Another spring wild food friend: Chickweed

Spring is officially here in North Carolina!  What once used to be a nuisance in my garden because I didn't allow time to pull up weeds in my garden early enough, has become a yummy wild edible food this year.  It's chickweed and it grows in my vegetable garden soil wherever I didn't mulch last fall.  The above photo is from my first pick of chickweed two weeks ago.  Do a Google image search to get a closer look and see if you find it in your vegetable/flower garden. 
      I learned from a fellow herbalist several years ago that chickweed helps in cleansing our lymphatic system: our body's garbage disposal of what the circulatory system is not able to clear, specifically fats.  Together with a diet adjustment modulating phlegm-producing foods such as sugar, cow dairy, fried foods, alcohol, fatty animal meats, and possibly wheat gluten, adding chickweed can be helpful for facilitating detox of phlegm/congestion conditions like seasonal allergies and excess weight from calorie-rich winter foods. Chickweed is also a mild diuretic, very much like asparagus, cilantro, parsley, dandelion leaf. 

Nature always provides what our body needs during the season, so chickweed is a beneficially food to consume this time of year, very much like dandelion leaves and flowers, which I wrote about a few years ago in this blog Dandelion Flower Tea.  Reading back on this has inspired me to go out and pick dandelion flowers to make sun-infused tea today! 

How have I been using chickweed the past few weeks?

1)  I added a small handful to my green smoothie that I blended up in my Magic Bullet, with water, mandarin oranges, hemp seed, chia seed, homemade water kefir, and dash of apple cider vinegar.  Experiment with your own green smoothie recipe!

Spring is the Wood element in Chinese medicine 5-element theory, consisting of the Liver and Gallbladder meridians, and one of the ways to balance our internal Wood element is to experiment, be creative, and try out new ideas!  Interested in knowing more about the Wood element?  Check out my previous blog post Spring as Growth

2)  I've picked the tender top leaves and mixed it with romaine lettuce very much like how you would add arugula or sprouts to salads.

3)  Chopped the tender top shoots together with cilantro/parsley and added to soups and broths at the end as a garnish.

4)  After reading about dried chickweed tea, maybe I'll try to dry some this year! 

Do you have any other uses you've tried?

The MOTHER of all the Elements is...

Rice fields at the base of the Himalayan Mountains in Central Nepal 3-week trek in 2011

LESSONS FROM OUR SPLEEN:  Chinese Medicine Wisdom

Excerpted from Helping Ourselves: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Food Energetics

·       Organ of adaptation, nourishment, and support: We learn from infancy how to adapt to our environment and have our needs met

·       Physical digestion is “transformation and transportation” of nutrients

·       Mental digestion is processing information:  “Food for thought”

·       Emotionally about obtaining and giving emotional nourishment and support

·       Developing and cultivating an internal source of home, nourishment, and support.   Is there enough "sweetness" in your life?  Or does the "excess" caring turn into worry?

·       Belief in deserving nourishment and trust that there will always be enough

·       Fascia and soft tissue are a function of our support and containment (tone to our body).  When fascia is free to move and respond, we feel “at home”, comfortable, and supported by our bodies from the inside out.

·       Stronger the Spleen, stronger we are with its physical, mental and emotional connections

HOW TO BUILD A STRONG SPLEEN?

·       Physically:   STRETCH, exercise, MASSAGE, nourishing physical contact, discipline in consciously choosing to consume whole foods

·       Mentally:  Meditation, Law of Attraction, affirmations

·       Emotionally:  Honor and attend to our needs

·       Spiritually: Connection with earth, Mother Earth and the Divine Mother

 

When attending to digestion and dietary issues, consider the above perspectives.  We can strengthen our digestion through working with any of the above levels; change in one level will resonate throughout the Spleen’s entire sphere of influence. What are some Spleen nourishing foods? Sweet potatoes, onions, cabbage, corn, apples, pears, rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet, barley, potatoes, cherries, dates, figs, beets, carrots, squash, mushrooms, almonds, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds.  Meats, fish, beans, nuts, and sweeteners are highly tonifying to the Spleen and are used in moderation in order to avoid creating conditions of heat (inflammation), dampness, and phlegm.  Avoid high glycemic sweeteners like those made from cane sugar and opt for low glycemic ones like coconut palm sugar and stevia.  Also note I did not include wheat due to its high gluten content, for more information on wheat sensitivities Wheat Belly  by Dr. William Davis on the effects of overconsumption of wheat products. DIGESTING FOOD WITH EASE ©      EnJOY your food! ©      Positive attitude ©      Time for relaxation ©      Choose foods with strong life force ©      Take time to enjoy preparing and cooking your food ©      Chew well:  “The stomach has no teeth”, digestion starts in the mouth, chew 30 times before swallowing ©      Stop just before you are full (7/8 full) ©      Don’t flood the stomach, literally:  4 oz with meal, soups ok, excess liquid dilutes digestive juices in the stomach ©      Don’t overchill the stomach with cold, raw foods:  what happens to muscles when cold? ©      Foods that are too hot in temperature can damage digestive enzymes ©      Eat in season and simply as often as possible ©      Eat main meal early, focusing on breakfast and lunch, digestion slows down in the evening.  Stick to regular meal times. ©      Smaller meals, NOT snacks, help stabilize blood glucose ©      Trust your body, over time we can cultivate the skill of separating our cravings and addictions from deeper levels of guidance PROPER FOOD COMBINING From Dr. Herbert Shelton, School of Natural Hygiene in Texas Protein, carbohydrates/starch, and fats require different enzymes for digestion and vary in how long and what medium they need to break down into absorbable components.  Proper food combining helps with more efficient absorption and assimilation of nutrients.   General rules: ·        Fats and starch go with vegetables ·        Protein goes with vegetables ·        Protein does not go with starch ·        Do not combine different classes of proteins at the same meal ( ie egg with meat, cheese with meat, beans with cheese) ·        Eat proteins and starches at different meals ·        Melons and watermelons “Eat them alone or leave them alone” ·        Leave fruit for 30 minutes before a meal, or 1 hour after a meal ·        Desert the desserts One of the most nourishing ways to tend our Spleen is through abdominal massage, here are three ways to experience Dr. Arvigo's work based on ancient Mayan abdominal bodywork: 1)   Book a session with me for an Arvigo abdominal therapy session 2)  Attend a one day Hands on Health the Maya Way class 3)  Attend the transformative 2.5 day Arvigo Self Care Class Level 1 January 31-February 2, 2014.  Visit the Arvigo Therapy to register for the Arvigo classes or my website Armonia Holistic Health for my teaching schedule If you have any questions about the Spleen and it's associations with the other Elements in Chinese medicine, I'd be happy to discuss it with you at your next individual session.

Summer is getting hot!

"The supernatural forces of summer create heat in the Heavens and fire on Earth; they create the heart and the pulse within the body...the red color, the tongue, and the ability to expresss laughter...they create the bitter flavor, and the emotions of happiness and joy."
     The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, the earliest written record on Chinese medicine theory, over 2000 years old, is still used today
 
These are the associations and correlations of the Fire element:
-Governs Blood, which nourishes self-love
-Houses the Spirit, called Shen in Chinese, which maintains the emotional connection between humanity and the divine
-Manifests in the face and opens to the tongue
-Emotions are joy, love, and compassion
-Season is summer
-Flavor is bitter
-Color is red, like fire
-Climate is heat
-Internal organs are Heart and Pericardium (Heart Protector), Small Intestine and San Jiao (Triple Heater)

Fire tends towards excess types of signs and symptoms, with the sheer heat of the season, but also can be from excess activity and stress or stimulation from the outside environment: high stress job, going non-stop, frequently watching and reading negative news, feeling the "demands of others" and the weight of responsibilities.  These influences can be felt at any season, but notice if you feel particularly sensitive to these "assaults on the Heart" during this season.  An example: if you are a caregiver, how long can you continue giving if you don't love and take care of yourself?  Can you give to others from a vessel, the body, that is empty?
These signs and symptoms, when present for an extended period of time, indicate the Fire element being out of balance:
-insomnia
-dream-disturbed sleep/vivid dreams
-anxiety
-palpitations
-inability to concentrate
-timidity, being easily startled
-stuttering or being overlly talkative
-forms of schizophrenic mania
-incoherence
-hyperactivity
-restlessness

From Lorie Eve Dechar's Five Spirits:  Alchemical Acupuncture for Psychological and Spiritual Healing, on a spiritual/Shen level, disharmony in this Element can manifest as:
-Person's personality does not fit the life he or she is living
-Lack of inspiration and insight
-Ambivalent sense of self
-Much activity but no center nor grounding
-No self-reflection
-Inability to distinguish real from unreal

Anything that upsets the Heart upsets the Shen!  Sudden emotional trauma, shock and abuse can cause a Shen disturbance.  In Maya spiritual healing as taught to me by Dr. Rosita Arvigo, emotional trauma or shock is treated through spiritual baths which involve using water, fresh herbal plants, burning of copal incense, and the most important ingredient: prayer.  More information can be found in her books Rainforest Home Remedies and Spiritual Bathing: Traditions from around the world

Deep seeded disturbance of the Fire element, such as psychosis and mania, requires professional assistance and a holistic approach to healing, but there are several self-care tools that will balance our Fire element, calm our Shen and bring us closer to harmony with Nature and ourselves:

-Slow down enough to be aware of what your body and Heart are tell you
-Bring a meditative quality into your daily activities
-Cultivate a sitting practice
-Journal, paint, draw
-Practice the self care tools you already know
-Take that vacation you are longing for
-Take time to listen before acting, wait for clarity
-Wear red and bright colors if you feel "lacking in fire"
-Have fun with water and around bodies of water
-Incorporate bitter foods into your diet: arugula, romaine lettuce, sprouts, watercress, dandelion greens, aloe juice, turnips/radishes, asparagus, celery, quinoa, amaranth, citrus pith and peel
-Eat more salads and lightly cooked foods, but not over indulge in iced foods or cold beverages as these damage digestive enzymes and taxes the digestive energy
-Incorporate teas and beverages that are mildly diuretic such as hibiscus, corn silk (this is one of my favorite teas when I buy fresh corn!), chamomile, spearmint, coconut water

I share with you two of my favorite quotes on love:

When you become a lover of what is, the war is over.    Byron Katie, author

The only positive energy that truly exists is love, and the greatest expression of that is loving yourself.  Don Juanito, northern Peru Amazonian shaman



In-Joy summer in whatever form your inner guidance wishes for you!

Spring as Growth

Greetings to All and Happy Spring!


Spring is a time of birth, change and rapid expansion. The Chinese medicine element or energetic phase for spring is Wood. Just as spring is the time for plants to quickly pierce the ground and for trees to flower, it also represents birth and the quick growth of children and infants. Therefore, the Wood element is concerned with movement, with motivation, and with the harmonious flow in our lives.

A healthy Wood element person is sure of oneself and can speak up for one’s needs, but also knows when to relax the urge for control and go with the flow. Many great visionaries such as Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi have strong Wood elements. An example in nature is bamboo: the main stalk is very straight and firm but can also easily curve and bend with the wind.

The principal organs of the Wood element are the Liver and Gallbladder. The energy of the Liver ensures the smooth flow of Qi/Energy in the body and prevents such Liver Qi stagnation problems such as:

* spasms

* tight muscles

* painful menstruation

* continuous sneezing, itchy eyes from hay fever

* nervous tension, anger, frustration

* premenstrual symptoms

* constant hiccups, belching, or gas

* pounding headache

* feeling of restlessness with lethargy   How can we balance our Wood element if we experience any of the above symptoms or feel a lack of motivation or vision? Here are some suggestions:

* Increase intake of vegetables, particularly green vegetables. If your digestion is sensitive or you have a hard time digesting certain foods, eat more lightly cooked vegetables, rather than raw.

* Look at the green in nature whenever you have spent several hours reading or at a desk. Green helps children focus and relax. Rub your bare feet over green grass. Place plants inside your house (ie bamboo is very easy to maintain in water and moderate light).

* Include a moderate daily amount of sour foods such as lemons, seasonal berries, limes, pickles, berries, organic yogurt, apple cider vinegar, locally made sauerkraut

* Exercise, stretch, play. Movement keeps the Liver Qi from stagnating.

* Get enough sleep because the Liver Blood replenishes at night; insufficient Liver Blood leads to energetic stagnation. This is particular for women, since Liver blood is intimately connected to menstrual blood.

* On a psycho-emotional level, Wood energy is about unfulfilled desires, but rather than figuring out "what am I supposed to be doing with my life?!", in other words, big life questions, focus on a present moment frustration that arises.  For example, if you are not a morning person and you are easily stressed in the morning, take a moment next time you find yourself frustrated, just a few seconds, to ask yourself, "What is happening at this very moment that I am frustrated?  What is the unfulfilled desire at this very moment?"  See what arises.  You do this enough times, you will find that answers will come easily, and your Liver Qi will flow more freely, allowing for more awareness to tackle deeper issues.