Health is Wealth Tip, March 23, 2013, Year of the Snake:

One part of Chinese medicine is diet therapy. You really are what you eat. All food has certain properties, and can cause a reaction in the body. For example, peppermint can reduce your body's temperature. According to Chinese medicine, some foods are particular for calming the mind and nourishing your brain, helping you get a full night of restful sleep.

The foods include:
Lotus Root (pictured above, can be found at any Asian supermarket), Lotus Fruit and Seeds
Grapes
Longan Nuts (can be found at any Asian supermarket)
Dates
Licorice
Cooked Egg Yolk

Recipe: 15 longan nuts, 7 red dates, and 50 gm of rice in a saucepan. Add enough water till the level is 1 inch above the mixture. Boil until soft, and serve! You can add licorice if you want a sweeter flavor. Molasses makes a great sweetener as well, and great at nourishing the blood.

Have a peaceful day!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.

Health is Wealth Tip, February 13, 2013, Year of the Snake:

I love hemp seeds, also known as hemp hearts. They are the easiest healthy food to add to my diet. Just today I sprinkled some ontop of my eggs in the morning, salad later on, and peas and corn side dish for dinner. I even sprinkled them ontop of my strawberry ice cream! They have a light nutty flavor with a fatty texture. Other great meal ideas to add hemp seeds to are breakfast cereals, smoothies, yogurt, tacos, chicken and fish, or just about anything.

There are many nutrients in hemp seeds. They are a rich source of protein, which can sustain your satiety between meals. They are even a complete protein, containing all the essential amino acids. The fatty taste of the seeds comes from the omega fatty acids of 3-6-9, with a well balanced proportion of omega 3 and 6. other nutrients include magnesium, iron, potassium, and zinc.

The seeds are digestible right out of the bag, and a wonderful way to supplement the diets of all ages. So why not pick up a bag of hemp seeds the next time you visit your natural foods store. You will have fun with your creativity of incorporating these into your diet!

Have a peaceful day!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.

Health is Wealth Tip, February 6, 2013, Year of the Snake:

There is a Chinese tradition of soaking your feet is a basin of warm water before bedtime. One common cause of insomnia is too much energy floating in the head and is not sinking down to allow the mind to sleep. Stressful lifestyles are the main cause, such as people who cannot sleep because their mind is racing with thoughts.

The bottom of your feet are the strongest areas in your body to pull the energy downwards from the head. Increasing circulation in the feet, such as soaking them in warm water for 20 minutes, will stimulate your acupuncture points to pull the energy downward away from the head so your mind can sleep. This is also very relaxing, and you can add some lavender essential oil drops or epsom salts to enhance the experience!

Have peaceful dreams tonight!
-Rachelle Lambert, L.Ac.