Book Review–How Can I help?
How Can I Help? Stories and Reflections on Service -Ram Dass and Paul Gorman
This book is an well-written account of different ways to be of service. It explains various facets of offering “help” and being a conduit of healing for people as this can show up in many different ways. It offers personal accounts from many people during a variety of situations. This books speaks of the compassion, joy and hardships that are associated with dedicating yourself to others. It sometimes seems to be a bit redundant and I felt like I was less engaged as the book wandered on. It does shed light on the necessity of helping and caring for others, whether it be friends, family, community members or strangers, and the many ways it can be offered.
This book was littered with gems and mantras that could be meditated on for many moons. “No step is lost on this path... and even a little progress is freedom from fear. The reward, the real grace, of conscious service, then is the opportunity not only to help relieve suffering but to grow in wisdom, experience greater untiy, and have a good time while we're doing it.”( pg. 16) A good reminder to find joy in all things.
It also reminded me to look away from disease states and deeper into the life of the person that is needing help. It is a good reminder that we are all connected as a human race. “Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” (pg. 20)
I think it is a great book for anyone thinking about entering into the medical profession. It helped me to look beyond my expectations of what help should look like and tap more into what help is actually needed in that particular situation. I can also see offering this book to patients that are feeling helpless in others times of need. It shows how even little acts of kindness go very far.
Dass, R., Gorman, P. (1985). How can I help?: Stories and reflections on service. New York: Knopf.
The Elimination diet is the “gold standard” when it comes to figuring out food sensitivities. This 3-5 week protocol can help you make individualized health choices to optimize your digestive function.
Looking for ways to incorporate herbs into your daily life? This article gives some of the most common, and delicious, food grade herbs to help improve your health and your cooking!
Discover how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses tongue diagnosis to reveal imbalances in Qi, Blood, and Organ health.
Cupping therapy is an amazing and feel-good modality that can help a wide variety of aliments. Read on to learn more.
The Large Intestine is an important Organ System of the Metal element in TCM. Read on to learn more about its significance and role in keeping you healthy and balanced.
This delicious snack is vegan, paleo, gluten-free, and AMAZING! It is very versatile and full of protein to keep you energized and feeling good! Check out this article for an easy recipe.
Explore ways to make your bath more ritualistic and healing through herbs, salts, and scents.
In this article, we will explore how natural medicine techniques, herbs, and Chinese medicine can be incredibly useful for children's health.
NORA tea, a popular herbal blend of Nettles, Oatstraw, Red Raspberry Leaf, and Alfalfa, offers unique benefits, making this tea an ideal choice for late-term pregnancy and postpartum recovery.
This article explores the nutritional principles of TCM and how they can be applied to support fertility naturally.
Facial cupping is a gentle, non-invasive technique that uses suction to improve circulation, boost collagen production, reduce puffiness, and promote a glowing complexion without leaving noticeable marks.
Seed Cycling is an easy and effective way help regulate your hormones and support a healthy menstrual cycle through diet and nutrition. Using the natural wisdom and innate properties of specific seeds and nutritional oils, we find more balance with in the menstrual cycle and hormones. This article is a guide to get started with helpful tips as well as a brief Chinese medicine outlook too!
This article explains the benefits of the medicinal herb, Ginger.
Spleen Qi Deficiency is a very common imbalance in Chinese Medicine. This article explains what that means, and what to do about it. It offers lifestyle suggestions as well as food choices, while giving an extensive overview of the theory attached from TCM.
This article gives an explainer of some of the core texts of Chinese Medicine.
This article provides a concise explanation of Dampness in Traditional Chinese Medicine and highlights foods to avoid if experiencing related symptoms.
Castor oil has many therapeutic properties and the application of castor oil packs is most often how this oil is applied. This article explains its benefits and how to create and use a castor pack.
This article explains Five Element theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the importance of it to create dynamic health and wellness.
This article gives a recipe for an amazing hair growth and scalp oil that utilizes the benefits of the Chinese Herb, He shou wu, as well as other oils that are beneficial for hair and scalp health.
Chinese Dietary therapy is a unique way at looking at food choice and how they interact with our bodies. This article give an in-depth explanation and hopefully makes it easy to incorporate into your life.
Ghee is an amazing and healthy fat. This article explains how to make it as well as some of it uses and benefits.
This article explains how to "Build Blood" from Traditional Chinese Medicine with recipes, herbs and more!
This article explains how the benefits of juicing and how to incorporate it into a Chinese medicine diet, with four great recipes to get you started!
This article explains the intricate relationship between the Organ Systems within Traditional Chinese Medicine.
This article dives into seasonal eating from a Chinese Medicine perspective- By integrating these tips into your approach to seasonal eating, you can enhance your overall nutrition, support your body's natural rhythms, and promote a sense of balance and vitality throughout the changing seasons.
Try out this easy and delicious recipe- Not only a great snack but a medicinal one too! A perfect Autumn Chinese Medicine delight.
Moxabustion is an amazing heat therapy often used in conjunction with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine treatments. Mona, known commonly as mugwort, helps to bring warmth to the body, heal injuries, reduce pain, boost digestion and much more. Read on to learn about its actions, indications and benefits!
The article goes over the best professional massage tables available for acupuncturists, massage therapists or other bodyworkers. A long-lasting and high-quality table is key!
The Stomach Bug can be quick and dirty. Here are some natural options to help soothe.