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:: Seminar Overview: Healing our Hearts ::
Blood Pressure, Arterial Health, Cholesterol, Emotions, and Trauma
Traditional Chinese Medicine views the heart as both a physical organ of the body and a mental/emotional
center. Dean Ornish, M.D., heart specialist at the University of California at San Francisco, has said
"I think the mind is where heart disease begins for many people." In Chinese medicine, the heart
regulates blood circulation but also controls consciousness, spirit, sleep, memory, and houses the mind.
The heart, together with the liver, is related to the nervous system and the brain. Emotions affect
the actual fucntioning of the heart, as seen in the speed and strength of the pulses.
In Chinese medicine, individuals with a healthy heart are seen to be genuinely friendly, humble, and
clear-minded. Symptoms of heart-mind imbalance, from this perspective, include scattered and confused
mind, excess or no laughter, ruddy or very pale face, speech problems, depression, loss of memory, poor
circulation, weak spirit, aversion to heat.
Heart disease is the largest health problem in the United States. In addition, many chronic
degenerative conditions, such as cancer, arthritis, and mental illness are related to lack of mental
clarify. In Chinese medicine, these conditions are also considered to be related to problems with the
heart.
Particular medicinal foods are very powerful in healing and preventing cardiovascular disease---lowering
blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, strengthening arterial walls, and encouraging calmness in times of
stress and trauma. In addition, particular foods and activities are known to be powerful in prevention
and healing of the heart as well. Many of these have a healing effect on other chronic degenerative
illnesses as well. Come and share your experiences. Come and taste-test some heart-healing foods.
Dr. Elizabeth H. Fisher, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, has a Ph.D. in Clinical
Psychology from a clinical research program at Northwestern University, nr. Chicago, IL She has taught
at Northwestern, and has done research on gender bias in processing information, which extrapolates to
include bias in processing information about non-dominant social groups (including ethnic, gay and
lesbian, differently abled, religious minorities, etc.). She has recently moved her clinical practice
to St. Petersburg, Florida, where she uses altered states to treat parts of the Self split off due to
trauma. She also has developed a psychological/neuropsychological test battery to identify biological
(metabolic, neurological, immunological), developmental, trauma, cultural components of ADD,LD, and
atypical immunological disorders, as well as atypical learning styles. A trauma piece, if one is found,
can often be cleared relatively quickly, relieving what may have looked like life-long LD. Dr. Fisher
can be reached at (727) 344-1110.
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