Joseph and I (Emaline) are in Portland continuing our studies, and we are excited to bring some new acupuncture treatment models and theory back to Frankfort. The conference we attended (The International Society for the Study of Classical Chinese Medicine- ISSCA) was deepening, expanding and rejuvinating. We are learning more about classical translations and practice from the Neijing, a medical text from the Han Dynasty (around 200 B.C. - 200 A.D.), and Joe is intensely training with our Taiji master, Master Ko.
These studies are naturally leading us to re-examine our own practice and lifestyle, and we hope to return with a clarity of how to better serve the medicine, serve you, and serve ourselves. To honor that triad is at the center of our life's mission, and we are always growing and tweaking to stay on the right path.
Based on teachings we were reminded of while here in Portland, we are practically looking into altering our treatment model. At present, the treatment model we have now is based on a massage therapy model: see individual patients in a private room for an hour or so, check them out after the treatment and get the next patient (we all know this set-up well!). Though this is an extremely common way to run an acupuncture business, and is basically the way we do things now, our teachers are showing us more classical treatment models that better serve the medicine and the treatments. We'll let you know once we've teased out how that can manifest itself at The Light Clinic, but look for some positive changes coming!
We have also talked to our main classical acupuncture teacher, Dr. Edward Neal, MD, and he is planning on visiting The Light Clinic in the fall of 2011. This is an amazing opportunity to experience one of the best acupuncturist's in the world! He will also help us instate a more classical acupuncture treatment model in the clinic as he learned it and as doctors have been doing for thousands of years! We are excited about this growth and expansion, and hope you all are too! Also look for more Taiji classes from Joe and extra smiles from us! Good things are coming!

There are two great Western herbalism workshops being held this weekend by Andrew Alexander Ozinskas, an herbalist, wildcrafter, medicine maker at Camp Pleasant:
   
1.Friday, AUGUST 19th 6-8:30pm 
*Explore local ecology on field walks in the Peaks Mill area of Franklin County
*Be introduced to basic plant identification and classification of wild plants 
*Discuss principles of traditional western medicine 
*Create a pressed plant specimen to be preserved for reference
Suggested Cost is $20
Details:  Eat your own meal and drink plenty of water before you come, only light refreshments will be provided. Call beforehand with dietary restrictions. Wear long pants and shoes for hiking in tall brush, on slippery and uneven surfaces, and up and down hills. Call beforehand with physical concerns. Bring a heavy book with which to press and take home your specimens.   

2. BEGINNING A SMALL MEDICINE CHEST WORKSHOP 
Sunday, AUGUST 21, 2-5pm
*Description above applies with a longer time frame and a focus on 10 plants we have chosen to represent a range of plant families and medicinal actions. For those interested in beginning home herbal medicine making. Our goal is to make as many specimen pages as people attend the class and to share the resulting compilation with the group in the following weeks as a lasting reference for your home use. Detailed descriptions of plant medicine for each species identified. 
Suggested Cost is $25

CALL to RSVP to one or both classes: 502-227-1743 Camp Pleasant  
Questions: Andrew (443)695-3057 or Camp Pleasant 502-227-1743(after August 16th)
ADDRESS: 1143 Camp Pleasant Road Frankfort KY 40601
DIRECTIONS: From Frankfort take 127North out of town and check the odometer at Cove Springs Park. 7.6 miles from Cove Springs turn Right onto Hwy2919/Indian Gap Road. This road takes you by the Fish Hatchery. Indian Gap dead ends in 3 miles at a stop sign, where you Turn Left onto Hwy1707/Camp Pleasant Road. Our driveway is 9 tenths of a mile on the Right, mailbox says 1143, and there is a shingle-sided barn right next to the road on your right just before the drive. Mailbox will be marked with something obvious. Allow 20-25 minutes from Frankfort.
For directions from anywhere other than Frankfort, give us a call at 502-227-1743.

Next Friday August 19th The Light Clinic will be closed until Tuesday August 30th. Craniosacral treatments will be available from August 30th onward, and the Chinese medicine side will resume Friday September 9th. So if you need some more herbs or would like an appointment before we go come on in next week!
Emaline and Joseph are taking a break to attend a Chinese medicine conference in Portland and stay to continue studies in Taiji for the following week. Gotta keep learning!

Our 2nd Friday Lecture is coming up tomorrow: "All Disease Comes from the Heart." Based on an article our amazing professor Heiner Fruehauf created. Come one come all!! 7-8 p in the Blue Room. Beverages provided. And it's free!

ARTIST OPEN HOUSE in the McClure Building this Friday August 5th 5:30-9p. This open house is to provide a little shade from the heat if you're already downtown for the the Friday night concert, to celebrate the newly renovated Frankfort Yoga Studio (3rd floor of the McClure Bldg.) and to provide a chance for people to view The Light Clinic and artists of the 7th floor (great paintings, rugs, rejiggered jewelry, etc).  So if you've been itching to bring your friend by, or you haven't been able to make it down, this is a great time to come!  
The Light Clinic will have beverages and smiles!
306 W. Main Street Frankfort KY 40601.  Corner of St. Clair and West Main Street.

For some enlightening summer reading check out "The Web that Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine" by Ted Kaptchuk and "Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine" by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold. Available at Frankfort's Paul Sawyer Public Library! These are great comprehensive guides to the theory and practice of CCM.


If you are one who believes or is interested in angels and spirits, then read (I just listened to the cd version- yet again at Paul Sawyer Library!) "Angels in My Hair" by Lorna Byrne. Lorna is an Irish mystic who sees angels and spirits, and this book is her life story. She is alive today living in Ireland. Really amazing. And the audio version has a woman reading in an Irish accent- always fun!

Sitting here sipping tea, and thought I'd share with you some good summer teas to drink. In the summer, we still want to stick with the Chinese way of ingesting warm food and drinks (easy on the stomach and easier to digest!). If you like caffeine, have green tea, and for herbal teas, try peppermint (the best is fresh from the garden!). They will help cool your insides and balance the Kentucky summer heat.

As most of us experienced growing up, in the fall, winter and spring we would work hard at school, and then take a break in the summer. This model is one that teachers and parents alike understood to be most healthy and balanced for the development and growth of a child. Even with the modern change to year-round school, numerous breaks are incorporated throughout the year and considered vital.       

The balance of work and rest still applies to adults, except that most employers and work places have adopted a model where we work most of the year and only take off government appointed holidays and a few precious extras. This "adult model" is not a sustainable way to stay balanced with work and rest, stay balanced with the seasons, or to stay balanced within ourselves. There should always be numerous breaks in our year where we take a step back from our day-to-day lives to reconnect with family and friends, travel, digest and incorporate what we've been doing over the year.  

It is also important to expand ourselves in studies that help fill our hearts (just like summer camp when you were younger!). With this in mind, The Light Clinic will take a few summer breaks this year. The first break is the end of June through the beginning of July (June 24th-July 7th) and the end of August through the beginning of September (August 19th-September 9th). The first break Emaline will be visiting family and Joseph will be on a state-wide National Guard tour with the 202nd Army Band.  The second break Emaline and Joseph will travel to Portland to attend a week-long International Chinese Medicine conference, and stay to deepen their studies with their teachers there. 

We hope you all will take your own breaks this summer to do what will most enrich and deepen your lives. In terms of Chinese medicine, it is  healthy to take time off treatments to integrate the work that has been done. If you feel like you need treatments while we are gone, there are many options. For Chinese medicine, there are practitioners in Lexington, Georgetown and Louisville. There are also wonderful health options in Frankfort, including Craniosacral therapy, Reiki, massage, and chiropractors for energetic and physical assistance. We are happy to discuss and make recommendations on an individual basis. Please feel free voice any questions or concerns by calling, dropping by or emailing emaline@thelightclinic.org or joseph@thelightclinic.org.

Thank you for your understanding as we try to keep ourselves immersed in our studies to become better practitioners and further honor this community.

Wishing you health and happiness!
Joseph and Emaline

On May 6th we began the Chinese 2-week period of 立夏 Lixia, or "Summer Stands Up." This marks the turning in the seasonal wave where the energy of Summer begins to take over the energy of Spring. This wave will grow until peaking at the Summer Solstice on June 21st and then decline until Autumn takes reign August 8th. 
As the summer ramps up, it is even more important to take caution to not overextend yourself. It will be easy to do too much and to be in the heat too long. The great power of summer is that its energy is at your back, supporting you and pushing you to do more than normal. The caution should be to keep your center. Don't lose yourself completely to the joys and excesses of summer. Keep your qigong or meditation practice strong, eat light, keep your wits about you, and you will stay healthy throughout the summer season.

If you start to feel yourself slipping into common fire problems (which are the problems related to summer), please do not hesitate to stop by TLC so we can help you take care of things before they worsen. Common fire problems include: itching; burning; visible skin issues; issues with redness, like red eyes or sores; chest discomfort; headaches; mind moving too fast; poor sleep; and so on.