Dermatological Creams Now In Stock

Five Seasons Healing now offers topical skincare products designed by master herbalist Carl Shan Leung, OMD. Dr. Leung's strategy of combining modern ointment bases with TCM formulations plays a big part in the products' success. Dr. Leung is committed to using only natural, active ingredients derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs.

All the formulations are absolutely steroid-free. When combined with systemic herbs and acupuncture, they offer more holistic dermatological care rather than simply a local solution.

Five Seasons began using these dermatological creams in late 2008 and has seen great results treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin ailments.

Yet another reason to love black beans

In Chinese medicine, the Qi, or energy, of the Kidney system is vital to reproduction, and fertility enhancement often begins with the Kidneys. For this reason, it is essential to eat foods that nourish the Kidneys and promote fertility.

Black Beans are an excellent food to eat if you are trying to conceive. Warming in nature, they are thought to tonify the Kidney Qi and nourish Yin and Blood. Not only that, black beans are an excellent source of protein, folate, iron and fiber—all key nutrients.

They are also loaded with antioxidants. According to research published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, black beans are rich in antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins, the same compounds found in grapes, cranberries and other fruits. In fact, researchers founds that the level of antioxidants found in black beans is approximately ten times the amount in an equivalent amount of oranges and comparable to that found in an equivalent amount of grapes or cranberries.

The darker a bean’s seed coat, the higher its level of antioxidant activity. Of all the various types of beans analyzed, black beans were found to have the highest activity, followed by red, brown, yellow and white beans.

Soups and stews are great ways to incorporate black beans into your diet. You can also try this recipe for Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos:

Ingredients:

* 5 cups peeled cubed sweet potatoes
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons canola or other vegetable oil
* 3-1/2 cups diced onions
* 4 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
* 1 Tablespoon minced fresh green chile
* 4 teaspoons ground cumin
* 4 teaspoons ground coriander
* 4-1/2 cups cooked black beans (three 15-ounce cans, drained)
* 2/3 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves
* 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 8 eight-inch flour tortillas
* Fresh tomato salsa or jarred

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with the salt and water to cover. Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

While the sweet potatoes are cooking, warm the oil in a medium skillet or saucepan and add the onions, garlic, and chiles. Cover and cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender, about 7 minutes. Add the cumin and coriander and cook for 2 to 3 minutes longer, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and set aside.

In a food processor, combine the black beans, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, and cooked sweet potatoes and puree until smooth. (You can also mash the ingredients in a large bowl by hand using a potato masher. The result will be a less smooth but nicely textured filling.) Transfer the sweet potato mixture to a large mixing bowl and mix in the cooked onions and spices.

Lightly oil a large baking dish. Spoon about 2/3 to 3/4 cup of the filling in the center of each tortilla, roll it up, and place it, seam side down, in the baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 30 minutes, until piping hot. Serve topped with salsa.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Recipe Source: Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites (Clarkson Potter Publishers)

Living in the Moment, a one day meditation course

at theChakrasambara Buddhist Center
with Kadam Morten
Saturday, February 21st, 10:00 am - 3:30pm
($30/free for cardholders)

Often we feel powerless in the face of difficult external circumstances and respond by becoming frustrated or unhappy. But we are not powerless. According to Buddha our mind determines our experience of the world. Therefore if we change our mind, we change our world. Buddhist meditation gives us the power to change our mind and transform the problems in our life into opportunities for spiritual growth. Through training our mind in this way we gradually become the joyful and creative person we wish to be. Our relationships become deeper and more harmonious; our life more peaceful and solution-oriented. Our world becomes full of possibilities and we discover we have something of great value to share with others in our life – a peaceful and loving heart. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, call (212) 924-6706
The Chakrasambara Buddhist Center
322 Eighth Ave | Suite 502 | New York | NY | 10001 |

Homemade Falafel

In the wintertime, dried beans are a good food to eat to fortify the kidneys. Not only that, but beans and legumes in general are an excellent source of protein, iron, and unsaturated (healthy) fat. While hearty soups made with small, dark beans are one great way to harness their healing properties, there are lots of other great options. How about falafel? Here's a recipe from Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford:

Falafel

Ingredients

2 cups cooked garbanzos (chick peas)
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
2 tablespoons parsley
1/4 each: cumin, basil, marjoram, cayenne
1 tablespoon sesame butter

Directions

*Mash or puree garbanzos (add enough water for blender)
*Combine with rest of ingredients
*Form into 1-inch balls or patties
*Deep-fry or bake in 350-degree oven until crisp and golden
*Serve in pita bread, garnished with tomatoes lettuce, olives and sauce, such as Sesame Butter-Lemon, Yogurt, or Tahini

Maternity Dept: Baby Food

In its January 19th issue, the New Yorker ran this article by Jill Lepore, who asks, If breast milk is best, why are women bottling their milk? Lepore offers a comprehensive look at breastfeeding through the years.

Pregnancy Sciatica

During the last few months of pregnancy, as the baby grows more rapidly and the pelvic joints begin to relax to accommodate birth, expectant mothers may experience back pain and sciatica that can range from a minor discomfort to an exhausting, crippling condition.

Sciatica may be causes by the weight of the pregnant uterus, altered posture to compensate for altered shape, fatigue leading to poor posture or other factors such as softened, relaxed pelvic ligaments due to the presence of progesterone and relaxin in the body.

The pain is often worse at night and there is little western medicine can offer for relief aside from back exercises and advice about proper posture.

From the Chinese medicine standpoint, pregnancy sciatica is due to stopping of Blood and Qi (energy). Strain can weaken the back muscles, and exposure to cold can wear on the immune system, making the mother more susceptible to ailment and injury.

Acupuncture is one of the few safe and effective treatments for pregnancy sciatica. First, the acupuncturist determines whether the pain is acute or chronic. Severe pain that gets worse with rest but improves with light exercise and tender to the touch is connected to the stagnation of Blood and Qi. A large area of pain could indicate an invasion of Cold or Dampness or a constitutional deficiency. By identifying the blocked meridian, or energy channel, acupuncture can help to Qi flow and resolve the condition.

Breech Presentation and Moxabustion

In one out of every six pregnancies, the baby turns into the breech, or upright, position. There are several different variations of breech. The baby may have its feet flexed or its legs extended and raised up towards its face, or its knees may be folded up near its chest. In some cases, a foot may be extended downwards.

While in most cases, there is no obvious causes for for a breech, but it may be due to a low-lying placenta, premature birth, a multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, hydrocephalus, fibroids or an unusually shaped uterus.

If a breech presentation is diagnoses around thirty-two weeks, there is still a chance that the baby will turn spontaneously during the next two weeks. After thirty-two weeks, however, there are ways to correct the position so that a mother may avoid delivering via cesaerean section.

Acupuncture and moxibustion can successfully turn the baby back into cephalad (head-down) position. In some cases, as little as a single treatment can turn the baby.

Moxa is a plant used as a heat source to stimulate acupuncture points, and in addition to its use in the office, you may be sent home with a moxa stick and instructions on how to continue treatment. The greatest success rates are for 32-35 weeks, but the treatment can be effective as late as 38 weeks in some cases. Still, a mother should always check with her midwife or doctor to insure that the baby should be turned. In some instances, such as twin pregnancies or a history of previous breech births or cesaerean section deliveries, the baby should not be turned.