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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.
As a licensed acupuncturist, and blogger on the subject, I probably should have publicly answered this question some time ago. It has recently come to my attention that while many people enjoy the profound benefits of acupuncture in blissful ignorance of its how’s and why’s, there is another camp with rising curiosity on what it all means. As my Danish host-mother always used to say in reference to my consistently belated holiday cards: “Bedre sent end aldrig!” (Better late than never).
Fitness guru Patricia Moreno has authored her first book, in response to her revolutionary work-out program developed to align the body, mind and spirit. A long-time student of Patricia’s, I have experienced first-hand the immense benefits to her system: a stronger body, a clearer mind, a more precise focus and increased confidence. While retraining thought patterns from negative to positive and strengthening core muscles, her guidance offers lasting results. The strong dance influence and positive affirmation make her program fun- the best part of all. The Intensati method provides a complete work-out, and has my enthusiastic endorsement.
As a practitioner of mind-body medicine, I understand the importance of addressing this connection in all areas of our lives. All to often is exercise seen as a “burden” or “cumbersome” – a necessary evil in life. Rather, movement is the foundation of life, and should cultivate gratitude, positivity and spiritual growth along with physical changes. The Intensati Method does this, beautifully. Not only transforming our bodies, but also our thoughts. Contrary to yoga, which is another form of exercise I often recommend, Patricia’s routines provide additional cardio training without harsh impact (such as running), an important health aspect for many individuals.
Check the Intensati website for class times. If you are unable to attend a class with her personally, she has trained a whole team of inspiring instructors who offer Intensati classes across the United States. With the release of her new book (in stores now!) and work-out DVD’s, anyone can practice this revolutionary program anywhere.
If you are ready to change your relationship to exercise, to yourself and the world around you, check out the important tips from Patricia Moreno. Her knowledge, experience, and magnetism will inspire you to truly “live a life you love, in a body you love.”
A Winter Wonderland From My Home in Minnesota
Dad & Me Toasting the Season with a Holiday Sambuca
The Newlyweds! My Sister Kelsey & her Husband Jason
Mom & Me: Ready for our Traditional Potato Soup Christmas Eve Dinner
Grandpa Jo & Grandma Cheryl Celebrating with Chocolate
Our NYC Apartment Tree 2009
Cookies: A Christmas Favorite
Jason & I Warming Up Inside on a Snowy Day
A gift from our good friend Justin
In good health,
Erin
It is official, winter has begun in New York City. With a snowstorm leaving several inches of white powder on the city streets this morning, it reminds me of the wonder of this sometimes chilling season. Growing up in Minnesota, snow and cold temperature are no news to me. But still, the first snowfall of the year leaves me feeling full of awe and wonder…it is a magical experience.
Winter, Water, Kidneys & You
In Chinese medicine, winter applies to the Water Element in 5-element theory. Although it comes in the form of snow and ice, water is truly an abundant part of the winter landscape. When transcribed to the human body, the kidneys and urinary bladder are responsible for water metabolism (both energetically and physically) and are a pivotal part of the Water element. Yin and Yang are interdependent forces prevalent in all aspects of life, but winter is rooted in a strong sense of yin. In this regard, yin can be understood through the cool and still nature of the season. A teacher of mine once explained the water element as the bottom bedrock on the ocean floor – the deep, dark, solid root of something so powerful and majestic. I like to translate this metaphor to the body, with representation to the powerful root to within each of us – our individual potential.
Aside from the physiologic function we know from Western medicine, the kidneys represent our root essence (genetic makeup) and the urinary bladder has relevance to the nervous system. Memory, brain function, reproductive function, bone growth, and systemic development are also important aspects of kidney energy in the body. The emotion of fear or fright is ascribed to the Water element, and is often a relative factor in someone with constitutional tendencies toward this element. The winter is a perfect time to strengthen and nourish these energetic organs.
Nourishing the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder
Nature gives us the tools we need for nourishing the ascribed element and organ systems, and the number one way to do this in the winter months is to hibernate. Rest, warmth, sleep. This is the time to slow down, and nature forces us to do that with the gifts of cold and snow. The weather change literally forces us to move inward – into our homes, into the warmth, into ourselves. It is a time for introspection, meditation, and conservation of resources.
During winter, the land is frozen and there is no growth or harvest. That which is leftover from the fall becomes nourishment for the winter. Canned vegetables, sauced apples, gourds, squashes and meats for hearty stews are important for building the root aspect in ourselves. There are plenty of herbs and teas for nourishing the kidneys during this time, and depending on individual constitution will depend on the formula focus. Even if you are feeling healthy, the beginning of winter can be a great to time for visiting your acupuncturist to help guide your body into the energetics of the season and promote tonification.
Enjoy the beautiful season of winter. Take a moment to listen to the quietude outside and reflect into the depths of yourself. Use the space provided to cultivate that which satisfies and nourishes you, regenerating the resources necessary for the coming spring and summer.
It is a mother’s worst nightmare and a huge set-back for adults. But the reality is, bones can break at any age – even strong ones. From a wrong step on uneven road to a high-impact sports injury, the severity of the break can only be determined through proper medical attention and X Ray. Although one never plans for such an event, it is good to know your options to promote the most optimum healing.
Trauma
Depending on the location and severity of the break, it may be difficult to determine if the area is sprained, fractured or actually broken with the naked eye. The first thing to do is elevate it, stabilize it, and get in for an X Ray to know the damage. There are various levels of breakage and degrees of separation of the bones. The image above is of a broken fibula (my current case – see more below), which occurred during a late-night ice hockey game. As you can see, the bone broke all the way through, but did not shift laterally leaving it in perfect alignment. The swelling that immediately took place is the bodies natural response to hold the bone and ankle joint in place.
With swelling always comes the risk for stagnation, a term in Chinese medicine referring quite literally to obstructed free-flow. Stagnation is not only detectable by visual swelling, but also by the severity of pain. It is safe to assume that the more pain there is with swelling, the more stagnation there is. Although some level of swelling – or stagnation – is good because it is the bodies natural way to stabilize the bone, we want to be sure that proper nourishment can flow to the trauma and that nothing gets trapped in the area as it heals. Unattended stagnation can lead to further pain down the road, reduced mobility, or area weakness. As the trauma heals, acupuncture and herbs can help circulate the area – allowing debris and toxins to to move away and nourishment to move in.
The first thing to do is distal acupuncture and application of the herbal liniment San Huang San. This will reduce any unnecessary heat or inflammation trapped at the site and promote healthy circulation. Because of its cooling effect, it should not be used for more than 24 hour post-trauma. The same goes for ice. (I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it…) but the main cause of stagnation in trauma-healing is the over application of ice. Ice constricts blood flow in the area and decreases circulation. It can cause debris and blood to congeal, and although it may provide temporary relief of the pain it may also cause more problems later on in the area. Remember to follow your own doctors advice and intuition, but also keep this in mind next time and see for yourself. Perhaps you will notice the increased mobility and strength of the injured area once it has healed after leaving the ice bag in the freezer during rehabilitation.
Bone Mending
Bone mending will occur on its own through the bodies innate healing potential. The first thing before bone mending takes place (whether naturally or with assistance of acupuncture and herbs) is to be sure the bones are properly aligned. If not, this will cause the bones to mend askew and may require setting or surgery. The X Ray above has perfect bone alignment for mending to begin, it was a lucky break (har har).
Acupuncture and herbal medicine can help promote healing and bone-mending in accordance with your body’s natural ability. Herbal medicine is a great first-line of defense when mobility is a problem and getting to an acupuncturist is not feasible. My colleague, Frank Butler, is a renowned orthopedic acupuncturist and has developed a whole line of herbal trauma medicine. These powerful pills come in easy-to-use chewable pills and recommended at various stages in healing. Like most Chinese Herbs, they aren’t the easiest flavor to swallow, patients will attest that eventually you “just get used to it.” Check out his whole list of Zheng Gui Tui Na products here.
Once you feel able to get in to your acupuncturists office, they can help tremendously to facilitate appropriate healing. Depending on the phase of healing will depend on the treatment. There is a common misconception that acupuncture is best when there is no more trauma and the patient feels better. Internal medicine and trauma treatment alike, acupuncture and herbs are most effective when used in conjunction with Western medical therapy and when begun right away. In the case of traumatic injury, repetitive and regular acupuncture is best. This will ensure the proper healing of the area now- it is a lot more difficult to undue improper healing later. Treatment every day in the acute phase is ideal if feasible, with a reduction in frequency as the healing process continues.
The Case
In the case above, the injury is a week old, and we have begun acupuncture surrounding the break site, combined with electrical stimulation. This is easy to do thanks to the removable cast used in modern trauma treatment (as opposed to the plaster ones of my childhood). The electrical stimulation mimics the current in the body as bone fibers begin to mend. This helps facilitate the process so that stabilization of the area can be achieved quicker. Other techniques include distal point prescription and opposite extremity therapy. I am performing acupuncture on the area daily, and the patient is taking the “Bone Knitting” internal herbs mentioned above (Zheng Gu Tui Na). Currently, the level of break is visible in the X Ray above and the exterior condition is as follows:
We shall see how he responds in the long run. Ultimately, his doctors expect the injury to take at least 6 weeks before significant improvement, and about 6-months to 1 year until completely back to hockey-playing strength. With the acupuncture and herbal treatment, we hope there will be no future implications from the trama. I will keep you posted as the healing process continues.
Please note that the patient being discussed has given permission to do so in this format, and all indentifying information is being kept confidential in accordance with HIPPA.
Knee and other joint pain is a common complaint for many people. The symptom itself can come from a variety of reasons, including inflammation, injury, arthritis, bone spurs, tendinitis, among others. Knowing the appropriate western diagnosis can help to increase the efficacy of alternative therapies like acupuncture. From a Chinese medicine perspective we can determine the appropriate pattern disharmony and affected meridians based on the nature and location of particular pain. Western medical diagnosis can give insight as to internal patterns of disharmony, adding another layer of specificity. After the jump are some ways that acupuncture and herbal medicine can be of help when rehabilitating from joint pain, and also some things you can try at home.
I must admit, that duck was one meat that I never remembered experiencing as a kid. I fed them bread crumbs at the pond near our house, but never considered them an edible animal like the turkeys or chickens that adorned our dinner table on a weekly basis. In fact, I can distinctly remember my first experience eating duck at the delicious Peking Duck Special at a traditional restaurant Beijing on Thanksgiving in 2001. Appropriate, we thought, to at least be eating a bird on that very traditional holiday. If you have never tried Peking Duck, with its hoisin sauce and delicate rice pancakes, it is truly a treat worth experiencing. Travelling through China and studying Traditional Chinese Medicine opened my eyes to the unique flavors and health benefits of duck meat.
Depending on your location will depend on the availability (and price) of duck meat. Most specialty food stores will carry some form of packaged duck breasts, but beware that they can be pricey for the amount you get. New York is famous for its exportation of whole Long Island Ducks, which are large and last for several savory meals. It does have a slightly gamey taste and can get tough if over-cooked, although I find it quite delicious. Its versatile flavor can be a perfect compliment to many meals.
According to traditional Chinese Dietary Medicine, Duck meat is neutral in temperature and is therefore suitable for many constitutional types. It heavily nourishes the yin of the body, and regulates water metabolism by simultaneously nourishing the lungs, spleen and kidneys. Such symptoms as edema, excessive thirst or profuse sweating may be reduced by adding some duck meat to the diet. As we enter the winter season, hearty meats like duck and lamb can deeply nourish, warm and rejuvenate the body.
Some of my favorite ways to eat duck:
Roasted
By far the easiest way is to buy a whole duck, cover it with garlic and spices, stuff it with potatoes and shallots and roast it in the oven for a couple of hours. The skin will get nice and crispy and the meat perfectly tender. Serve it up with some fresh vegetables and you’ve got a gourmet meal.
Soup
Once the whole duck has been generously carved, a perfect way to utilize the nutrients left is to boil it up as soup. Throw the entire carcass into a pot of boiling salt-water to make a delicious duck broth. Add vegetables and spices of your choice. The left-0ver meat should fall easily off the bone adding extra protein to a very nourishing and delicious soup. Below is a duck stew that my colleague Grace and I made as a pre-Thanksgiving meal. We used turnips, carrots, yams, potatoes, shallots and squash which made for a delightfully sweet broth.
Duck Broth
Duck pizza? I said the same when I first saw it on the menu at Pairings - a lovely wine bistro in Minnetonka, Minnesota. But, let me tell you, this one is worth trying to re-create at home (or just stopping by if you are in the neighborhood). Goat Cheese, roasted duck breast, tart cherries, butternut squash and piles of arugula adorned a thin-crust pizza dough toasted with an olive-oil glaze. Amazing!
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the menstrual cycle is regarded as a major foundation for health and diagnosis in female patients. Pathology in the body – be it emotional or physical imbalance – will often reflect itself in a woman’s cycle. With this concept, a woman’s cycle plays a pivotal role in her health care, allowing practitioners to accurately diagnose and treat their patients, and empowering women to understand their body’s signals. Although all of the energetic organ systems play a role in a woman’s cycle, the liver qi is said to have the most specific role (and can therefore most often be the culprit when discomforts arise).
A balanced menstrual cycle is a harmonious flow of energy between yin and yang, at the most fundamental level. Imbalances of this cycle can manifest as symptoms like: fatigue, pain, breast tenderness, excessive or diminished appetite, nausea, bloating, mood swings, irritability , and water retention. For tips on how to naturally alleviate some common PMS complaints, check here. Other gynecological manifestations that can occur include endometriosis, PCOS, amenorrhea, infertility, uterine fibroid, adenomyosis, and irregular menstruation.
Although menstrual discomforts often arise a few days prior to or during a woman’s period, the root imbalance can be occurring anywhere in the cycle. The nature of the complaint and a detailed understanding of a woman’s cycle are the best ways to get a clear idea of the “first domino” causing the problem. Once a woman understands her cycle, she simultaneously understands her fertility and can therefore easily prevent or promote pregnancy. The following is a brief guideline of what is physiologically happening during the various phases of the menstrual cycle, from both western and eastern medicine perspectives. Continue reading 'Your Menstrual Cycle – Broken Down'»
Meet O, a very happy baby who benefits regularly from Chinese Medicine dietary advice and also happens to be one of my past doula-births. Just as Chinese Medicine benefits fertility treatments and pregnancy health, it can offer safe and natural relief for common childhood complaints. Acupuncture has a long history of pediatric medicine, and is a powerful adjunct therapy for patients who are trying to avoid taking additional medications or who are already receiving maximum medical treatment. Additionally, acupuncture works as preventative medicine and can help strengthen the developing immune system at any age.
The majority of healthy infants and children require nothing more than a loving mother and family to attend to their needs. However, even the most cared for children can develop uncomfortable symptoms. Some conditions may be helped by environmental or dietary advice, also an important part of childhood development. Acupuncture, massage and pediatric herbal formulas can help alleviate a variety of common complaints – offering less suffering for the child and peace of mind for the parent. Best of all, these therapies are completely natural, safe and have no side effects.
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