Is there a right time to go to sleep?

Are you hurting your chance of a good night’s sleep by going to bed too late?

Is that right time the same for everyone?

Lately, I’ve worked with several clients on adjusting their sleep routine, not because of their problem with sleep, but because of their other health challenges. Improving the quality of one’s sleep is an essential part of my comprehensive healing approach. For some, it’s one of the most important aspects.

Most of us have a set routine around sleeping and waking up, even though we may not think of it as a routine. We go to sleep around the same time. We’ve formed habits, either out of necessity or by choice.

Over time, the routine takes over, and we say we’re a “morning person” or “night owl”.

As a routine’s formed, a routine can change, too, if you have a darn good reason to change it.

Now back to my original question. Are you hurting yourself by going to sleep too late? Is there a right time to go to sleep?

Yes, as a matter of fact, because of how your body is designed.

In Chinese Medicine, we work with meridians, the energy pathways on the surface of the human body. Each organ has a meridian associated with it. Meridians and organs work together to optimize our bodily functions.

Much like some hormones and many physical functions, the meridians in your body go through a 24-hour cycle. Each meridian energy has a high and low tide in a 24-hour period.

You may have noticed that you get a little bit drowsy around 8 or 9pm. But if you push through that period, your mind becomes alert around 10 or 11pm. You get a second wind.

That’s because three of your meridians come alive late at night. The Triple Warmer meridian enters high tide from 9-11pm. The Gall Bladder meridian enters high tide from 11pm-1am. The Liver meridian enters high tide from 1-3am.

Around midnight, the yang energy in your body starts to grow, setting the stage for a new day. Yang energy is what makes you feel vibrant and healthy. It’s what protects you from the energies that cause illnesses. The best time for your body to nurture your yang energy is from 11pm-1am, which means that you should be in bed and asleep.

In addition, your liver rejuvenates from 11pm-3am. During that time, if you stay awake, you’re interfering with your liver’s ability to do a good job at the 100+ functions it performs for the body. Over time, it gets taxed because of that interference.

An unbalanced liver meridian is one of the main reasons that people have trouble sleeping, including both falling asleep or sleeping through the night.

So, you want to protect the health of your liver meridian.

The more minutes or hours that you sleep before midnight, the better off your liver will be.

If you currently go to sleep after midnight, I suggest that you set a goal to gradually move it to midnight over a two-week period.

If you currently go to sleep around midnight, I suggest that you gradually move it to before 11pm.

This simple change alone goes a long way in ensuring a healthy body.

BTW, I once mentioned the fact that the Liver meridian is at its high tide from 11pm-1am in a workshop. An MD in the audience commented that, according to Western Medicine, your liver is most effective in processing cholesterol from 1-3am. This coincides nicely with the peak hour of the Liver meridian that Chinese Medicine speaks of.

I hope this information provides enough incentive for you to look into when you go to sleep.

If, on the other hand, you do go to sleep before 11pm and still have trouble sleeping, stay tuned! I’ll discuss more about sleep in the coming weeks and months.

Are you tired a lot? Here’s a tip for you to have more energy.

Here’s a video on Tip #3: Massage K-27. I’ve received a lot of inquiry over the years on finding the exact location of the acupressure points & how to work with them. I made this video to clarify those questions.

In this video you’ll discover:

• How to locate K-27
• How long you massage it and how often
• An alternate way to work with K-27

Do you find your mind spins when you’re under stress?
Do you want to be able to think clearly during turmoil?
Do you want to be more centered and less emotional when you’re in a crisis?

Despite what you may have been told, when you’re stressed, it may not be the best time to meditate.

Don’t get me wrong. I love meditation! I’ve been doing it for the past twenty-some years. I’ve even been leading meditation practices regularly (up until social distancing got started).

However, when there’s a lot swirling around, like in the world we live in today with the pandemic and the protests, I actually advise against doing seated meditation as a way to quiet the mind. Not as my first choice anyways.

Why? Because it won’t quiet the mind that’s spinning out of control. It won’t calm the emotion that’s been boiling. It won’t provide you peace amidst the storm.

I experienced this firsthand last year. After hearing the shocking news of my father’s sudden passing, my very foundation was shaken up.

But sitting quietly was agitating me more than anything. It was like braking hard on a fast moving train. The train wouldn’t come to a full stop right away. Mechanically, it wasn’t able to do that. The momentum would keep it going for quite a while.

So, what’s helpful in a situation like this?

Simple practices with movements that anchor you in your physical body are more effective in bringing you a sense of calm and peace. Here are some of my go-to practices:

1. 1. Walking
   2. Stretching
   3. Dancing
   4. Chanting
   5. Gardening
   6. Cooking
   7. Tai Chi

The items on this list engage my mind in a minimal way. They’re gentle. They create movement in my body, allowing emotional and mental energies to move in a way that they see fit.

They are physical by nature, anchoring the mind in the physical. That alone provides a floor, a foundation, a grounding in the midst of shifting sand, of turmoil, of crisis.

These practices are especially effective when you perform them with mindfulness. That is, to be aware of some aspect of the movements, like your feet on the ground while walking.

Among all these practices, Tai Chi is my favorite. It requests a little more attention than walking or weeding. It requires no equipment. It doesn’t need any special gear.

Tai Chi has a lot of other benefits that you can learn more about online. To get a feel of Tai Chi check out my YouTube video on eight standing movements for health, a Qi Gong exercise that is closely related.

For those of you who’re local to South Florida, I have a weekly Tai Chi class at Boca Regional Hospital that’s on hold right now. Drop me a note if you want to be notified when it resumes.

What’s your go-to practice when you’re stressed? If you don’t have one yet, which one will you incorporate in the next 30 days? Please share with me here.

Do you want to sleep better?
Do you want a simple way to boost your immune system?
Do you know sunlight’s role in these?

Most of us are aware that sunlight helps the body create Vitamin D, which helps with calcium absorption in the gut and supports bone health.

But do you know other ways that sunlight makes your body healthy and strong? It blew my mind when I researched the topic.

Firstly, exposure to sunlight helps to set up a proper daily rhythm for body’s two major hormones, cortisol and melatonin. Hormones are control signals that instruct the body’s organs to function in certain ways. Both of these hormones play a role in better sleep.

Secondly, exposure to sunlight also helps our body to produce Vitamin D, which plays a key role in our immune health.

Here’s a closer look at these hormones & Vitamin D.

1. Melatonin
   • Melatonin, a 3-billion old molecule secreted by the tiny pineal gland, is known for its ability usher in sleep.
   • In addition, researchers have discovered that it’s your body’s best antioxidant. They also discovered its supra ability to boost immune system & treat cancer in lab animals.
   • Melatonin secretion goes through a 24-hour cycle. It’s highest at night and lowest during the daytime.
   • When you exposure sufficiently to sunlight, your body secrets a healthy amount melatonin at the right time.
2. Cortisol
   • Our sense of being alive is fueled by hormone cortisol. It enables you to jump off the bed in the morning. It provides you with energy to go from task to task during the day.
   • Cortisol also goes through a 24-hour cycle. It rises around midnight and falls around the midday. It peaks in the morning to give you that boost to start your day on the right note.
   • Cortisol is also a stress hormone. Stress from daily life can cause cortisol to deviate from a healthy 24-hour rhythm. It can be low when it should be high and vice versa.
   • Exposure to sunlight in the morning, helps to trigger cortisol secretion, the right amount at the right time. Getting it in line with body’s natural circadian rhythm allows you to sleep better at night.
3. Vitamin D
   • According to research papers from National Institute of Health and Harvard University, Vitamin D helps your body to boost immune function, reduces inflammation and fight infection.Studies found that Vitamin D reduces the onset of flu by about 40%. It may also prevent people from getting flu.
   • A recent study found out that there is correlation of Vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 infection.

BTW, sunlight exposure through windows in your car, home or office is far less effective than being exposed to sunlight directly. So go outside & soak in the sun, especially between 6am and 8:30am. Do it while protecting the safety of your skin.

Even though it’s not certain that sunlight can prevent you from getting flu or COVID-19, it for sure can boost your immune system & improve the quality of your sleep.

Let me know what else you’re doing to sleep better & strengthen your immune system. Leave me a comment below.

Medical disclaimer:
The content on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately.

Oregano oil

Given the ever-increasing measures that are in place to keep us safe from COVID-19, are you wondering:

• Do I have sufficient protection for myself and my loved ones?
• What else can I do to better protect us?
• Is there anything that provides the ultimate protection against this highly contagious yet invisible virus?

As I’ve been following the spread of COVID-19 from Wuhan across the globe, one thing I learned from the experts is that the last line of defense is your immune system.

That’s right. The strength of your immune system is your ultimate protection.

There are various things that can help boost your immune system: exercise, diet, energy movements, comedy, and natural remedies.

Here is a list of natural remedies that you may already have in your panty that can help you better safeguard your family. I’ve been using all of them before the outbreak of this pandemic.

If you don’t have these on hand, many of them are still available through Amazon or other health food sites (Vitacost.com is one such example).

1. Baking soda: Baking soda mixed with water balances the acid in your body. Viruses don’t do well in a body that’s alkalized; they thrive in an acidic environment. Mix a pinch of baking soda with water and drink between meals. Don’t do so if you have high blood pressure.
2. Apple cider vinegar: It is antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral. It supports the microbiome and immune balance of the body. Mix apple cider vinegar with water and drink first thing in the morning.
3. Lemon juice: It has benefits like apple cider vinegar. Squeeze lemon juice into warm water and drink with a meal.
4. Sea salt: A sea salt solution can help clear out bacteria and viruses from your mouth. Gargle it in the morning.
5. Oregano oil: Research has shown that oregano oil is antiviral and antioxidant. It’s a popular alternative remedy for cold & flu symptoms. Mix a few drops in a glass of water and drink up to 3 times a day. Only ingest oils made for internal consumption.
6. Grape seed extract: According to a research paper by the National Institute of Health, grape seed extract has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Mix a few drops with water and drink.
7. Colloidal silver solution: Its antibacterial and antiviral properties have been known through the ages. Spray into your throat/mouth and hold under your tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing.
8. Bach Rescue Remedy: It is a popular type of Bach flower remedy. It helps calm the nervous system, therefore stopping emotions that might weaken your immune system. It comes in a liquid and candy format. Use as directed.
9. White sage leaves: The smoke of white sage leaves has been scientifically proven to clean air. What’s more, the smoke gets inhaled into the your respiratory system. It weakens whatever viruses and bacteria have lodged there. Burn the leaves inside a cast iron, urn or a ceramic container. Use with caution.

Please do your own research before ingesting any of these natural remedies.

What do you already have in your pantry? What do you want to add? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Are you at a loss for words when someone you know loses a parent, a spouse, or even a child? Do you want to show them how much you care but you don’t know how? Do you want to make someone feel deeply supported and loved?

I didn’t know what to say or do when my friends lost their parents, one by one, over the last two years. I watched other people comment on social media. I learned to say, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

After that, I didn’t know what to do, so I did nothing.

Then, the tables turned. Three months ago, my father passed away suddenly from an accident. I bought a one-way ticket to China and got on a plane the same day. Forty-eight hours later, my sister picked me up from the airport and took me home to my mourning mom.

Over the two weeks I was in China, many friends in the States texted me that they were “sorry for my loss,” and “their thoughts were with me.” People sent prayers, sometimes healing light. I always sent back a ‘thank-you’ or a heart symbol.

I was grateful to everyone who reached out to me; many are friends, while some are acquaintances who learned about my loss through the grapevine.

After I returned to the States, I got hugs and people asking how my family was doing, especially my mom. I told them that we were adjusting well. My father had just turned 79, so it didn’t feel like his life was cut short. He died instantly, so he didn’t suffer from long, lingering pain in or on the way to the hospital. Also, my mom had told him that it would be better for both of them if he went first, because she’d always been the caretaker in their marriage. It happened in the order she wanted.

Whenever someone told me in person “I’m so sorry for your loss,” I simply looked them in the eye and replied, “Thank you.” I didn’t know how else to respond.

A couple of people stood out in the aftermath of my father’s passing. They taught me what to do to make someone feel deeply supported and loved.

A girlfriend from my Buddhist group texted me every day for a week: “You are in my thoughts. Hope your day is filled with joy.” After a few days, I understood that she wanted me to know that she was always here for me. It felt reassuring to know she was there.

A colleague in the same personal development program as me called after I came back from China. I thought he wanted to share his progress. He said, “No, I called to see how you’re doing.” That simple statement made me feel how much he cared. For the following month, he texted me every few days, “Hi Dan. How are you?”

Nobody made me feel as supported as he did; someone I’ve not met in person, someone whose face I don’t know.

And his words were so simple.

What made the biggest difference to me was his consistency. When everyone had stopped texting me, when people had stopped asking how I was doing, he continued.

So, here’s a simple recipe to show someone how much you care after a loss or any type of life event. Text them every few days, “Hi, how are you?”. You can put it on your calendar as the first thing to do in the morning, a repeating task. It takes about 30 seconds each time. The impact is long lasting. You’ll have a special place in their hearts forever.

I followed that recipe myself after my friend Jane’s daughter got sick. Jane said, a few weeks later, “I so appreciate you checking on me all the time. I wouldn’t have thought of reaching out to you at all, given how much is going on. You made a big difference for me!”

Try it with someone in need. Let me know how it works for you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here are 3 simple energy exercises to create feelings of love, regardless of whether you’re in a relationship or surrounded by loved ones.

Enjoy!