Category: Wellness

Spring into New Options

Carol Griesmeyer

Spring is upon us. We mostly made it through winter. Some are still experiencing those last minute surprise snow storms and chillier weather but it is still moving towards us.

This is the season when we get out of our houses if we aren’t into the cold and rain activities. We want to get moving again. It is the natural order of things. Plants, bulbs, flowers come up and out for the ground. The days get longer. We reset our clocks to take advantage of the longer hours in the evening. (I personally prefer these hours, even if they aren’t the natural state.) Spring cleaning happens to open the home to the moving energy again and clear out that which has collected and gotten stagnant during our “cave” experience the last few months.

Clearing the cupboards, closets, carpets, etc is a great way to get the energy going. When you get rid of the stale and that which you don’t need you have room to bring in the fresh and new and allow for new growth. Let’s get rid of the blocks, obstacles from getting our ‘things’ done.

This is the season that the Wood element is dominant. The organs are Liver and Gall Bladder. The Liver is a great orchestrator, gets things organized and moving. When you are planning a party you want a great organizer. She sees the details and leaves nothing undone. The Gall Bladder comes along and helps to actually get it done. Do you know anyone that can plan all sorts of things but just can’t seem to finish anything?

This stagnation, not being able to achieve our dreams, keep moving forward can come from outside obstacles in our lives or obstacles inside ourselves. Are you clear where is the sabotage coming from? If we don’t control the stagnation we will literally blow everything up in the process of getting our plans fulfilled (Liver)  or grab and break down, wear down the opposition until you feel powerful and in control again (Gall Bladder).

We have to have dreams and goals but we need to have these while remaining cognizant that we are not the only people in the world. The world was not created for our satisfaction and entertainment. We are not the center of the universe. We have to make room for others. We need to share. As there are more and more people on the planet this gets to be a bigger and bigger challenge. We need to acknowledge and accept that we have this fire that builds up in us and find healthy outlets for it. It’s great to have this fire to right the wrongs or do amazing, positive changes in a wounded society. We are at at point where we need to understand that we are not powerless when we share the power.

To right the wrongs does not mean to be shoot, kill everyone who disagrees with you. There is way too much of that going on. It seems that we are getting to accept that that is the way things should be done. It’s OK to admit that you would like to rip someone’s face off or blow something up but it just can’t be done. We can choose to control the extreme here. When someone out to get you, you need to understand that they are coming from a place of extreme fear, even paranoia and powerlessness. What makes them feel that way? What factors make them think and act in ways that are so extreme so that they can feel powerful again? In turn, when we see them coming, what do we want to do to stop them in their tracks? War comes to mind but we’ve done that too many times and it hasn’t worked.

Remember that here is more than one way. It is the old thinking, weighty habits that often get in our way. We need to evolve in our thinking, grow in options for handling the stagnations, blockages, pain that come into our lives. Look to each other for understanding and support instead of undermining and annihilating opposing thought. Organize another way to deal with not getting only our way so we all get our way, all have self respect and self-esteem and have our personal power intact.

Create a new plan, goal. Strive to be peaceful, tolerant, patient. To understand that these strategies are not signs of weakness is a great challenge for us. Use this vibrant Spring energy to start you on another path, fine new insight and strength.

Welcome to Winter

Carol Griesmeyer

Winter. It is the Yin season. If fact it is the Yin within Yin season, the most Yin. Surrounded by the dark and cold. The perfect time to get deeper into our caves for warmth, protect our energy and actually restore the energy we used up all last year. It is not about total disconnection, though.

The connection or rather, reconnection, we should make at this time is with our inner selves.  Getting to know You time.  With the great darkness outside we need to shed some light but on the inside and discover the essence of our self. We spend most of our lives not connected to our spirit, soul. We are not grounded. We keep trying to have an out-of-body experience. As Wayne Dyer would say ‘we need to have an inner body experience.’

Water is the element of the winter season, its’ organ system is the Kidney.

We look as Water as the beginning. The beginning of our life and the next seasonal cycle. Our life started in water. Think of carbon life forms coming out of the oceans onto the earth. We came out of a placental sac filled with water. Water is considered deep and dark and it is connected to our source and our reserve bank.

Most things move slower in the winter. The cold contracts and make movements more restrained. It is the time to restore our reserves, filing them up for the busy year ahead. When we want to preserve food we put it in a cold and dark storage unit – refrigerator. We need to do this with our energy.  In reality, we should be getting up later and going to bed earlier. Our society is not one that likes to go with this flow of seasonal energy. It creates its own flow which is more like a perpetual tsunami, and in the process we exhaust ourselves. We reward ourselves and others for going above and beyond. With our longer life expectancies this is not necessarily the best option.

The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and are considered part of the Kidney system. Because we do more and more to exhaust ourselves, working beyond our natural limits and draining our energy it is important that we make the time to rest and replenish. Try putting meditation onto your daily calendar just like getting up and going to work. You can take 10 min before you get up and 10 min before you go to bed. Just like learning to walk this takes practice. The important thing to understand is that your mind will never shut off, it’s not supposed to. You learn to master what you focus on and keep returning it when it wants to wander. You can also take short breaks during the day to do this. It really doesn’t have to be a long session. It is proven to slow heart rate, lower blood pressure and help you to better focus on the tasks to be done. It is the easiest way to get your second, third or fourth wind during the day. Free, no calories.

Every element has an emotional aspect and for Water the emotion Fear. Everyone is fearful from time to time. It is appropriate to use caution and act in a safe manner. However this fear is more a feeling of not having enough to face the challenges ahead. When you are constantly exhausted it is easy to feel even more fearful. Think of all the challenges our society faces today. Our new term ‘Homeland Security’ has become a euphemism for paranoia. When you are that scared, everyone is out to get you and you must arm yourself. Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t unpleasant people out there but everyone needs to take a step back, nourish our bodies and minds and educate ourselves in all aspects of these problems. Knowledge and understand are the balancing activities to conquer fear, not guns or hatred. The energy and attitude with which you address a problem with is what will come back to you. Try calm, meditation, understanding and a willingness to listen. It’s about communication, inner and outer.

So find a warm, comfy, dark place and spend some time exploring the inner You and understanding the world around you. It really needs to be done. This is the perfect season. What has been said for thousands of years “As on the inside, so on the outside.” If you see chaos all around you it is a reflection of what is going on inside you. Only you can change that. You can’t do it for anyone else but one person changing themselves can impact the world. It is the Power of One.

Mushroom 5 – Shiitake

Carol Griesmeyer

Today we talk about Shiitake mushrooms. That does not mean it is the least important. It just presented them as I ran into them.

Shiitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms (see previous blogs) are widely referred to as “medicinal mushrooms” due to their long history of medical use, particularly in oriental medicine traditions.

The earliest written record of shiitake cultivation is seen in the “Records of Long Quan County” compiled by He Zhan  in 1209. The first book on shiitake cultivation in Japan was written by a Japanese horticulturist Satō Chūryō in 1796.

The Japanese cultivated the mushroom by cutting shii trees with axes and placing the logs by trees that were already growing shiitake or contained shiitake spores. Until 1982 only traditional techniques were used to cultivate the mushroom. After that a report revPixabay Image 448501ealed processes and opportunities for commercial cultivation in the United States.

Shiitake mushrooms are now widely cultivated all over the world, and contribute about 25% of total yearly production of mushrooms. Commercially, shiitake mushrooms are typically grown in conditions similar to their natural environment on either artificial substrate or hardwood logs, such as oak.

Fresh and dried shiitake have many uses in the East Asian dishes. In Japan, they are served in miso soup, used as the basis for a kind of vegetarian dashi (soup stock) , and as an ingredient in many steamed and simmered dishes. In Chinese cuisine, they are often sautéed in vegetarian dishes. They are a common source of protein in Asia.

Shiitake are also dried and sold as preserved food. These are rehydrated by soaking in water before using. Many Chinese people prefer dried shiitake to fresh, considering that the sun-drying process draws out the umami (5th savory taste) flavor from the dried mushrooms. The stems of shiitake are rarely used primarily because the stems are harder and take longer to cook than the soft fleshy caps.

One type of high grade shiitake is called donko in Japanese and dōnggū in Chinese, literally “winter mushroom”. Another high grade of mushroom is called huāgū in Chinese, literally “flower mushroom”, which has a flower-like cracking pattern on the mushroom’s upper surface. Both of these are produced at lower temperatures.

Today shiitake is very widely used. There is a global industry in shiitake production, with local farms in most western countries in addition to large scale importation from China, Japan, Korea and elsewhere.

Like all mushrooms, shiitakes produce vitamin D2 upon exposure of their internal ergosterol (an essential plant sterol) to Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from sunlight or broadband UVB fluorescent tubes.  While all mushrooms contain ergosterol and have the potential to produce vitamin D2 in such a manner, the transparent white of the shiitake gills permits greater contact of the UVB with ergosterol, and very high D2 values can be achieved with exposure to broadband UVB fluorescent tubes. Shiitake is one of the few natural sources of vegan and kosher Vitamin D.

It’s main polysacchride is lentinan and is an approved drug in Japan used to improve survival rates for those undergoing chemotherapy. It protects chromosomes from being damaged by the chemotherapy and there are no known serious side effects. Entire books in China have been written on all the benefits from taking shiitake. It is often prescribed to be used ‘for those exhausted from overwork’.

In the 1960’s there were studies in Japan showing its effectiveness in lower blood cholesterol by as much as 40%. The amino acid, eritadinine, is the active ingredient, has no side effects and is well assimilated when taken orally.

The only problem encountered with shiitake is that there is a small percentage of people who are allergic to the lentinan and develop a dermatitis.

The median time of onset from ingestion of the mushrooms is typically 24 hours, ranging from 12 hours to 5 days. Most patients completely recover by 3 weeks, with or without treatment (steroids). More cases reported shortly after its discovery were due to eating the raw mushrooms, but several cases have since been reported after eating fully cooked mushrooms.

Link to North American Mycological Association site re: dermatitis:

http://www.namyco.org/shiitake_dermatitis.php

 

Mushroom 4 – Maitake

Carol Griesmeyer

Grifola frondosa. Isn’t she lovely. The beautiful dancing mushroom. Classified as an adaptogen helping the body recover from stress and resist infection.

Maitake is another mushroom that has been used for hundreds of years. It was historically used more in Japan but is easily grown anywhere. The name “dancing mushroom” is not from it’s beautiful flouncing appearance however, but do the the fact that in ancient times it could be exchanged for its weight in silver. This lead to dancing in celebration of a good ‘crop’. On a lucky day the find of one cluster can weigh up to 50 pounds.

The polysacchrides in mushrooms seem to be the consistent active ingredient that gives them their power to nourish and heal. Some feel maitake has the most powerful antitumor activity between it, shiitake and reishi.  It’s polysacchride is resistent to breakdown in the acid of the stomach so it is easy to take orally and be assimilated effectively.

Effects of D-Fraction, a polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa on tumor growth involve activation of NK (natural killer) cells. (Biol Pharm Bulletin. 2002). Our bodies have the ability to do a lot of the work but with stress, overwork and poor nutrition it is challenged.
Japanese studies show that it can be effective against cancer in three ways:
It protects healthy cells preventing them from becoming cancerous
It helps prevent metastasis – the spreading of the cancer.
It slows or stops cancer tumor growth

Other studies in Japan have confirmed its antidiabetic activity – specifically Factor X – which increases peripheral insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients. Additional studies are exploring its use in treating hypertension, elevated cholesterol and aiding in weight loss.

As a general tonic it can be used to prevent colds and flus also. Not a lot to say about this one – just short and sweet. Put it in your arsenal of herbs.

No side effects are known. As always use with caution or avoid if pregnant, or lactating.

 

Featured photo credit: “Eikhaas” by Pethan from nl. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eikhaas.JPG#/media/File:Eikhaas.JPG

Mushroom 3 – Coriolus – Turkey tail

Carol Griesmeyer

Coriolus contains polysaccharide peptide (PSP) and polysaccharide-K (PSK, krestin), which may be able to fight tumor growth as well as boost the immune system.

It is widely used in China and Japan in treating chronic and serious immune challenges. It provides a chemo protective defense to healthy cells while sensitizing cancerous cells. In Japan Krestin from Coriolus is a best-selling cancer drug. It increases white blood cells and supports the immune system in general and healthy liver function.

Indications for use:

Infections; respiratiory, urinary,digestive, liver
Promotes liver health, hepatitis
Cancer
HPV cervical lesion (Human papiloma virus)
Weakness, fatigue, general debility
Frequent infections
Supports immune health after surgical treatment, protects immune health in those patients receiving therapies where immune suppression is a prominent feature.
Support the body’s cellular level defenses

It is not known if this product interacts with any medicines. There are no known interactions with any food, or other herbal supplements.

Before taking this product, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
And the usual – not proven to be safe if pregnant or breast-feeding.

Mushroom 2 – Cordyceps (Caterpiller fungus)

Carol Griesmeyer

Reference to this herb goes back thousands of years in Tibet, China and Japan. Because of its rarity it was reserved for use by the emperor and royalty.

The literal translation of Dong chong xia cao is “winter bug summer herb” or “summer grass winter worm”. It was described as transforming from animal to plant and back to animal again. Sounds yummy doesn’t it.

The cordyceps fungus colonizes the larvae of the Thitarodes genus of ghost moths. It completely infects and devours the hose insect and then grows its stalk to release new spores and start the process again. The remnant of the caterpillar and the fruiting body (mushroom) are collected and used. Gentle cleaning and drying give it a mushroom flavor after cooking with no hint of the original insect.

There are actually 3 different cordyceps based on their location of habitat. The Tibetan (xi zang)is the best quality and is gathered in July. Qing hai cordyceps is gathered in June. It is smaller and slightly less potent than the Tibetan. Sichuan cordyceps is the smallest variety and the least effective. Its color is brown while the others are golden yellow.

Environmental issues such as its preference for extreme altitude (over 10,000 ft) and the fact the it is over-harvested have made it an extremely costly ‘wild’ fungus. It is possible to buy the cordyceps sinensis fungus and cultivate it though. Rather than using a caterpillar it can be grown in other hosts such as rye grain, millet or rice. Rye or millet produces a higher quality product than rice. It is best for the natural areas and protection of wild source to only buy products cultivated from C. sinensis or C. mycelia.

In traditional Chinese medicine it is used to treat deficiencies in both Kidney yin and yang. This can also be called adrenal burnout, and used for excessive physical exertion or chronic illness. Cordyceps restores the life essence (jing), controls fluid metabolism (Spleen and Lung), promotes healthy sexual functioning and nourished bones and hearing. Many of these conditions are those that you see developing as one grows older, the back and knees hurt, the hearing is not as good and libido diminishes. All signs of Kidney deficiency.

Safety and Use:

Some fungus scientists feel it is safer to use products derived from C. sinensis and C. mycelia to minimize the potential for contamination from mold and bacteria found in imported products.

No serious side effects have been reported, however, some people may experience nausea, diarrhea or dry mouth. Cordyceps should not be used by pregnant or lactating women or children, as it has not been studied enough in these patient categories. Cordyceps is considered a non-toxic fungus. No known drug interactions have been found, but due to cordyceps’ effect on blood glucose, diabetics should carefully monitor their blood sugar during use. Cordyceps is a red blood cell progenitor; therefore, it should not be used by people suffering from myelogenous (bone marrow) cancers.

Some sources say to not take cordyceps if you are on immunosupressive drugs such as cyclosporine. A small study in 1995 with patients who had kidney transplants and were on cyclosporine showed that it actually helped prevent the nephrotoxic (kidney damaging) side effects of the drug.

There are a variety of products out there. I would recommend getting yours from your licensed acupuncturist. They can evaluate all the supplements and medications you are taking and prescribe safely for you.

Magic Mushrooms – Reishi

Carol Griesmeyer

I will be offering a short series on 5 magic mushrooms. Some are considered adaptogens. Many have been used for thousands of years and are rare in the wild. It has taken centuries to discover how to grow them ‘in captivity’ and still obtain a product that provides the same healing properties. This is true for many ancient healing herbs and food sources. We have to find the balance and not over collect the wild source and still maintain the quality and desired outcome in using the herbs / food.

Reishi  (Ganoderma lucidum) (Ling Zhi)

Long revered as a longevity herb more people are returning to ancient natural substances to assist in healing and bringing balance into their lives without side effects.

Adaptogens are herbs that can increase the body’s ability to handle external stressors and restore it to normal physiological functions. No other adaptogenic herb can do this better than red reishi.

Once reserved only for royalty, red reishi was the most sought after medicinal herb in Eastern medicine because of its rarity. Today, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine consider red reishi nature’s most powerful and beneficial adaptogen. There actually are six different reishis – red, black, blue, white, yellow and purple Reishi. Of these six types, black and red Reishi have demonstrated the most significant health-enhancing effects.

However, red Reishi has been proven to be the most effective in improving one’s overall health by enhancing the immune system, many bodily functions, and vital organs. Black Reishi (Ganoderma sinensis), is fairly common and can be found in most Chinese herbal shops. The majority of Reishi products that claim to be using “wild” Reishi generally use black Reishi. While still valuable as a mild tonic,  black Reishi is considered to be inferior to red Reishi because of its lower polysaccharide content.

Pixabay Image 770055
Yellow Ganoderma cousin

Benefits include but are not limited to:

  • Immune system support
  • Stress reduction
  • Anti-aging, anti-oxidant
  • Supports liver health
  • Improved energy
  • Cardiovascular health

In Chinese medicine it is used to calm the shen (spirit). You don’t go all trippy with it. A disturbed shen may exhibit as insomnia, forgetfulness, fatigue, listlessness.

It supports the Lungs by clearing phlegm which will stop coughing and wheezing for those with asthma.

It tonifies qi and nourishes Blood. Traditionally it is used to strengthen the body. Assisting digestion allows for better nutrition and strengthening in general.

Research is ongoing on understanding the actions of the chemicals in this mushroom. Among them are water-soluble polysaccharides are which have anti-tumor, immune modulating and blood pressure lowering effects. It also contains triterpenes, a class of them found in Reishi is known as ganoderic acids. Studies have indicated that ganoderic acids help alleviate common allergies by inhibiting histamine release, improve oxygen utilization and improve liver functions.

Because of the polysacchrides it may be beneficial to take Vitamin C along with it to help its breakdown and absorption. Also take this in the morning on an empty stomach with water.

All immune-modulating substances such as Reishi should be taken with care for patients undergoing organ transplants and using immunosuppressive drugs.

It is always a good idea to consult a qualified health physician (preferably someone with experience in complementary health care) before consuming any dietary supplement.

Stay tuned in for the next installment: Cordyceps

Elecampane Honey

Carol Griesmeyer

A few weeks ago my office partner said he was going to make elecampagne honey. I said let’s do it together. I’ll take pictures as you show me how to do it. Really it was “something to put in my blog”.

Elecampane is great to nourish the Spleen to resolve dampness so it makes it easier for the Lungs. In Chinese medicine we say ‘the Spleen is the mother of damp and the Lungs are the receptacles’. A lot of our Lung system congestion is the result of the food we eat and do not digest completely. Elecampane is good for tonifying the digestion, promoting the  appetite and the honey makes it a bit tastier and is good to soothe a throat that has been coughing.

Take some roots – any amount will do. They are easy to grow from seed. They will get tall and are perennial. Size should be about 1″ in diameter – 2 years old, 5-8″ long. Fall is the best time to dig up after the plant has died back. To buy them I would check your local natural food store. If they don’t carry them, they may know who might and get you their number. Check out local farmers’ markets also and you’ll find growers of many great herbs for remedies.

Ele roots raw     Ele wash  Ele slices 4

Scrub off dirt. Cut into thin slices, small pieces, dice, whatever to expose as much of root as possible to honey. Also smaller pieces are easier to chew.

1 jar – pt or ½ pt or may be larger depending on the amount of root you have.

Ele honey fill BEle honey fill C

Pour honey to cover root to within ½ in of jar lip or until the root is covered.

Stop to poke out the air bubbles during the fill. Ele 1 hr done

Let sit 4-6 weeks turning periodically for full root coverage and mixing. Photo is shot of jar after sitting for one hour. It will draw the fluid out of the root.

Take honey directly by the spoonful or add to tea. You can also suck on and chew the pieces of root. They have an intense flavor, not really bitter, somewhat fragrant in that the flavor seems to bloom in your mouth.

This is a great herbal remedy to have around in the cold months when coughs are more frequent and digestion can be off with the heavier food we tend to eat.

Caution: it can be a uterine stimulant so should be avoided with pregnancy.

Review – Chinese Herbal Medicine

Carol Griesmeyer

I ran across this in my documents and thought it would be a good link to share.

I goes into a fair amount of detail about the intricacies of using Chinese herbal medicine and why I make comments like “See a licensed acupuncturist” for a prescription. We want to keep you safe and get you the best herb / formula for your situation. Why waste money in a hit-or-miss strategy of what you think may work?

Yes, herbs grow everywhere but you do know some will give you a headache, belly ache or kill you. Herbal use in no longer part of our everyday experience in this country.

It sounds simple but we need to understand the chemistry and energy in herbs to apply them wisely and safely.  Combining a variety of herbs is complex and we take 3 years in school to learn the basic process. This is not something you will master after talking to the clerk in a health food store.

Please take the time to read this – it is a bit long but very informative.

I hope this increases your appreciation for the use and application of Chinese herbs and how they may work in your health care plan.

Of course, if you have any questions or comments, respond below. Thanks.

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2014/251891/

Happy one week after Thanksgiving

Carol Griesmeyer

I’m sure your turkey carcass has long been decimated. Perhaps you’ve already made bone broth with it.

What? No, you made turkey soup. Hate to inform you but you made bone broth if you used the bones in the pot. Here you thought this new latest trend was actually new. Nope. Been doing it for centuries. You probably learned from your mom or grandmother.

You can use any kind of bones – fowl, beef, pork, even fish. Just cook them down for a number of hours to make your stock base.

If you choose to use beef or pork bones you may want to roast them first. Get the best bones you can – organic. If not, use pasture or grass fed beef. Any bones you have around will work, including leftovers from dinner.

The knuckles, joints, feet and marrow bones will have the most cartilage. This is rich in collagen and can help your own joints. You don’t have to bones 1take glucosamine supplements with this around.

Meatier bones will add more flavor. Try adding oxtails, shanks and short ribs. You can get this from your local butcher. Get to know them. They can often order them for you also.

Roast the bones at 400 degrees for about an hour until well browned and fragrant.

Drain off the fat and reserve it for cooking.

Put the bones in a big pot with water, add 2 Tbsp of cider vinegar and whatever veggies you want. Consider using a slow cooker too and let it do its thing.

Garlic, leeks, mushrooms, onions, carrots and celery add great flavor, also, leftover potatoes or yams.

Dark leafy greens may make it bitter but I’ve had cabbage with no bad flavors. We had leftover asparagus chopped up and that was good. Remember there is a little bit of everything so the bones and any meat are most likely going to be the dominant flavor.

Mushrooms are also a great addition.

When you are done adding the kitchen sink, bring to a boil and then let this simmer at least overnight but 24 hrs is better.

The bones should be soft when you take them off. Cooking them helps release the collagen and gelatin that you want for your skin and joints. The soft bones more easily release all the minerals into the liquid.

Gelatin is also very supportive of good digestive health

Skim off the foam as it develops and add more water as needed.

This can be frozen for 3-4 months or canned in mason jars.

Soups or broths are excellent for supporting the Lungs in this Fall / Metal season

Mushrooms, carrots, cauliflower, white fungus (Metal is white, can be found in Oriental food markets – bai mu er.)

You can add millet, barley or rice which are cooling and soothing for Lung heat (colds).

The vinegar helps reduce accumulations in the liver that you will start to collect as you eat a heavier, richer diet in the fall and winter.

In Chinese medicine bone broth nourishes our Kidneys (Winter organ), supports our qi and builds blood. Bone marrow is the source of essence (our genetic material), blood and qi which all come from kidney energy. Kidneys are in charge of bones (including teeth) and joints so it is reasonable that we nourish with like kinds of food.

In our bodies the adrenal glands sit on top of our kidneys but in Chinese medicine they are considered part of the Kidney energy system. Bone broth may be a very potent source of nourishment to take us from survive to thrive. And who among us in not having adrenal burnout?!

Bone broth is capable of doing some pretty deep nutrition and should be a more prominent part of our nutrition plan. It’s pretty much a no-brainer to make. Every one is unique and it’s fun to play with veggies and seasonings to make an awesome meal, snack or daily supplement.