With a vast drop in temperature, darker skies and rainy days, winter is the most yin of all the seasons. It is associated with the kidney and bladder organs, the color black, the element water, the emotion fear, and salty and bitter flavors.
Goji berries are one of the most well known Chinese herbs in the US. Used for over 2000 years in China, they were first mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, the oldest known book on Chinese herbs in 200 BC. They are prized for their ability to tonify blood and yin without causing stagnation. Consumed daily in China as a food and herbal medicine, goji berries are revered for their anti-aging properties. They are used in many beauty tonics.
From pumpkins and spooky Halloween decorations to Hanukkah candles, Christmas lights and hot cocoa, the holiday season is a lively time of year. Traditionally this is the time to spend with loved ones, give thanks for all that you have and indulge in comfort food. As a child, my excitement came from watching holiday cartoons and anticipating the arrival of Santa and presents.
Carrots are one of the oldest cultivated vegetables. A staple in most cuisines, the white, yellow and purple varieties were first cultivated in Afghanistan around 3000BC. The modern, sweeter and bright yellow and orange varieties were created in the Netherlands around the 16th century.
Taking my herbs is something I look forward to every day. Not only do they help me to think clearly and feel good, but I’ve learned how to make them taste delicious.
Here I have homemade hot cocoa with collagen for skin and joint health and a homemade immune tonic with astragalus and mushrooms to keep me well throughout the fall and winter season. This warm and cozy drink is very calming and I look forward to drinking it as my day winds down. No, you cannot taste the herbs.
As we move deeper into the autumn season, the foundation of our diet should be foods that are bountiful, local and ripe. Just as we rotate our wardrobe for the seasons, we should be rotating our diet as well. Most of us wouldn’t wear shorts and a tank top in the snowy winter, nor would we wear a heavy coat on a hot summer day. As such, we should reserve cold and raw foods for the warmer months, and eat warmer and cooked foods during the colder months.
Hey Everyone! I'm trying something new here. I recorded a video of myself cooking and wanted to share it with you. The recipe is a modification of the classic roast with mashed potatoes. For a low carbohydrate version I substituted cauliflower for the potatoes. It was so good that my husband who is a pretty elitist when it comes to mashed potatoes, didn't even notice. Trust me, he would have called me out if he did!
In this episode of the Healthy Living Podcast Dawna explains what allergies are, the difference between an allergy and a cold, and what you can do naturally to avoid or limit symptoms.
Ever wonder how acupuncture works? As an acupuncturist I know that acupuncture works because I witness the profound effects it has on people on a daily basis. Curious people will ask me how it works while others are just content knowing that they feel better and don’t really care to know the details of it all.
In this episode of the Healthy Living podcast Dawna interviews her 83 year old dad about life, health, getting older, attitude, perspective, and relationships.
