or sparkling wine

  • organic vine-ripened red tomatoes in a fresh salad

  • and red grapes and watermelon.

• Focus more on eating fresh produce of the season that’s red in color. They’re rich in vitamin C and antioxidants which stave off the signs of aging and make us feel overall brighter and healthier:

• tomatoes

• strawberries

• raspberries

• red grapes

• red onions

• radicchio,

• radishes

• red bell peppers

• beets.

• Be a kid again. Stick some pinwheels (notice how they resemble sunbursts appropriate to Fire) in your garden. The petals are sharp and pointy—the symbolic shape for Summer according to TCM. Choose pinwheels bright red, orange and yellow–the colors of the sun and Fire.

• Grow some sunflowers and bring them into your home. Bring colorful Summertime fresh flowers into your home. Make your home more joyful and vibrant like Summer. (Joy-in-balance is the emotion of the Fire season according to TCM.)

• Keep things bright by day and intimately lit by night to very well celebrate the Fire element's blazing warmth, energy and joy!

All these are more than Summer lifestyle tips. They’re a way of life and a wonderful exciting way to live in harmony with the long awaited season.

Why the U.S. Ranks 18th Among Nations According to the World Happiness Report, How We Lost Ground Over Time and How We Can Improve Our Current State of Insecurity

“We hold these truths to be self-evident…” These famous words start the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson on behalf of the rest of the founding fathers. It goes on to declare certain unalienable rights such as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Under the influence of the enlightenment philosophers of his era, particularly from France and England, it was quite a progressive and prescient position to take on Jefferson’s part when he ranked the pursuit of happiness on the same footing as life and liberty. The United Nations sponsored World Happiness Report ranks the U.S. 18th among nations. Let's explore how this happened and what we can do to improve our standard of living.

Eleven years later, in 1787, the ratified Constitution of the United States is introduced by its first paragraph with the objective “to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” 

These two documents that most deeply define the very nature and core values of the United States of America highlight a fundamental vision for future governments to follow in providing critical elements for the safety and happiness of present and future generations of Americans. 

How close to that vision are we today? How faithful to these expectations have our past and present government officials been?

It is fair to say that at the time the founding fathers were trailblazers compared to the leaders of other countries, but today where does the U.S. stand in the world relative to these objectives and values?

The recent United Nations sponsored World Happiness Report gives us a basis from which to measure and compare. Their yearly report compares over 150 countries against six criteria: income, life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust, and generosity.

The U.S. has never made it into the top ten which is dominated by the Nordic European countries. In 2017, it ranked number 14. In 2018, it dropped to number 18. Dropping four places in one year is considered extreme. The drop is partly explained by one of the authors of the report as follows: 

“The U.S. is in the midst of a complex and worsening public health crisis involving epidemics of obesity, opioid addictions, and major depressive disorders that are all remarkable by global standards.” 

Of course, a public health crisis is a direct outcome of state and federal policies. They cover a wide spectrum of matters from agricultural policies, to the regulation of dangerous chemicals and practices affecting food, water and air, to the drug and health care industries.

The level of anxiety prevalent in the U.S. is exacerbated by widespread concern over lack of job security, low minimum pay practices, the possibility of personal bankruptcy resulting from having insufficient yet costly health care insurance and more.

The 2018 Trend Report from the Global Wellness Institute commented on this drastic development in the U.S. and noted that “there cannot be wellness without a healthy level of happiness!”

Over the last 20 years, the exploding spa and wellness industry at-large has created a demand for achieving an enhanced sense of wellness for its clients. The implication is that a committed patron of a qualified spa will achieve a reasonable level of wellness improvement. But now we learn that our individual wellness also depends on outside factors directly or indirectly related to the actions of our government.

Suddenly we are faced with a more complex problem: wellness solutions are not simply dependent on a relationship between client and spa professionals. It is not simply a matter of how much time and money the client is willing to invest in his or her wellness objectives. It goes beyond as we discover that the environment in which we live–physical, financial, social, and political–is always a part of the equation. 

But are these additional considerations really something new? Is it not that many of us have fallen into a state of oblivion forgetting the deep consequences our elected officials actually have on the quality of our lives? 

The founding fathers made a prescient statement when they expressed their vision. The first paragraph of the Constitution states its objective clearly: “to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” 

It’s appropriate for us to examine and ponder each part of the statement and evaluate how faithful we have been to this admonition:

1. Can there be “a more perfect union” when there is a systematic refusal on the part of the representatives of different ideologies to listen to each other and work toward compromises that achieve incremental progress?

2. Can there be “justice” when we have conscious and unconscious racial divide? And when “justice” often bends toward the super wealthy?

3. Can we enjoy “domestic tranquility” when we have such extreme issues such as those currently challenging us, from unchecked global warming to the consequences of extreme wealth concentration?

4. Do we need to spend such a large portion of our resources on “common defense” at the direct cost of underfunding our other objectives?

5. How should we “promote general welfare” when state and federal governments would rather provide tax breaks to high income earners rather than fully fund programs that fully constitute the very elements of general welfare such as education and health services?

6. How can we “secure the blessings of liberty” if our food is produced and distributed in a way that is detrimental to our health? If large corporations are allowed to deplete or poison our soil, our air, and our water? And if we replace farmland with still more strip malls or suburban housing developments?

Without jeopardizing the uniqueness of the American spirit of independence, why can’t we be willing to see that the “happiest” countries have managed to enjoy high income levels as well as provide the social services that make the individual pursuit of happiness easier than it currently is in the U.S.? Aren’t these countries offering lessons we might benefit from?

In this regard, we also point out that the six criteria used to make evaluations for the Happiness Index are not contrary to any of the elements of the vision outlined in the first paragraph of the U.S. Constitution. 

In short, isn’t it shocking to us that the ideals declared by our founding fathers have been achieved more easily by the Northern European and some of the Western European nations than by the Americans who, at least conceptually, had a clear head start over the rest of the world?

What is coming to our awareness is that our health and our happiness is not simply within our control even for the super wealthy. It cannot be separated from our political choices, and our choices cannot be made on simplistic slogans. Each one of us must understand the issues and the broad consequences of our choices before we cast our votes. Voting is not a passive activity. 

Our wellness and our happiness are interrelated. They require we make a greater effort than initially perceived. Just as wellness calls for responsibility concerning our bodies and lifestyle, we must also work at achieving a collective environment that more purposefully espouses the vision of the founding fathers.

Stay tuned for more on this topic in forthcoming blog posts.

Photo by Frank McKenna at Unsplash

The First Day of Summer In Chinese Medicine Is May 6: Here’s Why

While the Summer solstice on June 20 is widely regarded as the first day of Summer and the longest day of the year, it is not necessarily the best indicator of the first day of the Summer season. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Summer begins on May 6 and ends July 19.

TCM is a time-honored practice dating back to more than two centuries before the common era follows the principles set forth in the Wu Xing or the Five Element Theory. Many traditional Chinese fields use the Five Element Theory to help explain a wide array of phenomena from cosmic cycles to the interaction of internal organs and much more. 

The philosophy of the Five Elements are also known as the Five Phases, the Five Movements, and the Five Processes, among others. In the Wu Xing which is an extension of yin/yang theory we are given the dates for the four seasons plus the dates for four "between season" periods. The name Wu Xing is the shortened form of the complete term "Wǔ zhǒng liúxíng zhī qì” which can be translated as "the five types of chi which are dominant at different times.” 

These five phases function metaphorically, providing images that ancient theorists used to organize their thinking about the physical world. The five phases describe a cycle that represents the inherent existence of change and reflects yin and yang movements in nature.

–Sandy Fritz, Mosby’s Essential Sciences for Therapeutic Massage

Traditional Chinese thinkers were fond of pondering the cyclical aspects of nature with the repetition of days, moons, seasons and years as they observed the effects of those cycles on all living organisms. Humans, like animals and plants, are affected by nature’s cycles so it is not surprising that the study of nature was the first basis in their understanding of vital energy. Knowing that there can be no effect without a cause, the predictable seasonal patterns pointed to the existence of a cause.

Unlike ancient Greeks and Egyptians who attributed cause to the whims of various gods, the Chinese simply saw chi (energy) as the mover of matter but not as a deity. They saw this energy being responsible for cyclical and predictable stages and changes. They evolved the more complex and subtle Law of the Five Elements which includes the energies symbolically named Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water and the multiple aspects of their interrelationship with each other.

The ancient Chinese saw how the cycles of the seasons profoundly impact everything from weather to plants and crops, animals and even human mental well-being. They surmised that to each season corresponds a specific energy that influences all life forms.

They concluded that in addition to the cyclical movement of yin and yang, there must also be changing energies causing, and therefore related to, seasonal changes. They subdivided yin and yang into five phases, also called elements that they named: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. 

In the Wu Xing, Summer begins May 7 and ends July 19. Shortly therafter and until August 6 is a "between seasons" period leading up to the Fall season.

According to the Wu Xing, the 72 day period of energetic Summer is a time of swelling and flowering full of energy and fire. The heart and the small intestine are the organs that require focus especially during energetic Summer so that their function may be balanced and in harmony with the season. The emotions of Summer are exuberance and joy.

Finding and feeling harmonious joy can be beneficial to the function of the heart.

When joy is not insistently accompanied by constant stimulus and sought as the only emotion to be had–which is to say, when it is spontaneous–it fortifies health. It distends and relaxes. It improves all the organs’ functioning and favors a smooth flow of blood, energy and fluids.

–Pablo Noriega, Bach Flower Essences and Chinese Medicine

It’s important to avoid prolonged exposure to strong sunlight especially on the head by wearing a hat or scarf. Avoid dehydration and avoid plenty of fluids during hot Summer weather which will help prevent imbalance. In Chinese medicine chrysanthemum tea is especially recommended at this time.

Hot or cold chrysanthemum tea cools and calms the nerves. It is especially beneficial for Water and Fire element people but suitable for all.

–Su-Mei Yu, The Elements of Life: A Contemporary Guide to Thai Recipes and Traditions

Editor's Note: This post was originally published May 10, 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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Sources:

Photo of Chrysanthemum Tea by Tim Chow at Unsplash.com

Sandy Fritz, Mosby’s Essential Sciences for Therapeutic Massage–Pageburst E-Book on Kno Retail Access Card Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, and Pathology. Mosby Inc, 2016.

Yu, Su-Mei. The Elements of Life: A Contemporary Guide to Thai Recipes and Traditions f. John Wiley & Sons, 2009.

Noriega, Pablo, and Loey Colebeck. Bach Flower Essences and Chinese Medicine. Healing Arts Press, 2016.

8+ Ways to Enjoy the Soothing, Cooling Benefits of Lavender During Energetic Summer

Many of PHYTO5’s energetic skincare products in our seasonal Summer Fire element line contain high grade lavender essential oil. This makes sense since lavender is a cooling agent and the very thought of Summer calls for cooling. A Fire element imbalance according to traditional Chinese medicine tends to manifest as red, irritated, sensitive, blotchy, allergic skin, couperose, and issues of red blood (arterial) circulation. These skin conditions denote fiery and hot but PHYTO5 Fire element skincare can offer relief.

Though we may immediately think of lavender as a flower, it isn't. Lavender is actually an herb and an evergreen shrub belonging to the mint family. Its origins are India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean area but “it grows wild in the chalky dry ravines of the French Sea Alps,” says Sharon Shipley, author of The Lavender Cookbook.

Only the buds contain the essential oil of lavender. 

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Lavender essential oil is considered to be one of the most versatile of essential oils and very relaxing. It can be applied topically, most especially in careful skincare product formulations such as those produced by PHYTO5, and it can also be ingested in food and beverages with great health benefits.

In French, the word for washing or cleansing is ‘laver.’ 

We can readily see ‘laver’ as the root of the word, ‘lavender,’ so this tells us a lot about the properties of lavender. Ancient Romans used lavender in their baths, their beds, clothing, and hair for freshening purposes.

Lavender offers an array of wonderful refreshing and soothing properties.

We can reap the benefits of lavender in our everyday lifestyle. Here are several ways:

IN SKINCARE:

• High grade lavender essential oil is used by discriminating manufacturers like PHYTO5 for cleansing and soothing irritated, burned, sensitive, allergic skin.

IN MEDICINE:

• to soothe burns and wounds, insect bites and cuts

• to soothe inflammatory conditions such as acne

ALSO FOR:

• indigestion and heartburn

• migraine headaches

• motion sickness

• insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, depression

• overactive mind

• fatigue

For the symptoms above associated with the nervous system, apply lavender essential oil to the temples and back of the neck.

In Cuisine:

• Use the beautiful Herbes de Provence herb mixture in which lavender is key. This herbal mix is reminiscent of the sunny South of France in gourmet food preparation.Consume it as food for digestive benefit. The flavor of lavender is, of course, floral and elegant, but it’s also slightly sweet depending on the type and grade of dried lavender you use.

• Best results in cooking come from using dried culinary ‘Provence’ lavender buds since “other varieties can taste perfumey, bitter, and medicinal,” according to Shipley.

• Gourmands sprinkle dried blooms on desserts and infuse ice cream, cakes, and cookies with lavender buds. There are entire cookbooks written based on the use of lavender in cooking and baking.

• Lavender lemonade is a Summertime favorite.

In the Home or Office:

Take your cue from the ancient Romans. Aromatize with dried lavender buds or sachets, also fresh lavender.

• bed and pillows

• dresser drawers

• storage boxes

• desk

• hair and bath

In Celebrations:

• Lavender will uplift the spirit of party-goers and guests as a powerful aromatic addition to spectacular floral arrangements.

• Lavender sprigs in mason jars as Summer celebration centerpieces are themselves a work of rustic art.

For Emotional Support:

• Lavender is widely considered an analog for Mother by herbalists. If you’re feeling lonely or in despair, and Mother is nowhere near, let pure and natural (not synthetic!) lavender fragrance be your rescue remedy.

Just for Fun:

• Make a lavender wreath for your home’s front door.

• Jazz up your Summer beverages with a single lavender stem as stirrer.

• Learn how to make lavender soap or sachets.

• Find a great Lavender Lemonade recipe. HelloGlow.co has a wonderful lavender soda recipe to follow that’s just right for hot Summer nights.

 …

Source:

Shipley, Sharon. The Lavender Cookbook. Philadelphia: Running Press, 2004. Print

Lavender, Rosemary and Ylang Ylang: A Soothing Synergistic Essential Blend for Skin “On Fire”

PHYTO5’s five element line products are formulated with unique, natural, premium grade plant-based ingredients, particularly energetic blends of essential oils. These five lines are the result of integrating ancestral knowledge from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with leading edge Swiss research and they exist in harmony with each one of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. In addition, each line follows TCM’s five groups of skin conditions, energetic seasons, and emotions. 

Since we are now in energetic Summer and the element of Fire according to TCM, let’s have a closer look at the skin conditions and emotions associated with the Fire element and how the conditions can be mitigated and the emotions supported back to balance.

The unique ingredients found in PHYTO5’s Fire element line include three primary high grade essential oils: lavender, ylang ylang and rosemary. When blended together in the right amounts, these three oils create a unique synergy to soothe, calm and balance the following conditions: redness, irritated, sensitive, blotchy or allergic skin, excessive heat and perspiration, and couperose.

In skincare, pure high quality lavender essential oil is cleansing, cooling and soothing to the skin. It lends a sensation of well-being and relaxation, helps alleviate pain–both physical and mental–and provides support for the healing process. Recommended for soothing in cases of infection, allergic dermatitis, burns, wounds or acne, it supports the body’s circulatory system and its tissues, especially the muscles.

Like lavender, rosemary is a wooded evergreen and member of the mint family. Rosemary essential oil is known for its antiseptic properties but rosemary also provides support for detoxification and assistance with better nutrient absorption. Its properties function to promote healthier, more radiant, clarified skin.  In haircare, rosemary essential oil is very effective as it supports the microcirculatory system of the scalp. It is a very potent antioxidant with an ORAC value of 11,070 which is just about the same as goji berries. Effective antioxidation of free radical scavengers is vital for healthy youthful skin and hair. 

A School of Dentistry–Meikai University, Japan study  published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine–National Institutes of Health on how lavender and rosemary used together affect the stress hormone cortisol demonstrates proof that this duo offers protection from oxidative stress and potential resulting sicknesses and conditions.

Finally, sweet scented exotic and tropical ylang ylang essential oil is a relaxing, calming, sedative, aphrodisiacal oil which supports the nervous system and contributes to mental upliftment and much improved temperament. In fact, ylang ylang is associated with joy.

Ylang ylang is an excellent skin and hair tonic and centuries of use have proven that ylang ylang is very effective for soothing inflammation and patchy rashes.

Like lavender and rosemary, ylang ylang supports the circulatory system so necessary for the transport of youth-impeding toxins out of the body.

Fire element skincare brings you a synergistic blend of these three exceptional gifts from nature where red, inflamed skin is soothed and brought back to balance along with an added emotional balance bonus of a more joyful state where unhappiness has previously been the norm.

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Source:

Atsumi, Toshiko, and Keiichi Tonosaki. “Smelling Lavender and Rosemary Increases Free Radical Scavenging Activity and Decreases Cortisol Level in Saliva.” Psychiatry Research, vol. 150, no. 1, 2007, pp. 89–96., doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2005.12.012.

How PHYTO5 Is Positioned Once Again at the Leading Edge of a Major Wellness Trend

The 2018 Global Wellness Trends Report prepared by the Global Wellness Summit (GWS) report makes for interesting reading. One of the eight mega-trends for the global wellness industry is Wellness Meets Happiness. 

It attracted my attention since it casts an authoritative light on happiness as a requirement for enduring wellness. It also validates PHYTO5’s pioneering work in using its powerful vital energy balancing skincare line to work beyond the level of the skin and to reach through to emotions by way of vital energy balancing.

This important effort culminated in mid-2017 when we launched the “Beauty of Emotions” protocols¹ for facials, body treatment and energetic massage. The Beauty of Emotions treatments are made effective with our new generation energetic PHYTO5 products whose vibrational levels have been elevated to the quantum level. At the quantum level the products and Beauty of Emotions treatments act not only on the skin and vital energy but on emotions as well.

It’s only in the last 20 years that the idea of a science of happiness gained momentum. The conclusions reached so far have important impact on our physical, emotional, and spiritual state.

It is now crystal clear that happiness and wellness are intertwined.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda of India have always had that understanding. Ancient wisdom tells us the vital energy of our immune system can be destroyed by negative emotions and that conversely, nurturing human relationships are a critical strengthening factor of wei chi.

The relationship between vital energy balance, health of the organs, and emotional balance, is a core concept of ancient energy medicines. Negative emotions affect the organs in a detrimental way in the same way a blockage of vital energy does. Vital energy balance positively helps maintain both physical and emotional balance which is a pre-requisite to wellness.

The best manifestation of emotional balance is rewarding human relationships be they familial or social. Sustained social isolation is very negative to our health and happiness. 

Unfortunately, the tech explosion, particularly the so-called smartphones and tablets that have become addictive for many people including our younger population, has driven a wedge between people in many ways. By trying to connect people in a “virtual" way, social apps have dismembered the nourishing value of live face-to-face connections. The Global Wellness Trends report cites a recent study that indicates we touch, swipe, or tap our smartphone an average of 2,617 times a day! This dramatizes the (negative) importance these devices have on our lives.

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The obvious remedy is to disengage from the constant use of high tech devices and reconnect with nature and people, but there must be a quality to that reconnection. This reconnection with nature and people requires real engagement. It’s not about simply looking at nature. It’s about letting nature speak to us. It’s not about simply being with other people. It’s about learning and developing empathy.

Authenticity and honesty must underscore our experience which is a pathway toward a better awareness of our own true and higher selves. 

Ultimately, implied in the entire effort to achieve happiness and wellness is the ultimate achievement of some degree of a spiritual awareness of our higher self. Through this more intimate understanding of ourselves we deepen the quality of our human relationships. 

All this is not possible, however, when we largely reside in a negative emotional state so it is very important we do what we can to balance our emotions, using all the help we can get.

Sometimes this help comes from unexpected sources such as including the quantum effect of PHYTO5 energetic skincare products.

In it we see validation at two levels:

1. Modern science validating TCM’s premise of a systematic connection between emotions and physiology;

2. Validation for PHYTO5 with its new signature “Beauty of Emotions” treatments (facial, body treatment, and energetic massage). The products are formulated and the treatments designed to enhance our innate and often latent positive emotions. This is achieved by a breakthrough product formulation that delivers high vibrational potency and reaches to the core quantum level where all healing actually occurs. 

Find out how Wellness Meets Happiness in PHYTO5’s quantum energetic five element lines: 

Wood: for oiliness, blackheads, hyper-pigmentation and issues of vital energy circulation (indicating a Wood element imbalance); Wood products will also assist your emotional balance when you're feeling uncertainty, self-doubt and anger; restore your confident true nature!

Fire: for irritated, sensitive, blotchy, allergic skin, couperose, and issues of red blood (arterial) circulation (indicating a Fire element imbalance); Fire products will also assist emotional balance when feeling unhappy, depressed and in despair; rediscover your inherent joy!

Earth: for blemishes, toxicity, acne, psoriasis, enlarged pores and lymph circulation problems (indicating an Earth element imbalance); will also assist emotional balance when feeling stuck, stagnant and worrisome; return to your innate sense of knowing and creativity!

Metal: for dry, dull, lifeless and flaky skin, and issues of blue blood (venous) circulation (indicating a Metal element imbalance); will also assist your emotional balance when you're feeling sadness and discontentment; revive true nature of contentment, ease and well-being!

Water: for dehydration, lack of skin tone, wrinkles and issues of water circulation (water retention) (indicating a Water element imbalance); will also assist your emotional balance when you're feeling fearful and agitated; truly relax and achieve a sense of zenitude and supreme serenity.

 …

¹  This link for Beauty of Emotions signature treatments by PHYTO5 takes you to our site dedicated to skincare professionals.

A Theory of Happiness: We Probably Can't Be Totally Healthy and Well Without It

The subject of happiness is a serious one. Many books have been written about it in the last decade and in the wake of the positive psychology¹ trend, it has become subject matter for a number of universities. Many schools of thought and holistically oriented disciplines emphatically believe we cannot be truly and wholly healthy without having an overriding general sense of happiness.

Of course, the Founding Fathers elevated the subject by enshrining “the pursuit of happiness” in the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a natural objective and fundamental human right, the idea of which is generally ignored throughout history by the ruling class.

It is said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. The same might apply to happiness. 

There are no universal criteria for beauty and likewise happiness is a very individual experience. What makes me happy might not be what makes you happy.

The normal healthy individual would rather be happy than not, yet happiness eludes most people. At best, for most, the state of happiness is spasmodic and rarely sustained as a temporary state of joy or the experience of occasional pleasurable events. Still others seem to be so invested in their unhappiness that one could say they find their relative happiness in their unhappiness.

In general, babies are more often happy than not. Except for some limited periods during their waking time, and unless they are hungry or feel some physical discomfort, their normal state is happiness expressed by smiles and laughter. This is also true of young children.  

As a child increases its interactions with adults, by age five or six, he or she begins to become increasingly less happy. For a majority of children, the resulting unhappiness grows as the child becomes a teenager and young adult. Unfortunately, this is often a time when many teens and young adults experience depression, even suicidal tendencies. 

If health requires an absence of disease, happiness requires an absence of unhappiness. Unlike a car that has a neutral position between Drive (forward) and Reverse, the human being only has an On or Off position when it comes to happiness. It is like a room without windows. The light is either on or off. This can be a useful realization.

What if happiness is always present within our being but not necessarily expressed? Even when it is not expressed, could we conceive that happiness is nevertheless latent, that it always exists in its potentiality?

It is just like a lamp in a dark room that waits to be turned on. If happiness is not expressed, it is not because it disappeared. It’s because we have unconsciously given in to some idea of unhappiness.

Conversely, if we can eliminate our unhappiness, wouldn’t it follow that we should naturally and normally express happiness? 

Why wouldn’t our emotions behave in the same manner as the functions of our physical body since when the cause of a disease is defeated or removed a state of health returns? 

The physical body benefits from self-regulating processes (homeostatic mechanisms) that will return the body to a state of equilibrium after it has been under any destabilizing inner or outer attack. It returns to homeostasis, a state of balance with normal physiological functions.

Experienced happiness is expressed happiness. 

You would have to make an effort to hide your happiness when you experience it. It is like a spring that has been pushed down momentarily and is ready to spring up the moment whatever holds it down is removed. That becomes a clue for achieving greater and more frequent states of happiness, but it has a requirement: the awareness of our state of unhappiness and what is causing it. 

Just as our physical attributes can be developed with sports activities or certain manual work, and just as our mental capacity can be increased by intellectual activities, we can learn what makes us happy and how to get there more of the time.

It merely calls for us to develop a greater emotional intelligence when it comes to our own emotions. It demands attention to our state of awareness.

This might not be an easy task for some people because very often many things are not what they appear to be. Who we thought might become a friend might reveal himself or herself to be an adversary. A pleasurable activity might turn out to have significant negative consequences. We must develop a certain degree of discrimination on what we accept as friendly or unfriendly to our innate sense of happiness. This is conscious awareness of who and what we are and consequently, what we will experience as positive or not.

Happiness is what reinforces our innate sense of our true self. It is when life brings to our experience people, things, places, and conditions that resonate with us on a deeper level—the level where there is peace, inner joy, and happiness. Happiness is also felt when the mind is at rest and free of worrying thoughts. 

Human beings generally tend to learn in three steps: 

• First, an idea comes to our awareness.

• Then we pass a value judgment about it: Is it true, practical, beneficial, and in keeping with our values?

• But when embraced, it is only with the third step that it becomes a factor in our experience: When we make it a part of our lives and living. Then it becomes no longer an idea but a personal ongoing experience.

Happiness is a deeper and more significant emotional state than what is referred to as joy. Joy is generally shorter lived, relying on outer factors such as receiving a gift, having an encounter with a friend, event, or place. 

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Happiness is more akin to contentment. It is a deeper emotional state that makes a greater beneficial contribution to our physical and mental states of being. Peace of mind accompanies happiness which is not the case with a burst of joy. 

Unhappiness is often defined as a disconnection from or a lack of the things that make people happy in general and each one of us in particular. Consequently, moving toward happiness requires an awareness of what as an individual we need to reconnect with. Happy family life and rich friendships tend to promote happiness. The same applies to the presence and experience of beautiful natural scenes.

Conversely, having to experience ugly, polluted, miserable places, and finding ourselves with a lack of friendly human contact are barriers to the experience of happiness. The exception would require an exalted state of spiritual connectedness. 

Are there simple ways to promote happiness? 

In a recent article from Dr. Mercola’s newsletter of January 11, 2018, we read an attention-getting headline:

“Could Enhanced Wellness and Vitality Be Just a Whiff Away?”

The article states:

Aromatherapy—or the use of essential oils—has been embraced since early times to promote wellness and vitality. With exciting new research exposing its many potential benefits for emotional and spiritual well-being, its time has arrived.

This brings support to PHYTO5’s new “Beauty of Emotions” treatment. This leading edge treatment is intended to restore a state of happiness using the essential oil-rich quantum energetic PHYTO5 skincare products which are formulated according to the Five Element Theory of traditional Chinese medicine and in which both vital energy and emotions become balanced.

The treatment protocol assists the client to become aware of her or his dominating emotion and it helps remove any imbalance. 

Freed of negativity, latent happiness is restored.

A series of treatments with home use of the energetic serum (called Phyt’Ether) corresponding to each of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) helps maintain the state of happiness.

Balanced emotions are key to inner health and vitality which reflects outward in the skin. The secret to a high quality of life, living, happiness and beauty is the balance of emotions. When we work with the body's physical matter, unseen vital energy and emotions, we create a very real and viable holistic strategy for successful beauty, vitality and longevity outcomes all of which are dependent on our ongoing state of emotional being which we hope is one of happiness most of the time.

…

 ¹Positive psychology is "the scientific study of what makes life most worth living",[1] or "the scientific study of positive human functioning and flourishing on multiple levels that include the biological, personal, relational, institutional, cultural, and global dimensions of life". Positive psychology is concerned with eudaimonia, "the good life," reflection about what holds the greatest value in life—the factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life.

Positive psychology began as a new domain of psychology in 1998 when Martin Seligman chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association. —Wikipedia reference for "positive psychology"

Image by ractapopulous on pixabay.com

Rosemary Essential Oil: A Principle Detoxifying Ingredient for Healthy, Luminous Skin

Rosemary essential oil is an excellent ingredient in skin and hair care products because of its antiseptic properties but rosemary provides other even more significant benefits from which everyone can benefit including detoxification, anti-cancer behavior and better nutrient absorption. The implications for healthier, more radiant, clarified skin as a result of incorporating rosemary essential oil into skincare are enormous.

Rosemary has an antioxidant ORAC value* of 11,070 which is roughly equivalent to the free radical scavenging power of Himalayan goji berries. Antioxidants not only promote better overall health, they help to keep the body younger longer. 

A bio-synthesized chemical compound found in rosemary known as carnosol is the primary factor contributing to rosemary’s incredible antioxidant action. Carnosol has additionally been found to be anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory. 

The journal Cancer Letters, an international journal that considers full-length articles and Mini Reviews in the broad area of basic and translational oncology, writes,

“Carnosol has been evaluated for anti-cancer property in prostate, breast, skin, leukemia, and colon cancer with promising results.”

Carnosol is scientifically observed to selectively target cancer cells without damaging other neighboring cells. This is very unlike chemotherapy which kills most cells in its path regardless of whether they are cancerous or not.

In addition to reducing the risk of cancer, carnosol also targets cells contributing to inflammation. It has the ability to help balance androgen and estrogen levels in the body, heals nerve tissue, and improves prostate health and even the growth of hair.

As we’ve discussed in an earlier blog post:

“During Chinese medicine’s energetic Spring (February 5 to April 17), we focus on the Wood element and the liver and gall bladder organs and meridians.”

Rosemary essential oil actually promotes detoxification of the liver while improving gall bladder function therefore it is one of the most perfect and necessary essential oils in PHYTO5’s Wood element/Spring season skin and hair care products.

Research shows that supplementing with rosemary significantly enhances gall bladder’s function to promote proper flow of bile in the body which is so essential for the metabolism of fat as well as for detoxification. Rosemary also helps to reduce plasma liver enzymes, elevated levels of which have been linked to Diabetes mellitus type 2.

With bile flow better regulated, rosemary also encourages the healthy proliferation of microflora in the gut. Good peristaltic activity results, and in turn, so does better nutrient absorption and the reduction of toxic overload.

“The gut is the control center of the body, the place where health and death begins. Whatever happens in the gut will show up in the skin and dictate the health of your entire body… poor health within the gut starves the skin of the nutrients it needs to thrive; it causes an increase of inflammatory molecules in the body that directly and indirectly attack the skin, which causes faster aging and aggravates inflammatory skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. An imbalanced or unhealthy gut can also affect many of the hormones in the body which again has an effect on the skin.” —Nigma Talib, Younger Skin Starts in the Gut: 4-Week Program to Identify and Eliminate Your Skin-Aging Triggers - Gluten, Wine, Dairy, and Sugar

PHYTO5’s premium grade essential oil rich Wood element products reduce oiliness, detoxify and clear and lighten the skin. Rosemary essential oil is one of several essential oils proprietarily blended in optimum proportions to achieve the intended detoxifiying result.

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* ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It's a lab test that attempts to quantify the "total antioxidant capacity" (TAC) of a food by placing a sample of the food in a test tube, along with certain molecules that generate free radical activity and certain other molecules that are vulnerable to oxidation. – Scientific American

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Sources:

Reinagel, Monica. “What Are ORAC Values?” Scientific American, 4 Aug. 2013, www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-are-orac-values/.

Talib, Nigma. Younger Skin Starts in the Gut: 4-Week Program to Identify and Eliminate Your Skin-Aging Triggers--Gluten, Wine, Dairy, and Sugar. Ulysses Press, 2016.

The Energy of Spring: How It Can Assist Us with Exercise Plans and Weight Loss

During Chinese medicine’s energetic Spring (February 5 to April 17), we focus on the Wood element and the liver and gall bladder organs and meridians. We may not realize it but if we work with the rebirthing energy of Spring it can actually assist us to make solid exercise goals, plans and follow through and to lose the excess weight we gained during Winter's hibernation period.

At this time we begin to spend a little more time outdoors. If we haven’t enjoyed the Winter cold, sleet and snow, our excitement grows as we think about lightening up on our clothing and even our diets. We practically feel compelled to go outside again, to clear the yard, start the garden, even give the house a good cleaning. The messllage we are feeling is: “Get moving!”  We’re intuitively responding to the energies of the season!

When we are in balance with Wood, we tend to be resilient. We are able to make decisions and adapt well to situations and challenges. When we are out of balance with Wood, we will tend to emotional responses of frustration, anger, and depression. For women, since Wood, particularly the liver, governs the menstrual flow and ovulation, out of Wood balance women will tend to irregularity of the menstrual cycle.

Both men and women who are out of balance with Wood, may notices more frequent occurrence of headaches and migraines, anxiety attacks, and gastrointestinal and cardiovascular issues. If that imbalance is left untended for a longer period of time, chronic fatigue and back and joint problems may result.

One way to help bring us back into balance with Wood is to turn to the fundamentals of diet and exercise. Food also is an integral part of maintaining the free flow of Wood chi and we’ll elaborate more on best eating practices for Spring in a soon upcoming blog post. (Please also refer to our February 12, 2018 blog post entitled, “It’s Energetic Spring! Here Are 33 Delicious Ways to Creatively Get More Green Into Your Diet.)

Take advantage of the energy of Spring and adopt a well established workout plan. If you’re looking for some ideas, try simple daily stretching, qigong, tai chi, yoga, cycling, walking, light cardio or calisthenics. Find the form of exercise you resonate with. And always remember to include exercise for the mind and spirit: meditation. It will amazingly bring more productivity to your days and believe it or not, time you never seemed to have before.

To emphasize, Wood element energy is a vital component of our ability to make plans and decisions. Use Wood’s energy to stick to a set exercise plan. Having a hit-and-miss schedule of sketchy workouts won’t bring us the results we want, not to mention we’ll become frustrated and give up.

Follow these simple tips to beautifully harmonize with the Spring season:

• Rest and go inward as much as possible. Your time to get up and go in Summer is just around the corner.

• If you'd like to lose weight, take advantage of Spring's natural easing of appetite and work with your body's desire to move energy with increased activity.

• Do a simple daily cleanse during the Spring for liver and gall bladder.

• Include bitter foods in your diet. (These are fruits, vegetables, and herbs having a sharp, pungent taste or smell but not sweet.)

• Nourish your liver daily or as often as possible with hot/warm water and lemon.

• Take daily walks in the morning sunlight.

• Apply Wood Phyt'ether to the liver and gall bladder zones on the face: between the eyebrows for liver and on the temple areas for gall bladder; also apply Yogi Body Gel to the outside of the legs to stimulate circulation on the gall bladder meridian.

• Apply the Wood element Day Cream to reduce skin’s oiliness and to purify, clear and lighten the skin. Extract of wheat (gluten-free), and essential oils of lemon and rosemary activate the natural defenses of the skin to combat the effects of poor diet and/or lack of cellular oxygenation. Wood Day Cream contains unique ingredients that are antiseptic, toning and stimulating and it’s also excellent for protection from high and low pressures and windy and changeable weather associated with Spring.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published April 4, 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

It's Energetic Spring! Here Are 33 Delicious Ways to Creatively Get More Healing, Cleansing Green Into Your Diet

Not only is green the color for the Spring energetic season and Wood element and the color of so many plants that sprout in Spring, it’s also the color of the foods that best align with the season and our vitality of self. Mind, body and even spirit are uplifted and nurtured whenever we take green foods filled with the rays of the sun into our beings.

Spring is a time associated with the bursting forth of life. The season is synonymous with the giving of life and also cleansing. We'll be super wise if we support ourselves with as many green foods during this season as we can.

During Spring, we focus on bringing the energies of the liver and gall bladder and corresponding meridians into balance and certain green foods are optimum for bringing liver energy into balance.

These liver supporting foods are:

• leafy green juices; add some cucumber and a bit of green apple for a delightful fresh taste;

• wheatgrass juice; try to drink an ounce or so of fresh-pressed when you can;

• chlorophyll-rich foods like barley grass, chlorella, spirulina, blue green algae, ceremonial grade matcha green tea, parsley, kale and spinach; add them to your smoothies for an easy way to get your cleansing green;

• hot mint tea for soothing the liver's chi energy;

• sprouts, especially alfalfa and sunflower both of which are very easy to grow yourself;

• green "bitters" like rye, romaine, asparagus, endive and dandelion greens; a bonus benefit is they help to alleviate springtime allergies.

Not everyone enjoys green leaves and vegetables so we’re offering you quite a number of novel and exciting ways below to make sure you amp up your diet with green and enjoy the deliciousness of it too!

While most of these ideas provide ways to creatively add greens and green foods to your entrées and side dishes, don’t ever be afraid to make green the main event. Green vegetables will provide protein contrary to popular belief. Per calorie, broccoli contains more protein than beef with about 4.5 grams per 30 calories. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database, one cup of raw broccoli  yields nearly three grams of protein while a cup of green peas will give you nearly eight grams of protein.

All plants contain protein and at least 14% of the total calories of every plant are protein. Broccoli contains more protein per calorie than steak and, per calorie, spinach is about equal to chicken and fish. Of course, you’ll need to eat a lot more broccoli and spinach to get the same amount of calories that you do from the meat. Multiple studies have shown that if you are meeting your caloric needs through plant-based nutrition, you will satisfy your body’s protein requirements. – Scott Stoll, MD, Yes, Plants Have Protein

1. Scramble your eggs with cooking greens or add them to your frittata. 

2. Add fresh fruit like strawberries to make your highly nutritious spinach salad more interesting.

3. Make a batch of green pesto to have on hand for adding to dishes like pasta or for garnishing dishes like scrambled eggs, soup or roasted veggies.

4. Learn to sprout! It’s so easy to do right in your kitchen with some mason jars, cheesecloth and sprouting seeds. In just a couple days you’ve got green sprouts absolutely brimming with nutrition that you can add to salads, add as soup garnishes or throw in your smoothies.

5. Learn to identify wild edible greens and pick them. Some might be in your backyard or favorite local forest preserve.

6. Everybody loves nuts and seeds so improve your salads’ texture and nutrition by adding them to your salads. 

7. Add a handful of spinach or other green to your favorite smoothie to make it green. Spinach is quite benign flavor-wise. It won’t alter the flavor intent of your smoothie.

8. Don’t miss a chance to garnish your soups with parsley or cilantro.

9. Never miss adding a beautiful green leaf to your sandwiches. Have fun and experiment. Go beyond iceberg or romaine lettuce.

10. Garnish your sandwich plate or even top your salad with dehydrated kale chips. Depending on the sauce massaged into the kale before dehydrating, kids will love eating them instead of potato chips.

11. Add a handful of fresh basil, leaves and stems, to your blenderized soups for a subtle flavor enhancement and nutrition boost.

12. Add green legumes like peas, pea pods and green beans to your side dishes for color, texture, protein and vitality.

13. Learn to make a serious tabbouli. With the main ingredient being parsley, this minted salad is incredibly fresh tasting and you’ll feel so much better about yourself after eating it! You can substitute quinoa for the bulgur wheat, if you prefer, and it will taste just as great.

14. Fold finely chopped parsley or spinach into your mashed potatoes or alfredo sauce.

15. Mush some not overcooked broccoli into side dishes for texture, flavor and nutrition.

16. Make some avocado topped toast or spread your toast with a mélange of peas tossed with a small amount of olive oil, quartered grape tomatoes, and edamame. Avocado toast happens to be on-trend right now too!

17. Add shaved or grated courgette (zucchini) into your salad.

18. Have a nice spinach salad or other green leaf salad for breakfast. It’s a fantastic way to start the day.

19. Explore fresh green herbs (oregano, rosemary, basil, dill, cilantro, chervil, chives, tarragon) and learn how to add them to your dishes for an added dimension of healing and flavor.

20. Make fresh, raw green bean “fries” for an awesome snack. Toss washed whole green beans with a bit of olive oil, and then garlic granules, salt and pepper to taste, and munch!

21. Make your wrap sandwiches raw wraps using collard greens, bibb lettuce or swiss chard leaves; you can do the same when making tacos, too.

22. When puréeing your homemade hummus, throw in a half cup of spinach; it will lend a green hue to the hummus and give you added nutrition, but it won’t alter the flavor of the hummus.

23. Top your burger with lightly sautéed greens infused with your favorite herb for a more gourmet experience.

24. Make green dips; spinach-artichoke is always nice.

25. Make simple homemade green salad dressings in your blender; throw six to eight dandelion greens in the blender along with a cup of soaked raw cashews, a half cup of soaked raw sunflower seeds, a cup of water, a squirt of lemon juice, a half teaspoon of turmeric and Himalayan salt to taste and blend until smooth.

26. Double the amount of green vegetables and half the amount of animal protein in your dishes. You’ll enjoy the dish just as much and may well lose some weight.

27. Be a sneaky chef; purée some greens and add them to marinara sauce or grate or finely mince the greens and add them to your burger and meatloaf mix.

28. Join the Meatless Monday movement and make green foods the centerpiece of the day.

29. Wilt your greens like spinach, arugula, mustard and dandelion greens; you can add them to your favorite dish or eat them straight with a little salt and pepper and a dash of olive oil.

30. Gently sautée kale leaves stripped from their stalks along with garlic and bit of olive oil until they become just soft enough to eat. So delicious and hearty!

31. Save your kale stems after stripping the leaves for sautées or massaged kale salads and blend them (chopped) with some water, garlic, salt and soaked raw cashews for a wonderfully delicious, light and super healthy kale soup. Remember, the core of any plant packs the most power! Get your Easy Blender Kale Soup Recipe download here.

32. Slightly blacken bundles of bok choy, broccoli or asparagus spears for a unique taste and nutrition treat.

33. Get to know how to use ceremonial grade matcha green tea in your cooking and baking or simply drink it as tea. The Healthy Matcha Cookbook is an excellent source. You’ll get the incredible benefit of the most powerful catechin (a type of antioxidant) found in green tea–EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate)–which is believed to be a powerful anti-carcinogen. If you want to eat just one superfood a day and must choose among all of them, matcha green tea is the one you want because of its EGCG content. We’ll be devoting an entire blog entry to matcha green tea in an upcoming post.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published as two separate posts on March 27, 2016 and March 29, 2016 and has been combined and updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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Stoll, Scott. “Yes, Plants Have Protein.” https: wholefoodsmarket.com, Whole Foods Market, 15 Jan. 2013, www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/whole-story/yes-plants-have-protein.

It May Feel Like Winter but Chinese Medicine Proclaims It’s the Beginning of Spring: Check Out These Best Practices for Living in Harmony with Energetic Spring

In early February when traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tells us energetic Spring starts, it still feels very cold and wintry. The remnants of the Water energy of Winter potently linger. The powerful energy of Water is no longer proactive, but its momentum continues to produce manifestations of Winter even though we start to feel the energy of Wood and energetic Spring.

February 5 marks the start energetic Spring season and the new energy of Wood. As that proactive energy initiates, it takes some time before we actually feel its manifestations.

Nevertheless, nature begins to receive a new set of information resulting in progressive changes that we will begin to notice more or less rapidly depending on how strong the new Wood energy is. 

Just prior to February 5, we experienced an eighteen-day transition period of Earth between Water (Winter) and Wood (Spring).

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In TCM, the element represented by Spring is Wood. 

To live in balance with the 5-Element Theory of TCM and for that matter, to live in balance with nature of which we are an inherent part, we’ll want to embrace the following attributes, characteristics and specific organ activity for the Wood element and Spring season.

Here's a short list of best practices for Spring and the Wood element...

• The color for the Wood element is green. Freshen up your life by bringing green into it in all sorts of ways. Bring it into your diet and in your home decor.

• Liver and gall bladder are the organs associated with the Wood element. If you have liver or gall bladder issues and/or you have a Wood element imbalance, incorporate more of these tips into your daily life to help support these important internal organs.

• Indications of too much Wood chi which manifests as Wood imbalance include:

  • stiff muscles and joints

  • liver troubles

  • sallow or yellowish skin

  • panic attacks, hysteria

  • neck pain

  • stroke

  • anger, resentment, bitterness

  • lack of compassion

  • erratic behavior

  • low self-esteem

  • shouting, complaining, arguing

  • violence, abuse, incessant arguing.

• In addition to food, the following Wood element fragrances can be used and enjoyed to uplift and strengthen Wood chi and help create more balance in Wood:

  • lavender

  • orange, grapefruit

  • chamomile

• Certain green gemstones can also be used to assist the flow of Wood chi:

  • jade

  • emerald

  • green opal

• TCM-advised sound and breathing exercises for each element also help to bring balance where there was imbalance.  Since wind is the climactic element condition assigned to the Wood element, become more aware of your ‘wind’ by breathing more consciously.

  • Look into the qigong practice called “Marriage of Heaven and Earth” where liver and gall bladder organs receive healing and we become intimate with the primary energy principle known as pulsing. Pulsing teaches how all of creation including us pulses between yin and yang. The principle of pulsing is primarily linked to the Wood element where it is easiest to learn, embody and ground within us. 

  • For Wood, the healing sound is easy. It’s a long “Shhhh” – as in telling someone to be quiet. On the exhale of a deep breath, this sound will help to release anger and frustration. It can help to soften the person suffering with anger and at the same time assist to quell ailments in the liver and gall bladder. 

  • The five element healing sounds are actually breathing exercises that are best done every day at least five times a week, taking at least six deep breaths, the deeper the better. It is most beneficial to do the exercises outdoors where chi is fresh, preferably in the morning, with the sun shining on you from the East but they can most definitely be done indoors too.

  • You will want to inhale through your nose until your abdomen is full of fresh air and then exhale out through the mouth making the soft healing sound Shhhh. On the inhale, imagine positive chi entering your body and cleansing the negative chi and ailments in your body. On the exhale, imagine pushing out the negative chi and ailments.

• It is important to practice mindfulness and meditation at this Spring time of year to magnetize clarity of vision to ourselves, because the liver governs the health of the eyes and the clarity received applies both literally and figuratively. 

• The time is energetic Spring! Rise early with the sun and take brisk walks. Living in harmony with Spring will reawaken us after a long period of introspective, quiet and more slowly moving Winter.

Check out PHYTO5's Wood element skincare line to address imbalance in the skin such as oiliness, blackheads, hyperpigmentation, and issues of vital energy circulation.

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Sources:

Nguyen, Phil N. Feng Shui for the Curious and Serious. New Jersey: Xlibris Corporation, 2008. Print.

Thunderhawk, Denise, L. Ac. The 5-Element Guide to Healing with Whole Foods. N.p.: Lulu, 2016. Print.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published February 27, 2017 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Last Days of The Current Earth Energetic Season According to Chinese Medicine: Our Awareness of Its Influences Can Help Us Live In Balance with It

The Earth element or between seasons period in Chinese medicine corresponds to what we might think of as the ending of each season and is related to the concept of transformation. Although the Earth element is often associated with late Summer or Indian Summer, it also occurs in late Winter, late Spring and late Fall. 

In other words, as the end of each of the traditional four seasons approaches, the “heavenly” (cosmic) seasonal energy goes back to the Earth for transformation into the energy of the next season.

According to Chinese medicine:

“…its influence manifests for 18 days at the end of each of the four seasons and it does not pertain to any season of its own…” – The Classic of Categories (1624) by Zhang Jie Bin.

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Earth is not unlike the center of the compass. It is a pivot point, so to speak, around which the four seasons and the other four elements spin, but occurring four times a year for 18 days each, these periods totaling 72 days and which bear similar characteristics are referred to as the Earth energetic season or fifth season of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

The current Earth energetic period ends on February 4.

An Earth imbalance creates any one of the following group of conditions affecting the skin:

• blemishes

• toxicity

• acne

• psoriasis

• enlarged pores and

• lymph circulation problems.

PHYTO5 has created a very specific skin and hair care line designed to help address these imbalances.

Unlike Wood (beginning February 5) and Fire elements (beginning May 6 and running to July 19) in TCM defined by a rising and peaking yang, and unlike Metal (August 7 to October 20) and Water elements (November 8 to January 17) with a rising and peaking yin, Earth represents a balance between yin and yang energies. As such, the Earth element represents warm, stable, grounded, loving, emotional characteristics. It is nurturing, comforting, calm, solid and stable.

Earth is all about family, community and gathering, eating now and gathering, collecting, holding and storing for later.

Earth energy type people are sentimental and maintain their attachments to other people, things, and places. Earth types tend to savor the sweetness of life and being human and they find enjoyment in all the comforts and pleasures of life, but as with each element, Earth types can become imbalanced and demonstrate physical and emotional challenges.

According to TCM, Earth is about ingestion and absorption, not just of food but of ideas and emotions. An Earth element imbalance in the body is the result of ingesting too much, or its opposite–stagnation, the slowing down of chi energy flow in the body, or an outright inability to consume or subsequently digest ideas, emotions, or food.

Earth types are thoughtful but can worry too much. They can feel sympathy, deeply allowing them to feel connected to others, but these same emotions taken too far can cause them to feel stuck, unable to act or think clearly, with an over-dependence on others for their opinions, counsel and advice.

Earth types are quite good at maintaining familial and social relationships. They love situations that require them to work with others. They enjoy teamwork and collaborative work environments.

Well-balanced Earth people usually have a healthy complexion, soft facial features, and a sturdy and balanced body frame, exhibiting an earthiness to their appearance.

The organs most closely associated with Earth are the spleen and the stomach and the digestive system as a whole.

The Discussion of Prescriptions from the Golden Chest (c. AD 220) by Zhang Zhong Jing says:

“During the last period of each season, the Spleen is strong enough to resist pathogenic factors.”

Earth also has influence over the pancreas, the large muscles of the body on the upper arms and lower legs, the abdomen, the middle back, the lymph system and the diaphragm. Of course, proper lymph circulation is important in keeping a strong immune system and a healthy complexion.

The Earth periods are the best time to address Earth conditions. They are also the times when Earth energy can make existing Earth imbalance in people worse, therefore balancing Earth energy during the Earth periods with Earth treatments and products is highly recommended, particularly for Earth type people.

…

Sources:

• Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2015. Print.

• Bridges, Lillian. Face Reading in Chinese Medicine. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier, 2012. Print.

What is the Cycle of Life? It's a Composition of Natural Rhythms.

What is the Cycle of Life? It’s the sentience of all nature. Unfortunately, many of us have no or little connection to this sentience where we feel at one with the natural world. We’re unprepared to live harmoniously with our natural rhythms. But traditional Chinese medicine’s (TCM's) Five Element Theory can teach you how. You'll end up loving the natural rhythms of life and excited to live it and its cycles.

Cosmic forces drive our natural rhythms and cycles. They energetically influence humans, animals and plants. These influences get the more aware person’s attention. You find yourself asking, What is the cycle of life? Truly?

What is the Cycle of Life? It’s the symbiosis of natural rhythms.

Natural rhythms coalesce to form a never-ending cycle brimming with life. Nature will not have it any other way.

These natural rhythms provide the foundation to all life and also to PHYTO5 skincare.

In an article by Dr. Daniel Glaser(1) at The Guardian, we find important supporting assertions on this topic.

His article, How Rhythms Become a Vital Part of Us,(2) offer key points answering the question, What is the cycle of life?

• Whether it’s the physiological of a woman’s moon cycle or a plant’s seasonal cycle, the external world influences biology.

• Cells and systems in the brain and body enforce a 24-hour sleep–wake cycle. Light-sensitive cells in the eye and elsewhere keep this cycle synced to the earth’s rotation.

• Animals and plants regulate their activities on an annual cycle. They get frisky in Spring and hibernate in Winter. Intrinsic mechanisms tend towards an annual cycle. And sensors of various kinds nudge the cycle to keep track of the earth’s rotation around the sun.

• It's culture, particularly religious culture, that established the seven-day cycle an organizing structure for our lives. Once something is in the external world, however, it starts to invade our biology, particularly our neurobiology. 

Dr. Glaser makes two broad and relative points about how the cycle of life and natural rhythms influence us:

1. Along with plants and animals, the sun, moon and stars energetically affect humans too.

2. Our cultural habits, particularly when they repeat themselves on a regular basis, affect our biology.

Although we have no control over natural rhythms affecting our lives, we can attempt to harmonize with those natural rhythms. We can be like the adept surfer who catches the wave rather than wiping out under the wave’s overwhelming power.

What is the Cycle of Life? It’s the sentience of all nature.

Unfortunately, many of us have no or little connection to this sentience where we feel at one with the natural world. We live in an era disconnected from the roots of our original natural environment. We’re unprepared to catch the wave and live harmoniously with our natural rhythms.

My daughter gifted me two books I devoured and feel compelled to mention within this context:

• The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-than-Human World by David Abram(3)

• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer(4)

Both written in the 80s and superbly written by very learned scientists with a poetic bent, they reveal the sentience of all nature.

They discuss the essential relationship of reciprocity between humans and nature. Such reciprocity affirms we understand natural rhythms. We can easily answer the question, What is the cycle of life?

Both authors, Abram and Kimmerer, love the Earth and lament our disconnection with it. They lament its attendant dire consequences for our culture, lives, health, and (implied) future as a species. Among the bodies of work of many others, theirs have contributed to the development of ecopsychology(5) in the 90s.

They observe we seem to choose the “splendid isolation of technology.” And it’s detrimental both to the animate world (plants, animals and humans) and the inanimate world (our planet).

I found this excellent definition of ecopsychology at soulcraft dot co:

Ecopsychology has a greater cultural project: to redefine the relationship of the natural environment to sanity in our time. Ecotherapists wish to heal the soul while engaging the whole. We wish to speak for the planet and its imperiled species. We wish to recall the long forgotten Anima Mundi and honor it in our relations and work… The planetary environment is the context for healing the soul because the two are inextricably bound by bonds that are sacred: life and consciousness. Implicit in this project is the need for a scientific paradigm that gives life and consciousness a new central status in the universe. Based upon such a paradigm, ecopsychology is more than a mere academic exercise; it is part of an ongoing and practical healing mission that recognizes and honors that the health of the individual human psyche depends upon the collective health of all the kingdoms of life on Earth.

And from John Davis, Ph.D:

The deep and enduring psychological questions—who we are, how we grow, why we suffer, how we heal—are inseparable from our relationships with the physical world. Similarly, the over-riding environmental questions—the sources of, consequences of, and solutions to environmental problems—are deeply rooted in the psyche, our images of self and nature, and our behaviors. Ecopsychology integrates ecology and psychology in responding to both sets of questions. Ecopsychology offers three insights:

1.  There is a deeply bonded and reciprocal relationship between humans and nature. 

2.  The illusion of a separation of humans and nature leads to suffering both for the environment (as ecological devastation) and for humans (as grief, despair, and alienation).

3.  Realizing the connection between humans and nature is healing for both.  

What is the Cycle of Life? It’s understanding natural rhythms all the way down to how we treat our bodies and skin as their first defense.

Our company, PHYTO5, offers you skincare plus a holistic method based on the principle of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). We see skin as an integral and not isolated part of the body.

We see the body as a part of being and being the sum of physical, mental, psychological, emotional, and spiritual.

And we see the individual being as participating part in the natural rhythms of life. We all participate in the natural environment, planet, and cosmos (even if only limited to our acknowledgement and thankfulness).

In our company, we find all these considerations relevant. We found our product mission, formulation, manufacturing and application of the skincare by consumers and professionals on these considerations.

Why? Because our conscious awareness of who and what we are in relationship to others and to nature supports us to live in concert with natural rhythms. And when we do we live better on all levels.

The PHYTO5 method of skincare respects balance of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. And through this balance we achieve wellness which essentially means we feel good in our own skin and in our hearts.

Our method respects the natural rhythms and cycles of life through TCM’s five energetic seasons and five phases of life: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. We acknowledge the movement of the heavens and celebrate the cycles of life ushered in by the equinoxes, solstices, new and full moons.

When one of the five seasons of TCM arrives, we honor the natural rhythm and cycle of life it represents. And we celebrate each season with its corresponding element.

These natural rhythms remind us to live in concert with the change in energy we feel with each season. We embrace the colors, foods, exercise practices, emotions, skin balancing, organ nourishing, fluid movement and more that each season in the cycle of life brings.

When you understand TCM’s Five Element Theory and its Phases, it leads you to love embracing the natural rhythms of life. You get more excited about life as each cycle of life arrives. And by living in concert with natural rhythms, you not only answer your question, What is the cycle of life? you love the answer and live it.

…

Endnotes:

1. Dr. Daniel Glaser is neurologist and director of Science Gallery at King’s College, London.

2. “How Rhythms Become a Vital Part of US | A Neuroscientist Explains.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 14 Jan. 2018, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/14/how-rhythms-become-a-vital-part-of-us-a-neuroscientist-explains.

3. Abram, David. The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World. United Kingdom, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2012.

4. Kimmerer, Robin Wall. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. United States, Milkweed Editions, 2013.

5. Ecopsychology studies the relationship between human beings and the natural world through the prism of ecological and psychological principles. The field seeks to develop and understand ways of expanding the emotional connection between individuals and the natural world, consequently assisting individuals to develop sustainable lifestyles and remedy their alienation from nature. Theodore Roszak is credited with coining the term ecopsychology in his 1992 book, The Voice of the Earth.

Image courtesy of Dimitras Vetsikas at pixabay

Tamanu, Aloe and Aquaxyl: A Match Made In Heaven for Ultra Skin-Soothing and Moisturizing in PHYTO5's Hydrating Body Milk

Tamanu oil, aloe and high tech natural compound Aquaxyl combine to create an ultra skin soothing, moisturizing and beautifying trio. This is why PHYTO5 formulates our organic certified hydrating Body Milk with these three hero ingredients (and a few more).

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Tamanu oil

Tamanu is a traditional treasure from the beaches of Polynesia. Because it has very well known therapeutic properties, tamanu (Calophyllum Inophyllum) was considered as a sacred tree in Polynesia. Its wood was used for the creation of the “tiki,” the famous Tahitian totem. Tamanu, translated from Tahitian as “who eliminates negative energies” is considered “the tree of a thousand virtues.”

The tamanu tree grows mainly in Southeast Asia, India and the Pacific and Indian Ocean Islands. It bears green fruits that contain a nut from which is extracted the famous tamanu oil. 

This oil was used in traditions many thousands of years old by Polynesian athletes, warriors and fishermen to protect their skin, and by vahine (women of central Polynesia) to protect their children’s skin because of its remarkable healing and soothing properties. Tamanu was also used in compresses for the treatment of wounds. 

Pharmaceutical properties of tamanu

Tamanu started to arouse the interest of the medical world in the 1930s when a nun observed that indigenous Tahitians used it to relieve leprous neuritis. An analgesic based on tamanu oil was later developed for use in intramuscular injections in Polynesian hospitals. Since then, Tamanu has been largely studied for use in the treatment of different types of wounds and scars as well as in the treatment of eczema, psoriasis and very sensitive skin. Pharmacological studies have shown that tamanu offers benefits like hydration, regeneration, anti-inflammation and healing.

Tamanu is also very rich in several anti-age and antioxidant molecules such as flavonoids and terpenoids which are very efficient free radical scavengers. This makes it an ideal ingredient to protect the skin from the effects of oxidative stress (pollution, smoke or ultraviolet rays). 

Moisturizing properties of aloe

It’s a daily challenge to ensure optimal water content for the skin when we are faced with aggressors like wind, climatic changes, pollution and air-conditioning in particular. Skin moisturization is the very first anti-aging routine to be applied to the skin on a daily basis and must be considered a priority.

Cactus and aloe are known for their ability to take up water from the depths of the earth and to store it. The high polysaccharide content of the leaves gives them the ability to store water from the earth enabling them to survive in extremely dry conditions.

Aloe is very rich in vitamins A, C and E in addition to antioxidants which protect the skin from oxidative stress. It also contains minerals such as calcium and potassium which regulate water and are vital to skin moisturization.

Aloe was used in ancient Egypt and China and in Ayurvedic medicine for its therapeutic properties. Its ability to store water makes it an excellent skin moisturizer. In addition, it creates a hydration film on the surface of the skin that protects the skin from external harmful aggressors.

Aloe soothes and heals as it lends very comforting anti-inflammatory properties. By acting on collagen, it is also an interesting anti-aging active ingredient. 

The high tech Aquaxyl® hydrating and restructuring molecules

Aquaxyl is a combination of molecules extracted from wheat. This ingredient is founded on a hydrating concept promoting the skin’s own hydrous flow.  

1. It deeply hydrates to increase water reserves in the skin. It has been proved by corneometry analysis that Aquaxyl® improves epidermal water content and stimulate the synthesis of GlycosAminoGlycans (GAG) that are responsible for trapping water within the skin. This action delivers an immediate and long-term moisturizing effect. 

2. It also forms a protective film on the skin which prevents water from evaporating. In vivo clinical studies have shown that Aquaxyl® increases the synthesis of ceramides, the major constituent of the skin’s protective barrier. It has also been demonstrated that Aquaxyl® decreases trans-epidermal water loss. It makes the skin stronger and more resistant to harm from external influences.

The result of Aquaxyl® is that desquamation is normalized and the micro-relief of the skin is smoothed. This potent ingredient exhibits proven efficacy in hydrating and restructuring skin cells. The skin is better equipped to fight external aggressions when it is well and powerfully restructured and moisturized.

How to use Hydrating Body Milk

• Apply as a finishing product after a body treatment or at home once da day or apply twice a day in the case of very dry skin.

• Massage into the skin for a while as the natural white film absorbs giving the skin a soft and silky touch.

We recommend hydrating Body Milk for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive. It possesses:

• Hypo-allergenic fragrance made of natural plant extracts that opens on a note of white jasmine and blends into a core of peach, violet and mimosa, with a lasting pleasant aroma of sweet vanilla

• Anti-age and regenerating properties

• Principle unique ingredients: tamanu oil, aloe, Aquaxyl, vitamin E

Facial Clays and Multi-Masking: How Natural Essential Oils Enrich the Mask and Its Results While More Common Synthetic Essential Oils Leave Us Wanting

Beauty industry pundits tells us clay mask use is on the increase and that multi-masking is a new trend. That’s interesting because multi-masking with PHYTO5 five colored clays (green, red, yellow, white and black) has been a PHYTO5 signature treatment since our company’s inception in the late 70s.

Because of the manner in which we target the facial reflex zones combined with the energy balancing properties of the blends of natural essential oils present in our clays, our 5 Clay Balancing Mask is a remarkably potent way to practice an effective facial reflexology treatment.

You may be one of many of our industry professionals who have recently received in the mail some beautiful printed material from a trade show company promoting “Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa“ conferences in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Florida. The cover picture is very artistic showing a beautiful face partly covered with some light and dark grey clays.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

As beautiful as the picture is, most of the clay is drying and cracking in such a way that it has to make the mask uncomfortable which is fairly typical with most masks on the market. Your facial clay mask should never crack on your face if it’s a good one.

In contrast, PHYTO5 clays are so full of essential oils that the clay remains very pleasant and comfortable for your client during the 10 to 15-minute application and they are easy to both apply and remove.

Clays are generally meant to contribute to hydration of the surface layer of the skin by attracting moisture from the deeper levels. In the process, it contributes to an elimination of toxins. The entire effect can be amplified with the addition of natural essential oils. This is why each one of PHYTO5 clays is rich in a specific blend of essential oils suitable to the function of each clay. This powerful hydration–detoxification effect enhanced by the naturally occurring vital energy balancing property of all our energetic products makes for a multi-mask that’s in a class by itself.

• About essential oils:

In his January 11, 2018 newsletter, 2018, Dr. Mercola states the following:

Could Enhanced Wellness and Vitality Be Just a Whiff Away?

Aromatherapy–or the use of essential oils–has been embraced since early times to promote wellness and vitality. With exciting new research exposing its many potential benefits for emotional and spiritual well-being, its time has arrived.

I wish he had specified “natural” essential oils, because many of the essential oils sold separately or as part of wellness products are actually synthetic rendering them aromatic but certainly not therapeutic.

Not only are PHYTO5 blends of natural essential oils natural, they’ve been formulated according to the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine and provide a proven vital energy balance.

• The Beauty of Emotions treatment:

The PHYTO5 serums of essential oils (Phyt’Ethers), like all the products of our five energetic skincare lines, have such a high level of vibrational potency that they operate at the quantum level. Their quantum nature makes them absolutely unique in the beauty and spa industry. 

It is this boosted potency–the quantum level–that also balances our emotions. This is the basis of our new groundbreaking protocol, the Beauty of Emotions.

The very specific blends of natural essential oils found in PHYTO5 energetic products are responsible for not only balancing our vital energy but for balancing our skin and our emotions too.

For these reasons, we can safely say that PHYTO5 quantum energetic skincare is a very viable path to feeling good, beautiful and happy!

The Fifth Energetic Season: How Transition Periods Between the Seasons Work According to Chinese Medicine

As keen observers of nature, the ancient Chinese realized that the transition from Winter to Spring, for example, would never happen in just one day but over a transitional period of time. They discovered that understanding the transitions from one season to the next held vital implications for the health and well-being of humans, flora and fauna.

The Chinese deduced that these transitional periods would necessarily happen four times a year–after Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The sum total of these periods constitutes what they called the fifth season.

On an average, with variations depending on what band of latitude we live in and given that a year has about 365 days, it can be calculated that each season would have 72 to 73 days each. If the between seasons period happens four times a year, each transition period would be about 18 days each.

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It should be understood that even when the energy of a season ceases to be “pro-active” it has a residual effect from its momentum, with more or less effects according to where you live. That is the reason that the symptoms, or manifestations of Winter will continue for a while past the end of the energetic season of Water / Winter. But, the new Earth energy is what becomes pro-active, affecting all living organisms, until it ceases its activity in favor of the next energetic season; although, again, there is for a while a continuation of its effects super-imposed onto the ones of the new season. 

How does this movement into the between seasons period of Earth affect your skincare regimen and your choice of skincare products?

We need to remember that there is a lag time between the change of energetic influence and the visible consequences or symptoms of the change.

For example: The energetic influence of one of the four major seasons will, for the most part, cease to be proactive for 18 days between that season and the next. The seasonal energetic activity “returns to Earth” before it reappears when the next energetic season commences.

When the Water season ends, its climatic influence is still felt. At that time, the climate in most of the U.S. is still one of Winter, particularly in the Northern half of the country, and the need to protect against the cold and its effects on our skin is still present and should not be ignored. 

For most people it means that a continuation of the Winter regimen is quite logical as long as the Winter climate is in effect, but the people who have a predisposition to Earth conditions (pimples, blemishes or acne, and issues of lymph circulation) need to be aware that with the Earth season beginning January 18 their condition will worsen.

During the eighteen-day between seasons period of January 18 to February 4, Chinese medicine indicates it is the most beneficial time to address the issues of the Earth skin conditions. People with Earth imbalance are the ones who need to switch PHYTO5 skincare lines (and professional treatments) on time.

Using both the Water products and the Earth products might be called for depending on the individual’s condition and the climate at the time.

Because the Water products are also anti-aging products providing hydration and skin tone, given the age and skin condition of the individual, the Water line might be the right choice for most of the year. 

For many of our clients in the U.S., it is important to prolong the use of the Water line past January 17 unless their dominant concern is the set of skin conditions associated with the Earth element. In that case, switching to Earth is recommended. 

There are a total of four eighteen-day between seasons periods for Earth throughout the year. The other time periods are April 18 to May 5, July 20 to August 6, October 21 to November 7.