Animals have the incredible ability to balance and heal themselves. Their senses and energy are far more superior than humans. In the wild, they are born into balance and don't have to deal with the everyday stresses of domestic living. We have taken them away from their natural way of life, so now it is our responsibility to keep the balance for them.
Among many other things, I use Acupressure to help keep my mutts balanced mentally, physically and emotionally. Acupressure is an ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine technique based on a theory that Chi (qi), or vital energy, circulates in the body along energy pathways, or meridians, that are connected to different organ systems. It has been used for thousands of years on humans and animals. It is an extraordinary instrument to use to help promote wellness and balance in the body. By using a light finger tip pressure on an acupoint along a meridian, you stimulate and rebalance energy throughout the body. You can manipulate the energy with your fingers to stimulate and tonify energy where it is deficient and disperse energy where it is excess and pooling. Knowing where the acupoints are, which organ system is related to the acupoint and which ailment can indicate which meridian are out of balance, will take a bit of education for instance. Decision, judgement, eyes, tendon and ligaments, are all organs associated with the liver and gallbladder meridians. If your dog were having issues with these body parts and emotions, you would concentrate on balancing the liver and gallbladder meridians. Interested yet?
Other than seeing your doctor for yearly wellness visits, do you also get massages, acupuncture, acupressure or use any other modality in between to try and keep your body happy and healthy? Well, you can do the same for your dog or any other animal that resides in your household, by using acupressure.
I am not an animal healer, nor do I claim to be able to heal animals. I am only an instrument of guidance. Animals are the true healers of themselves and we can be the instrument to help them attain overcoming imbalances.
Life style is a huge support for balance. A herding dog should be able to herd, a hunter needs to hunt, a retriever needs to retrieve. Get the picture? This is one way to keep balance in the breed of your dog. They are the happiest when they can express what they were bread to do. Mutts are not exempt. I have a 14 lb "I don't know what she is". All I know is she is 100% hunter, and until I let her express herself in what is natural for her, she was a miserable dog. Now she gets to hunt and the whole family is happy. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this supports the "Shen" (spirit) of the dog, which controls the activities that take place in the mental, spiritual, and creative mind. Shen is housed in the heart and revealed through the eyes. Look into the eyes of your dog and see what radiates from them. Are they dull, shiny, alert, tired? Research and find out why it is so important to restore, maintain and keep healthy Shen. You will learn valuable information.
Nutrition is important for balance because it manifests in the inward and outward existence of the body. This supports the Nutritive Chi and Zong Chi. Chi or qi, is the life force or vital energy that flows through all living things, like blood and body fluids. Nutrative Chi nourishes the internal organs and flows with the blood through the meridians and is delivered to every part of the body. Zong Chi is the air being processed by the lungs. The air that enters the lungs and food that enters the body will reflect what kind of existence your dog will have. Poor Nutritive Chi and Zong chi will result in a poor existence.
There are many more ways to support your dog in keeping the balance in everyday life. Lifestyle, nutrition and Shen, are things I diligently work very hard to maintain. No matter what is going on or how tired I am, they will always get a well prepared meal and get their daily exercise, which helps create strong Shen. By experience, I see it makes a world of difference in the quality of their physical, emotional, and spiritual self.
Try focusing on these things and see if it makes a dog world of difference for you and your best friend too. :)
Until next time......Mutt Love
Leslie
