I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!  Like most holidays – food, alcohol and dessert often laden the picnic table (I know they sure did at my Minnesotan family-reunion festivities). Get back on track while enjoying summer feasts with this delicious recipe for fish tacos – the perfect combination of sweet, tangy and crispy. And best of all it is super healthy and easy to make!  Typical fish tacos are laden with refined-flour breading and deep fried in saturated oils. This recipe utilizes whole corn meal for the batter, a touch of extra virgin olive oil and are baked to a crispy perfection. Then, sandwiched between fresh tortillas, lettuce, sliced radishes, shredded carrots and topped off with my flavorful mango salsa recipe.

This recipe is from our monthly ESEMA newsletter – sign up here to receive our healthy (and free) tidbits!

For the Fish:

• 4 Tilapia Fillets, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 egg, whisked
• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 Tbsp Lime Juice
• 1 Cup Whole Ground Cornmeal
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Cumin
• 1 tsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Marinate the fish cubes in the lime juice, egg and olive oil for about an hour in the refrigerator. In a large zip-lock freezer bag, combine the dry ingredients. Place the marinated fish (and any liquid) into the bag, seal tightly and combine until all of the fish is covered with the cornmeal mixture.

Lay the fish pieces in one layer on a greased baking sheet (I use Spectrum Organics Grapeseed Oil). Bake at 375 F for 20 minutes, or until fish is cooked through and the outside is crispy. Stir the fish occasionally while cooking. These delectable fish-nuggets are so good you will never even know they are baked and not fried!

Fresh Mango Salsa:

• 1 Large Mango, cubed
• 1 Large Nectarine, cubed
• Small bunch Cilantro, chopped
• 1 Small Red Onion, finely chopped
• 1 Clove Garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp Lime Juice
• 1/2 Tbsp Agave Syrup
• Pinch Salt

Combine all ingredients and let the flavors meld in refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.

Last week our CEO and Founder, Erin Hessel, was featured in a two-part interview in the Huffington Post on June 1st and June 2nd, 2010. Huffington Post correspondent, Jamie Frevele, got up-close with Erin discussing her thoughts on acupuncture, how it works, why she chose to study it, her specialization in women’s health and how it has evolved in Western culture.

“This is an ancient, 10,000-year old medicine that’s brand new to our culture. So it’s got a long way to go to get the validity it has in China,” says Erin in regards to the movement from East to West.

Erin goes on to state: “According to Chinese medicine, the needle is accessing an energetic frequency that the energy meridians in the body can respond to. We’re using that needle as a conduit to create change, flow and balance in the body. Now to us, Western-minded individuals who grew up in the United States, this makes absolutely no sense – and it doesn’t answer any of our questions! So to answer our questions, we’ve created studies and used different techniques to actually see what’s happening at the needle site and what’s happening in the brain when he needles are in. Although this is helpful, I think that is what’s so frustrating for the acceptance of acupuncture into Western medical society is because there isn’t a lot of consistency in the data. You know, just when we think “Oh this is exactly what it’s doing!” it’ll change into something else in another person. Because it’s so individualized.”

Two read the in-depth and personal interview in full, click here for part one and here for part two.

I invite you to join me as I take you on a tour of the small beginnings that are my first (city) garden.

You have to get creative when planting a garden in the city. There is no out-door patio to make a mess on, so certain precautions are necessary when working indoors (like newspapers and properly aligned trash bins). A window-sill is about the only place where sun-happy plants will thrive, and it just so happens my New York City apartment windows face east so they can soak up some nourishing rays.

The San-Diegan Passion Flower

The large pot you see in the above photo is a Passion Flower plant, given to me as a junior plant sprouted from a larger mother-plant owned by my good friend Grace. Her mama-plant travelled all the way from San Diego, and has since thrived in New York City. This beautiful vine has sweet nectar, curly-cue sprouts and the most beautiful flowers (I’ll be sure to post some photos once mine finally bloom). I am happy to say that I have had this plant for nearly a year now, and it continues to grow and thrive.

The Lily

The second pot was my first attempt at growing a Chinese herb (Bai He/Lili Bulbus) and also my first attempt at growing a plant from a seed (which I obtained from a Chinese Herbal garden upstate). Although you can’t tell from this photo, after months of watering and a lot of love, the seed has sprouted! In Chinese medicine, we use the bulb of the lily plant to nourish the lungs – and find it especially helpful when recovering from an upper respiratory infection, in cases of chronic asthma or a restless spirit (ie: insomnia) which can present after a prolonged period of grief.

Aloe Vera

The third plant (and also pictured here) is aloe vera, one of the most useful plants to have around the house. Sun-burns, cuts, scrapes, scars, dry skin, rashes, skin irritations, acne – the jelly in the center of the big cactus leaves can be used for so many things. It can even be taken internally for dry constipation. I remember when I was a kid and I had a huge scar on my forehead from tripping and falling head-first into the corner of the piano (ouch!). My uncle Bill was visiting from Big Sur, California, and got me an Aloe plant. I walked around the house and slept every night with an open leaf taped onto my forehead for probably a month. It looked silly at the time, but to this day you can only faintly see the scar if I crinkle my nose – it works.

My fourth and final plant is a simple rubber plant, which I basically just got because I liked the deep-purple leaves (and my friend Krystie insured that it would endure anything). 

My next addition to the city garden coming soon: Culinary Herbs ~ Stay Tuned!

For years I have tried to find the perfect granola to satisfy a snack or morning meal – not too sweet, not too bland, not artificial, not with gluten, not with soy… I never even once considered making the crunchy treat myself. I though it would be too cumbersome or tedious, and not worth the effort. How untrue! With this recipe I found on foodnetwork (doctored up a bit to boost health benefits), we now have fresh-made granola whenever we want at my house. 

This recipe is truly wonderful, and your favorite nuts, seeds, fruits and flavors can easily be added or substituted. It is great with organic yogurt, sprinkled on berries, served with warm almond-milk or just plain out-of-your-hand for a quick snack.

I have added walnuts for their medicinal properties of improving cognitive function and pepitas for their high iron content. The coconut oil supplies a healthier fat than other vegetable oils, and the ground flax seeds provide essential fatty acids & omega 3’s. Oats are more commonly used in granola, but I like Spelt Flakes for their nutty flavor and  they are easier for most people to digest than other wheat products.

Ingredients

3 Cups Spelt Flakes (I like Eden Organic, can also use Whole Oat Flakes)

1 Cup Slivered Almonds

1 Cup Cashews

1/2 Cup Walnut Halves

1 Cup Raw Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds)

3 Tbsp Ground Flax Seeds

1/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar (loose, not packed)

1/4 Cup Maple Sugar

2 Tbsp  Molasses

1/4 Cup Coconut Oil (will need to warm jar under water so it liquifies for use)

3/4 tsp. Salt

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 Cup Dried Fruit (Cherries, Cranberries, Mulberries, Raisins, Blueberries, Apples, etc)

Preparation

Preheat Oven to 250 Degrees Fahrenheit.

In a large bowl, combine Spelt Flakes, nuts, flax  & brown sugar.

In a second bowl, combine maple syrup, molasses, salt, coconut oil and cinnamon.

Combine both mixtures and pour onto two sheet pans. Bake for 1 hour & 15 min, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve even color and crispness. Remove from oven and transfer to a large bowl. Incorporate dried fruit and store in an airtight container.

Coffee built the foundation for my work ethic and professional enthusiasm when I accepted my first job as a barista and coffee-roaster at Dunn Bros Coffee in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Yep, that’s right, I was a coffee-roaster. You may not see these around most coffee shops, but Dunn Bros prides themselves on the sacks of raw beans from over a dozen countries that surround the giant roaster at each location (and admittedly, I take pride in knowing firsthand the process from harvest to brewed beans). Perhaps it was from witnessing the smooth-beige colored Ethiopian bean turn to a silky-rich-brown color as it cooked and crackled that molded my perception of coffee as more a ritual than drug (similar to the way the Chinese and Japanese view Tea).   

Coffee, itself, has been around forever and can be considered a “natural product.” However, as the coffee industry has grown over the centuries, the plants have become more and more laden with pesticides and the farmers more and more abused. For that reason, I always recommend buying organic or fair trade coffee when available to support sustainable resources – so that coffee will be around (along with our planet) for years to come.

The Health Controversy

The arguments against coffee are mostly due to its caffeine content, which is about three-times higher in an 8oz cup of coffee versus a shot of espresso, an 8oz cup of green or black tea or a 12oz soda. Even a cup of decaf-coffee can still contain up to 5mg of caffeine. The initial perils of coffee was the suspected link between caffeine and heart disease.  Current research has shown, however, that caffeine is not necessarily a direct contributor to heart diseaseand that coffee itself may have health benefits such as preventing Parkinson’s Disease, Type 2 Diabetes and Liver Cancer. Sodas and energy drinks pose a larger threat to heart disease than coffee or tea, for example, due to their high sugar content that escalates the inflammatory response. Caffeine, however, has shown to increase stress hormones in certain people, which can then lead to cardiovascular disease or emotional disturbances such as anxiety. It is important to discuss with your health care provider what is the most appropriate approach for your health. In general, I find that patients trying to get pregnant, or who are suffering from anxiety, sleep disorders or breast issues often benefit from weaning themselves off coffee. 

The Chinese Medicine Viewpoint

As I have discussed in previous posts, Chinese Food Therapy utilizes the energetic functions of foods to “treat” conditions of the body. Coffee is no stranger to these findings. Energetically, coffee is very yang, or moving. It causes things to “get-going” in the body, which can sometimes begin to deplete the body of its natural ability to ignite it’s own engines, so to speak. We say this directly affects the kidney energy, which can be likened to adrenal function in Western medicine. Also, it can lead to an excess of heat in the body, causing insomnia, heart palpitations, digestive upset or irritability. Since the body’s energy is moving more, people who come in for acupuncture after their morning coffee often are more sensitive to the treatment as their qi is more on the surface. 

On the flip side, the benefit of coffee is said to tonify the heart qi – giving a feeling of joy and calm in certain constitutional types. It can also facilitate healthy respiration before a big workout by circulating the lung energy. In general, however, coffee does not have many real clinical implications in Chinese medicine – but it does give us a baseline to work with in helping people on their journey to optimum health. Just like anything else, portion control can make all the difference (such as consuming 60oz of coffee per day vs. 8oz). Personally, I tend to come from the school of thought: “everything in moderation,” and if I firmly believe deleting coffee from a patients diet will drastically improve their health – I can sympathize because I know how much comfort and benefit can come from our ritual coffee.

Coffee Enthusiasts

This post was inspired by my friend, Tony Black, who is a real coffee enthusiast – so much so that he has created a blog dedicated to images of people with their morning cup. It is a fun site, and a true testament to the ritual we have created around coffee way beyond the Starbucks phenomenon. Check it out and see Borbayand my-self’s featured photos in this week’s edition.  

I offered complimentary Tongue & Pulse Readings with auricular acu-pressure for stress relief, along with herbal trailmix. Thanks to my handsome associate, Jason, we had a well-organized line formed throughout the night so that everyone could experience the benefits of Chinese medicine.

In the end, nearly 30 people came through our booth. I was delighted to see such an outright interest in our services and have the opportunity to connect with people about this healing modality. If you missed the event and would like more information about Chinese Medicine, please email me.

The lovely ladies hosting this event and enjoying the festivities: PURE’s General Manager, Laina Seplow and Regional Membership Manager, Elena Pezzo.

The central room in PURE’s lobby. As you can see, it is a beautiful space with a great turnout of yogi’s.

Plenty of room for learning about new modalities while sipping fresh squeezed juice from Monavie, enjoying Organic-Vegan Cookies and receiving a decadent chair massage from Equinox’s Spa.

Unfortunately, I was not able to get around and meet all the other practitioners formally, but Nicole Maggio of Biosyntonie and I had a chance to connect before the nights end. Biosyntonie, I learned, was founded by a French scientist and provides a non-invasive, powerful way to ignite the bodies own healing capabilities.

Here, a participant enjoys a relaxing Biosyntonie treatment. To learn more about this revolutionary healing method and set up a personal session with Nicole, please email her.

More Event Festivities.

Justin Schantz and friends made a special appearance for the event.

The beautiful PURE Waiting area.  Thanks again to everyone who made this night possible, and such a success!

In good health,

Erin

]]> http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/pure-wellness-event-a-great-success/feed/ 2 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/a-night-of-health-wellness/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/02/a-night-of-health-wellness/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:56:10 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=509 I’d like to formally invite you to a Wellness Event hosted by PURE Yoga East tomorrow evening, Wednesday, February 24th 6:30-8:30pm. I will have a table at this event, offering complimentary herbal snacks, tongue and pulse readings, and ear acu-pressure for stress relief. Please stop by to learn more! If you already know the wonderful benefits of Chinese medicine, then come by to see the beautiful studio space PURE has to offer and meet other health practitioners. Yoga is a wonderful way to enhance the healing benefits of Chinese medicine, and I particularly endorse PURE for their variety and quantity of classes (over 100 classes per week, featuring 21 different styles of yoga).

This event is complimentary to both members and non-members alike, so please take advantage of this wonderful evening of health. For more information about taking a class at PURE, contact Shaun – one of PURE’s experienced Yoga Advisers (shaun.Bradley@pureyoga.com).

To RSVP for this event, please call 212.360. 1888.  To read more about this event, click here.

Hope to see you there!

Namaste,

Erin

PS: New Clinic Information for ESEMA Healing Arts at the Berkley Center Coming Soon!

This event is complimentary to both members and non-members alike, so please take advantage of this wonderful evening of health. For more information about taking a class at PURE, contact Shaun – one of PURE’s experienced Yoga Advisers (shaun.Bradley@pureyoga.com).

To RSVP for this event, please call 212.360. 1888.  To read more about this event, click here.

Hope to see you there!

Namaste,

Erin

PS: New Clinic Information for ESEMA Healing Arts at the Berkley Center Coming Soon!

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

The Western calendar date of February 14th 2010 marked the Chinese New Year 4708: The year of the Metal Tiger.  The Tiger represents the third year in the 12 year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac – preceded by the Ox and followed by the Rabbit – and has many auspicious things in store for people born under all signs of the Chinese zodiac. This year is also represented by the Metal element, which can be ascribed to gold or money, a sign that the year may be important in generating wealth and fortune.

In the spirit of Valentine’s day (a simultaneous celebration), Jason and I spent the day together enjoying different aspects of the city and our day began at the famous Canal Street - the heart of New York’s own Chinatown. There is no doubt of the importance of this holiday as the streets were packed with people. Vendors selling fresh oranges, New Years dragons and noisemakers; bakeries stocked with traditional Mooncake pastries; and music off in the distance ensured that festivities and performances were all around.

Symbolism of The Tiger

The tiger is one of the most dynamic signs of the Chinese zodiac, known for their dependability, unpredictability, fearlessness, and immense capaicty for love and tenderness. While Tiger’s in general keep to themselves, they are also known to quickly make bold changes and take big risks that one might not have seen coming.  The stripes of a tiger symbolize the balanced forces of yin and yang, an important notable fact. Although the year of the Tiger holds a year of great importance to all signs, it is said that those born under the year of the Tiger (and compatible signs) will enjoy particular good fortune this year: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and 2010.

The Year of the Tiger

Traditionally, the year of the tiger is associated with massive changes and social upheaval. Therefore, it is likely that the year of the Tiger will be volatile both on the world scene and on a personal level. But, this is not meant to be alarming. With extreme change comes an enormous opportunity for growth and transformation. The results may yield a circumstance that was once thought unimaginable or even impossible. Those born under the year of the Tiger, Dragon and Horse will find the erratic circumstances ahead particularly inspiring and successful. For the rest of us, it is time to exercise our “flexibility muscles”, to stay nimble and open through the strong wind of change. In Chinese Medicine, we can look to the properties of bamboo for help: during strong winds or torrential storms, bamboo bends through it all – rarely breaking and never standing solidly erect against the natural forces. Yet, within its pliable nature, it continues to grow forward – reaching to the sky and fulfilling its destiny. Bamboo dances in the face of change, and so can we.

May the year of the Tiger, and 2010, bring you health, happiness, luck, and the resources needed to make all your dreams come true.

Leaving Your Analytical Mind at the Door

Although receiving a degree and license in traditional Chinese medicine means completing a rigorous four-year masters program, this ancient science is built on a foundation completely different from the one we grow up with in the Western world. Scientific algorithms and molecular biology will not serve to understand the complexities of something like acupuncture. The first step is leaving what we know to be true at the doorstep, in order to open up space for a second foundation to be built – one stemming from such eastern philosophies as Taoism and Confucianism. For this reason, acupuncture can be difficult to understand from a western medicine perspective. It is like trying to understand the flavor of an orange by eating at a pizzeria – an inappropriate model for comparison.

It has been said that acupuncture affects nerve communication, blood flow and conducts electrical impulses within the fascia muscle layer.  But, as I said, try and leave your analytical mind at the door. At the risk of sounding esoteric, acupuncture connects to the energetic pathways in the body known as meridians. These pathways are inherent in nature, and flow through every living thing (much like matter at its molecular level). They are typically unseen, and unfelt, yet ever alive and flowing with Qi – vitality.  Qi is what gives us life. Without it, there is no movement, no fullness and therefore no life. When Qi cannot flow smoothly, we feel it in the form of pain, illness or distress. Acupuncture directly manipulates the flow of Qi by way of the meridians of the body.

It’s All Connected

There are over 400 points on the human body throughout 12 different meridians, each with a specific function. Over the thousands of years that it took to develop Acupuncture, such functions were tested and agreed upon – having shown clinical efficacy based on experiential findings. Such findings were not based on disorders like “diabetes” or the ”flu,” because those labels were not yet invented at that time, but rather on individual pattern disharmony. Chinese medicine asks the question: “what does the person presenting with XYZ discomfort need?” not “what is the XYZ discomfort called so I can treat that.”  The latter form of question is more common within the Western medical model, which is in my opinion a strong case for the need to employ both models of care in public health for optimum results.

Back to the topic: how acupuncture works.  As I said, it is all connected. For example, if a person presents with knee pain it may be very beneficial to place needles at the knee joint to relieve it. However, needles placed on the elbow, low back or abdomen are also commonly used for strengthening the knee and depend on individual pattern differentiation. Likewise, several points around the knee are great for digestive problems, and often those points will be needled on individuals with no inherent knee pain at all. To understand how the energetic pathways run is to go to school for a very long time. To make sense of it otherwise, is to accept that there is plenty happening in life that we cannot see – not all that dissimilar from Western molecular biology.

The Web Around Us

Take cellular phones and the Internet. There are direct, real, pathways of communication between carrier towers and individual devices that are always open and able to travel at instantaneous speeds. We walk around among and through these pathways all day long - without knowledge of their existence except through the end result: our web browser working or receipt of a text message. When this system is slightly out of whack, the connection is lost and our devices malfunction. The pathways need to be re-opened and cleared so that proper functioning can occur. Imagine that the meridians in your body are the pathways and the commander keeping them open is the Qi. It is the job of an acupuncturist to open up such communication within the body, so there are no glitches.

Different People, Different Treatment

Unlike the technical support team looking for the predictable piece to fix an Internet malfunction, the human body is far  less predictable. The acupuncturist must look deep at individual constitutional patterns to develop proper and effective treatment. This takes time, a detailed history, and oftentimes ongoing treatment. Acupuncture works well alongside western medical treatments as it can offer great relief for side effects (as in Chemo Therapy) and without adverse reactions. It is also very beneficial for health maintenance (much like exercise), boosting the immune system, and can be used on a seasonal basis as preventative medicine once uncomfortable symptoms have resolved. Many people find that acupuncture is very relaxing, promoting an almost meditative state, an added bonus. 

To find out more how acupuncture can help you maintain or acheive your wellness goals, please contact me.