Small natural health care clinic in need of assistance with admin, herbs & social media.
Monday Tuesday & Wednesday afternoons.
6-9 hours per week with room for growth.
$20 per hour depending upon experience, ability and adaptability.
Facility with Microsoft Office, Quickbooks, WordPress & Social Media required.
Writing skills and basic bookkeeping are essential.
If you enjoy keeping spaces organized, are a creative problem solver who loves herbs and have the willingness and capacity to work as an effective team member:
Assist with daily admin needs of small healthcare practice
Assist with bookkeeping and receiving insurance payments
Keep office clean and free of clutter
Water plants, tend to goldfish
Assist with blog posts & newsletters and posting on the website, Instagram, Facebook
Write product descriptions for our in office product guide
Make website updates and corrections as needed
Assist with making Chinese herbal formulas
Assist with herbal garden
Assist with ordering herbs
Required Skills:
Writing skills: be able to write or edit blogs and product guides (with content provided)
Number skills: be able to do basic bookkeeping with attention to detail
Retail, merchandising experience a plus
Ability to keep on task and focus on details
Willingness and capacity to work as an effective team member
Facility with Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, WordPress, Facebook, Instagram
A successful administrative assistant anticipates needs, monitors schedules and office environment, is well-organized and creative, and takes initiative as well as direction. This job has the potential for growth.
Yang naturally sprouts upward in the spring and that upward flow can get blocked creating stagnation. Help it flow smoothly by moving your body, being outside in nature and getting your creative juices flowing.
Wood is the element related to spring and which is the beginning of the new cycle of life when yang emerges. This is the year of the yang wood dragon and the dragon’s natural is inherently earth. So wood and earth are themes this season, specifically yang wood and yang earth.
Acupuncture is awesome this time of year to balance the wood and earth energies. Read on to learn about three wood – earth Chinese herbal formulas.
Yang Earth & Yang Wood
When wood energy is constrained (aka Liver Qi stagnation) it can build up and eventually over act on the earth element.
Earth is connected to the digestive system, which can be affected by emotion – notably stress/anger/frustration, which corresponds to wood element stasis. If earth is weak to start with, it will be more susceptible to attack by wood.
Keeping emotions inside also leads to constraint of wood energy, which can build up inside until it bursts. So don’t do that!
Three Wood-Earth Formulas
The wood-earth combination puts me in mind of a well-known modern Chinese herbal formula called Free and Easy Wanderer. Just like it sounds like, the formula keeps things moving smoothly. It’s based on the next classical formula.
Free and Easy Wanderer
Chai Hu – Bupleurum
Dang Gui – Angelica Sinensis
Bai Shao – White Peony Root
Bai Zhu – White Atractylodes
Fu Ling – Poria
Zhi Gan Cao – Honey Fried Licorice
Gan Jiang – Dried Ginger
Bo He – Mint
For the pattern of Wood overacting on Earth, or in TCM terms Liver Qi stagnation and Spleen Qi deficiency with dampness and blood deficiency.
Minor Bupleurum is a classical wood – earth formula. It is even more focused than Free & Easy Wanderer on wood and earth. It has both Bupleurum and Scutellaria to treat the wood element, ie course the Liver Qi (Shaoyang). It also has several herbs for the earth element (Taiyin) – Ginseng or Codonospsis, licorice, dates, ginger.
Minor Bupleurum
Chai Hu – Bupleurum
Huang Qin – Scutellaria
Ban Xia – Pinellia
Ren Shen – Ginseng
Sheng Jiang – Fresh Ginger
Da Zao – Dates
Gan Cao – Licorice
Excess wood constraint and xu wood constraint
Wood constraint (liver qi stagnation) can come from chronic stress which is ubiquitous in our modern world, and is commonly seen in the clinic. Qi stagnation often presents as physical pain or emotion unease or irritability. People with wood constraint may notice that they need to exercise a lot to feel better, since exercising moves the qi and blood.
Wood constraint can come from taxation – this would be a deficient wood constraint pattern and would imply/indicate blood deficiency. It may come with cold.
Wu Mei Wan is a classical wood – earth formula for a deficiency wood pattern with major stagnation in the earth. In this pattern the yang cannot descend normally and instead shoots upward as in headaches, vomiting, insomnia with digestive symptoms and cold hands and feet.
The main ingredient is a prepared sour dried plum (Wu Mei) which gives moist nourishment to the liver blood (wood) so that the holding can relax and function returns to normal.
Nutrition and Lifestyle recommendations for Spring
Regular movement/exercise – 30 min 3-4 x weekly – don’t over do it – include strength training
Sour is the flavor and green is the color of wood. Eat sour foods. Eat greens.
Protect neck from cold and wind. Don’t take off your jacket to early this spring.
Spend time in nature. Green is the color of wood. Hiking, walking, forest bathing.
Earth grounding. Meditations on mother earth.
Let it go exercise – imagine a tube to the center of the earth. Drop excess thoughts and stuff down the tube to recycle back to the earth.
This is part three of the Magical Mystery Soar 2024 series.
This is the year of the yang wood dragon. The wood element is related to spring and the sprouting up and opening of new life (yang). Green is the color that symbolizes spring and wood, which is considered the beginning of the 5 element cycle.
I love the image of the green laughing dragon – expansive + bright + joyous like an exuberant child. Inquisitive. Testing boundaries. Exploring. Like toddlers or teens expanding their worlds.
Young dragons are not self-conscious, even though they can be clumsy and do not know their own strength. Be like a green dragon. Don’t take yourself (or others) too seriously, laugh it off, and focus on the positive things about yourself.
Use this year as an opportunity to about learn more about yourself. Love who you are now. Accept the gifts your body and mind have given you thus far. Let go of the rest. You are already awesome!
Now is a great time to think about some affirmations that you can say to start replacing negative self talk. You can write one or many. Say and visualize them daily or even hourly.
This will help you get your footing and feel grounded as you fine tune your direction.
Take a chance. Relax and ride the dragon.
This is part two of the Magical Mystery Soar 2024 series. I’ll be sending daily(ish) short articles about the Year of the Dragon over the next week or so.
This post was inspired by a conversation on the podcast for acupuncturists: Qiological – episode 342 – Laughter of the Universe with Gregory Done.
Today is the first day of the Yang Wood Dragon year. Happy Lunar New Year to you all.
The mysterious magical affable dragon symbolizes connection, transformation & freedom.
Dragons have a strong sense of purpose, feel connected to their path and have trust in their way of being and seeing. We can all borrow that energy this year and see what’s possible.
Last year was a Rabbit year and it was about security, introspection and going deep. It’s time to come out of our holes…
This year brings yang light, expansiveness and a wild card to use as you desire.
Trust yourself, let go of baggage, chose a path, relax and go in that direction. Ride the dragon’s momentum. Aim and soar.
This is part one of the Magical Mystery Soar 2024 series. I’ll be sending daily(ish) short articles about the Year of the Dragon over the next week or so. I’m excited to share the year of the Dragon with you.
James Nestor’s book is a non-fiction page turner. I recommend it if you are interested in potentially improving your health by simply breathing a little better, and the learning about the history and scientific insights of pulmonauts from around the world over the last couple centuries. He reviews the anatomy of the nasopharynx and jaw and the changes in our anatomy with our modern lifestyle, and he gives lots of examples of people who have changed their health trajectory… nasal congestion, sleep apnea, snoring, anxiety, high blood pressure and more. Improved blood circulation, lung capacity and immune system It may not be the panacea for everything that ails us, but might be worth giving it a go to see if you notice changes with this low investment life hack.
Breathe through your nose. The main point, for which Mr. Nestor gives historic and scientific background, is to breathe in and out through your nose to the extent that you can. If you tend to breathe through your mouth, build up by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth when you need to. If you are congested, do the best you can and over time you will be able to breathe more and more through your nose. The author experimented with taping his mouth shut at night – and in some cultures, parents gently close a baby’s mouth while sleeping to help instill the habit of nose-breathing.
Slower longer exhales + pause between breaths. As it turns out, too much oxygen isn’t best for anxiety, for example. In fact, a higher ratio of carbon dioxide can help anxiety. Who knew!?! Well, maybe the yogis and Taoists knew. Maybe that’s why we were told to breathe into a paper bag when in a panicked state.
Basic breathing exercise. Gently breathe in through your nose for a count of 4 – then exhale through your nose for a count of 4 – you can extend this to a count of 6. Repeat three times or more. No need to count once you get the rhythm.
These breaths need not be big deep breaths, just gentle natural breaths. I recommend breathing into all directions of your lungs and rib cage – not just the front of the body but also feel the subtle movement of your gentle breath into your back and sides without added effort.
Once you’ve got that, you can add a pause after your exhale for a count of 2-4 or more.
I recommend doing this breathing exercise each morning and night – plus during the day from time to time, especially if you feel anxiety coming on. Just three breaths a few times a day is a good way to get the habit going. Also, throughout the day, notice if you are breathing through your nose, if not, close your mouth. The goal is to breath like this naturally.
Breathing through your nose during exercise can be difficult at first, but you can work up to it. For example, if you are hiking, you can keep your pace slow enough that you can breath through your nose, slowing down or pausing when necessary, and exhaling through your mouth sometimes too is totally fine. Over time you will get better at this. If you are huffing and puffing at the end of a work out, there may be a better way…
As we head towards winter, one way to strengthen our Qi is with the use of moxibustion, which is the burning of the herb Artemesia vulgaris ( mugwort Ai Ye). November is fall moxa season, during which time moxa can penetrate more deeply than usual into the “Life Gate” or Ming Men (aka Lower Dan Tien or the lower belly) because it is open during this time. This is great for preventing illness by strengthening your system. February is winter moxa season, another time in which we get extra benefits from moxa.
Moxa strengthens the constitution and immune system, builds Qi and Blood, increases the energy and circulation of the whole body, can help pain due to cold and damp, and can soften lumps.
Plus moxa feels great. In addition to the traditional way of applying moxa, which is to light a moxa stick or cone and warm the skin at particular acupuncture points, I have been using moxa heat packs. Moxa heat packs are activated by shaking and squeezing the pack – once it is warmed up you can apply it to your low back or belly, or other areas – when you are done you put it in a jar with a lid. The next day you can take it out and reactivate it. You can get about 15-20 hours out of these – and once they no longer self-activate, you can heat them in a microwave.
My clients are loving these. I just ordered a few more boxes, so let me know if you want one (or two). They are $4 each – or you can buy yourself a box of 10 online.
I also do Japanese moxa treatments which involve treating acu-points with little moxa cones. I recommend this for clients who haven’t regained their energy back after being sick, or for those who have chronically low Qi or fatigue. Usually I do it as an add-on to acupuncture or Zero Balancing sessions for $20. If this interests you, let me know and we can talk about if it is an appropriate for you.
Advanced Zero Balancing class taught by Michele Doucette JUST ADDED, by popular demand: FREELY MOVEABLE JOINTS
What is more fun than a freely moveable skeleton? Join this joyful, creative and clinically essential class and set things in serious motion in your ZB practice! We will explore all the non-foundational joints like knees, ankles, toes, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, tmj, and more. We will learn to use ZB principles to come up with unique fulcrums as needed in a session. This one is always a blast.
25-hour professional, hands-on, body-mind therapy training, taught by Michele DoucetteDC at Vermont Acupuncture and Wellness – 161 North Street in Burlington Vermont.
One of my favorite classes – so practical, useful, effective. I’m excited to be hosting and assisting this one!
25 CEUs for MT, PT, OT, DC (VT), LAc Register before Nov 7 at $695, $795 thereafter
This is an advanced Zero Balancing class – ZB I and ZB II are prerequisites.
Note: Zero Balancing I is happening the weekend after this. Read about it here: ZB I Dec 15-17. Read More
Already taken FMJ? There is so much to learn the second time around! Use promo code ZBHARepeat (if you’ve taken that ZB class in the last 6 years) for 1/2 price tuition
More Advanced ZERO BALANCING CLASSES WITH MICHELEDOUCETTE
(register 2 months in advance of class date for supersaver discount!)
2023
Nov 3-4 Silver Spring , MD ZB and the Spirit of the 5 Elements
Nov 30-Dec 3 San Clemente CA Alchemy of Touch
Dec 7-10 Burlington VT FMJ
2024
April 27-28 Wilmington VT ZB and the Spirit of 5 Elements
ZB I is a 25-hour professional, hands-on, body-mind therapy training, taught by Michele DoucetteDC at Vermont Acupuncture and Wellness – 161 North Street in Burlington Vermont.
25 CEUs for MT, PT, OT, DC (VT), LAc Register before Oct 14 at $595, Nov 14 at $695, $795 thereafter
What is more fun than feeling vital life force moving through your bones? How does the skeleton relate to the deepest flow of energy and information in the body? What happens in a patient’s life when they become grounded in the feeling of their unique embodied essence and and begin to live life with presence, ease, and grace? How do tension patterns in the body form filters trough which people relate to themselves and others? What are the mechanisms of held trauma and how is it released from the body? How can skilled, conscious touch reach all levels of a person; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual? How does transformative touch contribute to the evolution of humanity? Join this joyful, creative, theoretically expansive, and clinically essential class and set things in serious motion in your personal and professional life.Read More
Zero Balancing is a unique, hands-on, bodywork system of healing. It combines the Western view of medicine and science from the field of osteopathy with Eastern concepts of energy and healing from the field of acupuncture. ZB affects the whole person (body, mind, and spirit) by providing both structural therapy and energy medicine simultaneously.
Practitioners learn to engage, evaluate, and balance the deepest currents of movement through bones, joints, ligaments, and other soft tissue. Through touch we learn to access the body’s “interoceptive” mechanism of conscious awareness, self-referencing, and physical, as well as psycho-emotional, resilience. ZB facilitates deep relaxation that relieves musculoskeletal tension patterns caused by stress, injury, illness, suboptimal posture, etc.
ZB offers the opportunity to work with expanded states of consciousness and to address imbalances in energy fields that precede pathology (illness). It promotes an expansive meditative state that is grounded in the body and often allows clients to experience greater self-awareness, mindfulness, and insight into their personal health and wellness. ZB is effective for pain relief, improved joint function, and ease of movement. Side effects may include peace, happiness, clarity, and personal growth as ZB brings a person closer to his or her true nature.
It changes lives.
After 30 years of practicing ZB and 20 years of teaching it, I am still amazed and delighted at how profound, how relevant, how essential this work is for the world. ZB facilitates innate healing by creating the opportunity for people to feel their essential, true self and release tension patterns and subconscious programming that do not serve their highest good. It is effective for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness simultaneously because we learn to access the whole person through touch. It is my honor and my great delight to continue to share this work here in Vermont and internationally.
Michele Doucette DC
Zero Balancing Faculty
ZBHA Board of Directors, chair
25 CEUs for MT, PT, OT, DC (VT), LAc Register before Nov 14 at $695, $795 thereafter
Class will be held at Vermont Acupuncture and Wellness – 161 North Street in Burlington, VT.
Hours are 9-5. Note: this will be a small class with lots of one on one instruction. In the likely event it stays small, it will be condensed into three days Oct 15-17 (Fri-Sun)
To learn more visit zerobalancing.com and drmicheledoucette.com (check out the blog section for essays and videos about ZB)For more information contact Dr. Doucette at bones@sover.net 802-258-0459
Michele teaches in a way that my body can hear. — Megan Shewe, OT
Getting a ZB session is like walking through a garden path…to myself. — Diane L, client
I was not expecting to learn so many new things. I thought the class would just deepen my previous knowledge. Nice surprise! When I first took a class with Michele, a dozen years ago, I thought her to be an intelligent, professional, and highly knowledgeable teacher of ZB. Now, I see her as a wise woman; all that she was, and now so much more. She just KNEW what we needed as a class. — Mary D’Amico PT
Zero Balancing compliments and augments the effectiveness of all my chiropractic care. It’s respect and attention to the whole person amplifies effective adjusting, regardless of technique, and allows magnified expression of a healthy nervous system — Sean Lynch DC
”When I am in a Zero Balancing session, i am in awe of my own body…that I could feel so much joy in my own body.” — E. Stewart, client
Each fulcrum we practiced clearly touched both practitioner and person on the table deeply. — Chris Allen, LMT
I find that simple ZB techniques to the spine really helps to integrate the chiropractic adjustment. Patients feel the difference, a sense of calm in the nervous system as it releases tension and tissue-held information — Cindy Marcus DC
I’ve had a quantum leap forward in “knowing” what I am feeling in my hands and body. This work addresses the body in a way that supports, but goes well beyond basic protocols. — Mary Bradley, PT
The week before this class, 7-10 December one of my favorite advanced ZB classes is happening at my office – and I get to assist – Freely Moveable Joints.
I cannot think of anything I would rather do with okra than make this. If I get eggplant from my CSA, look out! Kelly is making Indian food all weekend. I posted this receipt over 10 years ago and it’s still true.
Get the spices measured out and ready, then
Heat:
2 T ghee or coconut oil
Saute:
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 pound okra, trimmed & sliced length-wise on a slight diagonal
Belamcanda is bitter & cold and enters the Lungs. It clears heat and transforms phlegm. It is used for coughs and wheezing with phlegm obstruction, and for sore throat with swelling and painful obstruction in the throat. It breaks up clumps to drain heat. This is only used short term for acute conditions.
I love to grow it – it’s a gorgeous spunky little lily. Luckily I haven’t had to use it much, as it is for pretty serious conditions and there are lots of other herbs for cough, such as aster, which is currently just starting to bloom in late summer.
