Archive for category: Herbal Medicine

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Ancient Remedy For Dry Cough

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“Breathe Easy” – Ancient Remedy for Persistent Dry Cough

The cold and flu season this winter in Truckee/Tahoe has been a rough one for many.  Symptoms of sinus congestion and dry cough that lingers on for weeks seems to be making its’ rounds around the community.  I wanted to share a traditional recipe that I was taught by a Chinese Herbalist.  This simple three ingredient steamed pear remedy is often prepared to prevent or treat a persistent dry lingering cough after a cold or flu.  In Chinese Medicine terms, it helps to strongly moisten and tonify the Lung Yin while dissolving phlegm.

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Anti-Inflammatory Spicy Summer Smoothie

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          Inflammation is a natural process that occurs in your body as a response to damaged cells, invading pathogens, irritating chemicals, and other negative factors. It is a normal part of your immune system’s reaction to these stimuli. However, when inflammation occurs chronically, that is for long periods of time, it can do significant damage to your body.

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Immune Boosting Chicken Soup

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Winter is officially here!  Using food as medicine, what better way to boost your immune system this season than with a delicious nourishing soup!  At the fist sign of a cold (or if your family or co-workers has one) whip up the immune boosting soup before reaching for the cold medicine.  Soup made from whole chickens is rich in carnosine, which has been shown to inhibit damage from viruses in the body [1].  Both astragalus and shiitake mushrooms stimulate natural killer cells, whose job is to directly attack viruses and harmful bacteria. The ginger and chili flakes give the soup some heat to stimulate the sinuses to drain. Ginger is also a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and is an amazing anti-inflammatory herb.  Beyond this, doesn’t it just feel good to sip on a warm, brothy soup in the colder weather?

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Probiotics vs. Prebiotics

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A diverse gut microbiome is essential for all aspects of health including digestion, immune modulation, metabolic activity, and gene expression.  Thanks to the vast amount of research done by foundations such as the Human Microbiome Project, a deeper understanding of the symbiotic relationship between human health and the microbial world has been gained.  Additionally, new insights and ground has been broken into progressive functional therapies and treatments for conditions not limited to digestion alone. Read more

We Live In A Toxic World

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Chronic fatigue, weight problems, sleeping disorders, mood swings, fuzzy thinking, recurrent headaches, body pains, skin conditions, asthma, allergies, hayfever….. Complaints not exclusive to the elderly or unfit, but now frequently experienced by almost everybody, even children! Read more

Crazy For Coconuts!

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If you were to travel the world to look for cultures who have a strong grasp on good health and longevity, people who are relatively free from the crippling effects of degenerative disease, I am sure you would be pleasantly surprised while visiting the South Pacific and studying those who have maintained their traditional native diet and steered clear of Western influence. Read more

Fire Cider…Winter Tonic!

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The leaves are changing, the air is cooling, cold and flu season is approaching, and the holiday madness has officially arrived!  As we make the transition from Fall into Winter there is no better time to start home brewing Fire Cider so it will be ready you and your family during the cold winter months.  Fire Cider (also referred to as Cyclone Cider and Dragon Water) has been traditionally used by many herbalists as a winter tonic, immune system booster, cold and flu fighter, and peripheral circulation enhancer.

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Botanical Medicine: Questions Answered…

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A Bit of Herbal Medicinal History…

Cultures all over the world have traditionally used herbs and botanical medicinals to maintain health and treat disease.  By 200 BC Chinese herbal medicine was firmly established in their culture, and by the first century AD, a listing of medicinal herbs and formulas along with their uses had been developed.  During the Ming Dynasty (1152-1578) the classic Chinese book on herbology was compiled by Li Shi-Zhen which listed nearly 2,000 herbal medicinals.  By 1990, the latest edition of “The Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China” listed more than 200 single herbs and nearly 300 multi-herb formulas.  Today in China, herbs are often used instead of Western medications, or in conjunction with them to increase efficacy and reduce side effects. Read more