Empowered Patient Blog
Healthy and Empowered People Strengthen Their Community and Change the World.
The Trickster’s Touch: How Expectation Shapes Healing
When the Burden Is Too Great: Two Pillars of Spiritual Medicine
The Five Spirits of Humankind: A Map of Consciousness
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The Science of Spirit: A Bridge Between Consciousness and Healing
What is spirit? It is no small matter to define something without matter, but if we are going to examine what it means to practice spiritual medicine, we need a working definition. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is not alone among holistic forms of traditional medicine that view spirit (shen) as distinct from an animating life…
Emotions, Chemistry & Coherence
This month’s post highlights the work of a guest contributor and dear friend, Emma Liles. It’s one of those pieces I find myself wishing I had written. With profound wisdom that beautifully complements my recent explorations into the connection between cancer and emotions, Emma masterfully weaves together personal experience, scientific understanding, and heartfelt reflection. Her…
Exploring Four Pillars of Meditation: A Guide to Altered States of Consciousness
Meditation has long been a cornerstone of human spirituality and self-discovery, consisting of various techniques to quiet the mind and foster inner peace. While the practices may vary widely, they share the common goal of guiding practitioners toward greater mental clarity and emotional balance. In this post, I will explore four distinct types of meditation,…
Affordable Wellness: Free Self-Care Practices Available to Everyone
It’s no secret that Americans spend more on healthcare than any other developed nation. In fact, the United States’ per capita healthcare expenditure in 2022 was $12,555, nearly double the average of $6,651 in other high-income nations. Yet despite this substantial investment, Americans are often underutilizing some of the most powerful and accessible self-care practices…
The Power of Showing Up: Building Healthy Habits Step by Step
If you’re attempting to establish a new habit, like getting in shape, I recently heard some simple yet profound advice: don’t focus on the specifics of exercise; focus on being the person who shows up at the gym. This may sound odd at first, but there’s a subtle wisdom in that statement. New habits need…
When Health Declines, Let Life Flourish
If you look beyond the fear of death and the uncertainty of an unknown future, you will find something even more concerning. At the core of a cancer diagnosis lies a deeper existential anxiety: the dread of not having lived up to one’s potential and purpose.
Chocolate’s Dirty Secret: Unveiling the Risks of Lead and Cadmium Contamination
Chocolate has long been a beloved indulgence, bringing joy to millions around the world. However, recent research has highlighted a troubling issue lurking within this sweet treat: the presence of toxic metals, specifically lead and cadmium, which pose significant health risks.
The Hidden Cause of Restless Leg Syndrome
It’s the middle of the night, and I’m lying awake, feeling restless in general, but my legs are particularly troublesome, full of staticky energy. If I weren’t exhausted, I would get out of bed and jog in place, hoping they would settle down. If this scene sounds familiar, you may have experienced the unsettling discomfort of restless leg syndrome (RLS).
Uncovering the Cancer-Trauma Connection (Part 2)
There are many explanations for and descriptions of the origin of cancer, but perhaps the most revealing, is that of a wound that isn’t healing. Implicit in that definition is the understanding that malignancy has a root cause that develops into a chronic imbalance.