What a lovely morning! I woke up to the birds chirping in my backyard. Spring is here! It is finally here after the long anticipation in the winter.
The chilly, fresh air is filled with new energy I started walking around to see what was happening. To my surprise I saw many plants waking up after their long winter slumber.
Well hello my friends!
The Wild Geraniums and the Creeping Charlies are still here from last fall. Yes they are always here but it is nice to see them again now.
The gentle looking Wild Geranium overwinters under the wet snow. It is great when you need a potent astringent or just want to look beautiful.
The long forgotten Creeping Charlie is an evergreen perennial available all year long and even under the snow. Think of it when you need protection, it was once was called a heal-all.
Under the pine trees, the Hellebore flowers are peaking through the snow, It is quite the show but for me the true sign of spring comes when my native plants show.
The Dandelion leaves are coming up like every year ready to start spring. Make a salad with its bitter leaves to get you through spring.
The gentle Mullein rosettes are peering through the snow Their tender leaves are ready to try to comfort you in your sorrows.
Yarrow with its finely cut leaves just started to show. They are here to heal your wounds internal or external.
Motherwort like a tough mother is here whether you want it or not. It may clear away your unwanted tension and energy.
Elderberry shoots are moving up and out, ready to try to get you through troubled times. Respect it, As it lives in the world of fairies.
Hello all my lovely garden allies! It was such a delight to check in with you all. Feeling the energy of the spring In my garden.
A big theme for my blog is ‘Eating with the seasons’. I have been eating seasonal foods my entire life. I grew up in Hungary and the only foods we were able to eat were foods grown in Hungary. At the time, we were not able to get the exotic foods from Mediterranean countries or Africa. One exception was the bananas around Christmas time. When I moved to the United States, I tried to stay with this concept and only ate locally grown foods as much as possible.
What are seasonal foods?
Foods like fruits, vegetables and other products grown and harvested in a specific region where you live. In other-words, these are foods that are naturally available in your area.
But why eat with the seasons?
Earlier, people ate with the seasons out of necessity, there were no foods available from faraway places. They ate what they got. However, ancient traditions were also aware of the benefits of local foods. The ancient Chinese believe that eating with the seasons supported the balance between the body’s internal environment and the external world. They also believe that instead of counting calories and eating fad diets, we should be looking to our environment and see what we need to do to stay in balance. Let’s look at why local foods are important.
Elder flower drink in the spring
Taste and nutrition
One obvious benefit is that local foods taste better and have more nutrients than foods brought in from far away places. For instance, a cherry picked from a local tree is superior to any exotic fruits. When cherries are picked at peak of their ripeness, they are bursting with flavor and nutrients as opposed to bananas that were picked early so they could be sold at super markets after the long travel.
Sustainability
Another benefit is that eating with the seasons is more economical for sure. Our foods have minimal traveling if any so there is less carbon foot print. There is less traveling involved, food is cheaper. Also, another important consideration is that we can support our neighbors and local farmers. This further helps support our community.
Squashes from the farmers market are an excellent example for food sustainability. Squashes grown locally are bursting with flavor in the fall and are available in abundance … and we can support our local farmers as well.
Benefits our body
Also, foods grown in our area we live in support our body, our immune system. The energy of the food has the energy that surrounds us and helps us cope with the environmental challenges. They have the nutrients we need and can help the body ward off pathogens easier. As we move through the seasons, we face similar challenges; in other words, the plants have to deal with the same climate to make it through the year. Also, the plants get the native pollinators to pollinate their flowers.
Potatoes in the middle of the winter come to my mind for a good example. Potatoes grown locally and stored in a root cellar have everything we need in the winter. Seriously, we don’t need to get expensive vegetables from warmer places.
Summary
Eating with the seasons has been an important concept for a long time. For many, it is a way of life because there are no other foods available. However, eating seasonal foods has many benefits. The foods grown locally taste better, have the nutrients we need and can support our energies to cope with our environment, hence can support our body. Also, they are cheaper and can support our local community as well. Honestly with all these benefits, I can’t imagine not eating the foods that grow in my back yard or I can get at the farmers market.
According to Ancient Chinese Medicine, the root cause of so many health problems is Dampness and many of us especially in the Western industrial countries have it.
So what is Dampness in the body?
Dampness is a condition of having excess fluid like substance in the body. Dampness is considered one of the evils in Traditional Chinese Medicine, capable of disrupting the internal balance of our body. It can negatively impact the energy (Qi) flow (3).
Imagine a house where water is flowing through the inner pipes. You have access to the water only in the bathroom and the kitchen. You should not have water floating around anywhere in the house and the faucets should not be leaking. There should be no water seeping into the house from the outside either.
This same scenario is present in our body. Fluids should be in areas where they are supposed be and should be able to move without impedance. Fluids are important for our body to function properly. It moistens the digestive tract and the mucosa. However, when it is not flowing in its proper place, it can create Dampness (3).
When trapped, Dampness can turn into Phlegm, a more serious condition and can cause stagnation in the body. It may also lead to other more complex problems like tumors and cancer (3).
In our body, our Spleen is mainly in charge of moving this fluid. So if our Spleen is not healthy, we can see Dampness (3).
What can cause it?
Poor diet: Overeating, eating too much raw, cold, sweet, greasy, processed, poorly grown and sugary foods. Excess alcohol. Eating while distracted. Not chewing our food properly.
Food intolerance.
Stress, unresolved emotional problems.
Inactivity.
Constitutional weakness. Some people have genetic dispositions for dampness.
Overgrowth of yeasts, viruses, putrefactive bacteria, parasites
Joint problems
Brain fog
Weight problems (2).
So what can we do?
1. Strengthen digestion.
Use carminative herbs. Carminative herbs support our digestion. They are warming pungent and bitter plants that stimulate and excite secretion from the mouth on down the gastrointestinal canal (1). Cook with these plants on a regular basis. Carminative herbs are paprika, ginger, fennel, cumin, coriander, thyme, garlic, sage, mint, turmeric, rosemary, cinnamon, all spice, caraway seeds, anise seeds, fennel, cardamom, mustard seeds, oregano etc (2). In other words, these are the so called culinary spices. Ancient doctors have added them to our foods so we can have their benefits on a daily basis. Most of my recipes have one or more of these spices.
2. Eat nourishing foods.
According to Hippocrates, a physician who lived about 2000 years ago, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. This is a very powerful statement that sums it all up: Treat your food as medicine else your medicine will become your food. Our food and our body are intimately related.
Nourishing our organs especially the Spleen is crucial to prevent dampness. In addition, according to Chinese Medicine, Phlegm is made in the Spleen and stored in the Lungs. So the health of the Lungs and its twin organ the Large Intestine are important too. Also, the Water element organs, the Kidneys and the Bladder can contribute to the accumulated moisture if they are not transforming the fluids (2). For more information, please check out my blog posts on the Earth, Metal and Water elements.
3. Emotions
Our emotions can negatively effect our organs and cause Dampness. Use stress relieving methods like meditation or flower essences (4).
4. Exercise
Keep moving. Exercise is good for our digestion, Lungs and keeps fluids moving. It is so good for the whole body in general and can prevent Dampness (2).
5. Anti-dampness plants
There are many plants that can help with Dampness. Chicory root, Chamomile or Fennel seeds are great bitter herbs that help dry Dampness (2). Also, there are many excellent foods that we can incorporate into our daily diet. Beneficial foods to prevent Dampness include turnips, burdock, aduki beans, celery, barley, mung beans (2), all mushrooms, garlic, cranberries.
6. Keep calm!
Staying calm is a big theme in Natural Medicine. A calm body and mind are essential for health. A stressed body can lead to so many problems including Dampness. It also involves eating without distractions in a pleasant environment and properly chewing our food (3).
The plants mentioned in this post can be drying so use them in moderation or use them with other moistening substances. These include water, oil, small amount of salt. Of course, when served with a meal, this should not be a problem. For the records moistening foods include chard, tomatoes, spinach, barley, millet, pears, seaweed, almonds, eggs, pork, mussels, pine nuts. In addition, moistening herbs include Plantain, Marshmallow, Slippery Elm (2).
Summary
Dampness is one of the most important health problems today effecting a lot of people. It mainly involves our digestive system. Poor dietary habits and life style choices contribute to it. In addition, poorly functioning Lungs and the Kidneys can add to the problem. They can often be prevented with awareness toward what and how we eat and how we live. Of course, avoiding all the things that caused the problem is essential. It is no surprise people for thousands of years put a big emphasis on the importance of diet and life style (3).
Note: I capitalized some words in the post. In Chinese Medicine, words that are associated with additional Chinese medicine theories/functions are capitalized to differentiate them from their Western meanings.
The information provided is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Consult your medical care provider before using herbal medicine, particularly if you have a known medical condition, are on any medication or if you are pregnant or nursing.
SOURCES
(1) Mathew Wood. The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism.
(2) Paul Pitchfort. Healing with Whole Foods.
(3) Giovanni Maciocia. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine
(4) Pablo Noriega. Bach Flower Essences and Chinese Medicine
Orange peel can be used for cooking and baking especially in the winter. The aromatic sweet orange peel gives a hint of bitter flavor to desserts and savory dishes alike. It doesn’t shout, it is there to balance the dishes. I like to use all five flavors when I cook and orange peel can be used for the bitter flavor. I especially like to add it in my desserts when I need just a hint of the bitter flavor. They can also be used in cocktails and mulling spices.
It is very easy to make dried orange peel! I collect peels throughout the winter. After I eat the oranges, I dry them. Use this recipe so you can have some on hand when you need it. Most oranges will work. Just remove any wet, fleshy parts that might have stayed on the peel.
RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
peel from organic, untreated oranges (washed)- I use navel oranges.
METHOD
1. Carefully peel an orange. Remove any wet, fleshy parts that might have stayed on the peel. Place the peels on a paper towel in a single layer and put them in a dry place. The top of the cupboard is great. Don’t layer them as they can get soggy. Dry them for 1 month.
2. If you don’t want to wait for an entire month for the peels to dry, you can just dry them in the oven. The peels can be baked at 200 F for 90 minutes. They should be brittle and dry. If they are soft, continue baking them.
3. You can use the whole peels or grind the dried peels in a blender. Whole peels will last longer, finally powder will have a shorter shelf life.
4. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. They last for about 6-12 months depending how coarse you grind them.
Every year, many people make New Year’s resolutions on December 31st for the following year. It is an opportunity to set personal goals to make life style changes like losing weight, starting an exercise routine or eating healthier foods. However, a survey done by the Journal of Substance Abuse reveals that most New Year’s resolutions fail by mid March. Why are so many people unsuccessful?
Let’s look at this phenomena from a more unconventional perspective, astrology. I believe it is plausible that people fail to make these changes as they are not working with the energies of nature. If we worked with these energies, we could do things easier. Let’s look closer at what I mean.
For thousands of years, different cultures have been observing how nature effects human beings. One way to observe it is using astrology. Astrologists believe that the Universe is reflected inside our body. As above so below, we are the microcosm of the macrocosm meaning the Universe is reflected in every human being. Astrology offers us a road map for opportunity and growth. It observes 12 different signs throughout the year, each sign associated with a specific time period on Earth.
SO WHEN SHOULD WE START ?
From an astrological perspective, New Year’s resolutions could be more successful if people started after March 21st instead of starting on January 1st. The time period between January up until mid March is considered cold when we tend to want to curl up by a fire place and do more quite activities like reading a book. It is a time for deep internal movement.
However, there are some things we can do before March 21st to prepare for making big changes. I would like to briefly discuss things that we can do to transition more efficiently. These first few months could be used to nourish and rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit.
It’s winter and according to Western Astrology, the new year doesn’t start until March 21st. Right now it is time to rest, slow down and nurture our body, mind and spirit!
There are three zodiac signs before March 21st, the Aries season starts. These three signs are Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Let’s discuss the seasons, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces and Aries.
CAPRICORN SEASON
It is early January and it is cold and gets dark early. However, we are in ambitious Capricorn season and can feel its relentless discipline. This sign invites us to set goals and build strong foundations. Capricorn season runs between December 21st and January 20th. This sign is associated with hard work and a strong drive for success, so it makes sense that people get excited and start working on their goals. Maybe this time would be a great opportunity to set goals, start something small and just try to get into a routine.
AQUARIUS SEASON
Then comes the rebellious Aquarius season between January 21st and February 18th. This is an intense energy! It is a great time for making plans that you might not have thought of doing before but not so much for actions. Aquarius is more about doing good for humanity instead for the self so most people will likely not follow their original plans. I honestly feel an intense energy stuck in my head during this time and do foolish things. Instead of forcing our plans to work, we should be grounding ourselves and restoring circulation – physically, mentally and emotionally. Lavender is a great remedy.
PISCES SEASON
The sign, the dreamy Pisces season starts on February 19th. Pisces is the last zodiac sign representing endings, emotional release and deep introspection. During these weeks unprocessed stress, subconscious patterns and stored emotions begin to surface. Many people might be just dreaming about their plans and might have given up all together by now. I tend to feel tired during this time. However, I would like to point out that this could be a great time to start dealing with these stuck emotions or starting some sort of a spiritual practice like meditation.
ARIES SEASON
If you want to make successful life style changes, I’d suggest starting after March 20th and take an advantage of the Aries season. Energetic Aries is ready to get you started on anything and move you through obstacles. It is just its nature! I usually get my energy back as nature is waking up. During Aries season, the weather starts warming up and we naturally want to move more and lose weight. It’s time to shed the accumulated fats and toxins from the winter. This can explain why so many people give up before March 21st. Just make sure you pace yourself.
SUMMARY
Simply put, work with nature instead of working against it! According to Astrology, we could be more successful starting new endeavors during Aries seasons in March than early January. The period from January to mid-March is cold. During this time, we tend to want to curl up by a fire place and engage in quiet activities like reading a book. I suggest to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit. This is also a good time to do a spiritual practice. Begin with baby steps that lead to attainable goals for the rest of the year. Then start your activity that you dreamed up after March 21st, just make sure you don’t burn yourself out with all this available energy.
Of course, these are general guidelines, and as always everybody’s situation is unique. For a more personalized plan please see an astrologist!
All the best for your endeavors! Hope this will help.
I am thrilled to announce that Twincitiesherbs is on Facebook now! Please come and check out my page! I will be posting my old and new seasonal recipes and some other helpful information! This gives you a chance to see not just my new recipes but my old recipes from earlier years. It is a private group so you just need to request to join.
Winter is not over yet, in fact we are still in the middle of it. To be a little more exact, we are half way between winter and spring on the northern hemisphere. I can usually feel the Earth’s energy starting to wake up but spring is not here yet. We can finally experience the promise of the light, fertility and growth.
Come celebrate this Winter Magic! In accordance to Pagan traditions, this occasion has been celebrated for thousands of years by Europeans. One special food they make is the honey cookies. So yes this celebration is similar to Valentine’s day. The cookies were gifted as a fertility token to girls by boys or given as good luck charm to little children. Heart was always a popular shape but sun or animal themes were often used as well.
There is so much folklore, legend and history behind these lovely spiced cookies! They are made to honor the old, wise women in their culture. In Ireland they call her Brighid, in Russia they are called Baba Yaga. These women are the Earth’s Goddesses. The cookies are not just beautiful but are packed with nourishing ingredients that grandma would use.
This is still the time to stay focused inward and get ready mentally for the year to come. Clean and clear the space you live in and invite love or universal love into your life. Set your intentions. Do things that your heart desires.
Another spectrum of love is hatred, anger and jealousy. When you invite love into your life, you might experience these feelings too. Don’t be afraid of them just acknowledge them. These emotions can be found in the Grimm story of Hansel and Gratel.
Traditionally, honey, rye flour and forest herbs were used to make these delicious cookies. Honey, the main ingredient has been used as medicine since ancient times. It is well known for its nutritious value and supposedly sweetens life as well. Oh and it is aphrodisiac! In addition to honey, our ancestors prepared the dough with rye flour but today people tend to use white flour. They also put foraged herbs and dried fruits in the cookies. Of course, these ingredients varied from country to country and region to region but often included fennel, lavender, rose petals, juniper berries, sumac etc. Since the exotic spices arrived from the East, people have been baking the cookies with these spices. These included a mixture of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg etc.
Often when you ask children what their favorite holiday is they say … Christmas! And then you ask why … because they get presents. I’m sure that is how I would have answered those questions back when I was a little girl. This is a very magical holiday for sure … but as we get older, we start thinking about giving too.
Many people enjoy giving treats at Christmas time. But where did the idea of Christmas gift giving come from? … and what about Santa and his rein deer?
Let’s go back in time. It is believed that it came from an old Pagan tradition. Giving gifts can strengthen the ‘family and well-being of others’, an important theme during this time of the year. This custom was part of the tradition of exchanging mushrooms as a gift at the time in the Northern part of Siberia. Mushrooms were special because of their connection to longevity. People delivered the wrapped carefully prepared dried mushrooms to people’s houses for celebrating the winter solstice. There was so much snow that they could not open the doors. The packages had to be dropped off through the holes on top of the yurts, where the smoke could escape. Also, these people used rein deer for transportation in the snow. And there is even more check this out … I need to mention that their traditional clothing is red and white … hence comes the story of Santa dressed in red and white, delivering presents through the chimney down the fire place with the help of some rein deer…
After so many years, we are still exchanging gifts. Giving home-made foods can be meaningful for both the giver and the receiver. If you are not sure what to give this year, maybe consider giving cookies. I’m presenting two different cookie recipes that can be gifted during the holidays. They are ‘Christmas’-y and mouth watering.
Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!
COOKIE RECIPES
Please check out the following links for the recipes.
December brings forth Winter Wonderland and the Holidays. When I think of Christmas dishes, warming and festive winter foods come to my mind. For me Christmas is a lot about cooking and baking … and of course music. I’m already looking forward to all the baking and cooking I will be doing and singing along my favorite Christmas music…
Twin Cities Herbs 