The days of the old, broken,
hot (or cold depending on the day), loud and rattling office are over! We gave PLENTY of notice and have finally moved out!
Sorry to those of you who liked the old office. It wasn't horrible, but we needed something much better, more conducive to our needs, a bit bigger, and with a reliable airconditioner.
Michael Tullius and I have been working hard on creating a great healing environment for our valued clients and
ourselves. It has taken a few weeks and a LOT of overtime, but we have built the walls, insulated them, and tidied up the
place; we're now ready to dive in and focus on what we love - helping our clients. Special thanks to Kirk Meuth for all
his incredibly valuable help.
Please give us a call if you are in need of acupuncture, herbs, detox, help with
addiction, nutritional counseling, or massage. If you're looking for another modality, just give us a call. There are
many different methods of healing, and we know some great practitioners to refer you to.
(As a side note, if you
need to know which locations not to rent in Westlake, we can help you with
that too.)
Also, check out my new web site. Updated and ready for you to peruse, I now have the capability to keep the information on the site interesting and relevant
with constant updates. Please take notice that I've changed my prices. There is no longer a higher initial consultation
fee, and all treatments are $65 (unless you receive a discount). I've added some useful links as well as some fun links
(more to come soon). Please check it out. It's a whole new look and will now stay current.
One more new thing...please update the phone number that you have for me to 512.797.9495
The Appeal of Food: Part 2 A Foods Look Might Resemble its Benefits
In part 1, I outlined some of the interesting similarities between the way a food looks and it's properties. This time we'll
look into a few more examples of how this interesting 'coincidence' shows itself.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function, and, yes, they look exactly
like the human kidneys. Two of the many important jobs of the kidneys are maintaining fluid balance and detoxification. The
kidneys collect fluids to be excreted and then dump them into the bladder after absorbing what they need. Beans, in general,
have a diuretic action which is cleansing to the body and the blood. Edema can be caused by kidney deficiency; therefore,
beans help to reduce edema and swelling. In Detoxification, the kidneys help detoxify the blood and the body in general. Molybdenum
is a trace mineral that is found in the kidney bean and is an important mineral in some Phase I detoxification processes.
Our bodies' detox enzymes are enabled by our levels of certain minerals.
Kidney beans contain the folate, riboflavin,
and thiamin that are good for brain health. Kidney function and brain function are related in Chinese medicine as the walnut
section of the last newsletter mentioned. Kidney beans are also high in Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc and Copper.
Celery, bok choy, rhubarb, and a few other vegetables look just like bones. These foods
specifically target bone strength. Celery, in particular, contains a good amount of natural sodium and potassium. If you don't
have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs
of the body.
Celery is high in silicon which helps renew not only bones but joints, arteries, and all connective
tissues. Celery is beneficial for high blood pressure, is safe during pregnancy, and is especially helpful with a history
of pre-eclampsia.
Avocadoes, eggplant, and pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix
of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it
balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and helps to prevent cervical cancers. Just like the gestation time for a
human baby, it takes exactly nine months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit.
During the Aztec Empire,
the avocado was revered for its healing and incredibly nourishing qualities. Aztecs also considered the avocado the "fertility
fruit", and it was a common practice for all virgin daughters to be locked up during the havesting of the fruit.
Avocados do have some saturated fat, but they are not fattening. Instead, exactly the opposite is true. Avocados are rich
in medium chain fatty acids which actually promote metabolism. They also contain high amounts of mono-unsaturated fats such
as oleic acid which makes them a great anti-oxidant while protecting against heart disease, strokes, and cancer. There is
some evidence that this great fruit can also lower cholesterol. If you buy organic avocados, the peel can be used to expel
parasites.
Pureed, avocados make great nourishment for sick and weak kids as well as nursing mothers. The fruit
is rich in vitamins B6 and E which are great for stress and fertility, they are a great source of copper which aids in red
blood cell formation, and they are a natural source of lecithin - a brain food. Avocados are usually great for those who crave
oils or fats but don't digest them that well. In Chinese medicine, avocados build the blood and yin.
The pulp
can be used topically for wounds and skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema helping to relieve itching and flaking. An
abundance of plant sterols (steroids) in the avocado help heal sun damage and scars. The oil keeps our skin healthy and young
looking because it is a potent producer of collagen.
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and help to balance the bood sugar of diabetics.
Research by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has shown that sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index which means
that the carbohydrates are released slowly into the blood stream and cause no spike in blood sugar (as opposed to high glycemic
index foods).
The sweet potato is a good source for vitamins A, C and B6 as well as great sources of fiber, potassium
and iron.
Other great benefits include improving night blindness, increasing milk quantity in lactating women,
and overcoming dry and inflamed conditions in the body.
Sources: Pitchford, P. (2002). Healing with Whole
Foods: Asian Taditions and Modern Nutrition. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0887/is_n1_v16/ai_19094812 http://www.googobits.com/articles/p3-1213-not-your-average-snack-reach-for-the-health-benefits-of-grapes-when-hunger-hits.html
Quinoa with Mango & Curried Yogurt Great Tasting (slightly modified) Dish from Epicurious.com
Ingredients:
1/3 cup organic plain yogurt 1
tablespoon fresh lime juice 2 teaspoons curry powder 1 teaspoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
3/4 teaspoon seasalt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons coconut
oil or ghee 1 1/3 cups quinoa (7 1/2 oz)* 1 lb firm-ripe mango, peeled,
pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks (2 cups) 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch
dice 1 fresh jalapeño chile, seeded (if desired for less heat) and minced 1/3 cup
chopped fresh mint 1/2 cup cashews (2 1/2 oz), chopped/crushed
Directions:
Whisk together yogurt, lime juice, curry powder, ginger, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking
until combined.
Rinse quinoa in a bowl using 5 changes of water, rubbing grains and letting them settle before pouring
off water (if quinoa does not settle, drain in a large sieve after each rinsing).
Cook quinoa in a 4- to 5-quart pot of boiling salted water 10 minutes. Drain in a large
sieve and rinse under cold running water.
Set sieve with quinoa over a saucepan containing 1 1/2 inches boiling water
(sieve should not touch water) and steam quinoa, covered with a kitchen towel and lid, until fluffy and dry, 10 to 12 minutes.
Toss quinoa with curried yogurt and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Serve warm or at room temperature.
horrible, but we needed something much better, more conducive to our needs, a bit bigger, and with a reliable airconditioner.
