The Shift in the Seasons (Autumn)

SHIFT AND TRANSITIONS INSIDE OUT IN THE SEASONS

It always amazes me how with the passing of late September into early October there is a somewhat melancholic shift in the emotional field of people. More sadness - fear of separation - expressions of grief. Just after the peak of harvest - this wonderful abundance of peaches, apples and the beginning of prevalence of yellow and orange root vegetables. All the "ornaments" flowers and leaves are at their peak of color and richness while making way for the "knowing" of how this abundance will too soon get blown away by the cooler winds and rains of autumn!
Chinese literature is full of descriptions of this process - and we know it in our hearts.

The organ systems that are particularly associated with the fall are the Lung organ system
and the Large Intestine.
The emotions that pertain to the these systems are sadness and grief - sense of loss and, depending of the balance in the person: the ability to let go and the understanding of boundaries.

So, there we have a clear explanation of why such feelings appear to be prevalent during this season as human being reflect their microcosmos within the macrocosmos of the Universe. In my many years of practicing acupuncture I have encountered this rythem and breath of life over and over again. People might be closer to tears - can't let go and forget of something they feel they did not want or deserve and any variation of this theme.

Maybe it stands to reason then why root vegetables help us ground in this vulnerability and greater emotional frailty.
Mother nature must have known because there are plenty of sweet potatoes, butternut squash, pumpkins and seeds as well as carrots and parsnips to help us ground and "be rooted".

Physical issues often pertain to the Lungs and the Large Intestine: so we have increase in allergies (beginning with golden rod)
asthma and breathing difficulties. Sometimes people will experience breathing difficulties right at the time on the Chinese Clock that pertains to the Lungs (from 3 to 5AM or possibly difficulties around Bowel Movements between 5 and 7AM.

So, In the fall - more than ever, it becomes us to do breathing exercises - increase our Yoga practice for opening our ribcages and B R E A T H E. Try it this season and rejoice at the fruits of your efforts. Also Acupressure is useful - you can rub and "pummel" the point LI4 halfway in the web between the thumb and index finger; or at LU9 around the radial artery at the wrist crease. Lastly there is the point LU10, midway on the fleshy part of the pad of the thumb. (the latter point is helpful with sore throat - loss of voice, also fever, etc.)

Sense of humor is also very important in this time when everything seems to have to let go - even if we don't "want to"!
Smiling and laughing about our selves helps! - I have learned that and whenever I rediscover smiles and laughter - I feel happier and relieved! Life is so much easier and truly abundant with possibilities and even choice of how we want to feel.
Even in the fall when everything appears to be vanishing.......
only to make room for the next installment of our learning.

EXERCISE and GREAT PREVENTION here we go again...

So hard to get away from it. We just have to do it somehow!!!

As one instructor said so aptly "So What you don't like to exercise - DO IT ANYHOW!!"

I like alternating my endeavors. I own enough yoga, dance and exercise DVDs to start my own library. Whatever the mood of the day - I have something I can play with - unless I have no such mood!.......and then:
I use my Trampoline conveniently placed in my sitting room - so I cannot ignore it!!
and several times during the day I can get my heart rate UP!
I have my big exercise ball lolling around in my room around the table where my computer lives - so I have to make some effort to stay seated on it - and also so I keep my core toned.
There is also a skipping rope and stretch bands I can use.
Really I made it so I have no EXCUSE!


Phys Ed: DOES EXERCISE REDUCE YOUR CANCER RISK?

By Gretchen Reynolds NEW YORK TIMES

Aubrey Jonsson/Getty Images



Finnish researchers recently concluded that, if you wish to ward off lung or
gastrointestinal cancer, you might want to spend your leisure time jogging
instead of picking berries, mushroom gathering or fishing. In the study,
published in late July on the Web site of the British Journal of Sports
Medicine, scientists studied the health of a group of 2,560 middle-aged
Finns over the course of about 17 years. The subjects, all men living in
eastern Finland, kept diaries of their daily activities for a year and then
went about them.



At the start of the study, none had cancer. By the end, 181 had died of the
disease. Parsing the men's activity levels, the researchers determined that,
after controlling for cigarette smoking, fiber and fat intake, age, and
other variables, the most physically active men were the least likely to
develop cancer, particularly of the gastrointestinal tract or the lung. Even
more striking, the intensity of the exercise was key. The more arduous it
was, the more protective it proved. Jogging was the most strenuous activity
studied, fishing among the least. The men who jogged or otherwise exercised
fairly intensely for at least 30 minutes a day had "a 50 percent reduction
in the risk of dying prematurely from cancer," says Sudhir Kurl, medical
director of the School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition at the
University of Kuopio in Finland and one of the study's authors.



It seems fair and just that conscientiously working out should confer
disease-fighting benefits, especially against cancer, and an accreting body
of research suggests that under certain conditions and against certain forms
of cancer, fitness may be remarkably protective. A major review article
published in February on the Web site of the British Journal of Cancer
synthesized the results of more than two decades' worth of studies and
concluded that the most active people are 24 percent less likely to develop
colon cancer than sedentary people are, regardless of their diets, smoking
habits or body weight. Another study, this one presented in May at the
annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine reported that
women over age 30 who defined themselves as "highly competitive" by
disposition and who exercised more than the average for the group had much
less risk of developing breast cancer than women who worked out for less
than 60 minutes per week.

Related



What these recent studies, including the one from Finland, share is the
suggestion that, in order to use exercise to reduce the risk of cancer, you
must make yourself sweat. In the Finnish study, the most beneficial exercise
was both frequent and demanding. The researchers used METs (an acronym for
metabolic equivalent of task, a numerical comparison of the oxygen or energy
used during an activity versus the amount used at rest) to characterize
their subjects' exercise habits. A MET of 1 is the equivalent of lolling
inertly on the couch. In his study, jogging steadily for 30 minutes or so
represented a MET of about 10. The men whose METs reached at least 5 almost
every day were the least likely to die of cancer, especially of the lung or
the gastrointestinal tract. Similarly, in one of the studies included in the
colon cancer review, women who walked briskly for five to six hours a week
were much less likely to develop colon cancer than those who strolled for 30
minutes per week. And in the bogglingly comprehensive 2008 national Physical
Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee report prepared for the secretary of
health and human services, which includes a chapter about exercise and
cancer, the authors concluded that when it comes to breast cancer, "one hour
per day of moderate or vigorous activity produces greater reduction in risk"
than the two and a half hours of moderate exercise per week that are
currently recommended by the surgeon general.



The Finnish researchers admit that, like other scientists studying activity
and cancer, they don't know just how or why brisk exercise affects risk or
why only some types of cancer are affected. Exercise long has been known to
speed the emptying of the colon, which may reduce the amount of time that
carcinogens linger in the organ, the Finnish scientists point out. Strenuous
exercise also affects the production of sex hormones in men and women, and -
particularly in the case of estrogen and breast cancer - may by that
mechanism reduce cancer formation. Other scientists have posited that the
panting involved in strenuous exercise might rapidly move carcinogens out of
the lungs. Still other researchers have written that alterations in how a
well-trained body handles insulin and some cellular growth factors could
lessen the chances of tumors developing.



But it remains difficult to tease out the specific molecular effects of
regular, brisk exercise from the generally healthy habits of exercisers.
Although the Finnish study controlled for diet, the scientists write that
other, unspecified "lifestyle factors" and the luck (good and bad) of
genetics may well have affected their results. Still, their findings offer a
prescription for potentially reducing your risk of certain cancers that has
few obvious, undesirable side effects, except among the intractably lazy.
"At least moderately intense physical activity is more beneficial than low
intensity physical activity in the prevention of cancer," the authors
conclude. The takeaway, in other words, is that jogging trumps berry
picking.

FIRE ELEMENT the Transformational Phase of the Summer in Chinese Medicine

Summer Heat! the Fire Element - According to Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

How does this particular season affect us both physically and emotionally?
What does this Chinese medical theory offer us to help us understand ourselves and the world around us.

According to Chinese Medicine the human body is a micro cosmos of the macro cosmos - the Earth the Universe.
From the Classic The Nei Jing from 200 B.C. The Inner Classic comes this description.

FIRE
"from the South there comes extreme heat. Heat produces fire and from the fire come the bitter flavors.
The bitter flavor strengthens the heart; the heart nourishes the blood and the blood enlivens the stomach. The heart rules over the tongue.
The supernatural powers of Summer create heat in Heaven and fire upon the earth. They create the pulse within the body and the heat within the viscera. Of the colors they create the red color and of the musical notes they create "chi" and they give the human voice the ability to express joy. Of the Orifices they create the mouth with its palate; of the flavors they create the bitter flavor and of the emotions they create happiness and joy"
The HEART organ system refers to the Heart organ itself and the Small Intestine is its associated "hollow" organ. The concept of hollow refers to all the organ systems that have the ability to store some substance such as the gallbladder stores bile and the bladder stores urine. There are five "hollow " organs. Gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, large intestine, bladder.
According to the "Nei Jing" the Heart is considered the "Supreme Ruler", like a King it is responsible for everything within its Kingdom; it "rules the blood and the blood vessels". The Heart organ itself has the function to move the blood throughout the body. It also has the function to "house the Spirit". It has the task of controlling the emotions with reference to excitability and thus keeping them even. This "Housing of the spirit" refers in particular to sleep. At night when the Yin is at it's peak, meaning its deepest time; the spirit should rest in the depth and safety of one's heart. When the (Chinese) heart is weak, it may be unable to "house" the Spirit and insomnia may occur

FIRE:
The HEART belongs to the summer and reflects the element FIRE According to the Chinese clock the peak time for the
HEART organ system is from 11AM to 1PM and the SMALL INTESTINE from 1PM to 3PM. Heart and Small Intestine meridians running to and from the tips of the pinky fingers on both hands belong to the Heart and Small Intestines respectively

The heart controls the spirit.
The HEART "opens" into the tongue
The color of the element fire is red.
The corresponding human sound is laughter
The taste that corresponds to the element fire is BITTER
The smell is SCORCHED
The weather condition or the climate associated with HEART is heat. The emotion is a sense of joy, excitability, happiness -
there is also the emotion of arrogance and vexedness when the heart is in disharmony
The psychological ability furthered by the heart is for grief and sadness
the Heart controls the SPIRIT

As with the other organ systems there seems to be preponderance of heart disharmony in the summer - in the heat, when
the heart has to work harder to keep internal body temperature even and when the pace of emotional involvement is so accelerated.


Does the summer - the Fire not blow by so very quickly? - Sometimes, both the heat and the speed leave us breathless!
It helps us to remember this element when we threaten to become impatient with fellow human beings who may not be able to deal so well with the heat, the internal Fire! - people who become too excited and maybe extremely vexed and irrationally disturbed by extreme heat. Of course imbalances in the circulatory system and the heart itself become more common place in the summer.
We can take cooling baths in room temperature water (Or cold)
We can eat cooling foods: cucumber, salads, steamed veggies made into salads (room temp) drink more water
We can develop more kindness toward others and ourselves - We can slow down and breathe more consciously
We can avoid pushing ourselves too hard in the heat!

Stay cool inside and out - take care !

THE JOY OF GRILLING

May 22, 2009, 11:58 am
Reducing the Risks of Holiday Grilling
By Tara Parker-Pope
The New York Times Smoking up the barbecue covers meat in risky chemical compounds.

Grilled meats have long been linked to health risks, but most backyard chefs don’t want to believe it. But a few simple tricks can help you avoid the health worries and still enjoy a holiday barbecue.

The problem with grilling is that it creates two types of risky chemical reactions. Fat drippings create smoke that is filled with carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. When the smoke envelopes the food, it transfers the PAHs onto the surface of the meat. And when meat, chicken and fish are grilled at high temperatures for long periods of time, compounds inside the food react and create heterocyclic amines, or HCAs. HCAs are worrisome because in lab studies they’ve been shown to trigger breast, colon and prostate tumors in rats and mice.

A few dozen observational studies have shown a link between cancer and high consumption of grilled and well-done meats. One study of more than 3,000 women showed that for postmenopausal women, eating a lot of grilled, barbecued and smoked meats raised breast cancer risk by 47 percent compared to those who ate the least meat.

Here are four simple steps to make grilled meat safer.

1. Pre-cook in the microwave. By pre-cooking meat a little, you reduce the amount of time it sits on the grill. Microwaving also releases certain compounds so they won’t react on the grill. Just one minute of microwaving a burger before you put it on the grill virtually eliminates HCAs.

2. Go heavy on the marinades. Marinades don’t just make food taste good. Studies show using a marinade helps blunt the heat so fewer HCAs are formed.

3. Add broccoli. Consuming cruciferous vegetables like broccoli changes the way the body metabolizes certain chemicals associated with grilling.

4. Avoid well-done meats. Numerous studies have linked well-done meat with various health problems. Tell the chef you want it medium or rare.

In the past, when I’ve written about the health risks of grilling, readers have told me I’m a killjoy. But in my view, there are so few environmental and chemical risks we can control, why not take a few simple steps to reduce cancer-causing compounds in our food?

What do you think? Will you think about healthier grilling during your Memorial Day celebration? Or is this a health message you plan to ignore?

NEVER!!!!!!!........... BUT MAYBE WE CAN PRECOOK THE MEAT in a conventional oven and forgo the micro wave altogether.

BETTER BACK WITH ACUPUNCTURE - WITH OR WITHOUT....

WHEN I READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE I was amazed at the concept of "simulated acupuncture". Are we talking holding a pretend needle (but not really) or are we talking places on the body you would normally n o t treat with needles for back pain?
It is an interesting concept when you think about all the Japanese acupuncture that is being successfully practiced without ever
inserting a needle into the flesh......indeed, how much of the intention of "healing" actually manifests from the consciousness
of the "patient" as opposed to the consciousness of the practitioner? How much influence does that in turn have on the outcome. I am assuming that all 638 Patients wanted the acupuncture work "no matter what"!


Acupuncture-Like Treatments Improve Outcomes Compared to Usual Care for Low Back Pain

People suffering from chronic low back pain who received acupuncture or simulated acupuncture treatments fared better than those receiving only conventional care According to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.[1] The study highlights central questions about the mechanisms of benefit seen in acupuncture studies.

This trial, led by Daniel Cherkin, Ph.D., of Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, was funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a component of the National Institutes of Health.

"Because of the lack of highly effective medical treatments for chronic low back pain, we were pleased to find that acupuncture-like treatments were helpful for persons suffering from chronic back pain," said Dr. Cherkin. "However, the finding that real acupuncture produced no greater benefit than simulated acupuncture raises important questions about acupuncture's mechanisms of action."

This trial enrolled 638 adults with chronic low back pain who had never had acupuncture and who had rated the "bothersomeness" of their pain as at least a 3 on a 0-to-10 scale. The participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: individualized acupuncture, involving a customized prescription for acupuncture points from a diagnostician; standardized acupuncture, using a single prescription for acupuncture points that experts consider generally effective for chronic low back pain; simulated acupuncture, which mimics needle acupuncture but does not involve actual penetration of the skin; or usual care, which is standard medical care.

The patients assigned to any of the three acupuncture groups (individualized, standardized, or simulated) were treated twice weekly for three weeks, and then weekly for four weeks. At 8, 26, and 52 weeks, researchers measured back-related dysfunction and how much symptoms bothered participants.

The researchers found that at eight weeks the individualized, standardized, and simulated acupuncture groups all improved their dysfunction scores significantly more than the group receiving usual care. These benefits persisted for one year, though diminished over time. However, there was no significant difference between the groups receiving the needle and simulated forms of acupuncture. Thus, while acupuncture was found effective in treating low back pain, neither tailoring acupuncture needle sites to an individual patient nor penetrating the skin appears to be important for receiving therapeutic benefit.

"The findings of this research show that acupuncture-like treatments, including simulated acupuncture, can elicit positive responses," said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NCCAM. "This adds to the growing body of evidence that there is something meaningful taking place during acupuncture treatments outside of actual needling. Future research is needed to delve deeper into what is evoking these responses."

The researchers believe that further research is needed to determine the roles of patient expectancy, practitioner reassurance and the physiological effects of non-insertive stimulation and other effects that may contribute to acupuncture-like benefits.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's mission is to explore complementary and alternative medical practices in the context of rigorous science, train CAM researchers, and disseminate authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM's Clearinghouse toll free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov. NCCAM 1999–2009: Celebrating 10 years of rigorous research.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. Reference:
1 Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, et al. A Randomized Trial Comparing Acupuncture, Simulated Acupuncture, and Usual Care for Chronic Low Back Pain. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009;169[9]:858-866.

SWINE OR OTHERWISE FLU........

Prevention is always where my mind goes. As you, I have a healthy aversion to scare tactics - or even simple paranoia.
Certainly I do not like to close the barn after everybody has escaped (or rushed in!)
So, what now with this swine flu? We are still scared, kind of, not settled but do feel a little more assured (say than if we lived in China, right now, where fear spells with a capital F.)

We could certainly take the occasion and learn something from it. Maybe if we all were feeling stronger in our state of
health - we would also not be so panicky. What does make us strong?
Good food does - good rest does - fresh air does - movement/exercise does - and drinking enough (plenty of ) water does. Doing all these things we can at least 'remember' the state of "nothing can break us"!!!!: we are invincible!!!

Of course I love acupuncture and it has saved me and many others from an invasion of what the Chinese call the "Evil Qi"
some "wind cold" or "wind heat " that mysteriously penetrates our defensive shield and may land us in bed with a fever!

So I suggest - when you feel vulnerable and not so strong - have an acupuncture treatment !- have a knowledgeable practitioner balance your system, open and strengthen the appropriate meridians and protect the ones that feel vulnerable.

Also boosting the vulnerable Qi through herbal medicine is a good approach!
Several avenues are open. Different specific prescriptions for very specific circumstances or, more generically, I offer something called the Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup to my patients to boost their innate capacity to fight of any invasion(!)
And they love it! It can be used for prevention or to boost the system after the fact.

Following is a more detailed description and recipe

CHINESE HERBAL CHICKEN SOUP
One of the common ways to use tonic herbs in China is cooking them in the form of a soup along with chicken. This is because chicken is thought to bring out and enhance the tonifying and nourishing aspects of the herbs. Most of the tonic herbs have a pleasant taste that does not adversely affect the flavorful quality of mealtime soups made without the herbs. In fact, when properly selected, the additional herbs produce a highly desirable taste and texture for the soup. The following herb mixture for making chicken soup gets excellent reviews:
Lotus seed, Lycium, Dioscorea, Polygonatum, Black fungus, Codonopsis, Astragalus, Longan
The root herbs-astragalus, codonopsis, and dioscorea-are classified by Chinese herbalists as qi tonics. They benefit digestion, aid absorption of nutrients, improve cardiac function, and enhance energy. The two dried fruits, lycium and longan, are classified as blood tonics; they are frequently used to treat anemia, reduce fidgeting, and benefit sleep. Black fungus is reputed to alleviate dryness and benefit the circulation; it adds a satisfying texture to the soup. Polygonatum is classified as a yin tonic; it helps restore moisture to dried membranes. Lotus seed is a mild tonic and sedative useful for alleviating nervousness and irritability.
To make the soup, place about 2 pounds of chicken (best with bones included) with the skin removed in a medium sized pot and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and remove any residue that floats to the top at that time. Add in the whole package of herbs, 2 cloves of crushed or grated garlic, 2 thin slices of fresh ginger, and a teaspoon of salt (the amount of garlic, ginger, and salt can be adjusted to your taste; these amounts are for a mild flavoring). Bring back to a slow boil, cover, and simmer for about 50-60 minutes.
Add sliced fresh vegetables, such as carrots and celery (for a more warming effect, use green onions), and various greens and squashes at this time and simmer again for an additional 5-10 minutes to soften them. Then add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon of wine (or mild vinegar). Remove from heat. All the herb materials are edible except the astragalus, which is too fibrous, and this item should be removed before serving (it is the flat herb that retains a woody appearance).
The package of herbs contains about 5.5 ounces. This recipe makes enough soup for four servings (a large bowl of soup each) providing about 40 grams of dried herbs. For individuals recovering from serious illness or other debilitating experience, the soup can be taken daily for about one week to help restore strength. Others may wish to enjoy this dish about once a week for nourishing the blood and getting a great energy boost. Serve with a side dish of rice to make a complete meal.


Vegetarian Alternative: Cook the herbs together as above but without chicken; when adding the vegetables, also add one pound of tofu as a protein source. If desired; just before removing from heat, blend in four tablespoons of miso paste (or more to taste) in place of the tablespoon of soy sauce.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE CONCEPTS OF SOUP INGREDIENTS (an unusual description of ingredients!.......)

Note: In the following text, the mention of organs, such as spleen and kidney, are in reference to the traditional descriptions as translated from the Chinese and do not imply any effect on the organs as recognized by modern medicine. Thus, for example, herbs that benefit the "spleen" are usually used to promote digestive functions, which are not related to the spleen functions as recognized today, and herbs that tonify the "kidney" are thought to adjust metabolism and have a variety of beneficial effects that are not associated with the function of the kidney as understood in modern medical terms. The descriptions of the therapeutic nature and applications in the traditional Chinese system are not intended to imply that all such benefits are provided by the soup.
• Chicken: its taste is sweet, its nature is warm, and it benefits the spleen and stomach. Chicken meat nourishes the qi and blood, and tonifies the kidney and essence. It is used therapeutically for blood deficiency, emaciation, and persistent illness; and for heart palpitations and dizziness. The vegetarian alternative tofu is cooling, lubricating, and benefits the spleen and stomach; miso is sweet and salty, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the stomach, spleen, and kidney. Miso and tofu are used to treat disharmony of the stomach, with loss of appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
• Garlic: its taste is pungent and sweet, its nature is warm, and it benefits the spleen, stomach, and lungs. It is used to promote digestion of foods, especially meats, to alleviate intestinal infections, and to treat coughing due to lung disorders.
• Carrot: its taste is sweet, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the spleen, liver, and lung. It is used for indigestion, weak vision, and cough with fever. Squashes, in general, are sweet, cooling in nature, and benefit the spleen, stomach, and lung. They are used for promoting urination and alleviating coughing.
• Celery: its taste is pungent and sweet, its nature is cool, and it benefits the liver, stomach, and bladder. It is used for feverish feeling, dizziness, agitation, loss of appetite, and difficult urination. Most green leafy vegetables are slightly astringent, cool, and benefit the spleen and liver.
• Green onion (scallion): its taste is pungent, its nature is warm, and it benefits the stomach and lungs. It is used for dispersing chill, relieving congestion, and relaxing muscle tension.
• Black fungus (wood ear): its taste is sweet, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the lung, stomach, and liver. It is used for dry cough, dry throat and mouth, and for other symptoms of dryness.
• Lotus seed: its taste is sweet and astringent, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the spleen, kidney, and heart. It is used for loss of appetite and diarrhea due to weak digestion, for frequent urination, and for restlessness.
• Lycium: its taste is sweet, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the liver and kidney. It is used for weakness due to overwork and aging, for weak vision, and for chronic cough.
• Longan: its taste is sweet, its nature is warm, and it benefits the heart and spleen. It is used for deficiency of blood, with poor memory, heart palpitations, and weakness.
• Astragalus: its taste is sweet, its nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the spleen and lung. It is used for all kinds of qi deficiency syndromes, especially when there is excessive sweating.
• Dioscorea: its taste is sweet, its nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the spleen, lung, and kidney. It is used for treatment of diarrhea and frequent urination.
• Codonopsis: its taste is sweet, its nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the lung and spleen. It is used for all types of qi deficiency syndromes, especially when there is weak digestion. It is commonly used by Chinese herbalists as a substitute for ginseng.
• Polygonatum: Its taste is sweet, its nature is mildly cold, and it benefits the lung and stomach. It is used for any kind of yin-deficiency syndrome, typically manifesting as fidgeting, dry mouth and throat, and dry cough.

So, as you see - a lot can go into a bowl of soup
and a lot of protection can come with it and through it.

we have "the Herbal Chinese Chicken Soup" in our office
call us
413 549 2830
or write to Verena@giftofhealth.com

DO NOT FOLLOW, I MAY NOT LEAD........

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
The Buddha

Such ancient good advice - apply it to everything; whether the media tells you to take Statins or an Aspirin a day or even "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" - or "stay out of the sun and cover your body with sun screen" or "Milk is good for you - look, it is fortified with Vitamins"......and so many more 'truths' - endless truths for someone else who wants you to follow theirs for a miriad of reasons! And not all reasons are in your interest.
Specially when it comes to what you eat and drink. Who could actually know better than you yourself? - it is your body; they are your senses.
Ask yourself with everything your eyes or your nose want to eat - will this be beneficial to my body and my mind/spirit. I trust there would be a few things we would just put back. No, thank you.

The whole issue of what is the right eating life style for me is based on experimentation. Ongoing and lots of it! Not so different from other experimentations in life.......Now I eat this piece of bread, chocolate, piece of carrot or chicken.
Then I listen to my body - how does it sit - feel and affect the state of my energy.
Somethings you have to repeat many times to get a clear idea; specially wheat, dairy
and sugar - raw versus cooked, macrobiotic, vegan, lacto-ovarian, ayurvedic, Atkins, Zone and anything else old and new - you must give it all a good try and observe.
Of course that's how the Buddha comes into the kitchen! Discriminating wisdom when it comes to our bodies and food.
Sometimes you try something just once and you know - "this feels right" or "this does not feel good" Please trust those feelings and heed them - somebody in that (your) body k n o w s it; it just takes a little while to figure it out. Trust that you can! - Log your experiences and then maintain some coherence with them. You'll be healthy wise and maybe even happy with a well fed body.

THE HEALING POWER OF SUNLIGHT and Vitamin D

Vitamin D and Sunlight: The Healing Powers
15 Facts You Probably Never Knew About Vitamin D and Sunlight Exposure

Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis, depression, prostate cancer and breast cancer, and even effects diabetes and obesity. Vitamin D is perhaps the single most underrated nutrient in the world of nutrition. That’s probably because it’s free; your body makes it when sunlight touches your skin. Truth is, most people don’t know the real story on vitamin D and health.

1. Vitamin D is produced by your skin in response to exposure to ultraviolet radiation from natural sunlight.

2. The healing rays of natural sunlight that generate vitamin D in your skin cannot penetrate glass. So you don’t generate vitamin D when sitting in your car or home.

3. It is nearly impossible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from your diet. Sunlight exposure is the only reliable way to generate vitamin D in your own body.

4. A person would have to drink 10 tall glasses of vitamin D fortified milk each day just to get minimum levels of vitamin D into their diet.

5. The farther you live from the equator, the longer the exposure you need to the sun in order to generate vitamin D. Canada, the UK and most US states are far from the equator.

6. People with dark skin pigmentation may need 20 to 30 times as much exposure to sunlight as fair- skinned people to generate the same amount of vitamin D. This is why prostrate cancer is epidemic among black men—it is a simple but widespread sunlight deficiency.

7. Sufficient levels of vitamin D are crucial for calcium absorption in your intestines. Without sufficient vitamin D, your body cannot absorb calcium, rendering calcium supplements useless.

8. Chronic vitamin D deficiency cannot be reversed overnight; it takes months of vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure to rebuild the body’s bones and nervous system.

9. Even weak sunscreens (SPF 8) block your body’s ability to generate vitamin D by 95%. Sunscreen products can actually cause disease by creating a critical vitamin deficiency in the body.

10. It is impossible to generate too much vitamin D in your body from sunlight exposure: your body will self- regulate and only generate what it needs.

11. If it hurts to press firmly on your sternum, you may be suffering from chronic vitamin D deficiency right now.

12. Vitamin D is activated in your body by your kidneys and liver before it can be used.

13. Having kidney disease or liver damage can greatly impair your body’s ability to activate circulating vitamin D.

14. Even though vitamin D is one of the most powerful healing chemicals in your body, your body makes it absolutely free. No prescription required.


Adapted from “The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D: An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Michael Holick,” by
Mike Adams

TOP TEN REASONS TO EXERCISE OTHER THAN BEING HAPPIER !!

TOP TEN REASONS TO EXERCISE AND BE SO MUCH HAPPIER !!

Exercise may be the closest thing to the fountain of youth. Not only does regular activity strengthen your muscles and improve heart and lung function, but it can also reduce your risk of major diseases, stimulate the growth of new brain cells, and even add years to your life. Studies show just 30 minutes of physical activity on most days is all that's required to reap big benefits.

The range of health bonuses now attributed to exercise has surprised even doctors. Research suggests that workouts may do the following:

1. Keep you young! Workouts such as brisk walking or cycling boost the amount of oxygen consumed during exercise. Improving your aerobic capacity by just 15 to 25 percent would be like shaving 10 to 20 years off your age. Aerobic exercise may also stimulate the growth of new brain cells in older adults.

2. Reduce infections. Moderate workouts temporarily rev-up the immune system by increasing the aggressiveness or capacity of immune cells. That may explain why people who exercise catch fewer colds.

3. Prevent heart attacks. Not only does exercise raise "good" HDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure, but new research shows it reduces arterial inflammation, another risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

4. Ease asthma. New evidence shows that upper-body and breathing exercises can reduce the need to use an inhaler in mild cases of asthma.

5. Control blood sugar. Exercise helps maintain a healthy blood-sugar level by increasing the cells' sensitivity to insulin and by controlling weight. Regular brisk walking can significantly cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

6. Protect against cancer. Exercise may reduce the risk of colon-cancer by speeding waste through the gut and lowering the insulin level. It may also protect against breast and prostate cancer by regulating hormone levels.

7. Combat stress. Regular aerobic exercise lowers levels of stress hormones. For many people, exercise helps relieve depression as effectively as antidepressant medication.

8. Relieve hot flashes. Increasing fitness by walking or practicing yoga enhances mood and reduces some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.

9. Protect men's health. Pelvic exercises help prevent erectile dysfunction and possibly benign prostate enlargement, a common cause of urinary problems.

10. Prolong life. Studies lasting many years have consistently shown that being active cuts the risk of premature death by about 50 percent for men and women.

Adapted from Consumers Reports, COURTESY OF www.integrativenutrition.com

अबाउट डेट्स इन थे Spring

The winter brings inertia(when and if we can afford it......)
The Spring is the time to shake ourselves - rid ourselves of the very inertia that felt just fine in the depth of the Winter. Bears and other creatures hibernate and so do we.
But as you can feel through the energy stirring inside yourself it is time -time to cleanse to rejuvenate inside out. Specially with the warmer days coming.
There are so many ways we can do this.

Many many years ago I undertook a radical "Grape Cure"
eating nothing but grapes for 27days - about two and a half pounds a day. There came a time - on this diet, that what came out appeared to be the same as what went in. It did feel extremely "clean" and I enjoyed the incredibly "brainless" simplicity of it; once I had decided to do it. Two and one half pounds of organic grapes a day - and water - nothing else.....simple

Whether you choose a more radical approach or just begin by drinking fresh, organic lemon juice in water, first thing in the morning, to give the liver a little push - either way water is your good friend!

These days I prefer the "Liver flush" - here it is the way I have used it in the last twenty years:


LIVER FLUSH

In the spring or warm season this can be done for ten days or less.

First thing in the morning:
In the blender mix:
o 10 – 12 oz. of grapefruit juice
o 1 clove of garlic
o 1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh is best; bottled concentrate is ok)
o 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra light or mild is ok)

Drink it down and chase it with a cup of mint tea.

Mid morning:
Eat a raw apple and enjoy.

Lunch time:
Whatever amount you need of steamed vegetables, either hot or at room temperature with a little salad dressing on them.

Afternoon:
You can snack on ¼ cup of almonds (raw) and again, an hour later on ¼ cup of roasted sunflower seeds.

Supper time:
Whatever amount you need of steamed vegetables, either hot or at room temperature with a little salad dressing on them.

Throughout the day drink copious amounts of herbal tea hot water. Hot water is very healing and soothing.In Tibetan medicine it is the FIRST medicine.

o After the third day take two Swiss Kriss Herbal Laxative Tablets before bed.
o After the sixth day take two Swiss Kriss Herbal Laxative Tablets before bed.

If you wish to extend this cleansing program over a longer period of time you can add whole grains to the lunch or supper after the third day. The whole grains might include buckwheat pasta, brown rice, millet or barley. The main concern is that you DO NOT add fat, dairy or sugar to the diet.

To change this way of eating into a complete diet you should then add to the above a protein such as tempeh, tofu, organic chicken, turkey or fish. The cleansing program is meant for a short period of time as a catalyst into the next season, (spring, summer and autumn). In the winter we need more calories to brace ourselves against the elements; therefore it is best to wait until spring.