A Quick Anti-Inflammatory Remedy for our Canine Friends
A Quick Anti-Inflammatory Remedy for our Canine Friends It is Winter Time! Winter is a time for us to gather together, drink warming teas, meditate and self-reflect. And it’s also a good time for warming spices – ginger, turmeric, and orange peel. This remedy below can be used in teas, soups, broths or whatever dish you wish to add flavor to. This combination is not only intensely flavorful, but healing to the body as well. Lucy came into the office today saying that she had a skin allergy and that she was looking for a natural solution. She had a rash on her face with itching and a tummy ache. Lucky for her, her Mom was already making a paste of ground turmeric, ginger, and orange peel. These three spices are anti-inflammatory and healing for the gut and the skin. This is super simple to make and you can make it at home if you have a grater and a knife! First, cut the ginger and the turmeric to expose the fresh stem. Then, grate the ginger and the turmeric. You can remove the peel if you wish, but I have found over the years that you don’t need to b/c the peel mostly comes off on its own while grating (some pieces will get in, but it’s okay). To grate the orange, gently roll the orange across the grater while grating it. This allows the peel to be finely grated without making contact with the pith, which makes everything bitter. Combine everything with a spoon and place into a sealed glass jar. Refrigerate or use immediately. Can be used in teas, a flavoring for food, or it can be used topically for the skin or achy joints. Just be careful with your sheets or furniture as turmeric stains are very difficult to get out! For giving to your canine friends, put 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of the mixture into a soft treat you can mold with your hands, I like Pill Buddy Naturals. Gently bring the seams up to seal the mixture well. Okay, Lucy, your herbal medicine is ready! Open your mouth and chew. Success! After three days on this remedy, Lucy said she felt much better. Her appetite returned and her tummy stopped aching. She stopped scratching her face and her nose constantly. The remedy made her sneeze a little bit from the ginger juice, but that lasted for a couple of minutes and went away after she sipped some water. This is a great remedy for your canine and human friends. It is safe and well-tolerated, as long as the orange peel is finely grated. This can be used for arthritis, allergies, colds / flus, or tummy aches. Enjoy, Emily Edmonds, L.Ac. Tao to Wellness 809 Hearst Ave Berkeley, CA 94710 510-883-0838
Turn on the Turmeric
Turn on the Turmeric Healthy Turmeric Smoothie, Turn on the Turmeric! I recall many years of patients telling me about their first signs of joint pain, it always seemed to be in the finger joints and usually the pointer or middle finger, a soreness or a feeling of stiffness. Well, I suppose my time has come. I’ve been having some finger joint soreness lately so I’m turning on the turmeric! I’ve been doing this morning ritual along with some extra fish oil before bed at night and it’s already helping! Turmeric is such a strong herb (anti-inflammatory and great for your liver) and strong tasting, but luckily chocolate pretty much hides the taste completely but keeps a yummy underlying kick! YUM! An interesting side note: In Chinese medicine, we call this herb “Yu Jin” and have a slightly bit of a different take on it. It’s great for pain (anti-inflammatory), menstrual cramps, for all aspects of the liver, for bleeding like nosebleeds, it can be emotionally calming and helps with jaundice and gall stones. From the Chinese Medicine Classic Text: Moves Qi and Blood, Relieves Pain Especially for pain do to Qi and Blood Stasis including hypochondriac pain, irregular menses, masses (especially in abdomen and hypochondriac region), traumatic injuries, and dysmenorrhea. Also for liver cirrhosis, enlarged liver and spleen Clear Heat and Cool Blood For bleeding due to Heat in the Blood including epistaxis, hematemesis, hematuria, and epistaxis during menses Clear the Heart, Open Orifices For Shen disturbances associated with Damp, Phlegm and Heat in the Heart with symptoms like disorientation, epilepsy, mania, anxiety, agitation, seizures, and derangement Treats Jaundice, Benefits the Gallbladder Treats Damp-Heat jaundice and gall stones INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon fresh turmeric or 1/2 teaspoon of powdered, although fresh is better! 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder 1 tablespoon of raw cacao nibs (for antioxidants and a little crunch) ½ a zucchini (skin on or off) 1 cup spinach 1/2 banana ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 scoop of protein powder 2–3 cups water, coconut or almond milk Blend in a Vitamix or another equivalent and you are good to go! If you don’t feel sold just yet, here is a list of some of it’s super duper powerful benefits! https://www.healthbeckon.com/turmeric-benefits/ In Health, Christina Martin, L.Ac. Tao to Wellness Berkeley, CA Healthy Turmeric Smoothie, Turn on the Turmeric!
The NYT says, “Sleep is the new status symbol.”
The NYT says, “Sleep is the new status symbol.” “Sleep today is a measure of success, a skill to be cultivated and nourished.” -says Tim Robinson in a new article in The New York Times. This is New York City, no more late nights? No more drinking until 5am? No more late night greasy burgers after a show? No, sleep is where it’s at, it’s the new status symbol and I LOVE IT! I’ve always been serious about my sleep– in Chinese medicine it is believed that sleep is the one of the main ways to regenerate the Qi of the body and 8 hours the correct amount. Think of it like your daily checking account, let’s say you start out with a 100 units, you spend 30 exercising, 50 at work, 20 at play, you’ll need to regenerate and put more units in for tomorrow– that’s where sleep comes in. ESPECIALLY like some of us who spend 30 exercising, 80 at work, 80 at play, you know who you are! Without sleep over a number of days you face potential damage to your adrenals, to brain chemistry, joint health, hormone regulation, aging inside and out, etc. Keep in mind, we aren’t just referring to those insomniacs who don’t sleep at all, damage also occurs for people that sleep only 4-6 hours a night, there is a deficit overtime which is a huge contributor to all the ailments above. A few things that can assist your sleep: A great mattress and the right pillows! I’ve been coined the pillow queen and I don’t mind it one bit. Positioning– back and side sleepers require different pillows heights, so be sure you have the right pillow! I’ve told my patients over the years, if you are a side sleeper, be sure your nose and the top of your shoulder is in a 90 degree angle. Stomach sleeping is pretty much a no-no, since it wreaks havoc on the neck… No screens, I know so many people that fall asleep with the TV on, first of all, you shouldn’t have a TV in your bedroom at all, but if you do the blue light spectrum can cause sleep disturbances or an inability to go deep. Cell phones on airplane mode! When you keep your cell phone on and since most of us use it as an alarm clock, we tend to have it close… consider that that phone is looking for a tower to connect to all night long (insert Lionel Ritchie hit, “All Night Long”). So please airplane mode it, we still don’t know the long term harm that cell phones can do. If you absolutely must have it on for emergencies, keep it 10 feet away from you. Having some real issues? Maybe a little melatonin can help? Melatonin is something your body already makes, so you are not adding a foreign substance to your flesh and bones. You can try 3mg or go up to as high as 10mg with time release. A simple upgrade to your ritual! Dark and quiet– get some black out shades or a cute little snooze kit, complete with blind fold and ear plugs. Take a hot bath before bed to relax your muscles and mind. Magnesium– especially if you have some restless legs! Magnesium is a necessary mineral for 300 systems in the body. Take some before bed, it can help you relax deeper during sleep, helps tight muscles and also constipation, just don’t take too much or your stools may be a little loose in the morning. If all else fails, acupuncture and a custom herbal formula (custom, made by an herbalist, not off the shelf) is guaranteed for improving the quality of your sleep. Let us know if we can help! Here’s the article from the New York Times including a few sleep programs and new Apps, even one called “Dreaming with Jeff”, yes, it’s Jeff Bridges! Here’s to California Dreaming… Christina Martin
Boost your health with Turmeric: Herbal Powerhouse! (Berkeley Acupuncture)
Boost your health with Turmeric: Herbal Powerhouse! Eastern cultural traditions, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, have valued turmeric for its medicinal properties and warm, peppery flavor for more than 5,000 years. Curcumin — the pigment that gives turmeric its yellow-orange color — is the active ingredient behind many of the emerging health benefits. Research shows that turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and antioxidant properties. Inflammation, if left untreated, can become a chronic health issue. And unlike aspirin or ibuprofen, turmeric’s curcumin reduces inflammation naturally, without damaging the liver or kidneys. I began using Turmeric after a suffering a shoulder injury several years ago. My Doctor wanted to give me a cortisone shot to reduce inflammation, but I wouldn’t hear of it. Turmeric continually popped up in my research of natural remedies, so I decided to give it a go. It did indeed help. My Doctor later told me that I was the only patient he’s seen that healed without the use of cortisone or surgery. I love cooking with Turmeric and use it in a variety of ways. Some of my favorites ways to incorporate it are to scramble it my eggs, add it to smoothies, soups, chicken dishes and sauteed vegetables. It is versatile, subtle and can be added to any meal without shifting the flavor. India has long revered turmeric as “holy powder,” and has used it for centuries to treat wounds, infections, and other health problems. Modern research is now confirming many of its folklore claims, finding an astonishing array of antioxidant, anti-cancer, antibiotic, antiviral and other properties. For more information about the amazing health benefits of Turmeric… With Love, Amanda Self Amanda Self wears a variety of hats at Tao To Wellness. From Social Media to Medical Billing, she strives to bring healing light to all of her endeavors. Amanda is a Reiki Master, a jeweler and is currently studying Herbalism, both in the classroom and out in the fields.
