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About ten years ago I wrote a series on longevity. Since then, my thinking has changed a little and the world has changed a lot, so I decided it’s time to revisit the topic. Most importantly, I’ve wanted to get our community to focus on reasons to live rather than the fear of dying. My recommendations so far have been: (1) Love life and live for the present (2) Work, stretch, and relax all parts of yourself (3) Dance with consciousness (4) Reduce media consumption (5) Pay attention to your breathing (6) Eat less (7) Prioritize community and service (8) Exchange love and touch (9) Optimize your sleep (10) Laugh more (11) Keep your heart open. You can read each of these articles on our site.
This week we’ll look at some Daoist perspectives on longevity. Longevity and immortality are goals mentioned frequently in early works of Daoism (Taoism). I have translations of old texts that detail methods for avoiding an early death: withholding ejaculation; drinking elixirs made from special herbs, metals, and animal parts; performing certain rituals at auspicious times; and wearing magical amulets. I’m not entirely convinced that these approaches prevent death, but I do have great reverence for the way of life Daoism prescribes, the essence of which is beautifully conveyed in the ancient books Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), Yi Jing (I Ching), and Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu). I recommend everyone has a copy of at least the first of these.
#12: Simplify.
One of the virtues mentioned in Dao De Jing is jian which means simplicity or frugality. It’s pretty much the antithesis of the trend among modern humans to be perpetually busy and acquire ever more stuff, more complexity, and more information. We tend to believe we need to do more and accumulate more in order to be safe, knowledgeable, in control, approved of, and happy. I would guess that most of us also have a hidden belief that our acquisitions will tether us to life and protect us from death. In practice, however, the more we subtract from our physical and psychic hoard, the freer we are, and the less encumbered our lifeforce is.
Frugality isn’t just a matter of being economical with money. It means not seeking to acquire what we already have or don’t need. It means curtailing useless expenditures of energy. It means not generating needless complications. It means keeping life simple by knowing what matters most and consistently prioritizing that above all else. It means utilizing the currents of life to get where we want to go. Dao, like water, takes the simplest path – the path of least resistance. Speaking of which . . .
#13: Go with the Flow / Don’t Resist.
I could write a whole book on this concept, but in the spirit of simplicity I’ll keep it brief. Going with the flow could be seen as an extension of simplicity, but it’s worth exploring this idea separately because it’s just so important. The nature of life is to change and flow, yet one of our primal impulses is to resist, to say, “No” to everything that makes us uncomfortable. It’s natural to do this, but it almost never improves our circumstances or experiences.
If we momentarily resist something and then relax and accept it, we get right back into the flow. But when resistance is held in a prolonged way – like longstanding grievances, fears, ongoing stresses, etc. – it becomes pathological. Resistance eventually leads to stagnation, and stagnation – whether physical or psychological – squelches the flow of life and feels bad. It can make us sick in all sorts of ways. Sadly, we tend to resist feeling the discomfort that stagnation causes, which of course leads to more resistance and more stagnation.
The solution is to stop resisting. Feel willing what’s happening in your body – including the felt experience that arises whenever you resist something. Get to know this feeling and see how readily you can relinquish it. It’s also worthwhile to dive into the feeling and see what it can teach you about yourself. What happens when you “turn toward it” and let yourself be curious about it? We have a workbook called Freedom to help you through this process.
#14: Be One with Nature.
The natural world birthed the human species and all other lifeforms that share the planet with us. It provides for all our needs. Everything – even the “manmade” stuff – is supplied by Nature. And yet, it’s easy as a modern human to live in a way that’s utterly disconnected from it.
When we’re disconnected from Nature we lose something – a source of calibration and wisdom. It’s like a nutrient deficiency that hasn't yet been defined by science. When we reconnect with Nature there are measurable positive impacts on our physical, psychological, and spiritual health. Cultivating reverence for Nature and our place in it can profoundly change our lives. It slows us down. It helps us pay attention to the details. It gives us perspective. It reminds us to be fascinated. It’s a wonderful, perennial teacher.
If we endeavor to live a longer, richer life, we might start by asking, what is this life thing? What are its patterns and cycles? How and why does it start and end? What are its limitations? What feeds it and stifles it? It’s fine to consider the ideas of doctors, scientists, philosophers, preachers, and spiritual gurus. But we’ll only get a narrow slice of the truth if this conversation is limited to what other humans think about humanity. It’s like trying to fathom Pakistani culture without actually visiting Pakistan.
When we enter direct conversation with the natural world and life itself, we find there’s no end to what we can learn and how we can grow. The deepest revelations can’t be conveyed through an intermediary.
We belong to Nature, not the other way around. Remembering our place in the natural world gives us a sense of wholeness and belonging; of being fully alive; of being part of something infinite and undying; of being supported and guided. It also prompts us to recognize that the way we treat our world has a direct impact on the whole system – ourselves included – and this makes the longevity conversation more holistic. Instead of asking, “How can I get more life?” we find ourselves asking, “How can I honor my species … and all species … and this magnificent planet … and the Source of everything?”
Be well,
Peter
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Last week I wrote about the theory of homeopathy. Homeopathy is the practice of prescribing specially prepared homeopathic remedies made from extremely dilute natural substances. In many cases, a remedy is used to treat the symptoms that a larger dose of the same substance would cause. For instance, chopping onions may cause redness, burning and tearing of the eyes, and a runny nose. A homeopathic preparation of onion (Allium cepa) is used to treat these conditions, such as when they occur due to a cold or allergies.
Today I want to clarify some points and explore homeopathy’s conundrum. First, since people sometimes confuse the terms, homeopathic is different than holistic, which refers to any treatment that aims to consider and support the whole individual. Acupuncture and naturopathic medicine are examples of holistic systems, though most acupuncturists don’t practice homeopathy, and homeopathy is usually a relatively small fraction of what most naturopathic physicians do.
Second, most of the scientific community believes homeopathy is pseudoscience and no more effective than a placebo. Indeed, there are numerous studies that invalidate homeopathy. Advocates of homeopathy point out that the unfavorable studies involve giving subjects a homeopathic remedy matched to a particular symptom or medical condition without utilizing the specificity that’s essential in effective homeopathic diagnosis. Homeopaths contend that when a remedy is matched not only to the dominant symptoms, but the whole picture of the individual, the rate of success is much higher.
As I said in the last article, I’ve witnessed many cases in which homeopathy did nothing useful – though at least it was entirely harmless and without side effects – and I have also witnessed cases in which it was remarkably effective. Could it have been a placebo effect? Sure. But if it was “merely” a placebo effect, it was a profound placebo effect: a perfect medicine that was entirely beneficial, painless to administer, palatable, with zero downside. One should be asking, “How can we reproduce this?”
Homeopathy is vastly popular around the world. Its use is especially prevalent in France, Italy, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Germany, England, and the U.S. 29% of the EU population uses homeopathy on a daily basis. About half of Germans have used homeopathic medicines and about 70% say they are satisfied with its effects.1 History shows us that sheer number of adherents doesn’t make something correct or morally right, but we’re smarter than ever and have more options.
So, what’s going on here? Why do so many people use it if it’s a sham? Well, there are two possibilities. 1) The thousands of practitioners and roughly 200 million people who use homeopathy on a regular basis are fooling themselves. They think homeopathy is useful but it’s just a placebo and/or wishful thinking. Or 2) There is actual benefit to homeopathy which can’t be substantiated by current science and is not accurately reflected by the research.
Trust me, as a scientist, it’s hard to understand its validity, but I also know what I’ve seen. Are there other systems of medicine with higher rates of success? Probably. To be frank, it is not my go-to modality except for a small number of conditions for which I consistently get good results with homeopathic remedies. However, I’m a mediocre homeopath and I have more training and skill in other forms of medicine.
But when it works, it works. And I have seen cases where several medicines were tried but only the homeopathic one succeeded, including numerous instances in which the patient was highly skeptical of homeopathy. If it were a placebo effect, why would the other medicines not have produced a benefit equal to that of homeopathy? Why would a skeptical patient have a placebo effect when the basis for a placebo response is an expectation of benefit? Should science have the ability to invalidate someone’s subjective experience of benefit?
I don’t have the answers to these questions. I know some incredibly intelligent doctors who practice homeopathy, and I have seen it and them derided by the medical mainstream. Skeptics’ concern, they say, is that people might not get effective medical help because they’re using homeopathics instead. I agree that if someone isn’t getting a benefit from a chosen medical modality, it might be useful to consider other options. I also believe it’s everyone’s right to manage their health in whatever way they wish – even if it hastens their demise. For perspective, it’s important to note that, according to a recent Johns Hopkins study, 250,000 Americans die each year due to medical errors, making mainstream medicine the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. I have seen people killed by mainstream medical treatments. A modality’s safety is no small thing.
While there are plenty of people who are averse to biomedicine, we tend to treat the mainstream with a greater degree of respect than is extended to alternative fields. For instance, when we hear that a particular drug or procedure doesn’t work, most people conclude that this particular intervention wasn’t effective. We don’t say, “Well, biomedicine doesn’t work.” In contrast, when an alternative medicine fails to benefit a certain condition, a common conclusion is that the entire modality is worthless. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen an author cite a single failed acupuncture study as proof that acupuncture is bunk. It’s an unfortunate reflection of the tendency for the mainstream to squash its rivals, even when they don’t truly threaten it.
It's important, therefore, that we all keep our eyes wide open and practice critical thinking (and not just when it comes to medicine). Be your own advocate, trust your intuition, listen to your body, and don’t assume that just because someone has a degree they know what’s right for you.
Be well,
Dr. Peter Borten
- https://www.hri-research.org/resources/essentialevidence/use-of-homeopathy-across-the-world/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_and_prevalence_of_homeopathy ; https://homeopathyeurope.org/
[post_title] => Are We Fooling Ourselves When We Believe in Alternative Medicine?
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As a young adult living in Western Massachusetts, I had a handful of friends who attended Hampshire College. Hampshire is well known for being highly unconventional. There are no majors, no departments, and no grades. So much of the program is up to the student, including a final yearlong project. I could see why it was appealing, especially to people who didn’t seem to fit into typical academic institutions.
When I first heard these friends talk of the wonderfully freeform nature of their college experience, I was envious. In later years, as they found it increasingly challenging to keep themselves on course, I remember saying, “That kind of program wouldn’t work for me.” I realized, with no shame at all, that I needed way (way) more hand-holding. Only one of my Hampshire friends graduated. I guess they needed more hand-holding too.
There are a number of reasons we avoid getting help or taking direction:
- We’re too proud to admit we need help.
- We’re afraid of opening up, being vulnerable, or appearing weak.
- We think nobody is capable of helping us.
- We don’t want to be controlled or guided in a way we don’t like.
- We don’t want to be told what to do.
- We don’t want to be a burden.
- We don’t want to share the credit.
- We feel it’s less of an accomplishment if we get help.
- We believe we need to do things all by ourselves.
This last one is a common inherited belief, though nearly every impressive historical figure had a team of supporters. Yes, there’s a grain of truth to it: each of us is responsible for ourselves, our choices and actions. Each of us is responsible for how we show up in the world. Nobody can do the internal work for us. But it’s perfectly okay to get tons of help along the way. It doesn’t diminish the outcome. In fact, we connect and improve through the process when we let others in. This is true even when it comes to healing and spirituality. It’s time to let go of the “Lone Ranger complex.”
Guidance and mutual support are an important part of why our program, Sacred Expansion, has been so successful. We created Sacred Expansion as a prerequisite for our life coaching trainees, as we feel it’s important to “clean house” before guiding others. It was designed to help people get to know themselves more deeply, release old unhealthy patterns, and open to a state of greater intuition and trust – all within a group of others on the same journey.
It turned out to be so monumental for our early participants that we decided to make Sacred Expansion available as a stand-alone course. Enrollment is happening NOW! You’ll be lovingly led by my wife, Briana, through an exploration of yourself through the metaphors of the seasons. And you’ll come out of it with greater clarity and self-awareness, less baggage, a deeper connection to Spirit, and the tools to continue the process on your own. I encourage you to do it!
Also, I recommend you look back at that list of reasons we avoid getting help and see if there are any that ring a bell for you. If so, consider the following questions. Is this belief true? (E.g., Is it true that nobody could help me? Is it true that if I asked for help, it would compromise me in some critical way? Is it true that it’s less of an accomplishment if I get help?) And then meditate on what life might be like if you felt completely at ease and unembarrassed about asking for help and graciously receiving it?
Be well,
Peter
P.S. Early Bird pricing for Sacred Expansion is currently in progress. Sign up today and save $200! On August 17th, the price goes up, so if you want to join us, don't miss this opportunity!
Click here to enroll today!
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About ten years ago I wrote a series on longevity. Since then, my thinking has changed a little and the world has changed a lot, so I decided it’s time to revisit the topic. Most importantly, I’ve wanted to get our community to focus on reasons to live rather than the fear of dying. My recommendations so far have been: (1) Love life and live for the present (2) Work, stretch, and relax all parts of yourself (3) Dance with consciousness (4) Reduce media consumption (5) Pay attention to your breathing (6) Eat less (7) Prioritize community and service (8) Exchange love and touch (9) Optimize your sleep (10) Laugh more (11) Keep your heart open. You can read each of these articles on our site.
This week we’ll look at some Daoist perspectives on longevity. Longevity and immortality are goals mentioned frequently in early works of Daoism (Taoism). I have translations of old texts that detail methods for avoiding an early death: withholding ejaculation; drinking elixirs made from special herbs, metals, and animal parts; performing certain rituals at auspicious times; and wearing magical amulets. I’m not entirely convinced that these approaches prevent death, but I do have great reverence for the way of life Daoism prescribes, the essence of which is beautifully conveyed in the ancient books Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), Yi Jing (I Ching), and Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu). I recommend everyone has a copy of at least the first of these.
#12: Simplify.
One of the virtues mentioned in Dao De Jing is jian which means simplicity or frugality. It’s pretty much the antithesis of the trend among modern humans to be perpetually busy and acquire ever more stuff, more complexity, and more information. We tend to believe we need to do more and accumulate more in order to be safe, knowledgeable, in control, approved of, and happy. I would guess that most of us also have a hidden belief that our acquisitions will tether us to life and protect us from death. In practice, however, the more we subtract from our physical and psychic hoard, the freer we are, and the less encumbered our lifeforce is.
Frugality isn’t just a matter of being economical with money. It means not seeking to acquire what we already have or don’t need. It means curtailing useless expenditures of energy. It means not generating needless complications. It means keeping life simple by knowing what matters most and consistently prioritizing that above all else. It means utilizing the currents of life to get where we want to go. Dao, like water, takes the simplest path – the path of least resistance. Speaking of which . . .
#13: Go with the Flow / Don’t Resist.
I could write a whole book on this concept, but in the spirit of simplicity I’ll keep it brief. Going with the flow could be seen as an extension of simplicity, but it’s worth exploring this idea separately because it’s just so important. The nature of life is to change and flow, yet one of our primal impulses is to resist, to say, “No” to everything that makes us uncomfortable. It’s natural to do this, but it almost never improves our circumstances or experiences.
If we momentarily resist something and then relax and accept it, we get right back into the flow. But when resistance is held in a prolonged way – like longstanding grievances, fears, ongoing stresses, etc. – it becomes pathological. Resistance eventually leads to stagnation, and stagnation – whether physical or psychological – squelches the flow of life and feels bad. It can make us sick in all sorts of ways. Sadly, we tend to resist feeling the discomfort that stagnation causes, which of course leads to more resistance and more stagnation.
The solution is to stop resisting. Feel willing what’s happening in your body – including the felt experience that arises whenever you resist something. Get to know this feeling and see how readily you can relinquish it. It’s also worthwhile to dive into the feeling and see what it can teach you about yourself. What happens when you “turn toward it” and let yourself be curious about it? We have a workbook called Freedom to help you through this process.
#14: Be One with Nature.
The natural world birthed the human species and all other lifeforms that share the planet with us. It provides for all our needs. Everything – even the “manmade” stuff – is supplied by Nature. And yet, it’s easy as a modern human to live in a way that’s utterly disconnected from it.
When we’re disconnected from Nature we lose something – a source of calibration and wisdom. It’s like a nutrient deficiency that hasn't yet been defined by science. When we reconnect with Nature there are measurable positive impacts on our physical, psychological, and spiritual health. Cultivating reverence for Nature and our place in it can profoundly change our lives. It slows us down. It helps us pay attention to the details. It gives us perspective. It reminds us to be fascinated. It’s a wonderful, perennial teacher.
If we endeavor to live a longer, richer life, we might start by asking, what is this life thing? What are its patterns and cycles? How and why does it start and end? What are its limitations? What feeds it and stifles it? It’s fine to consider the ideas of doctors, scientists, philosophers, preachers, and spiritual gurus. But we’ll only get a narrow slice of the truth if this conversation is limited to what other humans think about humanity. It’s like trying to fathom Pakistani culture without actually visiting Pakistan.
When we enter direct conversation with the natural world and life itself, we find there’s no end to what we can learn and how we can grow. The deepest revelations can’t be conveyed through an intermediary.
We belong to Nature, not the other way around. Remembering our place in the natural world gives us a sense of wholeness and belonging; of being fully alive; of being part of something infinite and undying; of being supported and guided. It also prompts us to recognize that the way we treat our world has a direct impact on the whole system – ourselves included – and this makes the longevity conversation more holistic. Instead of asking, “How can I get more life?” we find ourselves asking, “How can I honor my species … and all species … and this magnificent planet … and the Source of everything?”
Be well,
Peter
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I have been dealing with neck pain for weeks and chiropractor just hasn’t helped. I’ll try this! Thank you!
You’re welcome. I hope it’s helpful!
Well done, as usual, Peter. Your exaggerated emotion and verbiage helped me better understand; “We would never go to the gym to work one specific muscle, alone, with no reprieve, for one hour solid.”
I look forward to your teachings and almost read, without comment due to time constrictions…but want you to know: Your work and time taken in offering these videos is helpful and brings about a more peaceful world.
Thank you Peter, info very helpful. I like the idea of rolling a ball near the rhomboid muscles.
Peace
Denise Patnod (;
You’re welcome, Denise. Yes, it’s a great and important area to work, with multiple layers of muscle – not just for the rhomboids, which produce pretty localized pain, but also trapezius, levator scapula, serratus posterior superior, etc…
Be well,
Peter
Thank you, Susan! I appreciate your kind words.
Thank you! I look forward to trying all of your recommendations!
You’re welcome, Kathy
Thank you. I look forward to trying all of your recommendations!
Thank you, Peter! Loved the acupressure points discussion and the lacrosse ball massage recommendation. Very helpful and spot on for the neck pain.
You’re welcome, Angela!
Wow! I’m really amazed. It really worked. I found the one point that took away my neck pain instantaneously. Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear it!
Thank you! I’ll share with my students! As a functional movement educator, I often use TuneUp yoga balls or the Franklin Method to facilitate release in the scapula and neck. Often, the neck is recruited to act as the abs or for the back body if those areas are weak. I use body rolling to help students release tight patterns and then support them to re-activate the muscles that should be used for their tasks. Since it’s spring, folks are getting out to garden. They often hinge at the neck! Ouch!
Thanks, Alexa. Yes, one of the other places I’ll often check is the psoas – part of the overall curling/flexion of the whole body from postural stress – and it’s amazing when the psoas released and then the neck is instantly better.
Wow those acupressure points in the hand really help! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Michelle. Glad to hear it.
Wow!! Those acupressure points are amazing!! Thank you! I suffer from scapula pain frequently. I think I’ll order a lacrosse ball stat.
Question: I recently had fusion surgery at l4 l5 and my low back pain is nearly gone entirely. However, now I get hip pain, specifically when I lie on either side. The pain is only on the left side and is deep. It seems to originate on the outer hip/high thigh area and radiate inward toward the groin. My Dr. thinks it’s bursitis, but I’d really like some suggestions. I gained a lot of weight with the surgery and am wondering how much of this could be related to that.
Thank you for what you do!!
Bergen
Hi Bergen. I’m glad the points helped. It’s hard to know what’s going on with your hip without seeing you. When the pain radiates toward the groin, it IS somewhat more likely to be coming from the joint itself, rather than the surrounding muscles. Bursitis would be better than arthritis, though. It just means the bursa is inflamed, which can be alleviated with acupuncture, massage, dietary supplements, and certain forms of physical therapy. Arthritis (osteoarthritis) would mean the cartilage is worn away in that joint, which is a harder thing to fix. There are also some muscles in the lower back, abdomen, and thigh that can refer pain to this area. The first muscles that come to mind are the psoas, rectus abdominis, and the thigh adductors (the muscles of the inner thigh) such as adductor magnus and adductor longus and brevis. You can look these muscles up, along with the words “trigger point” and see the common pain patterns they produce. They may be something a good massage therapist or acupuncturist could address rather quickly. You might also check out my online course, Live Pain Free, for some additional ideas.
Be well.
This was extremely helpful. I will try it and let you know how well it works.
Thanks, Sue. I hope it works.
Wow… I would like to know.. would the pain be found on the top of hand only or could be more on palm side? ( like inside.) I get headaces that start from base of neck, and shoulders, regularly. And sometimes sharp shooting like pains. May happen if IHoick up my water, or reach.for a.door, and it hurts. Numbness through put arms to fingers. So as I was trying these pressure points, I instantly found on the first area that it sent chills but it hurt, I rolled my neck as you suggested, but the sensations or painful side felt as if it more on palm side! Am I doing this wrong?
And what causes the needles and “sleepy feet and hands?” Over the years it has got so much more intense! Very uncomfortable!
Hi Stacy.
It’s possible to find effective pressure points on the palm side of the area that I described. If they’re tender, try pressing on them – if they work, great!
If you’re spontaneously experiencing numbness in this area, it indicates something else. It could be due to muscle tension in the forearm, but given the neck and shoulder involvement, I’d guess it’s more likely related to that region. It could be due to a disc/vertebra problem in the neck, though more commonly, it’s due to muscular tension in the neck / chest / shoulder region. Sometimes individual muscles, such as the scalenes, can cause a pain pattern like what you describe. Other times, it’s a condition known as “thoracic outlet syndrome” – where a bundle of nerves (and probably nearby blood vessels) are being compressed by one or more structures in the neck/shoulder/chest. Most commonly this is due, again, to the scalenes muscles at the front/side of the neck, though it could also occur from tension in a chest muscle called pectoralis minor, or a muscle under the collar bone called subclavius. It’s worth getting evaluated by a skilled massage therapist, an acupuncturist who specializes in physical medicine, or some other clever & open-minded structurally-oriented healthcare provider (perhaps an osteopath, physical therapist, or chiropractor). Good luck and be well,
Peter
Thankyou peter ive had neck pain for years due to a horse riding accident i will try this
Peter, thank you! Tender spots all around. My neck has been an issue for a long time. This seems to really help.