Each year, the blooming of the cherry blossoms in the Nation’s Capital heralds the arrival of spring, and for many of us, allergy season. Allergies are quite common, about 1 in 5 Americans suffer from them. An allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to any substance normally harmless to the human body. Common […]

Have you been offered your annual flu shot yet? It is that time of year when the flu vaccine gets widely marketed and indiscriminately administered to the public. Even though the CDC is now recommending it for all adults (in addition to children, elderly, and the immune-compromised), there are several reasons you should think […]

Take some time to unwind, get grounded and find your center before the upcoming holiday season. Join Dr. Marie Rodriguez and Liz Borodkin (yoga instructor and craniosacral therapist: www.lizborodkin.com) for a weekend healing retreat in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley.
We will take time to rest, connect with nature, and learn how to stay balanced in […]

Our vitality is greatly influenced by the health of our body’s endocrine system. Hormones, our endocrine system’s chemical messengers, are critical for cellular functioning. Energy level, blood sugar stability, efficient metabolism, resistance to infection, and sleep quality are all under the direct influence of hormones. It’s no wonder we often quip […]

It happens this time every year, yet never ceases to be amazing. Sunlight shines radiantly, birds chirp melodically, and colorful blossoms enliven our surroundings. Spring is is a time of rebirth, rapid growth, and expansive movement; qualities which also typify “wood” in 5 element theory. Wood correlates to liver whose job is to maintain […]

In her discovery of neuropeptides, brain biochemist Dr. Candace Pert proved the existence of the mind body connection, something ancient healing traditions have known about for hundreds of years. Neuropeptides have been called ‘molecules of emotion’ because they are released from various organ systems in response to thoughts and feelings. Neuropeptides bind to cellular receptors […]

Winter should be a time of slowing down and going inward. All life forms slow down this time of year - plants sink their energy into their roots and animals tend to either sleep and eat or hibernate. In Chinese medicine, this time of year corresponds to the water element. This period of quiet represents […]

Fall is a time of transition - the temperature drops, sunlight wanes, and we start to eat heavier and denser foods. Fall should be a natural time for us to slow down and go inward; yet, we are the only species on the planet that remains as active as we are in the warmer months. […]

Spring is a time of change. We adjust to warmer temperatures, become more active and even do some spring cleaning. As we make the dietary transition from the heavy, dense ‘yin’ foods of winter to the energetically lighter foods of spring and summer, it is the perfect time for a personal spring cleaning of our […]

Over the past few months I have been noticing a significant amount of people complaining of anxiety. People are worrying excessively, feeling edgy, and having a difficult time sleeping.
Winter tends to be a stressful time of year for a variety of reasons. During the winter months, when every other species slows down (or even hibernates), […]