Community Medicine Circles: Integrative, Ecological Medicine
View all past recordings here:
Join Dr. Anna O'Malley in an exploration of the health and resilience that comes from nourishing attunement to what our bodies need to be well, and the ecological connection between caring for ourselves and caring for the Earth.
On each call we will explore a different aspect of our human health and wellbeing, with a focus on how our body works, what it needs to be in balance, and how our choices and relationships (including with plants and the natural world) can optimize our health and bring us into a reciprocal relationship with the Earth. Building skills and understanding empowers us to be healthier, and less likely to be dependent on medications that may cause harm. Tending our wellbeing lowers risk of developing chronic illnesses like diabetes, and helps us be strong in the face of acute illnesses like COVID-19. Growing culinary and medicinal plants is a path toward a healing relationship with yourself and the Earth. Connecting with others who care deeply about the planet and our collective wellbeing is healing in these challenging ecological times.
These "circles" will be held on Zoom, and we will allow time for questions and sharing following the presentation.
This series is a collaboration between the Coastal Health Alliance and Natura Institute for Ecology and Medicine, and is held by donation. Your support, particularly at this time of uncertainty, is deeply appreciated and allows us to make this content accessible to all. Thank you!
Please register for each session individually with the links provided.
Winter-Spring 2022
We are delighted to announce that this round of Community Medicine Circles on Zoom will be paired with Community Medicine Garden sessions in the Commonweal Garden. While they are designed to complement each other, they also stand on their own (you do not need to participate in one to attend the other.)
January 12, 6:30-7:45 pm
This COVID Moment
We will launch our next series of Community Medicine Circles with an update on our current COVID realities, from the science on Omicron's severity and transmission rate, to considerations regarding immunizations and natural immunity, as well as an approach to supporting recovery from COVID, including long COVID. We will weave into our conversation societal considerations, and how we cultivate community resilience and wellbeing in these challenging times. All are welcome. Paired with CMG Community Grief Ritual, January 27
February 9, 6:30-7:45 pm
The "COVID 15": Mobilizing around Self-love and a Healthy Weight
Many of us have gained a few, or more like ten or fifteen or more pounds since the pandemic. We will have a conversation, grounded in self love and compassionate understanding, about the roots of weight gain, about how to reclaim our physical fitness, and all of the added benefits that go along with it. Paired with CMG The Medicine of Movement, March 3
March 9, 6:30-7:45 pm
Blood Sugar Balancing Act
Having a healthy amount of blood sugar in one's body is key to health, and having high blood sugar increases your risk of dementia, heart attack, stroke, suppressed immune function, and more. We will discuss what causes it to become a problem, and focus on strategies to bring blood sugar into healthy balance. Paired with CMG The Bitter Herb, March 24
April 13, 6:30-7:45 pm
Women's Health: Sovereignty, Sisterhood, and Tending our Beings
Women are complex beings, and have been subjected to many challenging realities that affect our mental, physical and spiritual well-being. We will look at women's health topics through societal, hormonal and interpersonal lenses, and consider the special power that lies in the feminine principle. We will discuss what it means to be in mutually supportive relationships with other women through the lifespan. All who identify as female gendered are welcome.
Paired with CMG The Medicine of Nature, April 21
May 11, 6:30-7:45 pm
Mind-Body Medicine: Presence and Joy in the Midst of Challenge
Living in such challenging times offer us endless opportunities to cultivate practices that build resilience, yield equanimity, and even create space for joy. We will review practices and paths toward these life-affirming states of being. Paired with CMG Reciprocal Tending, May 26
June 1, 6:30-7:45 pm
Beyond Subjugation, Commodification and Addiction: Bringing Consciousness to the the Human-Tobacco Relationship
Humans have long been in relationship with the tobacco plant. From indigenous healers in the Amazon basin to indigenous peoples in North America, the plant has been revered one of great healing and sacred potency. It is a sad irony how it has been commodified, and the human-tobacco relationship has largely become one of addiction, disease and suffering. The recent rise in vaping among young people is a particularly tragic manifestation of the cynical abuse of this special plant for profit. We will discuss the biology of behaviors, the power of re-framing, and action steps for those of us (or our loved ones) needing to bring ourselves into right relationship with this plant.
Thank you for all you are doing to care for yourself,
your community, and the Earth.