Tag: Lungs

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.

Fall squash recipe

Carol Griesmeyer

Perhaps you started seeing this squash in the last year of two. It was new to me but a friend told me how easy it is to use and I have made it a number of times.
What I like about this squash – Kabocha – is that you don’t have to peel the skin even though it looks pretty rugged.  You can cook it with it on. (You can see in the photo how thin the skin is.) It doesn’t get tough. If you are going to leave the skin on scrub it good with a brush as it has a lot of irregularities and Kabocha skin bumps for dirt to hide in.

Next you need to open the squash and clean out the seeds. To make it softer to cut you can stab it a few times with a big knife and place in the microwave for 5-7 mins. Be careful of the steam when you open it.
If you don’t want to use the microwave you can use a big knife and hit it with a mallet (meat tenderizer). Kabocha chop
Cut into smaller slices and then into 1″ cubes.

sliced Kabocha

Chop an onion into small pieces. Also add a few chopped cloves of garlic and brown then on the stove or just add to it to the squash in a slow cooker. Add 2 cups of broth – your choice or water. Cook on medium – low for 4-5 hours. Again a microwave is faster but you may not want Kabocha slow potto use one.

Add whatever other spices you may want. To make it hot you can add chile pepper flakes and / or more garlic. You can add chai tea spices or a chai teabag or two. (Obviously remove this after an hour or so.) When it is done you can leave it chunky or take it out a few cups at a time and puree it in a blender.

Try adding a yam, carrots or celery.

This dish is good to nourish the Spleen and moisten the Lungs and Large Intestine. The garlic, onion and chile pepper are warming flavors, as are the chai spices,  for the cold season.

Stop the Cold NOW formula

Carol Griesmeyer

Yin qiao san is a bigger formula than Yu ping feng san. I will discuss a bit about all of the herbs and  explain a little about how an herbal formula is created in Chinese medicine.

This formula is used to treat Wind/Heat as most of the herbs are cooling. But any formula will have a few herbs that also cool. You usually don’t want to take it too far. This is a great formula to take at the merest hint that a cold is starting – you wake achy, sore throat, headache, tired (different from your usual morning). In many instances it can stop a cold in it’s tracks if you start taking within 6-12 hours, don’t wait until the end of the day.  You can ‘slam’ this herb by taking a dose very often the first day and then start spreading it out over the next 2 – 3 days. If you don’t notice much difference by the end of the second day you need a different formula.

Traditionally there is (are) one or two chief or emperor herbs in a Chinese formula.
In this formula we have Jin yin hua (lonicera – honeysuckle flower) and Lian Qiao (forsythia)
These are both the chief herbs. They release the exterior (open the pores for mild sweat), clear heat (help relieve fever) and relieve toxicity (eliminate the pathogen).
These actions are the focus of the formula.
As discussed a bit yesterday when the defensive or Wei qi is weak it cannot defend against invasion through the exterior. The Wei qi is considered our immune system and lives in the exterior of our body between the skin and muscles. The skin pores may be open, which let in the pathogen and they may close up trapping the pathogen inside. A mild sweat is encouraged to open the pores to release the pathogen. It is also recommended to keep wrapped up to prevent more invasion when the pores are open. It is a delicate balancing act. What this really means it we need to take time to help our bodies heal itself and give it rest and protection from more exposure.

Imagine a fox in a hen house. If you reinforce the fences and gates before you get the fox out, you’ll have no chickens left. Get the fox out first, then reinforce your defense network.

When we create a formula we want to consider whether the condition is basically hot or cold – fevers or chills. Herbs have temperature characteristics that address this. Everything here is balance – where there is heat – cool it; where there is cold – warm it up. Basic concept for thousands of years. We don’t follow this enough in many situations and again we follow it often but don’t understand it’s history.

The assistant herbs:
Jie geng (platycodon) and Niu bang zi (arctium) move Lung qi and help soothe the throat. Lung qi needs to move to get rid of phlegm and ease breathing.
Bo he (mint) and Dan dou chi (Sojae) release heat. Note mint is often used for sore throats and to cool, in general. It will help start a mild sweat which is why it cools you off.
Jing jie (schizomepeta) helps release the exterior but moderates the dryness that can come from too much sweating
Dan zhu yu (lophatheri), Lu gen (phragmitis), Gan cao (glycyrrhiza, licorice) help create fluids and alleviate thirst. Often with fever you sweat too much, get dehydrated. These help to
prevent dehydration.
Note, these groups balance each other – generate fluids, prevent fluid loss, open pores, control sweating.
Additional note: gan cao or licorice is often added to many  formulas as the one that consolidates all the flavors, makes it easier to digest and absorb, balances it all out.

I highly recommend you get to know this formula and Yu ping feng san. Get them from a licensed acupuncturist so they can guide you in the best and safest use for you.

Disclaimer: This information is for your education only. It is always advised that you speak with an acupuncturist before you use any Chinese herbal formula.  Herbal use is never recommended with pregnancy. I know herbal use is part of everyone’s heritage but most of us have lost touch with their wise and safe use. I also believe that everyone needs an acupuncturist as all of us have energy meridians that need to be kept is good shape. If you every get a tune-up for your car, go to the dentist or have your eyes checked,  you need a tune-up for your energy meridians. A licensed acupuncturist is the best person for the job.

An herbal formula for Cold prevention

Carol Griesmeyer

Fall and Winter are the seasons in which people think about getting the cold or flu.

In Chinese medicine we call it a Wind/Cold or Wind/Heat invasion or EPI – external pathogen invasion.

This formula is one that we start a lot of our patients on as kids go back to school. This formula is for prevention and for early symptoms of a cold. You can start taking it before you have symptoms. It is especially good if you are planning air travel. I start this 2 weeks before, take during the trip and continue for a week after. Rarely do we get hit by the airport / conference bugs.

Yu Ping Feng San. Translation: Jade Windscreen. As a cold or flu is referred to Wind/cold or heat, as mentioned above, you need a good windscreen to help prevent it’s invasion into your body. If your defensive qi (Wei) is weak it can be easily invaded by wind, cold, heat, dampness and result in the symptoms of a cold or flu. If the are more chills we call it Wind/Cold or more fever Wind/Heat. It is not unusual for Wind/Cold to convert to Wind/Heat in a matter of a few hours or always feel as if it was a Wind/Heat invasion.

Historically jade is a very precious stone in China, as valued as gold in the West. Its culture and history stretches 9,000 years back into the ancient and enormous Chinese empire. Jade has always been a special stone, used not just for fine objects but also as material for grave goods for the imperial family. It is believed to be a link between both the physical and the spiritual worlds, and is the only material that completely encapsulates both the yin and yang qualities of Heaven and Earth, earning it the moniker ‘The Stone of Heaven’.  Jade was considered a guardian against illness and evil spirits, which is why even babies in China are given a tiny jade bangle to wear to ward off bad luck. In the Han dynasty, emperors were buried in jade gowns and jade cicadas were placed on dead kings’ tongues to prevent decomposition and safeguard chi or energy.

It only has 3 herbs in it. One chief, two assistants. Most Chinese formulas have 4 or more herbs.

Huang qi  (astragulus) – a major herb used to support the protective (Wei) qi. Nourishes the Lungs, stabilizes the exterior (that has been invaded)

Fang feng (ledebouriella) – assistant herb: this herb releases the exterior and expels the wind. When the protective qi is unstable,  the skin pores can contract trapping the cold inside. It also expels Wind / Damp. With this you feel the achiness.

Bai zhu (atractylodis) – assistant herb to help the huang qi support the Spleen which thus supports the Lungs. In 5 Elements the Earth (Spleen) nourishes the Metal (Lungs). It is not easy to directly support the Lung qi so we have to go through Earth to do it.

Stay tuned in. Tomorrow we will discuss Yin Qiao San – Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder.

Disclaimer: This information is for your education only. It is always advised that you speak with an acupuncturist before you use any Chinese herbal formula.  Herbal use is never recommended with pregnancy.

The Organs of Autumn – part 2

Carol Griesmeyer

Well now we get to talk about the ‘Letting Go’ organ – Large Intestine. When we talk about letting go we are not only talking about removing waste from our physical bod

transparente organe mit markiertem dickdarmy but also the toxic stuff that has collected in our spirits and mind.

Not everyone is blessed with a happy-go-lucky childhood. There can be many ugly memories of abuse or abandonment. Maybe there wasn’t always a roof to sleep under or food on the table. Even having a teacher from hell is quite disturbing for a young person to deal with. How many times were you dumped by someone special or rejected before you even got off the ground.

These experiences all leave toxic waste in us and can immobilize us for years or our entire life.

Fortunately you have the Large Intestine to help you with this. It comes to our aide after the Lungs have taken in clear qi and moves the garbage out. Now we are on the road to healing.

This is a great time for you to take an internal inventory of all the things you have been carrying around in your head – I’m no good, he/she is no good, old resentments, jealousies. These are often long standing issues you just can’t let go of or they may be relatively new. What principles were you brought up with that no longer serve you?

This is a tough season and tough organ to deal with. We don’t want to go in the cave and look at all the bad things we’ve been hauling around forever. What happens if we actually get rid of it? Who are we then? Our personal story will change, excuses will be gone. You may grieve the loss of these ideas, traditions, patterns. However, if they are no longer healthy or useful it is wise to take them out our your backpack.

Be patient with yourself.  You don’t have to have a huge purge in one day. No one is very capable of surviving that kind of experience. Take it is small steps. Continue to review issues over and over. When you stop feeling the ‘hit’ in your guts as you review each one you have probably let go of it and can move on. Sometimes this takes years – but it took years for you to get here and you will keep going. Just don’t put a cork in it.

When qi gets stuck we experience pain and discomfort or dis-ease. Use the Lungs bringing clear qi with the breath to move the qi. Allow the process to do what is knows how to do. Our egos often throw everything out of balance and we are striving for balance. Nature always wants balance.

So… just let go of non-essentials and search for your deepest values.

The Organs of Fall – part 1

Carol Griesmeyer

No I’m not talking about the old pipe organ in the skating rink or the Wurlitzer you may have had in your living room.

In Chinese medicine we are connected in body, mind and spirit to everything. The season we are connected to right now is Fall or Autumn. You can feel the impact of the shortening days and the change in weather. The cold and damp start creeping into many areas (even our car doors start to creak) and we notice we are more susceptible to colds and flus. So while you may think that we are above this environmental stuff we are very much attached.transparente organe mit markiertem dickdarm

Each season or phase has two organs associated with it, one Yin, one Yang. The organs connected with this season are the Lungs and Large Intestine or Colon. Notice that the problems that nail us in this season – colds and flu – impact these organs.

The Lungs (Yin) sit at the top of our body and are connected to the outside through the nose and mouth. The viruses that attack us are taken into us through the nose and mouth. When a virus attacks, our nose, sinuses and lungs are impacted. The Lungs are also in charge of the Immune system. We say that the immune system or Wei Qi is between the skin and muscle. Ever notice how you often get achy when you get sick also?

When we get attacked by a virus we call it an “External pathogenic influence” – EPI.

This is the season to nourish our Immune system and Lungs if we weren’t doing it in the Summer season. Actually, how susceptible you are to colds and flus is an indication of how well you nourish yourself in general. If you have a history of colds and flu in the past there is a weakness that is underlying. This needs to be addressed all year, but the best time to do it is now, in its season.

So how do you do that.

Number one – get more sleep. We don’t know how to do that in this country. Whoever said we need to go, go, go, never stop was an not the norm in the energy department. Yes there are some with those genetics but it’s not common. Actually as fall and winter progress we should be sleeping more when the sun is down, ie go to bed earlier and get up later if we want to stay in rhythm with the earth and seasons. Of course this won’t go over at all with your boss in the morning but you should have some control over your evenings.

  1. Exercise is always good. Keeps you breathing deeply to expand your lungs and get the gunk out of the nooks and crannies. Need to keep the qi moving to stay healthy. Tai Qi and Qi Gong are excellent ways to exercise and focus on your breathing. They are very powerful and you can easily do most forms inside without special equipment. The Lungs are the organs of ‘inspiration’. They draw in the energy of the heavens and fill us with pure or clear qi. We want that. Of course what we are really breathing in anymore is up for grabs. Still breathing is important.
  1. When it starts getting colder, more wind, rain wear a scarf around your neck. We have points at the base of our skulls and the tops of our shoulders that are weak points for Wind / Cold invasion. Colds / flu are Wind/Cold or Wind/Heat invasions. If you have more chills than that would be Wind/Cold. If you have more fever – Wind/Heat. Wind/Cold can move into Wind/Heat if a few hours. It’s often hard to tell the difference. That’s one reason to see an acupuncturist.
  2. Develop an attitude of gratitude for everything that has come into your life. We even have a holiday set aside to do that. I would suggest, though, that you start and /or end every day with a gratitude meditation being that Thanksgiving seems to be getting short shrift with the capitalistic attitude around the holidays anymore. It’s a great way to put everything into perspective, remember what is valuable to you and celebrate that.
  3. Remember how I said the defensive or Wei Qi is between the skin and muscle? Our largest organ in our skin. Intact skin is a huge defense system. Keep yourself hydrated and your skin intact and you can keep a lot of stuff out of your body.
  4. Start moving away from the cold and raw food. They will chill you internally and are hard on the digestive system.

Stick with me and you’ll learn about how to eat for the seasons, which herbs help, emotions involved. There’s so much and I don’t want to overwhelm you.

For now, come back tomorrow and I’ll discuss the Large Intestine.

In celebration of Autumn

Carol Griesmeyer

“To everything there is a season….” We are deep into autumn now. In Chinese medicine this is the season of letting go.  Most of the brilliant leaves have fallen off the trees. Even in the Northwest things are starting to look a bit barren. What was a bright splash of their last glory is now naked tree limbs or plants withdrawing into the ground.

Just like the trees and plants letting go of their leaves and no longer needed parts and energy we must take a look at what we no longer need. What does not provide us with strength, helps up fulfill our purpose or drains us although we don’t want to accept that?

Each season or phase of life has an emotion. In the Fall the emotion is Grief. We may feel a sense of loss at this time of year. Think of how you may be more dowFall woods Camassia webn, depressed as the days grow shorter. We don’t want to stay inside, we want to be energized by the sun. We grieve the loss of daylight, activity and, perhaps, the moving away of people we enjoy and love.

In this season we are drawn towards introspection. Daily there is as onslaught of negativity directed at our bodies and minds.  This needs to be cleaned out – let go of the garbage. There’s more of it than you think. We live in a materialistic society, though you may try to not actively participate on a large scale. It still has influence over how you think and behave.

Now take time to look inside yourself. What would be best to release? How were you raised and what influences are there that you could let go of? Are you living your agenda or someone else’s agenda for you?

As you prepare to move deeper into your cave for the winter it is always wise to clean it out first. Explore all the ’things’ you have gathered this spring and summer. How much fun were they? Do you need to keep them? It has been fun having it around but does it really serve the same purpose? What is that purpose? Perhaps this is the time to let go in gratitude, and keep all the wonderful memories they bring. Let someone else experience the joy you felt having this item. Question it all.

If you are afraid you will offend someone by saying good-bye or spending less time with them understand that this is the season for less activity. More time for looking inward, being quieter. Talk with them and dive into what they value and discuss how it may not support you and your values any longer.

Metal is about value and purpose. Are you strong in yours? Take this time to celebrate what is great about you. Flaunt it a bit. Bring some light and bling into your life and these dark days. Remind  yourself of your uniqueness and be grateful for it. Accept praise and let it nourish you.

Fall is the time to strengthen your Metal. Bring in inspiration and let go of the unneeded.

Activities Fall woods 2 Camassia webto nourish your Metal:

Clean your desk, dining room table or a closet

Make a list of your strengths. Look at it and breathe in gratitude for what you can do and what you have accomplished. Let go of your self-sabotage.

Be grateful for all you have, what you have had and all you are.

Find time for quiet and meditate on all this.

Enjoy this season. Know that you are not alone in the challenges it brings. Keep your best assets – friends, treasures – near for support as you let go.