The Healing Tree: Recommendations for Healthy, Balanced Living

The Healing Tree is my metaphor for a healthy lifestyle. I hope you find something useful here. Remember, though, to make changes in measured steps, one thing at a time, for maximum success. Also, be sure to check with your healthcare providers.

Leaves (mental/emotional/spiritual)

• Sunshine/Nature/Outdoors
• Prayer/Silent meditation
• Abdominal breathing
• Creative meditation (music, drawing, painting, sewing, writing, woodworking, etc.)
• Journaling (gratitude, dreamwork, introspective)
• Sleep enough to feel rested, bed by 10pm if possible, short naps
• Support network of family/friends
• Cultivate feelings of love and gratitude
• Laughter

Trunk (physical)

• Exercise – ideally 30-40 minutes, 4 days/week
• Stretching/Moving meditation (yoga, tai chi, qi gong)
• Body work (massage, chiropractic, Rolfing, reflexology, physical therapy)
• Energy work (Healing Touch, EFT, reiki, acupuncture, homeopathy, BioSET)
• Regular medical checkups

Roots (nutrition/diet)

• Water – pure, filtered to remove chlorine, lead, fluoride, etc.
• Whole foods and supplements
• Living foods – raw or fermented for enzymes and probiotics (yogurt, kefir, kombucha, traditional sauerkraut)
• Organic or pesticide-free
• Meats – grassfed or wild, according to your metabolic type
• Plenty of vitamin A and D (eggs, butter, cultured dairy, cod liver oil)
• Unrefined salt – for mineral content
• More omega 3 (flax and fish oils) and less omega 6 fatty acids
• No tobacco, trans fats, processed foods, additives, preservatives
• Limit caffeine, refined sugar and flour, alcohol