HERBS & NUTRITION

HERBS

 

 

Internal herbs, in capsule form, are all from Blue Dragon Herbs (www.BlueDragonHerbs.com).  They are certified organic and/or wild crafted from sources that are at least 100km from any industrial manufacturing and 50 km from any town of more that 1,000 residents.

 

Chinese Herbal Formulas have been used for thousands of years.  The formulas range from two to 14 herbs per formula.  The chemistry and individual characteristics of the herbs work together to help treat a vast amount of ailments.  Amongst a few are allergies and asthma, cold and flu, sore throat, digestive disorders, weight loss, sleep disorders, reproductive health, memory support, prostate support, headaches, muscle aches, low back pain, low energy, skin conditions, premature grey hair, mental and emotional stress, to name a few…

 

External Herbs are primarily from Blue Poppy Herbs (www.bluepoppy.com) based out of Boulder, CO.  These topical ointments, tinctures, and salves are made for a variety of reasons.  From an anti-itch stick to burn cream, pain due to trauma, bruising, scars, arthritis, or just run-of-the-mill muscle tension, there are many different types that are utilized in the treatment with the Acupuncturist.  All that are used during the treatment with the Acupuncturist, and more that aren’t are for sale to bring home and use on a more continual basis for therapeutic needs, or just to bulk up your personal first aid kit.

NUTRITION

 

Diet and nutrition are one of the cornerstones of Chinese Medicine.  Unless we are under the care of someone else, we have ultimate say in what, when, and how we eat.  The right foods are medicinal, while the wrong ones can harm us and even be poisonous.  Through altering and changing the diet, a person is able to take his or her health into their own hands, at least in part.  When we are eating the correct foods for our individual constitutions, we can improve our immune systems, have better sleep, regulate mood swings, improve reproductive health, quicken wound/injury healing, and have a clearer sense of mental function.  Not to mention, good food tastes good! 

 

In 2017 I completed training to be an Applied Clinical Nutritionist.  Through diet and proper supplementation, using Standard Process and Medi Herb, with functional medicine testing, we can further fine-tune what your body needs to heal, function, and thrive!

 

Eating Basics:

• Eat organic and home-grown/home-made as much as possible.

• Avoid GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms)

            Especially corn, soy, zucchini, squash, canola oil, papaya, sugar.

• Incorporate healthy fat and healthy protein at every meal.
• Try to eat within the season you are in.      
• Try to eat every color of the rainbow in a day.

• Try to drink half your body weight in ounces of (NOT ICE COLD) water in a day.

• Hydrate mostly between meals, not with meals.  Try for 12 fluid oz or less w/meals.

• Avoid artificial coloring, flavoring, MSG, high fructose corn syrup.

• Cook, serve, and store food off of glass, metal, and wood, NOT PLASTIC.

 

 When eating, please sit down!  When we walk around or even stand while eating, we are engaging our Sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system.  Ideally when we eat, we want to only engage our Parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system.  Doing other activities while eating, such as reading or watching a movie (especially if it is action-packed, or a thriller), can disrupt our body’s ability to eat and absorb all the nutrients in our food.    

 

 

 

GOING SHOPPING? 

 

I would be happy to go grocery shopping with you.  If you are at a loss as to where to begin, or even just want some friendly professional food advice, I will accompany you to the grogery store.  I also have CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) connections and can point you in a local, sustainable direction for delicious and nutritious food.