HEALING AND HERBS 3 Approaches to Working With Age-Defying Tonic Herbs Shi Yao Lian, Practitioner Buddha’s Alchemy October 2, 2019 Tonification is a popular topic in herbalism, but the definition and uses of tonic herbs varies from tradition to tradition. Let’s take a look at how tonifying herbs are used across 3 different herbal healing systems: TCM, Ayurveda, and Western. TCM Tonification Tonic herbs in TCM are a broad category of herbs that are used to treat states of Deficiency of the Four Treasures: Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang. The meaning of tonification is to make strong ..read more

HEALING AND HERBS 7 Amazing and Versatile Medicinal Herbs Blooming in My Garden Now Shi Yao Lian, Practitioner Buddha’s Alchemy July 9, 2019 The summer herbal harvest is in full gear, and it’s sometimes a tough call which way to turn your attention. Not only are the forests, fields and coastlines full of amazing wild herbs, but now is the season of plenty in the herbal garden. A versatile medicinal herb garden is the key to having a variety of herbs on hand, and being prepared to treat whatever little “nasties” come your way. Here are 7 medicinal herbs blooming in my garden rig ..read more

HEALING AND HERBS How I Eliminated Our Dog’s Kennel Cough In 2 days With Herbs Shi Yao Lian, Practitioner Buddha’s Alchemy April 16, 2019 My littlest pup, Asha, came down with a case of kennel cough, which according to our vet has been going around. It was actually a week after her accidental exposure to another dog with symptoms that her symptoms manifested. Kennel cough is an acute respiratory illness in dogs that is highly contagious, caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica, and/or other viruses and bacteria. It is often thought to be a result of multiple co-infections that can ..read more

HEALING AND HERBS A Medicinal Herb Walk Through the Pacific Northwest Rainforest – 8 Healing Herbs Shi Yao Lian, Practitioner Buddha’s Alchemy There was something special today about my usual mountainside hike through the beautiful Western Red Cedars, Douglas Firs and Giant Leaf Maples. Although the forest understory is coming to life literally before my eyes, there is a non-visual element, almost magical in its veil-like nature, yet half perceptible to the senses. Poplar buds have fallen without abandon, and infused the air with a musk laden fruitiness that I could literally dou ..read more

HEALING AND HERBS How to Treat Different Types of Arthritis and “Bi Syndrome” Shi Yao Lian, Practitioner Buddha’s Alchemy February 14, 2019 Bi Syndrome Treating arthritis or any other painful obstructive syndrome appropriately requires assessment of the underlying energetic patterns and constitutional tendencies. There is no “one size fits all” treatment plan, but rather thoughtful consideration must be given to the individual’s specific symptoms and circumstances. Bi Syndrome (or painful obstruction) includes various patterns of obstruction and stagnation of Qi and Blood b ..read more

HEALING AND SPIRITUALITY Recognizing the Core of Addictions Shi Yao Hai, Master Buddhist Psychology Teacher and Healing Practitioner December 5, 2018 What is addiction? The core of the Buddha’s teachings recognizes that thoughts, feelings and behaviors are not inherent characteristics, but rather the results of whether or not individuals embody skillfulness. Clinging and craving which in modern terms may be referenced as addictive behaviors, are the principal causes of suffering. Another word for suffering is emotional pain, which can manifest in all of its various forms o ..read more

HEALING AND HERBS Understanding Nervines and Antispasmodics Shi Yao Lian, Practitioner Buddha’s Alchemy November 7, 2018 Nervines and antispasmodics have similarities and differences in their mechanisms of action and their applications. In a general sense, they have similarities that allow both to be utilized in treatment of conditions that involve imbalances of the nervous system and its various related components. In more specific terms, they can be differentiated into their particular modes of action depending on whether they act more upon the mind, heart and shen (spirit) a ..read more

HEALING AND HERBS Herbal Astringents Around the World: How They Work and How to Use Them Shi Yao Lian, Practitioner Buddha’s Alchemy August 14, 2018 How Astringents Work: Astringents are recognized as having similar actions in TCM, Ayurveda, Western herbalism, Unani, and TTM (Traditional Tibetan Medicine/Sowa Rigpa). Generally speaking, they are known to constrict tissues, tone laxity, and restrain loss. This results in shrinking, drying, eliminating and binding (makes more cohesive) types of action on the tissues and organs involved. Astringents prevent leakage of needed fluids and i ..read more

HEALING AND HERBS Herbs for Phlegm from the World’s Healing Traditions Shi Yao Lian, Practitioner Buddha’s Alchemy June 20, 2018 Phlegm is a concept that carries different connotations depending on which healing system and perspective you are viewing it from. There is one outstanding consistent characteristic of phlegm, and that is its growing predominance as an imbalance in modern society, both in superficial and deep-rooted manifestations. Poor nutrition can often be found at the root of phlegm regardless of how it is examined. There are many contributing factors to this including in ..read more

HEALING AND SPIRITUALITY Deeper Healing – Using the Siddhi Path to Miraculousness Shi Yao Hai, Master Teacher and Healer Buddha’s Alchemy April 25, 2018 Understanding the Siddhi Path Siddhi is a Sanskrit word that means accomplishment, success, achievement, and perfection. It is also a word used for supernatural abilities and yogic powers. It comes from the root word “sad”, which means true or truth. So from a yogic perspective, siddhi is a natural phenomenon that seems “super” to what is common or normal. The word Siddha refers to one who works with siddhis. Here we are using ..read more