Whether you are working through psoriasis, eczema, herpes outbreaks, liver congestion, or other inflammatory skin conditions — I want to acknowledge something important: healing is rarely just about the protocol. Yes, the herbs matter. Yes, the supplements matter. Yes, the detoxification phases matter. But another layer that often begins to surface during this process is our relationship with food and nourishment. Right now our focus is on supporting the Liver, and in Chinese medicine the Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi, blood, and emotion throughout the body. When the Liver becomes overwhelmed — through stress, toxins, or long-standing dietary patterns — we often see it expressed through the skin. Conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and recurring viral outbreaks can reflect deeper patterns of heat, stagnation, and toxicity that the body is trying to move and release. Part of supporting this process involves shifting how we think about food. For many of us, our relationship with food started long before we had any awareness of it. As babies and children, food was often used for comfort, reward, celebration, or soothing. Over time those associations become deeply wired into our habits and emotional patterns around eating. There is nothing wrong with that — it is simply part of being human. But when we begin a healing process, it can be powerful to pause and ask ourselves: What does food represent to me? Is it comfort? Convenience? Stress relief? Or nourishment? One of the shifts we are working toward is learning to see food not just as something we consume, but as medicine and information for the body. In Chinese medicine, foods have energetic qualities. Some nourish and build the body. Some clear heat. Some move stagnation. The quality of the ingredients matters. How we prepare our food matters. Even the way we sit down and eat matters. When the body is in a healing phase — especially when working on the Liver — the way we eat may temporarily look different than our normal lifestyle. Certain foods may be simplified or removed for a period of time so the body can reduce inflammation and clear what has been building.

Day three is usually the toughest one for me on this reset. This time around it’s actually been much easier. I did have a moment driving past my favorite pizza spot where I got a little hankering… but it passed quickly. In the past when I’ve done this, day three sometimes came with irritability or low energy. Not this time. I feel energized, clear, motivated, and honestly pretty great. I think part of it is that I do this work regularly now — at least once a year, sometimes more. I also did one back in November. Healing really is layer by layer, bit by bit, and the body adapts. Wherever you’re at today — whether you’re cruising or feeling the challenge — keep going. You’re doing something good for your body. I’m cheering for you all. 💚

This week we are focusing on supporting the liver, and it’s a fascinating organ when you start to understand it through both a physiological and Traditional Chinese Medicine lens. Physically, the liver is one of the hardest-working organs in the body. It is responsible for hundreds of processes every day, including filtering toxins from the blood, breaking down medications and environmental chemicals, producing bile for fat digestion, regulating blood sugar, storing nutrients, supporting immune function, and helping manage inflammation. But in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver has an even broader role. It is considered the organ that governs the smooth flow of Qi and Blood throughout the body.When the liver energy is flowing well, we often experience clarity, flexibility, motivation, and emotional balance. Our digestion tends to work better, our energy feels more stable, and we feel more adaptable to the natural ups and downs of life. When the liver becomes burdened or stagnant, however, we may notice signs that things are not moving as smoothly. This might show up physically as headaches, digestive issues, skin flare-ups, fatigue, or hormonal changes. Emotionally, the liver is closely connected with frustration, irritability, and feeling stuck. In Chinese medicine, these emotions are not seen as problems — they are simply signals that the body may need more support to restore flow. This is one reason the simple practices we are focusing on right now can be so powerful. Things like starting the morning with lemon water, hydrating well, and waiting to introduce heavier fats can help reduce the liver’s workload first thing in the day. Overnight, the liver has been busy filtering and processing, and giving it a little extra time before digestion begins allows it to complete that clearing work more efficiently.Sometimes healing is not about doing more, but about removing a few of the obstacles that make the body work harder than it needs to. Chinese medicine teaches us that health often comes from restoring flow — in our physiology, in our emotions, and in our daily rhythms.

In Chinese medicine, internal alchemy is the quiet, daily process of transforming what no longer serves us into something life-giving. Not through force. Not through struggle. But through presence, intention, and steady cultivation. As The Way of the Peaceful Warrior book reminds us: “To rid yourself of old patterns, focus all your energy not on struggling with the old, but on building the new.” This is alchemy. When we stop fighting old habits, old thoughts, old versions of ourselves—and instead nourish what we want to grow—our Qi begins to reorganize naturally.The body follows the mind.The spirit follows where attention flows. ✨ Today’s practice: - Choose one small nourishing action (a breath, a walk, warm food, a kind word to yourself) - Let it be enough - Repeat it with consistency, not intensity Healing isn’t about erasing who you were it’s about feeding who you’re becoming.

Choosing a stricter, more intentional healing journey takes courage, asks you to slow down, simplify, and trust a process that doesn’t always feel comfortable at first. In Chinese medicine, healing often begins with shedding and draining — letting go of what no longer serves the body.That can mean detoxing, clearing stagnation, and releasing long-held inflammation And yes… that phase can challenge the mind. You may feel tired, more emotional, Sensitive, questioning if you’re “doing it right.” But this stage is not a setback — it’s movement. Think of it like clearing silt from a riverbed.The water may look cloudy before it runs clear again.The disturbance is part of restoring flow. After draining comes calming. After release comes repair. After inflammation settles, the body can finally receive nourishment and rebuild strength. Nothing about this process is random.Your body is intelligent knows how to heal when given the right conditions. So if today feels hard, remind yourself: - You are not broken - You are not failing - You are in transition This is the work of deep healing — not quick fixes, but lasting change phase you’re in. Gentleness and clarity are coming. One breath. One day. One layer at a time. 🌿