Lian Qiao / Forsythia Fructus

Forsythia is recognized for its ability to clear toxic heat from the body – be it a sore throat accompanied by fever and chills or chronic skin eruptions, acne, or dermatitis. These hot, swollen and inflamed pathogens are precisely what Lian Qiao can quell.

In Chinese medicine, we refer to such afflictions as “contraction of wind-heat” which literally translates to a quick manifestation of something red, hot, painful, swollen or all of the above. The nature of heat-diseases in this case are ones that show up quickly and severe. Possible manifestations could include common cold, strep throat or something more severe like meningitis. Lian Qiao can also be used when long-term heat disorders build up in the body and lead to chronic, more toxic inflammation. Possible manifestations of this include cystic acne, boils, or chronic sore throat.

Contagion had it correct, as the precise nature of the virus in the film caused sore throat, difficulty swallowing, headache, fever and chills. Forsythia could have been the perfect cure – but maybe not alone…

Friends of Forsythia

In Chinese Herbal Medicine, herbs are most commonly utilized in formula combinations. Friends often paired with Forsythia include Lonicera, Arctii Fructus and Fresh Mint – all of which amplify the action of cooling heat toxicity and venting it from the body. Translate this to Western Medicine, and you could call this team anti-viral. While formulas are often created for the presenting individual, a quick and common patent remedy called Yin Qiao San can be used to address the symptoms described earlier and is a good one to have at home in the medicine cabinet:

Yin Qiao San

For Fever, with or without chills, Sore Throat, Headache, and Thirst.

Ingredients: Lian Qiao (Forsythia), Jin Yin Hua (Lonicera), Jie Geng (Platycodi), Niu Bang Zi (Arctii Fructus), Bo He (Menthae Herba), Dan Dou Chi (Sojae Semen), Jing Jie (Schizonepetae), Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatheri), Lu Gen (Phragmitis), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae)

What It Is

It starts with a mushroom, called “Scoby.” Techinically speaking, scoby isn’t a mushroom at all because it cannot grow spores or “fruit,” but it is commonly referred to as such. Rather, the kombucha “mushroom” is a yeast culture and correctly named S.C.O.B.Y (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). Sounds yum, right? No need to cringe, the bacteria contained in products brewed by scoby are the good guys – just like in yogurt, kefir, sourkraut or miso. Actually, kombuha is a great way to restore the gut with healthy bacteria in a dairy-free diet.

As you can see in the photo above the scoby culture looks like a round disc, that can vary in shades from cream to brown, and it will take on the shape of whatever container it is being brewed in (therefore it tends to be circular). It lives on sugar and caffeine, which will fuel the brewing process and propel the scoby to multiply quite rapidly. The more scoby cultures in a batch will yield a more concentrated kombucha flavor. At some point in the process, new spawns will need to be separated and discarded – or, better yet, given to a friend to begin their kombucha brewing journey. Don’t know anyone with a scoby culture? Starter kits are sold here OR here.

Why It is GOOD For You!

While your countertop can look a little like a science experiment, I assure you – the results will please your palate and your tummy. The digestive enzymes contained in Kombucha help the healthy bacteria in the gut, thus promoting proper nutritional absorption from the food we eat. According to Chinese medicine, the digestive system is the hub of systemic health, and views beverages like Kombucha as a real tonic. Here are just a few of the extraordinary benefits from including this beverage into your diet:

• Contains glucoronic acid, a natural detoxifier normally found in the liver, which helps support the immune system, remove metabolic waste and environmental toxins from the blood.
• Contains lactic acid, which increases oxygenation to blood cells thus improving energy and combating fatigue.
• Supports beneficial bacteria in the gut, intestinal health and nutritional absorption.
• Can help individuals heal from food sensitivities and allergies
• Can help heal intestinal dysfunction (chrone’s disease, IBS, celiac)
• Contains acetic and usnic acids which are anti-biotic and anti-microbial and actually prevent growth of harmful bacteria in the system.
• Contains malic acid, which prevents muscle fatigue.

If you are like me and interested in learning more about the fascinating world of fermentation, this site will help you learn all the ins and outs of why and how to ferment almost anything!

HOW TO BREW

Once you have attained a culture, brewing is easy:

1) Bring 3 Quarts of Water to a Boil

2) Remove from heat and add 4 organic tea bags, or loose-leaf equivalent. Steep for 15 min, then remove tea bags. (Be sure to use caffeinated teas – black, mate, green or white for the majority of bags and may add a little of your favorite herbal teas – nettles, red raspberry, rooibos, etc)

3) Add 1 cup organic sugar to warm water & tea, stir to dissolve

4) Once liquid has cooled to room-temperature (several hours), pour over the scoby inside a pitcher large enough to hold all of the liquid.

5) Cover the opening of the pitcher/jar with a clean paper towel, fastened with a rubber band.

6) Allow fresh kombucha to brew for about 1 week on the countertop. Begin to taste it after 5 days and stop brewing when desired flavor is acheived.

7) Strain the finished brewed liquid into a separate large bottle/pitcher, store in the refrigerator. Leave 2 cups of the liquid in with the scoby to keep it alive. Store scoby and liquid in a smaller container with a paper towel over it until ready to brew again. Scoby will stay alive for many weeks and even months without a new feeding.

Over the past decade the soybean has been heavily marketed in this country for its healthy effects and as a  low-fat, high protein substitute for dairy and meat products. But recent research is saying that there may in fact be a real case to support “too much of a good thing.” With breast cancer, obesity, thyroid and autoimmune disorders on the rise – some scientists are seeing a relation to these health problems (and more) in connection with excessive soy consumption.

Simultaneously, other reputable experts in the field of health and wellness continue to zealously proclaim the wonderful benefits of soy. What is a consumer to do? Patients are always asking my opinion – to consume or not consume soy – and my reaction is always the same (except on rare occasion): everything in moderation. But that statement doesn’t really answer any questions. So, in this post, I’ve compiled my research and quoted reputable sources for both pros and cons in the soy debate so you, the consumer, can help make an informed and empowered decision for yourself.

The China Study

While I have heard endless recommendations for the book, The China Study (and plan to read it one day), this section is referring to another “China Study” – my own. During my year-long clinical rotation at Zhejiang Hospital in Hangzhou nearly ten years ago, I chose to eat vegetarian. Whether that choice was right or wrong for my health at the time is neither here nor there, but I did create a unique relationship with soy foods in the land from which they came.

Soy is a staple in the diet of vegetarians and carnivores alike across Asian cultures as an inexpensive, healthy and sustainable food. It is not surprising that when low rates of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer were also found amongst this population that the primary differentiating factor was attributed to soy consumption. Somehow, lost in translation, that meant that if everyone the world over consumed more soy we would be healthier and live longer.

How they prepare soy in Chinese supermarkets is so vastly different than here. I remember walking up to the soy counter, much like the deli or dairy counters here, and ordering whatever form of fresh soy I wanted. There was a variety to choose from – from skins to beans to paste to freshly squeezed soy milk. All items were served in small portions, were local and almost always fermented.

Fermented vs. Non-Fermented Soy

Soybeans, like all other beans, contain the anti-nutrient phytic acid, which binds to important minerals in the body and leeches them out. To neutralize this component, and thus elevating the nutritious aspect to soy products, soaking or fermenting the beans must be part of the preparation. Miso, Soysauce  and Tempeh are common forms of fermented soy products that are easily found in our supermarkets. Most tofu and other overly-processed soy products like soy-cheeses, most soy-milks, soy ice-creams, soy burgers and soy “meats” are not fermented products (and are overly processed with non-food ingredients to boot).

In summary, consuming a fermented soy product will decrease toxic effects and increase nutrient absorption…and, in my humble opinion, taste better. If you buy fresh, dry soybeans, be sure to soak them first (see link to recipe below).

The Cons: Genetically Modified and Over-Processed

There is much evidence to support the ill effects of over-processed foods on health and vitality. The anti-soy campaign is more linked to the inappropriate, over-processed and genetically modified soybean vs. an actual attack on the bean itself. The soybean, much like corn, in this country is extremely inexpensive to produce and therefore often over-produced, genetically modified and processed in a way that makes it a common preservative or filler added to many packaged products. In short, you may be consuming a lot more soy (and poor forms of it) than you think you are in  packaged products. Investigate the foods you eat, read labels of packaged foods if you eat them or feed them to your family on a regular basis.

The Weston A Price foundation has done a significant amount of research on the topic, and have published a slue of informative articles. While many in opposition of the Guild’s strong anti-soy stance may read into their articles as radical, they are essentially saying the same thing as the rest of us. Eat whole foods. Eat organic, eat local and (in this case) eat fermented. Check out some of their literature here.

The Pros: Dr. Hyman Presents the Facts

Dr. Hyman, a well-known medical doctor in the field of Functional Medicine, recently published a fascinating read on the Huffington Post about the myths and truths revolving around including soy in the diet. He argues that the research showing that soy is connected to a rise in thyroid disorders and breast cancer is only in cases of excessive consumption of overly-processed soy products. A further case for prudent label-reading. He further continues that when consumed in minimal amounts, and in organic and fermented forms, that soybeans can be included as part of an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer diet and provide a number of other healthy benefits like: stabilizing blood sugar, promoting hormone balance, mitigating menopausal symptoms and lowering cholesterol.

My Take From a TCM Perspective

I believe in the whole-food way, and since my nutritional education stems from an East Asian approach to foods, soy is most certainly a medicinal food when prepared correctly. For example, we use fermented black soybeans in Chinese herbal formulas and soups to alleviate high fever, vent colds in children and quell emotional irritability.

If you have a chronic health condition or a history of a chronic condition in your family, do not consume processed soy or simply avoid it all together. There is no real health claim to soy that you cannot find in other foods. If you enjoy soy and choose to incorporate it in your diet – do so sparingly, as part of a diet rich in other proteins and consume it with the appropriate preparation. If you can, buy whole and dried soybeans and prepare them yourself by soaking them overnight. You can follow my easy recipe for that here.

Was this helpful? Please comment with more questions or info on the soy debate!

A recent article by Dr. Mark Hyman on the Huffington Post completely caught my attention – so much so, that I felt compelled to share it with you here on my blog. The article discusses the faultiness in current cancer treatments, and the need to change tactics. While this area is not a particular specialty of mine per-say, the trends in modern medicine are finding evidential proof that we must treat the whole person, not simply their pathology, to have greater success in ‘curing’ disease. This solution is being coined “functional medicine.” From a purely philosophical standpoint, one could argue (and I most certainly would) that Chinese medicine is synonymous with functional medicine in many ways. From a modern medical standpoint, however, this idea is revolutionary.

To read the full article on HuffPo, click here.

After the jump, read my brief synopsis and commentary.

Functional Medicine

I recently attended a functional medicine seminar on female hormone health, which touched on diet, supplements, herbs and stress management as main components on impacting hormonal health. Acupuncture could be lumped into that mix as well, and is in my practice, but wasn’t the main topic of discussion at this particular conference. The beauty of functional medicine is that it is just that – functional. Not isolated or specialized. It takes particular knowledge of patho-physiology to treat disease, but it takes particular knowledge of systemic function to treat the individual person. People like Dr. Hyman are pioneers in bridging that gap in the current health care system.

Sometimes it takes a particular diagnosis to effect lasting lifestyle change in personal health and well being. But it doesn’t have to. Functional medicine begins with preventative medicine, and it begins with tending your unique garden.

Tending The Garden

Dr. Hyman illuminates that a tumor in and of itself does not appear from nowhere. Hippocrates argued the same thing centuries earlier about the appearance of disease seeming sudden, when in fact it was forming for any length of time. The tumor, as Dr. Hyman suggest, appears within the soil of the unique individual human landscape – much like a weed appears in a beautifully groomed garden.

The weed, now grown tall and standing out like a sore thumb, seems to have come from nowhere. But it came from somewhere, and has been growing roots for some time. We can pull the weed, getting all the roots and fragments attached to it – ridding the garden of its presence for good,  making it perfect again. For now, anyway. The original seed came from somewhere, and it was able to flourish on the perfectly manicured lawn for some reason – neither of which have been even considered or addressed in the uprooting of the weed. The foundation of the garden has been unchanged.

We may get lucky, and the weed will never grow back again. Or, the opposite may be true. A good clinician (or patient, for that matter) is not about to leave therapeutic treatment up to luck, however. Therefore, “tending the garden” is one response to restoring health and vitality from the foundation up. How to tend the garden of your body? Dr. Hyman suggests, and rightly so, beginning with the gut – proper nutrition, absorption, and elimination of food, drink and toxins. That is the hub of our organism and cannot be overlooked in modern health care. Nutrition comes from the cellular level, and has many complex components far beyond calorie counting and healthy diets. Other areas to consider are lymph function, cardiovascular, adrenal, psychological and endocrine. While pharmaceuticals can offer life-saving benefits in treatment protocols, functional medicine supposes that lifestyle factors impact healing just as much and cannot be overlooked.

What You Can Do

Many medical doctors are being trained in Functional Medicine, and incorporating it into their practices. So keep an eye out for that. Your holistic practitioners are most likely also working in this sphere in some capacity. Nutrition, supplements, stress management, exercise, and psychological/emotional health all play important roles in healing – just as diagnostic testing and appropriate medical treatment. When in doubt or seeking further advice, ask questions – to your providers, your friends, your family. Your health care begins with the choices you make, including choosing your providers. Dr. Mark Hyman is also the author of several books on dietary cleansing and detoxification, which I highly recommend checking out and passing along.

This year has been a tough one for allergy sufferers in NYC, as environmental allergens have been at an all time high. If you are suffering with chronic seasonal allergies, acupuncture and herbs have some wonderful solutions for your symptoms – without the nasty side effects. While many over-the-counter allergy medications can help people through the muck so they can get through their day, there are often side-effects of nasal dryness and low energy that have their own set of downsides. After the jump, see what Chinese medicine has to offer and what you can do at home to optimize your enjoyment this (and every) season.

Immune Boost

Studies have shown acupuncture to not only have a stress-relieving effect on the body, but also boost the immune system. Allergy symptoms, especially adult-onset seasonal allergies, result from a delicate balance of external irritants and internal deficiencies. This is good news! Because the ragweed causing your sneezing fits probably isn’t going to disappear from the planet anytime soon, the stronger the immune system the less likely such an irritant will have its power over you.

Besides acupuncture, some other ways you can boost your immune system at home:

• Increase your daily Vitamin C intake to 1 gram/1,000mg per day for its immune boosting and histamine-lowering effects.
• Increase antioxidant rich foods, which will reduce existing toxicity and inflammation in the system. Such foods include: all berries (especially blueberries), pomegranates, plums, pineapple, kale, peppers, ginger, red beets, dried apricots, dried dates, prunes, nuts and seeds (especially dry-roasted peanuts), and parsley.
• Take a high-quality multi-vitamin/mineral supplement daily to boost cellular nutrition
• Take Fish Oil high in DHA daily to clear inflammation and support health

Drain Phlegm

That ooey-gooey stuff running from your nose, clogging your thoughts and creating all that sinus pressure is phlegm. It is the bodies reaction to the inflammation its experiencing as a result of an allergen – believe it or not, it is trying to help. But with all that inflammation and now with all that phlegm, a vicious cycle is created which must be stopped. Lucky for us again (our health is in our power!), we can have great impact on reducing systemic phlegm and inflammation through some simple remedies:

• Herbal Supplement – tailored for individual constitutions, this is the best and fastest way to quelling inflammation and draining phlegm. Best of all, it will often improve energy and promote restful sleep so you actually feel better all around.
• Acupuncture – local acupuncture points can be life-changing for draining the sinuses, clearing congestion, reducing headache and improving energy. Combine this with your Chinese herbal formula and you’ll be in good shape.
• Avoid Dairy and Soy Dairy Products – they cause more phlegm! If you already have too much stuck in your head, avoid these products during the allergy seasons or when your symptoms are at their worst.
• Avoid Refined Sugar and Flour – for the same reasons as dairy products, plus refined flours and sugars also add a great deal of inflammation to the body – that other factor we are trying to get rid of.
• Drink plenty of water. Phlegm is not created from too much water in the system, but is often a result of the body fearing dehydration – so drink up!
• Netty Pot – a simple device used for centuries in India to effectively clean out the sinus cavities. It looks like a teapot, which is then filled with water and rinsed through the sinuses. Instructions and product information are available at local health stores or online.

Guard Yourself

Be mindful during allergy seasons of reducing exposure to anything that may trigger a potential reaction (even if it is not a typical “allergen” for you). If you anticipate suffering from allergies year to year, implement some of these tips and start a treatment plan before you feel the symptoms – it will set you up for the best season yet!

• Keep windows closed on days when allergy counts are particularly high
• Avoid using products with strong scents and harsh chemicals, which produce inflammation and can magnify allergic responses (cleaning products, shampoos, body washes, laundry soap, perfumes, cologne, air fresheners)
• Although they look great – keep fresh cut flowers out of the house during allergy seasons. If you need their calming effect, try the colorful fake ones and bring the fresh ones back once you are feeling better.

Various aspects of life and industry have begun to adopt a Slow Movement policy to yield sustainable quality and equitable results. The principle foundation of “Slow” is to counter the “hurry up!” mentality of modern society and help bring awareness back to the present moment. Fast food, fast life, non-sustainable farming and the eroding of local economies fueled the urge to slow down. This type of awareness cultivates individual, community and global sustainability. It allows us to make conscious decisions about our actions, and reminds us that basic human needs are actually not all that many nor do they require abundant momentum. After the jump, find out the most popular of these movements and how to apply the concept to your health.

Slow Movements

One of the first (and the most popular) slow movements was first developed by Carlo Petrini in 1986, in a response to the globalization of fast food chains (such as the infamous ‘Golden Arches,’ which he and his followers protested in Rome armed with bowls of Penne Pasta). The goal of the movement-now-turned-organization was to preserve local and traditional cuisines and promote the farming of plants and seeds and livestock in agreement with local ecosystems. Since its inception, Slow Food chapters have popped up all over the world – from Slow Food International, Slow Food USA and as local as Slow Food NYC.

Sound familiar? In protest of the big-bad-food-industry providing citizens with less-than adequate nutritional and actual “food” within produce and meat distribution around the country – lobbies have popped up all over the place and movies such as “Super Size Me” and “Food Inc” are making an effort to educate the masses about the corruption behind what they find on their grocery store shelves.

But I digress…

Many other dimensions of “Slow” have developed over the years, including Slow Money, Slow Travel, Slow Parenting and the one I’m more recently introduced to: Slow Fashion – a response to the disposable clothing produced by high-end designers. Slow fashion supports local communities, aims to provide fashionable clothing items that will outlast more than one season, affordable prices and even learning to sew your own. Burdastyle, co-founded by Nora Abousteit, is an online community for experienced and novice people who sew to share patterns, designs and ideas. If you ever had an interest in cultivate this side of your creative self, definitely check it out.

Slow Health

Slowing down, in general, can help in staying healthy. Adopting certain slow practices like eating local, organic, fresh and home-prepared food will yield a healthier body. But I propose an attitude for slow-ness in health and healing above and beyond already established movements. I often have patients walk into my office hoping for immediate relief from their aches and pains, discomforts, weight loss goals or what have you. To yield sustainable results, healing can take time and can’t be rushed. In many cases, it is the constant hurry that has us not feeling our best in the first place. Especially in a place like Manhattan, where the energy frequency is amped up way beyond sustainability, our bodies need the space and time to heal and unwind.

This theory, of course, is not applicable to all areas of health and healing. Acute injury, trauma or emergency situations require immediate attention – stat. Stress, chronic illness and the myriad of unhealthy states we find ourselves in (such as obesity, which can lead to so many other serious illnesses), can be softened with enough time, attention, patience and appropriate treatments. Physiological processes like childbirth is another area that thrives when allowed to move at its own pace, which from a standardized modern medical model means to slow down.

Slow Medicine

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine theory supposes that dis-ease or illness arises over a period of time, and therefore will take time to set right again. While there may be a pill out there to alleviate a symptom quite quickly, for example, it may not solve the problem. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs work to slowly ease your symptoms by rectifying the root problem – essentially a Slow Medicine – yielding lasting results. Slow can equate with powerful, remarkable changes.

In addition to re-balancing the body from the root cause, Chinese medical theory assumes its position on health before symptoms or discomfort have actually surfaced. Preventative medicine is the most sustainable way to keep yourself healthy, and the  majority of preventative techniques are within your own power. Diet, Lifestyle, Exercise, Sleep and Stress Management are key factors in staying healthy and preventing disease.

]]> http://www.esemahealingarts.com/feed/ 0 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/07/vitamin-d/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/07/vitamin-d/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:41:09 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=1202

It is by far the most-talked about vitamin this year – with growing research proving that a Vitamin D deficiency can cause not only calcium deficiency (which can lead to osteoporosis), but other serious illnesses and hormone imbalances. So why all the fuss now? A study done in 2007 found a whopping 50% of women of childbearing age significantly deficient in Vitamin D and other research demonstrates a connection between cancer-survivors and adequate Vitamin D. Many of my patients have begun taking a separate Vitamin D supplement, as directed by their doctor, and those that aren’t are asking questions about what this mysterious vitamin is, how much we need, and how to know if we are getting enough.

De-Mystifying Your D

Vitamin D is a unique nutrient, which is actually considered a hormone rather than a vitamin, and therefore plays many important roles in the body. The most famous is its function to facilitate proper calcium absorption, thus promoting healthy bone mineralization and preventing osteoporosis. However, recent studies have shown that sufficient Vitamin D also plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy immune system, nervous system and endocrine system, while also preventing serious illnesses like cancer, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A deficiency may also be contributing to a couples inability to get pregnant, or other disruptions of hormone balance.

How Much Is Enough?

The only way to know if your body is struggling without enough Vitamin D, is to get your levels checked at your doctor’s office. Through a simple blood test, they can see the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD – aka “Vitamin D”) in your blood, which should be no less than 15 ng/mL (and ideally at 40 ng/mL). Based on your individual assessment, your health care provider can help you find the best plan to increase your Vitamin D levels to prevent illness and keep your body functioning at its best.

How to with Supplement Additional Vitamin D

The best way to get Vitamin D is through exposure to sunlight (see below), but there are some ways to incorporate the nutrient into your diet. However, the few foods that actually contain Vitamin D, do so in minimal amounts, making it especially difficult to maintain healthy levels without supplementation. Here is a list of foods with Vitamin D that you can play with:

• Salmon (especially wild-caught)
• Mackerel (especially wild-caught)
• Tuna Canned in Water
• Sardines Canned in Oil
• Milk (fortified with vitamin D)
• Egg Yolks
• Beef or Calf Liver
• Some Fortified Cereals

The appropriate dosage of a Vitamin D supplement is a controversial one. Research and medical doctors are safely using anywhere from 1,000 IU (international units) to 10,000 IU in adults. Dr. Andrew Weil and the Vitamin D Council are two reputable sources that agree on a 2,000 IU dose  (above and beyond a normal multi-vitamin, which commonly have between 200-600 IU) as safe for most adults between the ages of 15-70, and to increase that number if the individual has little to no sun exposure. The quality and the type of supplement you are taking also make a difference (ie: Vitamin D3 is most similar to that which we get from the sun, as opposed to D2), so it is important to discuss with your doctor and get a good recommendation.

The good news is you can’t over-produce Vitamin D from sun exposure or diet,  but careless supplementation can lead to toxicity in some cases. Vitamin D toxicity can present as fatigue, constipation, dizziness or heart palpitations. Medical professionals agree that while it is important not to have “too much of a good thing,” supplementing with Vitamin D is difficult to reach toxic levels. The amount of Vitamin D your body naturally produces after an hour of sun-exposure can reach levels of 15,000-25,000 IU, so there is little to be concerned about when supplementing with 1,000-2,000 IU per day. The best way to avoid toxicity is to get your nutrient levels checked to see if there is a need first.

Let The Sun-Shine On

It is true, that the sun is the most natural and potent way to get your fix of Vitamin D – at a much higher level than we can consume nutritionally. Best of all, you absolutely cannot overdose on Vitamin D this way. Your body knows exactly how and what from the ultraviolet rays to absorb through the skin to produce your nutritional quota. Of course, we all know the damage too much sun-exposure can cause separate and aside, so it is important to take certain precautions.

• Vitamin D absorbs best without sun screen, so don’t be afraid to sit out unprotected for 10 minutes each day before applying spf 15 or 30 lotion (note: always apply spf to your face, and be mindful if this recommendation is not a healthy choice for you, and use other ways to get Vitamin D)
• Adequate Vitamin D absorption may take longer in people with darker skin tones (up to an hour, say several sources), so these individuals may want to consider supplementing with another form of Vitamin D to prevent prolonged unprotected sun exposure.
• If you have fair skin, or a history of skin cancer, avoid unprotected sun exposure and get any Vitamin D needed from a supplement or dietary nutrition (plus some Vitamin D will absorb through sunscreens, just at a slower rate).
• Vitamin synthesizes slower through the skin as we age, so it is important to continually keep up on checking your nutritional levels. And don’t forget about seasonal changes! Research has shown that people living below the latitude of Los Angeles year-round are least likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency. So if you are a local New Yorker (like me), or other Northern Hemisphere resident, be mindful as that summer sun starts to set and your clothing becomes all that much thicker. You may need to adjust your Vitamin D intake in the winter.

Sun Safety

In the hot summer sun this year, it is important to protect your skin from the harmful sun rays if you are spending any length of time outside. Sunscreen is the best way to do this. It is recommended to either saturate your skin with an spf spray or use 2-3 Tbsp of lotion at a time, and to reapply every 2 hours or after swimming. Consumer reports listed the following as the best  and most effective sunscreens on the market right now:

• Up & Up Sport Continuous (Target),
• Walgreens Sport Continuous
• Banana Boat Sport Performance Continuous
• Aveeno Continuous Protection.

“Doctor, I have an earache…”

2000 BC  ~  “Here, eat this root.”

1000 AD  ~  “That root is heathen; say this prayer”

1850 AD  ~  “That prayer is superstition, drink this potion”

1940 AD  ~  “That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill.”

1985 AD  ~  “That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic.”

2000 AD  ~  “That antibiotic is artificial – here, eat this root!”

~author, unknown

Going around full circle, I wanted to share this  enlightening, humorous and fun short poem sent to me by one of my patients.  A lot of today’s movements are going back to the beginning for useful advice on health, medicine, nutrition and body care. As we become more conscious of the impact our decisions have on our health and the planet – organic, “green” and natural are coming back into fashion. Food is another great example, as we move out of the grocery shelves (while less money up-front and quick in preparation) and back to the farmers market (what you’ll save in health care bills far compensates the cost up-front, and promotes sustainable agriculture for farms just like our ancestors).

The same is true for acupuncture, herbs and other complimentary medicine practices – which may seem like a luxury, but are actually more like insurance. We are a clinical practice, focused on the medical needs of our patients through detailed health history discussions and sending them home after treatment with, well, roots (like the ginseng root pictured above). While there is no question that modern technology has given us incredible tools, stepping back – in some cases – is more like taking a step forward.

Some of my favorite resources for stepping back and staying modern:

Gorgeously Green – Do it yourself (and from the garden!) skin and beauty-care products

Suncoat Cosmetics – Formaldehyde, Toluene & Phthaletes Free (aka: Toxin-Free) Nail Polish

Sara Snow – Advice on Green Living for all areas of your life, from the family of Eden Organics

Erba Organics – Organic & natural body products for baby and mom

Healthy Bitch Daily – On the front-lines of hip and healthy, this daily email will keep you in the know

“In Defense of Food” - One of many wonderful books on healthy eating by Michael Pollan

]]> http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/06/a-brief-history-of-medicine/feed/ 0 http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/04/my-city-garden/ http://www.erinhessel.com/2010/04/my-city-garden/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:25:30 +0000 Erin http://www.erinhessel.com/?p=633 As an a herbalist, I love plants – primarily studying and utilizing them for nutritional and healing purposes – but they are also beautiful to look at and liven up the room. They are truly inspiring and we have a lot to learn from their nature and individual properties. Having said that, I sheepishly admit that I am not very good at growingplants. I attribute this mostly to the fact that my studies have kept me moving around the globe for the better part of the past ten years, without time to properly incubate new botanical life. But the reality is that I am used to working with plants during their harvesting and consumption phase – not the sprouting and growing periods. I need practice. 

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!

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

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