Quinoa Salad with Radicchio, Chicken and Pine Nuts

A nutrient-dense, filling winter salad, quinoa combines with faintly bitter radicchio, chicken and salty feta cheese. Read more at nourishedkitchen.com:

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked quinoa, chilled
• 1 small head radicchio, chopped
• 1 cup cooked chicken, cut in bit-sized pieces
• ½ cup cubed feta cheese
• 1 small red onion, chopped fine
• 2 tbsp pine nuts
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• Olive oil and vinegar dressing, to serve

1. Toss cooked quinoa, chopped radicchio, cooked chicken, cubed feta cheese, chopped red onion, pine nuts and parsley together until all ingredients are well distributed.
2. Dress the salad with olive oil and red wine vinegar

YIELD: Serves 4

TIME: 5 minutes

Study: Acupuncture Lessens Depression Symptoms During Pregnancy

A great alternative for pregnant women who feel depressed. A Stanford study shows that acupuncture lessens depression symptoms:

Acupuncture appears to be an effective way to reduce depression symptoms during pregnancy, according to a first-of-its-kind study from Stanford University School of Medicine researchers.

The study authors, led by Rachel Manbar, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, said they hope the results will raise awareness of the problem of depression during pregnancy and provide patients and physicians an alternative to antidepressants. “This standardized acupuncture protocol could be a viable treatment option for depression during pregnancy,” they wrote in a paper that appears in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology... Read More

Study: Acupuncture May Change the Way the Brain Perceives Pain

Check out this Time Magazine article on recent research showing how acupuncture works:

The idea of pricking your body with needles in order to relieve pain seems nothing if not counterintuitive, but thousands of acupuncture patients swear the treatments are effective in addressing pain of all kinds.

But how does it work? How much of the relief is due to the placebo effect — the mere perception that the needles are actually dulling pain — as opposed to a real biological change in the way nerves signal the brain to pain? ... Read more

Foods for Fertility

Looking to get pregnant with the next year? Start now to boost your fertility with nutritious foods. This article is great! Foods For Fertility: Read more at: nourishedkitchen.com

Treating Seasonal Depression with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Clinically referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the winter blues can weigh you down during the dark months of the year. An estimated ten million Americans (two-thirds of them women) suffer every year. Symptoms include depression, irritability, headaches, fatigue and lethargy, increased appetite, carbohydrate cravings, difficulty concentrating, and decreased libido.

In the Western world, it is thought that because people have less exposure to sunlight, they experience a decrease in melatonin levels in the brain. Genetics, hormones, stress and other factors may dictate how one is affected by SAD. Western medicine practitioners often to turn to light therapy, and, in some cases, antidepressants to alleviate symptoms. The Traditional Chinese Medicine approach explains this SAD as the result of a yin-yang imbalance. While yin, the feminine energy, relates to nourishment, it is also associated with cold and darkness. Yang, by contrast, is the male energy, associated with heat and light. Around this time of year, it is natural to feel an increase in yin-related tendencies such as isolation and sadness.

As the coldness of Fall and Winter months profoundly challenge our core energy, it is not surprising that many of us find ourselves craving quick-fix, high-calorie energy sources. This extra energy can be stored as fat in order to help keep the body warm. We use a lot of energy in Winter fending off the cold, which can make us feel drained, and we may notice ourselves become more emotionally and physically sensitive to our own surroundings. Stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep many of us are too familiar with due to hectic schedules (not to mention drafty apartments and overzealous radiators) further deplete energy, leading to both a depressed immunity and mood.

While a few individuals may require psychotherapy or medication, there are many other ways to treat SAD. Make sure you have proper nourishment and rest as well as a comfortable living environment.

• Stock your kitchen with vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables (try dark leafy greens and baked root vegetables) as well as "warming" foods like whole grains, nuts and seaweed to use in soups and other hearty dishes.

• Give yourself time, space to rest and to be reflective, a natural inclination we experience in the winter months.
  

• Make sure your thermostat (if you have one) is set to a comfortable temperature. Invest in a space heater or humidifier if necessary.
  

• Try to go to bed early and wake up early.
  

• Work by a window if possible, in order to get some direct sunlight.

• Moderate exercise can also boost one's mood. Stretching, yoga, and tai chi can do wonders to boost the immunity. It is important to stay active without overstraining the mind or body.
  

• Acupuncture, especially when combined with heat therapy and yang-fortifying (or "warming") herbs can be very effective in treating SAD symptoms. It helps guide the body back to balance and regulate the neurological and endocrine systems. Marie and I can prescribe the herbs that will best complete your personal treatment.

Taking these simple steps can help you stay well all winter. A strong mind and body are your best bet for braving the elements.

Adapted from Qi Mail

Creating a Calm Mind Workshop

Creating a Calm Mind: Holistic Workshop to Reduce Anxiety Using Acupuncture, Yoga & Talk Therapy

Dear all, As a follow up to the stress reduction workshops I led in May, I am pleased to announce that this fall, I am again teaming up with mind-body psychotherapist, Susan Lambert, and Iyengar-influenced yoga instructor, Robin Simmonds, to offer a collaborative workshop aimed at helping us develop tools to reduce anxiety. As New Yorkers, we are accustomed to high levels of anxiety-provoking stimulus around usat all times. And as the holidays approach, for many of us, these levels can sometimes go through the roof. Whether it's anticipating or dealing with family stress, coordinating holiday plans, balancing work life and home life, or worrying about our health or the health of our loved ones, sometimes our concerns and worries can get the best of us. But we do not have to let our feelings of anxiety overcome us. This workshop employs a mind-body approach to help us identify the root of our anxieties and come up with creative and healthy ways to release ourselves from these, at times, all-encompassing and debilitating feelings. We will explore ways to handle anxiety both in the intensity of the moment as well as how to incorporate tools into our daily lives to help us reduce generalized anxiety and develop a calmer mind. This unique workshop will rely on the combined strengths of three modalities: acupuncture, yoga and psychotherapy to offer energetic, psycho-emotional, and physical inlets to addressing our response to anxiety-provoking stressors. This workshop is well suited for those who have always wanted to try one or more of these healing modalities, to deepen their experience in any one of them, or discover the powerful effect of these therapies when brought together in unison. And please feel free to pass this along to friends and family who may benefit from this workshop. Warmly, Sharon

Saturday, December 11th, 2010 1:00-4:00pm Pine Tree Spa: 101 W17th Street (and 6th Ave), 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10011 Fee: $60 (payable in check or cash) Contact: info@fiveseasonshealing.com, 917-538-5755 Limited number of spaces. Reserve today. No prior experience in yoga required. Please wear clothing you can move in.

Three Foods to Support Thyroid Function

Here are some foods to support healthy thyroid function:

Seaweed - Iodine is an essential element that assists the thyroid in producing thyroid hormone. By increasing iodine intake, patients have seen an increase in the production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The best natural source of iodine is kelp, bladderwrack and other seaweeds.

Coconut Oil - Virgin coconut oil is praised by health experts for its ability to lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. It is made up largely of medium chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are known to speed metabolism, promote weight loss, and raise basal body temperatures.

Brazil nuts and walnuts – These nuts contain high amounts of selenium. Many hypothyroid patients have been found to have deficiencies in this trace mineral.

More Thyroid Tips: Track Your Basal Body Temp

How to Monitor Your Basal Body Temperature

Blood tests may not be sensitive enough to detect milder forms of hypo- thyroidism. Monitoring your body's basal (resting) temperature is often used to identify a thyroid hormone deficiency.

Here is how to track your basal temperature accurately:

1. Get a Basal Body Thermometer and place it where you can reach it without getting out of bed.

2. In the morning, before you get out of bed, take your temperature.


3. Keep a record of your temperature for at least ten days. (Women should do this during the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle, as their basal temperature may rise during the latter half.)

Normal basal body temperatures fall between 96° F and 98° F. If your basal temperature is consistently low in that range, you could be mildly hypothyroid.

Thyroid Issues

Thyroid issues have become very prevalent in my practice. Many of my patients suffer from mildly low functioning or elevated thyroid levels. The next few posts will explore Thyroid issues and some lifestyle tips to help. First, we begin with what the Thyroid is...

What is the Thyroid?

The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that sits in the front of the neck. It is responsible for energy, metabolism, hormone regulation, body weight and blood calcium levels. When functioning properly, the thyroid gland secretes just the right amount of thyroid hormone to regulate almost all the metabolic processes in your body.

Too much or too little of these vital body chemicals and it can drastically influence energy levels, body weight and your mental health. With over 20 million Americans living with some form of thyroid disease, much attention has been given to the many ways that acupuncture and Oriental medicine can treat thyroid problems.

Thyroid disorders stem from either an overproduction (hyperthyroidism) or underproduction (hypothyroidism) of thyroid hormones. When your thyroid is not functioning properly, your body can experience a variety of symptoms:

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism:

• Weight loss despite increased appetite
• Increased heart rate, heart palpitations, higher blood pressure, nervousness, and excessive perspiration
• More frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhea
• Muscle weakness, trembling hands
• Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck)
• Lighter or shorter menstrual periods

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism:

• Lethargy, slower mental processes or depression
• Reduced heart rate
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Tingling or numbness in the hands
• Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck)
• Constipation, heavy menstrual periods or dry skin and hair

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by your doctor, who tests the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. Hormones secreted by the thyroid are measured, as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical released by the pituitary gland that triggers hormone production in the thyroid. Some milder forms of hypothyroidism can also be detected by a consistently low basal body temperature.

Source: Qi Mail

Ginger Tea

Freshly made ginger tea is delicious and healing. It's wonderfully soothing on a cold day and it's very healing for digestive discomfort, nausea, morning sickness, menstrual cramps, and common cold. Ginger tea bags are just not the same as the freshly made tea!

Traditional Recipe for Ginger Tea

• 4-6 thin slices of organic fresh ginger (each slice should be about the size of a quarter coin)
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups of filtered water

Bring the water and ginger to a boil and reduce heat to simmer for 10-20 minutes (20 minutes will yield a stronger ginger tea). Strain the tea and enjoy. You can add honey or lemon to taste. If this is too gingery, add more hot water to dilute.

No-Simmer Ginger Tea Recipe

• 1 teaspoon of grated organic fresh ginger
• 1 cup of boiling water

Simply add the boiling water to a mug with the teaspoon of grated ginger. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. You can strain or simply drink with the pieces of ginger. You can add honey or lemon to taste. If this is too gingery, add more hot water to dilute.

Herb Teas to Soothe Menstrual Cramps

Sip herbal tea to soothe menstrual cramps

Chamomile, fennel, ginger, and red raspberry leaf are delicious herbal teas that specifically support menstruation and ease cramps. Drink three cups a day of these warming teas to help you feel better.

Painful menstrual period cramps can be a nuisance for some and debilitating for others. Painful menstruation, in fact, is the leading cause of lost time from work or school for females in their teens and early 20s, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). There are, of course, pharmaceutical options for relief. Women who want a more natural remedy, however, have several herbal options:

Peppermint

Peppermint's calming and numbing effect makes it useful for treating menstrual cramps as well as headaches, diarrhea and GI issues. These same qualities may make it useful for treating the irritable bowel syndrome symptoms that sometimes accompany menstrual cramps. Peppermint can be taken as tea, with 1 tsp. loose leaves or a tea bag steeped in 1 cup hot water for about 10 minutes. You can drink four to five cups of this tea daily. Peppermint also comes in capsules that can be taken up to three times a day.

Ginger

Ginger alleviates menstrual cramps because it has six pain-relieving compounds as well as six anti-cramping compounds. Ginger frequently is used to treat inflammation. Fresh ginger root can be used to make tea or premade tea bags are available. Steep 2 tbsp. ginger root in hot water for at least 10 minutes to make a tea, which can be consumed up to three times daily.

More Natural Solutions to Soothe Menstrual Cramps

Load up on foods rich in magnesium.

Magnesium relaxes muscles and decreases cramping which helps reduce menstrual pain. There’s nothing quite as comforting as a bowl of warm chicken soup! Bone broths are an excellent source of magnesium (as well as calcium and other minerals).

Other great sources of magnesium include halibut, legumes and seeds such as navy beans and sunflower seeds, almonds, dark leafy greens, apples, figs, grapefruit, corn and whole grains.

These remedies are really helpful to ease discomfort. For even more relief, I suggest experiencing the healing powers of Chinese Medicine. Studies support the use of the TCM approach for treating menstrual pain. With regular acupuncture and herbal treatments, Chinese Medicine can effectively get you out of the monthly cycle of pain for good. Call today for an appointment!

Natural Solutions to Soothe Menstrual Cramps

If you suffer from menstrual cramps, here are some remedies to bring relief during your period:

1. Apply heat

This is the most effective remedy for most women. Use a hot water bottle or heating pad on your belly for 20-30 minutes as needed to alleviate cramps.

A hot bath is another great way to use heat to ease menstrual pain. Add in some bath salts, essential oils, and light some candles for extra pampering.

2. Stay away from cold iced foods two days before and during your period.

My patients are often surprised by how much better they feel with this simple shift in their diet. Traditional Chinese Medicine generally believes cold foods cause the body to contract and tighten, thereby worsening cramps. Just like using ice on an injury causes blood vessels to contract to stop bleeding, so do iced foods cause menstrual blood flow to stop, causing the body to require stronger contractions to push out the blood.

I recommend avoiding iced foods like ice cream, iced water, and frozen fruit smoothies before and during your period. I even recommend letting your dairy products - like milk or yogurt - get to room temperature before consuming. Also, try warm cooked foods and drinks like hearty soups, whole grains, steamed vegetables, and hot teas.

In the next post, I'll provide some more great tips!

One More: Superfood to Boost Your Immune System

Green and Black Tea are also beneficial to boost your immune system. Just don't overdo it! Green tea is a traditional drink in Chinese Medicine. Modern research is constantly confirming the health benefits of green and black tea, including containing an ingredient that can stop a cold from spreading.

Most people do well with a cup or two of tea per day. Just make sure that you don't drink tea after 3PM so that the caffeine doesn't keep you up at night. I recommend a pinch of loose green or black tea to a cup of hot water. Steep. Strain and enjoy.

For those with migraines, insomnia, anxiety or other issues where it's best to avoid caffeine, choose an herbal tea such as an antioxidant-rich red rooibos.

More Super Foods & Tips to Boost Your Immune System

Don't Forget Your Scarf!

As the weather cools and the wind picks up, it's important to keep our neck warm. When our defenses are down, we are more susceptible and vulnerable to pathogens such as colds and flus. In TCM, we believe that "wind carries a thousand diseases" and we are moving into that time now. So remember your scarf before heading out the door!

As for more Superfoods to add to your diet to avoid colds/flu this season: Garlic is a staple in many traditional diets, garlic is a powerful immune-boosting and infection-fighting ingredient. Allicin, the active ingredient in garlic kills bacteria and helps fight infection.

Integrate fresh, raw garlic into your recipes. Mince a fresh clove into your home-made salad dressing or spoon a dollop of fresh pesto onto fish, chicken or vegetables. Although eating garlic raw is best, gently sauteing will still retain most of the medicinal properties (and can tame the potent breath effects).

Super Foods to Boost Your Immune System

Cold & Flu Season Already?!
Ready or not, we are moving into cold and flu season. Chinese Medicine offers effective treatment and prevention for colds and flus. And, the best time to start implementing these tools is now! Schedule an appointment for an acupuncture treatment and/or an herbal consultation. I am happy to develop a customized treatment plan to boost your immune system so that you can smoothly sail through this Fall and Winter.

In the meantime, here are some dietary tips to get started. A diverse diet of organic and fresh foods is essential for a healthy immune system. The following posts will explore some super foods that are especially immune-boosting. Integrate these delicious foods into your diet to stay healthy this season:

1. Fermented Foods. Did you know that 70% of your immune system is in your intestines? Fermented foods are packed with naturally-ocurring healthy bacteria that boost the health of your intestines. It's crucial that the fermented foods are raw and unpasteurized, since cooking these foods will destroy the healthy-promoting bacteria.Include the following probiotic-rich foods in your daily diet: Sauerkraut, fermented vegetables, kim chi, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, miso, kombucha, beet kvass, rejuvelac, and naturally fermented sodas (such as kefir soda and whey soda).

Late Summer: Preparing for Less Light

Chase the Blues Away

As the days are getting shorter, we are just beginning to experience less daylight. For many people, depression or melancholy can begin to set in. It’s important to manage these feelings from a psycho-emotional standpoint, perhaps with a therapist or meditation practice. Below, I will introduce a meditation exercise that is great for stress reduction, relaxation and is something you can even practice on the subway!

As it gets cooler, it is especially important to pay special attention to our respiratory health not only to prevent colds and flus, but also because according to TCM, our Lungs are associated with the emotion melancholy. Thus, focusing on breathing exercises is a great way to support this vital organ system during this time of year.

A useful Lung opening and stress reduction exercise is called “Coherent Breathing,” the strategy of consciously controlling your breathing rate to 5 breaths per minute. When done properly, it rapidly balances the autonomic nervous system. There is an alignment between the sympathetic and parasympathetic system and synchronization between the energy of the heart and the energy of the brain. Within a few weeks of regular practice, your heart rate variability (HRV) typically increases, which is considered to be an indicator of an increase in overall well-being, both physically and mentally. In the moment, this exercise is helpful for calming you down and bringing you to the present.

Here are the basic instructions:

1) With eyes open or closed, inhale to the count of 6, then exhale to the count of 6. You can use a noisy clock that ticks off the seconds or count silently to yourself.

2) Since the highest density of blood vessels are located in the base of the lungs, breath deeply into that region first. This is also known as belly breathing or diaphragmatic breathing. Breathe slowly and rhythmically (think of a pendulum).

3) Allow the air to flow naturally. Guide but do not force the process.

4) Each time you exhale, relax your face, neck, shoulders, and the rest of your body.

You can do this on the subway, at your desk, or anywhere and for any amount of time to achieve the immediate physical and mental benefits.

A CD to help with pacing the breath is available titled “RESPIRE 1” by Stephen Elliott at http://www.coherence.com/ and more information is available in print: “The New Science of Breath” by Stephen Elliott with Dee Edmonson.

More Tips for Late Summer

During this last burst of Indian Summer – heat and dampness are prominent. These elements can easily damage the heart and spleen function. You may find yourself feeling sticky and clammy, sweating, poor appetite, heavy limbs, fatigue.

Tip #2: Drink plenty of fluids to prevent body fluid deficiency.

The organ systems associated with the season of Late Summer are the Stomach and the Spleen-Pancreas. These systems are responsible for the digestion of nutrients. Though the spleen is often overlooked in Western medicine, in TCM, the spleen represents the primary organ of digestion. If the spleen is in disharmony, then you may develop deficiencies in qi or blood, or poor digestion.

The spleen is also the source of motivation and creativity. When the spleen-pancreas energy is balanced, we feel calm and settled and compassionate. We experience anxiety and worry when the spleen-pancreas energy is not balanced.

Tip # 3: Eat foods that nourish the spleen-pancreas: The damp heat of this season can put stress on digestion. Eat cooked foods for easier digestion. Don't combine too many ingredients, use minimal seasoning, and keep cooking temperature and time moderate. For example, try steaming vegetables instead of grilling them.

Since this season is associated with the color yellow and the sweet flavor, try golden and orange-colored foods that are mildly sweet. To get your body in tune with this season, try: amaranth, apricots, cantaloupe, chestnuts, corn, garbanzo beans, millet, peas, potatoes, soybeans, squash, string beans, sweet potatoes, tofu and yams.

Late Summer: The Fifth Season

Late Summer is the fifth season in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). While it is a short season, it is, in many ways, the most important, as it represents the transition from the energetic yang energy of Spring and Summer to the quieter yin energy of Fall and Winter. This is the point at which all seasons converge. As Paul Pitchford writes in Healing with Whole Foods, Late Summer represents "the instant where the pendulum reverses its swing." This season is the point of clarity between Summer and Fall, when we can pause and figure out what we need to do to prepare for winter.

Grounding and centering are key during this transition. We must protect the immune system for autumn by preparing our bodies and minds. In the following few posts, I will provide tips to prepare ourselves for this change of seasons. If you read my recent newsletter, some of this will be duplicative.

Tip #1

As the weather cools and the wind picks up, it's important to keep our neck warm. When our defenses are down, we are more susceptible and vulnerable to pathogens such as colds and flus. In TCM, we believe that “wind carries a thousand diseases” and we are moving into that time now. So remember your scarf before heading out the door!

Acupuncture and Reproductive Health

Current statistics state that one in five couples over the age of 30 have difficulty conceiving after one year of trying. Many of these couples are turning to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for a safe, effective and natural solution to have a healthy baby.

TCM has a long history when it comes to enhancing fertility for both men and women. In fact, evidence that acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to aid fertility can be found in early medical literature dating back to 3AD.

Fertility treatments were first recorded by Zhang Zhong Jing, a famous physician from the Han Dynasty, in his discussion of diseases in women in the Jin Gui Yao Lue or Essentials of the Golden Cabinet.

How Acupuncture Can Enhance Fertility

According to the principles of TCM, a person's health is determined by the quality of Qi, the vital life energy, and blood circulating through the body. When Qi and blood are circulating properly, the body is properly nourished and functioning optimally which, in turn, enhances fertility.

Researchers have confirmed TCM is beneficial in the following areas:

1. Regulate menstrual cycle.

2. Improve sperm count and motility.

3. Reduce stress and anxiety associated with infertility.

4. Normalize hormone and endocrine systems.

5. Improve blood flow in the uterus.

6. Decrease chance of miscarriage.

7. Increase the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Fertility treatments vary from person to person, but are usually scheduled for at least three consecutive cycles (twelve weeks). Treatments can include acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, stress reduction and dietary counseling. Treatments work alone but are an excellent addition to any Western intervention.

Please call for more information of to schedule a consultation!

Source: Qi Mail

Stir-Fried Rice Stick Noodles With Bok Choy and Cherry Tomatoes

Rice noodles are delicate and light, and especially welcome to those who are gluten-intolerant. You might find it easier to use tongs for this once you’ve added the noodles to the pan. Bok choy is a member of the cabbage family and has all those antioxidant-rich phytonutrients that the brassicas are known for.

7 ounces thin rice stick noodles (1/2 of a 14-ounce package)

1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth

1 tablespoon soy sauce (low-sodium if desired)

1 tablespoon Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon minced ginger

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1 to 2 teaspoons minced jalapeño

2 tablespoons peanut oil or canola oil

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 pound (2 medium) baby bok choy, trimmed, washed and dried, cut in 1-inch lengths

1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

Salt to taste

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro (can include stems), plus additional sprigs for garnish

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1. Place the noodles in a large bowl and cover with warm water. Soak for at least 20 minutes, until soft. Drain in a colander and, using kitchen scissors, cut into 6-inch lengths. Set aside within reach of your wok or pan. Combine the broth, soy sauce, and rice wine or sherry in a small bowl. Combine the garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes or minced jalapeño in another bowl. Have everything within reach of your wok or pan.

2. Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or a 12-inch skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Swirl in 2 teaspoons of the oil by adding it to the sides of the pan and swirling the pan. Make sure that the bottom of the wok or pan is coated with oil and add the eggs, swirling the pan so that the eggs form a thin pancake. Cook 30 seconds to a minute, until set. Using a spatula, turn the pancake over and cook for 5 to 10 more seconds, until thoroughly set, then transfer to a plate or cutting board. Season to taste. Allow to cool, then roll up and cut into strips 1/4 inch wide. Place near the wok.

3. Swirl the remaining oil into the wok or pan and add the garlic, ginger and chili. Stir-fry no more than 10 seconds, until fragrant, and add the bok choy. Stir-fry for 1 minute, until it is bright green and the leaves are wilted, and add the broth mixture, the drained noodles, and the tomatoes. Reduce the heat to medium and stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, until the noodles are just tender and the tomatoes are beginning to soften. Add the cilantro and egg shreds, and the salt and sugar, and stir-fry another 30 seconds to a minute, until well combined. Add the sesame oil, stir together, and serve, garnished with cilantro sprigs if desired.

Yield: Serves four to six.

Nutritional information per serving (four servings): 340 calories; 12 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 106 milligrams cholesterol; 49 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 381 milligrams sodium (253 milligrams if using low-sodium soy sauce; does not include salt added during cooking); 8 grams protein

Nutritional information per serving (six servings): 227 calories; 8 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 71 milligrams cholesterol; 33 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 254 milligrams sodium (168 milligrams if using low-sodium soy sauce; does not include salt added during cooking); 6 grams protein

By MARTHA ROSE SHULMAN in NY Times

Golden Tomato Sauce Recipe

This is the season for tomatoes! The Farmer's Market is bursting with Heirlooms of all colors and sizes. Here is a recipe for the multicolored tomatoes you find.

I don't bother peeling the tomatoes here, but you certainly could. You can also do a double or triple batch. The sauce will keep refrigerated for about a week. Also, the color of your tomatoes will dramatically impact the color of your sauce. I like to choose tomatoes that are bright yellow in color, like you see here. Alternatively, yellow tomatoes with a hint of orange make a striking sauce as well.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds or 24 oz ripe yellow (or multi-colored) tomatoes, cored and halved

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Run your finger along the inside of each tomato to remove and discard the seeds. Chop the tomatoes into 1/4-inch chunks, reserve any juice, and set aside.

Combine the olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper flakes in a cold medium sauce pan. Now, heat the ingredients, stirring occasionally, until the garlic begins to sizzle and take on a bit of color. Stir in the tomatoes and reserved juices, and bring to a simmer. Cook for just a couple minutes, long enough for the tomatoes to start breaking down a bit. Remove from heat, taste, and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Makes 2 cups of sauce.

From 101cookbooks.com

Chrysanthemum flowers for Eye Health

I've written about Chrysanthemum flowers before but wanted to include another recipe for Chrysanthemum tea (Ju Hua) where the flowers are boiled to make a popular cooling tea to drink in the warm weather or to use topically on the eye. Chrysanthemum tea has many medicinal uses. Used for at least 2,000 years, this herb was first listed by the physician Shen Nong who suggested that continued use would "slow aging and prolong life".

The boiled flowers or tea bags may be kept in the fridge and used as eye masks to ease tired eyes, reduce heavy eye bags and get rid of redness, pain or dryness of the eyes.

Cold Chrysanthemum Tea

Ingredients

* 60 - 80 White Chrysanthemum Flowers
* 3 teaspoons of Jasmine Green Tea
* Rock sugar or honey
* 4 liters (1 Gallon) of water

Instructions:

1. Wash the chrysanthemums.
2. Put chrysanthemum and tea into a cooking pot.
3. Pour in water and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add rock sugar or honey.
6. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
7. Strain and put into the refrigerator.
8. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Source: Qi Mail

Seven Essential Nutrients for Eye Health

Support your eye health by incorporating these seven essential nutrients into your diet:

Lutein and Zeaxanthin - carotenoid compounds found in the lens and retina of the eyes. These antioxidants protect eyes from free radicals and A diet high in these compounds may protect the eyes from macular degeneration and cataracts. Carotenoid compounds are found in yellow and orange fruits & vegetables, dark green, leafy vegetables and egg yolks.

Vitamin A - helps prevent night blindness, stop the formation of cataracts, and may prevent blindness from macular degeneration. Deficiency can cause dry eyes, corneal ulcers, swollen eyelids and, if not corrected, blindness.

Vitamin C - can help reduce the risk of cataracts. It may also play a role in delaying macular degeneration and preventing and relieving glaucoma.

Vitamin E - a powerful antioxidant shown to prevent cataracts and helps prevent macular degeneration.

Bioflavonoids - give certain foods their color and often work as antioxidants. Any food that contains these nutrients also contains vitamin C. Citrus, red and purple fruits are excellent for the eyes.

Omega 3's - These essential fatty acids convert into prostaglandins that regulate intraocular pressure, help the eye drain and may help protect against dry eye syndrome. Connected with eyesight development, deficiencies of essential fatty acids may lead to impaired vision, retinal or macular damage. The best source of Omega 3's is cold water fish such as Salmon.

Essential Minerals - Zinc, Selenium, and Copper are all essential for healthy eyesight. Zinc helps the body absorb vitamin A which is required for normal eye function and adapting to the dark. Zinc has been used for the specific purpose of reducing age related macular degeneration and a deficiency may lead to cataracts. Selenium helps the body to absorb vitamin E to . Copper helps reduce the development of age related macular degeneration.

source: Qi Mail

Acupuncture and Eye Health

Your eyes are a reflection of your overall health. Illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease can be revealed in the eyes. Conditions such as glaucoma, optic neuritis or vision loss are often associated with systemic health problems. It is this interconnection between your eyes and your health that acupuncture and Oriental medicine can tap into and utilize to treat eye and vision problems. Eye conditions respond well to acupuncture and it has been used successfully to treat a wide range of eye problems for centuries.

How Eye Disorders Are Treated With Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pays close attention to the relationship between tissues and organs. Sometimes an imbalance within the body can manifest as an eye problem, just as the health of the eyes is often a reflection of an imbalance or health problem elsewhere in the body.

When you are treated for an eye condition with acupuncture, any underlying imbalances that are attributing to your symptoms will be addressed. The eye problems will also be treated directly by promoting circulation of Qi (life force) and blood around the eyes.

Common eye problems treated with acupuncture include:

• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Chronic Dry Eyes
• Macular Degeneration
• Optic Neuritis
• Optic Atrophy

In addition to acupuncture, there are several things you can do each day to maintain eye health and avoid problems. Drink eight to ten glasses of water to keep your body and eyes hydrated. Stop smoking. Exercise to improve overall circulation. Make a conscious effort to stop periodically to rest and blink frequently especially when reading, working on a computer or watching television. Avoid rubbing your eyes. Always remember to always protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV light and glare with protective lenses.

Would you like to learn more about how acupuncture can help you with an eye condition? Please call us at 917-538-5755 for a consultation.

source: Qi Mail

Should You Try Acupuncture?

There is an interesting post on the Huffington Post about whether to try acupuncture. While most of you reading this may have already experienced the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the blogger brings up some good points about what we do and don't know about the benefits of acupuncture. I often find myself in conversation with folks who ask me about this and also, scientifically, how acupuncture works. Share this article with friends and family who you know could benefit from treatment. Read the article here.

The Silence of Infertility

There is a great article in Self Magazine this month about infertility. It describes why so many (one in eight couples) who experience infertility don't talk about it with friends and family. Read the article here.

Recipe: Make Your Own Salad Dressing!

Bottled, store-bought salad dressing (even “organic” brands) are often made with poor quality oils and preservatives. Making your own salad dressing is easy and so much healthier than buying bottles in the store. And, you can be creative by adjusting the ingredients to your taste!

Basic Salad dressing

Ingredients

1 teaspoon organic dijon mustard

2 Tbsp wine vinegar, raw apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, etc. or lemon juice

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all of these ingredients in a jar and shake it up. Taste. Adjust the ingredients as desired.

Variations:

• Add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup
• Add crumbled goat or blue cheese, or add grated parmigiano cheese
• Add fresh or dried herbs- parsley, cilantro, basil, oregano, dill, etc. Whatever is handy!
• Add a clove of minced garlic or finely chopped green or spring onion
• Add about 1/4 cup of yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, or creme fraiche for a creamy and tangy dressing.
• Add mashed avocado (this goes especially well with lemon juice)

(adapted from Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon)

More Tips for Summer!

Here are more tips to stay cool this summer:

1. Wear lightweight clothing the lighter the colored clothing (white,being ideal) the more sunlight is reflected away from you. Darker colors absorb the light and heat.
2. Sunburn can happen very easily if you are not careful. Dilute one part Tea Tree Oil with ten parts of olive oil or coconut oil and spread freely over the affected areas. This is soothing and pain-relieving and to reduce blistering and peeling.
3. Schedule your outdoor activities to avoid the hottest parts of the day, and use a buddy system if necessary to keep watch on those at high risk.
4. If you feel dizzy and/or stop sweating, quit all activity and get out of the sun fast. Drink cool, not cold water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in it. The vinegar helps to replace electrolytes and minerals like sports drinks do.
5. Take a cool bath and relax in the water for 15-20 minutes. Try to submerge as much of your body as possible.

Remedies for Heat Exhaustion

The summer heat can sneak up on you (or during the most recent heatwave, just knock you over!). This time of the summer it is common to experience dehydration, sunburn and actual exhaustion! Children under four, people over 65, and those who are overweight, already ill, or taking medications can be especially affected. Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness headache and nausea or vomiting. The following blog posts will include remedies for heat exhaustion:

1. Carry water with you and sip it throughout the day. Dehydration can set in and we don't even realize it until we begin to feel thirsty! Often by then, it is too late to avoid dehydration's affects on your body.
2. Pace yourself when working outdoors, exercising or just having fun. Those who participate in regular exercise over time, allowing their bodies to adjust to hot conditions, may better tolerate exercise on hot days.
3. Replace salts and minerals with electolytes such as Smart Water or other drinks that have potassium. Avoid drinks with large amounts of sugar. Dehydration can stress the heart and impair the kidneys' ability to maintain the correct level of fluids and balance of electrolyte. Electrolytes are charged elements—like potassium, sodium, phosporous and chloride—essential for the normal function of every cell in the body.

Cold Chrysanthemum Tea

Cold Chrysanthemum Tea (For Quenching Thirst & Mild Sunstroke)

With this heatwave upon us, this is a great recipe to prevent sunstroke and treat dehydration. It also clears Heat, benefits Qi, promotes body fluid secretion and is an excellent thirst quencher! 



Ingredients:

60 - 80 White Chrysanthemum Flowers

3 teaspoon of Jasmine Green Tea

Rock sugar or honey

4 liters of water


Instructions:

1. Wash the chrysanthemum.

2. Put chrysanthemum and tea into a cooking pot.

3. Pour in 4 liters of water and bring it to boiling.

4. Reduce heat and continue to cook for 20 minutes.

5. Put in rock sugar or honey.

6. Remove pot from the heat and allow to cool till room temperature.

7. Strain the tea and put into refrigerator.

8. Serve the tea chilled and enjoy!

From AcuFinder.com

Honey-Balsamic Bean Salad

This is such a great summer recipe. You can use green beans, or substitute for something seasonal, like Romaine lettuce. If you're trying to come up with a substitute for the green beans, imagine ingredients that might go nicely with the honey-balsamic vinegar. And I suspect it goes without saying, but you can certainly play around with the type of beans you use here. I would have used borlotti beans in place of the black beans, but I went with the beans I had on hand, rather than make a trip to the store.

8 oz / 225 g (about 1 1/2 cups) EACH cooked chickpeas, pinto beans, black beans

1 small head of romaine lettuce, washed, dried, shredded

1/3 cup / 1 oz / 30g sliced almonds, toasted

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons runny honey

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/4+ teaspoon fine grain sea salt

10 sprigs fresh thyme

Combine the beans, lettuce, and most of the almonds in a large salad bowl. Set aside. Make the dressing by whisking the olive oil, honey, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and sea salt in a small container. Taste, and adjust to your tastes.

Run your fingers up each thyme sprig, removing the leaves. Add to the salad bowl along with a good amount of the dressing. Toss well, and add more dressing if you like. Finish by sprinkling with the remaining almonds.

Serves 4- 6.

Inspired by a recipe in Teaching Dad to Cook Flapjack by Miranda Gardiner (Hardie Grant Books, May, 2010).

From 101cookbooks.com