I was sitting on my swing on a sunny afternoon all of a sudden a leaf fell in my lap. A yellow leaf quietly landed, it didn’t just fall but it drifted back and forth and cascaded down quietly and slowly.
It reminded me of an opportunity that all of a sudden appears in my life. Not with an extravagant noise Not with a loud applause Or announced on a social media site.
It made a deliberate appearance It showed up out of nowhere It was truly meant to be there. I could have just shrugged it off Oh it’s just a leaf!
… but it quietly whispered to pay attention to the little things that arrive in life softly without any proclamation.
They appear first in the spring So I can eat their greens, Their beautiful flowers pop up in my backyard To show that spring is really here. Then I get to blow their puffballs So I can make a wish …
When I slow down I realize These plants have a lot to say.
What do they teach me?
Resilience Playfullness Courage
Not anger Not ignorance Not hate
If I have strong roots I can survive! Their resilience gives me hope … People try to get rid of them yet they come back even stronger. Staying grounded could be their secret to prosper.
It brings back sweet childhood memories Reminding me to be playful. I like to blow on their puffballs make a wish and hope they will turn into something fruitful.
They show courage So I can conquer my fears So I can achieve my dreams. The possibilities are endless. Like a tiny seed traveling for miles across the land I have a chance to achieve something out of the ordinary.
When I am feeling anger ignorance hate The spirit of the dandelions is here to support me in my life journey.
This plant is so powerful, What a great teacher bringing me so much inspiration.
What a lovely morning! I woke up to the birds chirping in my backyard. Spring is here! It is finally here after the long 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 fragrant 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 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 like 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.
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?
According to Ancient Chinese Medicine, Dampness is a condition of having excess fluid like substance in the body. Dampness is considered one of the evils 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 mucosa of the digestive, respiratory, urinary system, joints and the uterus. However, when it is not flowing in its proper place, it can create Dampness.
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). In addition, the fluids made in the Spleen are 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.
What can cause it?
Poor diet: Overeating, eating too much raw, cold, sweet, greasy, over-processed, poorly grown, toxic 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.
A strong and balanced Digestive Fire is essential for good health. It gives energy and heat for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and aids in removing toxins. If impaired we can see poor digestion and toxins accumulating. Poorly functioning digestive Fire can result in Dampness accumulation. Signs of poorly functioning Digestive Fire are watery stools, undigested foods in the stools, cold hands and feet, clear urine, pallor. To support the Digestive Fire, include ginger (fresh or dried), small amount of cayenne pepper, black pepper corn, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, warm cooked foods, and pungent vegetables in the diet (1,2).
Also use carminative herbs. Carminative herbs support our digestion. They are warming pungent and bitter plants that increase circulation to the digestive system (1). They warm and relax the digestive tract so they can work more efficiently. Cook with these plants on a regular basis. Carminative herbs include paprika, ginger, fennel, cumin, coriander, thyme, garlic, sage, mint, turmeric, rosemary, cinnamon, all spice, caraway seeds, anise seeds, dill, cardamom, mustard seeds, oregano (2). In other words, these are the so called culinary spices. Ancient doctors have added them to our meals so we can have their benefits on a daily basis (1). 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, our food and our body are intimately related.
Nourishing our organs especially the Spleen is crucial to prevent Dampness. But the other two organs like I mentioned earlier, the Lungs and the Kidneys are important too. For more information, please check out my blog posts on the Earth, Metal and Water elements.
3. Emotions
Our emotions especially worry, brooding and stress can negatively effect our organs and cause Dampness. Use calming, stress relieving methods like meditation or flower essences (4).
4. Exercise
Keep moving, exercise can prevent Dampness from forming in our body. Think of a damp cloth, when you hang it up and let it dry while air is circulating, it will dry nicely. However, when you leave it in the washer, it will get musty and damp. This can happen in our body too. We can achieve a similar effect in our body with exercise. 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, all mushrooms, garlic, cranberries (2).
6. Keep calm!
Staying calm is a big theme in Natural Medicine. A calm body and mind are essential for true health. Nerves innervate our digestive system so stress can adversely effect our digestive process. A stressed body can lead to so many problems including Dampness. Eating without distractions in a pleasant environment and properly chewing our food are useful practices to ensure we have proper digestion.
Caution
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 record, 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 affecting 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.
Note: I capitalized some words in this 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 peel them and 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.
Our body was built to follow the sky!
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.
