Preventing Allergies

Preventing Allergies

      Now is the time to get ready for allergy season. For people who suffer from Spring allergies, it would be advisable to get the Chinese herbal formula Jade Screen and start taking it now. Most health food stores carry the Plum Flower brand. It builds up the immune system. Taking it 2-3 times a day and should help alleviate allergies in the spring. For allergy season itself there is another formula, Clean Air, also by Plum Flower. If these formulas are not available at the health food store, check with the Acupuncturists in your area. They should carry it, or be able to tell where to get it

      In the mean time, cut way back or eliminate foods that cause mucous and phlegm, and impair the immune system, like dairy, sugar, wheat, corn, and alcohol. Not always easy things to cut down on, but it makes a huge difference for allergies. Foods like these that are difficult to digest cause the immune system, specifically the white blood cells, to jump in to digest the food. If white blood cells are working on digestion, they can't do their job. Sugar, for example, depletes the immune system for 4-6 hours. Alcohol is a concentrated form of sugar. Anything high on the Glycemic Index is difficult to digest and therefore impairs the immune system, which therefore contributes to or causes allergies. 

      In cases of sweet, or junk food cravings, it is an indication of Candida, in which case it is also necessary to address Heavy Metals, including detoxing each day if teeth have any metal fillings. 

     Eating organic protein, preferably protein on the neutral or highly beneficial list for one's blood type (Eat Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter D'Adamo) and a wide range of many colors and textures of vegetables 3 times a day, (yes, vegetables for breakfast), builds up the body, the immune system, and helps normal detoxification, so you don't have to detox through a swollen, runny nose.   

      All this sounds like a lot to have to do, but until learning and applying all this my allergies were so horrific that my eyes would swell shut. I got so tired of being miserable that allergies became one of my specialities, when I learned the tools to stop them. When eating anything I have advised avoiding during allergy season, which is inevitable, check and see how you feel the next day, which is usually when the problems show up.

      Acupuncture is another way to build the immune system, and if the suggestions here aren't enough it is time to get in to an Acupuncturist, or Naturopath who can check the function of digestion, the gallbladder (its ability to break down fats and phlegm), the body's drainage/ detox systems (the liver, spleen, kidneys and lymph), the thyroid, and hormones. All of these contribute to the bodies ability to deal with external pathogens like pollen.

     Allergies are not something people have to suffer with, given the right tools.

                                          Health & Happiness,

                                                 Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                       534 Washington St.   Ashland, OR  97520

                                                                    For Appointments Call:  541-646-0134   

Creating Recipes

Creating Recipes

      
My sister-in-law made a wonderful paella for a family gathering. "Mama, tell the story." our three year old grand-niece begged her mother.

      
"Once upon a time," our niece began, "a long time ago, there was a queen who was traveling through the countryside. Now things weren't like they are now, with restaruants and hotels. When people traveled they had to stay where they could, in people's homes, if they would have them. So when this queen stopped at a poor farm house the farmer was honored to have her but also horrified, for he had nothing fit to serve a queen. He sent those of his household around to his neighbors to see what they had to add to the rice he had available. One neighbor had seafood, another sausage, another vegetables. Into the ceramic dish they went with the rice and some chicken stock.

      
"What is this dish called?" ask the queen,"It is one of the best I have tasted. " Paella" the farmer replied, which meant, 'For Her.' "
       
This is how recipes were created.  Whatever was readily available, or abundant, was used. Today, in our society, with so much to chose from, it is almost more difficult to be creative, than it was to be forced to use what was at hand. People cling to recipes, instead of determining what is fresh, at it's peak, and are afraid to make changes, incase it doesn't work out. 
       
When cooking, have a spoon on hand and taste. Does it need more of this or that ingredient? What would give it more zip, or make it more interesting? Don't be afraid to experiment. Try new spices, new seasonings. Incorporating different flavors, salty, sweet, sour... stimulate different parts of the pallet, giving people the urge to take another bite.  
   
Miso and soy sauce,  Tamari (the wheat free soy sauce, or Braggs Amino Acids are good for a salty flavor. Mirin (Rice Wine), cinnamon, Stevia (the green dried leaves) are good for a touch of sweet. Lemon juice or brown rice vinegar are good to have on hand for a dash of sour. Subtle blends of flavor make a dish. Experiment and have fun, and you can come up with your own favorite recipes, fit for a queen.

                                                Health & Happiness,
                                                         Nancy Burton, L.Ac.
                                                             534 Washington St.  Ashland, OR  97520
                                                             For Appointments Call:  541-646-0134 
      
  

      

    

     

Stone Soup

Stone Soup

One of my favorite childhood stories is that of Stone Soup. It about a soldier who arrives at a small European village. The villagers knew that soldiers took what they wanted and move on, usually carrying all they could with them, leaving the villagers to starve. So when soldiers were spotted everyone hide their food, their daughters, wives, and other valuables. 

      
When this particular soldier showed up, instead of molesting the people, he took out a pot and some wood and set up a camp fire, in the center of town. Into a boiling pot of water he dropped several stones. One or two brave souls approached and ask what he was doing. 

"I am making stone soup." he told them. "The most wonderful soup you will ever taste, and you are more than welcome to join me when it is done." 

They had never heard of such a thing, or of a soldier willing to give instead of take. "Of course," he conceded, " it would be even better if we had a few onions."  

"I have onions!" cried one man, and off he ran to fetch them, bringing more people back with him to try the stone soup as he returned. In went the onions, after stirring and tasting, and assurances that this was shaping up to be an excellent batch of stone soup the soldier sighed, "If only we had some carrots. " 

" I have carrots!" cried another villager and off he went to get them. By the time the soup was done most of the village was present, and each had made their own contribution to the stone soup. Yes, they all agreed when it was done and passed around, it was the best soup any of them had ever had.

      
It is interesting how the same story, at different periods in one's life, bring to mind different things. Of course this is a wonderful story, with many different lessons but the one that I missed before is the variety that went into that soup. That is what we crave. That is what we snack or binge, or over eat trying to get. Variety! 

Our hunting and gathering ancestors, sought out each day ate many different colors and textures of foods that they gathered as they roamed from place to place. Variety, it feeds our bodies, our minds, our spirits. It is what is missing in so many diets. So, a remedy for cravings, fatigue, and boredom with food is a steamed or sautéed version of Stone Soup. It just makes you feel good!

                                                              Health & Happiness,

                                                                  Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                                          534 Washington St.  Ashland, OR   97520

                                                                          For Appointments Call:  541-646-0134    

   

"Veggie" Pizza ?

"Veggie" Pizza ?

      Once in a blue moon my husband and I will get a slice of pizza. Its an American tradition, and we see it as a "Feast Day Food", an occasional treat. I sat down at a table as Bob got in line at the crowded counter.  He was getting our silverware when our slices and salads arrived. "I am sorry", I told the waitress as she plunked down some anemic looking wedges of bread and cheese, "you must have the wrong table. We ordered Veggie Pizza."  "That is Veggie" she informed me. "OK....but... where are the vegetables?" I ask. "There is tomato, " she quipped. Technically a fruit, I thought. "and olives," grows on a tree, big pits, what about that is anything like a vegetable, I wondered? "and artichoke hearts." she finished. I mentally conceded, half points there, an artichoke is a vegetable, even if it is marinated and canned with little nutritional value left. "Thank you."  I said. It was tasty, even though it wasn't the spinach, zucchini, and multiple colored fresh peppers that I had envisioned.    

      The very sad point that hit home was how many people in our present day society don't even know what a vegetable is, including my waitress, the owners of the establishment, the cooks, and apparently most patrons that order that particular creation and think they are actually consuming a Veggie Pizza. 

      Just for the record, when I talk about incorporating many vegetables in a meal, think of olives more as condiments, adding some flavor and pizzaz. Mushrooms aren't vegetables either, though again great for adding flavor, texture, interest and many have medicinal properties, though the most popular button mushroom rates right up there with iceberg lettuce for nutritional value ( not enough to mention). 

      Canned and jarred vegetables have had all the live enzymes, vitamins and minerals cooked out of them. V-8, I have been forced to inform several of my patients, did nothing for them but add to their sodium and chemical intake, and could not be counted in the 6-10 different kinds of vegetables I advise people to eat on a daily basis. The smoothies or juices sold in cans or jars in the Health Food Stores, with seemingly healthy ingredients have had most everything cooked out of them, or they would spoil and have no shelf life. If they have been 'enriched', the vitamins added back in, they are mostly synthetic vitamins that do more harm than good.

      So, back to the point,  have your occasional piece of pizza, and enjoy it. But if you want a Veggie Pizza, try to find a pizza place that has a clue what a real, fresh vegetable is.

                                                   Health & Happiness,

                                                        Nancy Burton, L.Ac.

                                                             534 Washington St. Ashland, OR 97520

                                                                           For Appointments Call:   541-646-0134