“Smile, breathe and go slowly. The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
The season of Wood is back. This spring energy moves up and out, grows and progresses to make this time a prosperous one. This particular season does not seem easy for most of us. Benevolence is more important than ever. We didn’t see this coming. This block, this corona virus has caused unanticipated stress emotionally and financially. It has pushed many of us to our boundaries. We have been forced to re-evaluate the things that mean most to us, our health, our families, our friends, our occupations, and our entire earth. We are moving forward more slowly and with more vigilance than ever before. We don’t know why and whatever you believe, there are an infinite number of possibilities and positive outcomes even through these wild times. I encourage you to continue to grow with strength and flexibility with understanding. Understand yourself, your neighbor, and your emotions. Recognize your feelings of frustration or fear and face these emotions with compassion. Take a walk outside in nature. Love your neighbor. Eat your greens. Embrace the slowing down and rest which is always needed in our culture of doing, consuming and producing. Reflect. Take a deep breath. Anticipate the blocks and move forward with them. This is life in practice. Consider going downstream, with the current instead of fighting the upstream.
As a healthcare professional, family member, partner, friend and neighbor with some experience dealing with many contagious viruses, including HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Ebola, TB, Measles and Shingles, I want to be mindful of my clients and myself and be carefully considering the sensitivity of our situation that has affected our community globally and locally. I have been reading, researching, attending webinars on the Chinese herbal formulas that have been widely used in Wuhan and other areas of China. I have been collaborating with my mentors and colleagues on treatments to support you during this time complying with the recommendations with our local state department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming, if it hasn’t already, to your city, your hospital, your friend, your family member near you at some point in time. Hopefully, you are not the one who is quarantined or waiting for a test result, or unable to access appropriate testing. These are all real possibilities. I’d encourage you to follow all local and federal government precautions and recommendations.
Please continue living life while hand washing diligently, wearing masks in public and practicing social distancing. You can also increase your immunity by nourishing your body with warm (easier on the digestive tract) unprocessed natural/organic foods, avoiding white refined sugar, gluten, dairy and excessive alcohol. Exercise is beneficial, minimally a 20 min brisk walk or jog or whatever your choice of activity daily. Drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest (at least 8-10 hours of sleep) as these can help your immune system. Take inventory of your medications, supplements, Chinese herbs, and fill your heart with those you love within the recommended precautions whether it be a message, a phone or video call. Be compassionate to yourself and your neighbors. Consider a gift certificate to support small businesses around you. In the spirit of compassion, with truth and love, be well and may peace be with you.
We are committed to support those who need care at this time with extreme caution and with every precaution. We are equipped with the proper PPE and sanitizing methods during and between all treatments. A pre-screening phone call or text prior to your visit will determine if your care is essential, appropriate and safe. Please wear a mask for your appointment if you have one.
Telemedicine is also available for any consultation and treatment needed including distance zero balancing, nutritional counseling, Chinese herbal medicine prescription, and exercise prescription.
If you need to contact the Florida Department of Health, the 24/7 call center is 1-866-779-6121 or email questions to covid-19@flhealth.gov
Here are a few links that might be helpful to you:
What if the virus is the medicine?
Miha Kim, PT, Acupuncture Physician, LLC 