julieheals

 

"The wound is the place where the Light enters you." --Rumi

ACUPUNTURE BASICS

Here's an interview I did for a local show called Organic Living-- hope you enjoy!

 

AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE

Auricular (ear) acupuncture is a system of acupuncture that uses the stimulation of points on the ear to promote health and wellness. The ear is a microsystem of the body, which means that it represents the greater body as a whole. As you can see in the image above, each body part or area has a corresponding location on the ear. As each point is stimulated with an acupuncture needle, the qi of that organ or area can be affected.  Sometimes we use magnets, seeds, or tacks instead of needles--these are wonderful in that they can stay on for several days, allowing the results to last longer.

Auricular acupuncture is terrific in treating aches and pains, stress, anxiety, and can help break addictions. It is also extremely helpful for sleep disturbances, gynecological concerns, fertility, and weight loss. Often I use auricular points along with a full body treatment, but they certainly can be a stand-alone treatment. Auricular acupuncture is quite effective--you should discuss it with your acupuncturist!

IMMUNE BOOST

 

It's that time of year again--sore throats, coughs, runny noses. I love the idea of a 'health soup" to make regularly throughout the season. There are so many delicious, nutritious soups, and I make a wide variety of them. I saw this Health Soup in the New York Times cooking section, and I love how rich and substantial it is, and how the shitake mushrooms give a really nice immune boost.

I'm also a big fan of elderberry, and use a bunch of different syrups and products. My children especially love this one: Effer-C by Now. It helps fight the pathogens and keeps our immune systems strong.

 

"It does not matter whether medicine is old or new, so long as it brings about a cure. It matters not whether theories be Eastern or Western, so long as they prove to be true." ~Dr. Jen Hsou Lin, DVM, PhD

 

The quotation above is from one of my favorite mugs (thanks, Evergreen herbs!).  Inspiration can find you in interesting places, even while sipping tea from an old mug. And I love the simplicity of this quote: to just do what works.  

YEAR OF THE FIRE MONKEY

This Chinese New Year is the year of the Fire Monkey--one that brings, passion, creativity and joy. Monkeys are adventurous, dynamic and natural born leaders. Because of these traits, this is promising to be an exciting year ahead. Here are a few things you can do to ensure a prosperous and healthy year:

Folklore says that there are some lucky foods to include in your New Year celebration:

• Pineapple -- for luck
• Apple, mango, and oranges -- for  prosperity
• Pomelo -- for longevity
• Lemon -- to remove negativity
• Papaya -- for good health 

Feng Shui can increase your prosperity and abundance:

• Declutter your workspace, getting rid of old files and completing unfinished tasks
• Monkey charms can bring good fortune
• Clean out your home of old belongings, as to make space for new and wonderful things to come

You can also wear new clothes, of bright happy colors.  This will increase your good fortune. Loud joyous music and firecrackers can drive away evil spirits. This coming year is destined to be an exciting one--I wish you all peace, joy, abundance, and health for this coming year!

 

AND DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE….

As this new years begins we can breathe in health, wellness, and abundance, and let go of what doesn't serve us anymore. Yoga, meditation, acupuncture can all help us to breathe a little better. With full inhalations we can spread Qi to all of our organs to ensure healthy movement of qi. It is grounding and centering to take a good deep breathe. And really, who would't benefit from that!

SUMM-AHHHHH TIME!

 

Summer time is here and the living is easy! More time outside in the sunshine is good for the body and the spirit, but can also deplete your body's fluids (the yin, in Chinese medicine). Here are a few easy eating tips to help nourish the yin and enjoy a happy hydrated summer:

 

Lemonade. Lemons are a natural astringent and will help your body hold on to its fluids. There's a reason why this is a summer classic. 

Cucumbers are cooling in nature. Try adding a few to your water for a subtle flavored water. 

Watermelon is 90% water and full of lycopene, which is an amazing antioxidant. And it's also pretty delicious!

Tomato season is in full force right now! We are having fun growing tomatoes on our roof deck. My girls are learning where their food comes from, and also how delicious it tastes when freshly picked. Tomatoes are also full of lycopene, lutein, and vitamin c. 

Lettuces are also growing beautifully now. Choose dark leafy green for more nutrition. Lettuces have calcium, vitamins and minerals. This is a great time to prepare a big salad with all of your farmers market bounty. 

 

If you're feeling crafty, try this delicious cucumber lemonade from Smitten Kitchen: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2014/09/cucumber-lemonade/

So good and will definitely help you keep your summer cool!

WHAT THE FLU?!?!

The past few weeks have not been so fun in my house--a mix of coughs, fevers, boogies, fatigue, and sore throats. Both kids and grown-ups have been knocked out by the season's germs. Hopefully you've avoided the flu monster so far, but in case you should encounter it, arm yourself with these remedies to help you get better quickly.

Gan Mao Ling is a traditional Chinese formula used to treat early stages of colds and flu. When taken at the first sign of symptoms, it can alleviate sore throats, nasal congestion, cough, and headaches. It can also be used for upper respiratory infections and mild brochitis. 

Elderberry syrup has amazing immune support properties. It is antiviral, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, antioxiant, and anti-infammatory.  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that patients with infulenza recovered 4 days quicker if they took elderberry syrup. In our house we take it daily as preventive and many times per day if sick. It tastes delicious so even the little kids can take it.

Of course, staying hydrated is key. Hot water with lemon and honey and chicken soup are both consumed by the vat in our house. Saline for nasal congestion is extremely helpful for the little ones. And rest rest rest! Sleep is restorative time, so give yourself plenty of it.

APPLE ALMOND TART

 

I'm not much of a baker. I prefer the creativity and lack of precision of cooking. And being gluten-free usually means that desserts are less than delicious. However, today I decided to try something new. It is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Apples and honey symbolize the wish for a sweet new year. It is also the beginning of fall, and with that comes the fall harvest. Apples were my inspiration for this seasonal tart.

This recipe is fairly easy to execute, and absolutely delicious to eat. My 3 year old and gluten loving husband can attest to this. I must admit, I cheated with a store bought gluten-free tart shell. But the results are amazing-- not too sweet, a little crunch, and overall it's just delicious. Try it!

 

APPLE TART WITH ALMOND TOPPING (GLUTEN-FREE)

by Martha Rose Shulman, New York Times, November 11, 2013

 

3 large apples, preferably Braeburn or Fuji, peeled, cored, and cut in 1/2 inch dice (500 grams diced cored apples)

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice or lime juice

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1/4 cup turbinado sugar, also known as sugar in the raw (50 grams)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 cup egg whites (60 grams)

2 tablespoons sugar, preferably organic white or brown sugar (30 grams)

1/2 cup slivered almonds (50 grams)

1 9-inch gluten free dessert pastry (or other pastry of your choice), fully baked

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss the apples with the lemon juice in a medium bowl. Line a sheet pan with parchment.

2. Heat a large frying pan over high heat and add the butter. Wait until it stops foaming and is becoming light brown, and add the diced apples, turbinado sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread the apples in a layer and cook without moving them for a couple of minutes, then turn the heat to medium-high and sauté, moving the apples around in the pan, until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Scrape out onto the lined sheet pan and allow to cool completely.

3. Spread the cooled apples evenly over the pre-baked tart shell.

4. Make the almond topping. Beat the egg whites lightly in a bowl, just until slightly foamy. Whisk in the sugar and stir in the almonds. Spread evenly over the apples.

5. Place the tart on a sheet pan and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the crust and topping are golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

 

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Recipes for Health: Apple Tart With Almond Topping in a Gluten-Free Shell