Friends of Trees
The Non-Profit We Are Supporting in 2020 is…
Every year I donate a percentage of my earnings to a non-profit dedicated to the wellbeing of our local ecosystems and the people who live in them. This year I am supporting Friends of Trees! For the past 30 years, Friends of Trees has been responsible for planting trees around Portland, Eugene and Vancouver neighborhoods at low cost or free through their tree scholarship fund. They also work on maintaining watershed health and habitat restoration in the Columbia Gorge and throughout Washington County. This is all achieved through the time and generosity of the volunteers in the community.
How to Get Involved
When you receive a treatment at Well Forest Acupuncture, you can feel good knowing you are making a conscious decision that will benefit your personal health, and the health of your community. If you feel like getting your hands in the soil, volunteer opportunities are abundant in the winter and spring months with Friends of Trees. Click the link below to find out more about Friends of Trees and the events they have planned.
Learn more about Friends of Trees!
How Does This Relate to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?
Trees are commonly used in metaphors within various healing arts. They are often seen in visualization techniques like in “grounding” ourselves or remaining “rooted” when life’s storms challenge us. In TCM, Wood is one of the 5 Elements that guide much of TCM theory. It is associated with the Liver and the Liver energy that moves Qi up and out in all directions, like the branches of a tree. This concept is crucial in helping TCM practitioners recognize when there is stagnation so they can restore the smooth flow of Qi in the body.
Ever seen a Hawthorn tree? A Magnolia tree? You’re looking right at medicine. Tree bark, leaves and flowers are commonly used in Chinese herbal formulas!
There’s so much more to discuss when it comes to trees, but we’ll leave it at this for now. Take a walk, hug a tree, sit next to one, look at one. At the very least thank it for its contribution to the oxygen you breathe.
For the love of trees,
Kecia Fox, MSOM, LAc