Insomnia Cure – Lotus Seeds, Longan Fruit and Egg Yolk
By Vicky Chan of NourishU
Insomnia can be caused by many psychiatric and medical conditions and has become a very common health challenge to many people in modern societies. To fix insomnia, finding the exact cause is very important in winning the battle.
In Chinese Medicine, insomnia can be due to unsettled gut, unsettled liver or unsettled mind. To deal with unsettled gut, one has to fix digestive issues first, and then eat a healthy and easy to digest diet and adhere to healthy eating habits. To balance liver energy, it is important to promote liver yin and lower liver heat. To calm an unsettled mind, Chinese Medicine believes that by enforcing kidney functions, it can keep the over excited mind energy in check.
Personally, I have found much success using lotus seeds, longan fruit and egg yolk to calm the over active mind at night. There is substantial evidence proving that egg yolk is not harmful but healthy for us. Egg yolks are home to tons of essential but hard-to-get nutrients, including choline, which is linked to lower rates of breast cancer (one yolk supplies 25% of your daily need) and antioxidants that may help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts. The belief that egg yolks cause high cholesterol is now found to be untrue. Chinese Medicine finds egg yolks to be great for promoting blood and yin; lotus seeds for strengthening spleen, benefiting the kidney to preserve essence, and keeping the heart-fire and the kidney water in balance; and longan fruit for invigorating the heart and spleen, nourishing blood and calming the mind.
The following is the recipe. It is a very delicious dessert recipe with no adverse side effect and can be taken by people with no problem sleeping. I will strongly recommend anyone who has problems with shutting their eyes at night to give this recipe a try. It is very inexpensive and easy to make. For convenience, you can cook a batch together to be served for a few days. Please explore our website www.noursihu.com for recipes treating other causes of insomnia.
Lotus Seed, Dried Longan Fruit and Egg Yolk Dessert
Symptoms
Insomnia due to imbalance of kidney and heart energy.
Therapeutic Effects
Keeps heart fire and kidney water in balance, nourishes heart and tranquilizes the mind, nourishes blood, and tonifies yin.
Ingredients
- Lotus seeds (lien zi) 蓮子 - 20 (best to use lotus seeds with red membrane and green centre still not removed)
- Dried longan fruit (long yan rou) 龍眼肉 - 10
- Egg yolk – one
- Sugar or honey – to taste
Directions
1. Soak lotus seeds for one hour and rinse.
2. Rinse longan fruit and put the two ingredients to cook with 3 to 4 cups of water over medium heat for about 45 minutes to about 1 cup of water left and lotus seeds are soft to eat.
3. Put egg yolk in a serving bowl, pour the hot liquid in and stir to cook the yolk. Then mix in longan fruit and lotus seeds, and add honey/sugar to serve.
Usage
Eat one hour before bed. Take continuously for 7 days as one course of treatment.
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Inspiration - Anuradha Koirala, Human Angel.
This is a real hero.
Watch this video and please support Anuradha Koirala's wonderful organization, Maiti Nepal so she can continue her wonderful work and free the world of human trafficking forever. <3
Quote of the Month
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
~ Margaret Mead
Inspiration : Train Commuters Sing Along to Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Train Commuters Sing Along to Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Original article here: http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/morning-train-commuters-sing-along-to-somewhere-over-the-rainbow-watch/
Remember in October when we showed you a viral video of a dance party launched on a commuter train in Perth, Australia?
The same group who danced their way into the hearts of 40 million YouTube viewers has just followed up with shenanigans on another commuter train–this time a singalong.
On a wintery run of the 7:51 express train, they led passengers in a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in a bold attempt to chase away the Monday morning blues with a ukulele player keeping time.
Peter Sharp, the founder of the participatory arts group called it, “Easily one of the most uplifting experiences we’ve ever helped create.”
Hilarious Couple Sing Karaoke at the Gas Pump on Hidden Tonight Show Camera (WATCH)
The Liberators, as they call themselves–named for the sense of freedom they want people to feel when expressing themselves in public–have coordinated five different experiences on trains from story telling, to dancing, and singing.
“This is my full time job,” Sharp told the Good News Network. “I am able to get paid doing DJ gigs that combine these acts of freedom at music festivals & family festivals and working with businesses to create interesting and ethically driven video content.”
They recruited some of their own people to ride the train and help get the singalong started, but reported that around 60 percent of those on board were actual commuters.
Read more about their mission, and a crowd-funding campaign to bring their antics to trains in Europe on their blog.
(WATCH the heart-warming moments below)
Quote of the Month
Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you. ~ Rumi
This beautiful image from underthebluedoor.org
Inspiration - Equador Tree Planting One Day Record
THIS IS AWESOME. And we all need a little more awesome. :)
Original Article here - http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ecuador-tree-planting-record/
Thousands of people teamed up this weekend to break a world record while doing something good for the earth. They planted 647,250 trees in a single day Saturday.
More than 44,000 people in Ecuador planted the trees at 150 sites across the country, snatching the Guinness World Record from a group in the Philippines, who broke the world record last year.
This was the most diverse single-day tree planting program anywhere in the world, with more than 200 species of trees planted to soak up carbon dioxide and pump out oxygen.
Ecuador holds another environmentally friendly record — the most plastic bottles recycled in a single week, 87,363 pounds.
You can read the full story on Discovery News - http://news.discovery.com/earth/plants/ecuador-breaks-guinness-reforestation-record-150517.htm
Equador Tree Planting One Day Record : Chinese Medicine Living
The Benefits of Watermelon
By Kendra Lay - from the AOMA Blog
I was groomed from a young age to love watermelon. Growing up in Florida, almost every week in the summer my father would stop at a roadside stand and carefully select one of the heavy, green melons. There would be thumping, weighing and sniffing and finally he would select his prize. When we got home, he’d cut off the watermelon in large rounds, place it on a plate and eat it with a spoon--leaving behind just an empty, cylindrical rind and seeds floating in sweet juice. He would always cut me off a piece too and I’d enjoy this summertime ritual with my dad.
It wasn’t until I became a practitioner of Chinese medicine that I learned watermelon was way more than a sweet summer treat. It is actually a useful medicinal food in the summer, especially for those of us that live in very hot climates.
In Chinese medicine, foods and herbs have energetic properties that have specific healing capacities. Watermelon is described in Chinese medicine as affecting the heart, bladder and stomach. It clears heat and is cold in nature. As we all know, it is full of delicious juice, which nourishes the fluids of the body while helping to promote urination. This is a very effective strategy to help clear that summer heat from the body! In Chinese medicine it is said that heat can cause constipation, and watermelon is a wonderful antidote for this common ailment as well. Perhaps best yet, watermelon has a calming effect on the spirit and helps to ease frustration, restlessness and worry. So if rising mercury is making you irritable—make sure to cut yourself off a juicy slice!
Waste not, want not: the seeds of the watermelon can also be used as medicine as well. Dried seeds can be boiled in water and consumed as a tea. The seeds are said to help the kidneys in Chinese medicine—helping to promote urination and also acting a vasodilator to lower high blood pressure.
Those who have a weak digestive system should enjoy watermelon sparingly. In Chinese medicine it is understood that cold foods and raw fruits and vegetables are hard on the digestive tract. Because of this, if you have gas and bloating, eat watermelon in moderation. You could also visit an acupuncturist in your area to help you improve your digestion-either using acupuncture, herbal medicine, or both.
From a western nutritional perspective, watermelon is high in carotenoids such as lycopene and antioxidants such as vitamin A and C. It is also high in electrolytes, which is why it is so good for helping us stay hydrated.
East or West—any way you look at it, watermelon is a healthy and delicious summer food. Watermelon is tasty enough on it’s own, but also check out the recipe below for another “cool” way to enjoy this yummy fruit.
Cooling Watermelon, Tomato & Basil Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups ripe tomato, cubed
- 2 cups watermelon, cubed
- ¼ cups pine nuts
- 1 Tbl. fresh mint, minced
- 1 Tbl. fresh basil, minced
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
1. Place all ingredients, except for salt, in a bowl and toss together until combined.
2. Sprinkle the salt over the top and stir again. Chill, then enjoy!
References:
Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford
The Tao of Healthy Eating by Bob Flaws
The World’s Healthiest Foods by George Mateljan
About the author:
Kendra Lay, AP, LAc, ACN is a graduate of AOMA practicing in Florida. She specializes in combining Chinese medicine with modern nutrition. Visit her website at www.KendraLay.com
World Health Day 2015
By Emma Suttie, D.Ac, AP
World health day was April 7th, and to celebrate I want to share a little bit about how health is defined in Chinese medicine. For the uninitiated, Chinese medicine is a system that is more than 5000 years old. It is an umbrella term that encompasses modalities such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, moxibustion, gua sha, cupping, auricular acupuncture, tui na and dietary therapy. One of the things that makes Chinese medicine so effective and still able to treat modern diseases, is its holistic approach. It is not a system of medicine, it teaches a way of life.
For this world health day, I have teamed up with the American Recall Center, a new site that is working to improve patient safety and providing up to date FDA information. We both are working to celebrate good health and focus on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
The Holistic Approach
Chinese medicine is a holistic system. It takes many factors into account when evaluating the health of a person. Because of this, the intake process is very detailed, as it is important to get as much information as possible, about every aspect of a person's life, to determine why they are not well, and to figure out what needs to be done to correct the problem. All aspects are considered equally important to health including the emotions, diet, exercise, mental state, spirit and the workings of the body. The practitioner of Chinese medicine will go through all these aspects and determine the root cause of the imbalance so that it can be corrected and health restored.
Another aspect of Chinese medicine is that health is considered a state of balance between all parts of the body and life. Inside the body, we think of Yin and Yang, the water and fire energies respectively. When there is too much Yang, there are symptoms like headaches, red eyes, palpitations, dryness and outbursts of anger. A preponderance of Yin would manifest as symptoms of cold, lethargy, contracting pain, low energy, listlessness and water retention. In life, if the emotions are expressed freely, the diet is balanced and we are spending as much time moving as we are sitting still, then we are seen to be in good health. It is only when the balance is disturbed that symptoms develop, and this is a sign that something needs to be adjusted. The severity of the illness is directly proportionate to the severity of the imbalance.
The practitioner of Chinese medicine does not only administer acupuncture and herbs to their patients, they are there to educate their patients in a way of life; how to stay balanced so that illness never has a chance to develop. It is a preventative medicine. Of course, imbalances happen, but armed with the right information, and being aware of the subtle changes in our bodies, we all have the capacity to remain healthy well into old age, a time when many people are resigned to illness.
Western Medicine
Western medicine has made many advancements that have contributed to the overall health of people all over the world. Diagnostic tests, western drugs and surgeries have saved countless lives and continue to do so. I have always believed that if Chinese and western medicine could work together, their combined abilities to heal would be without limit. I think about medicine as a tool box, and Chinese medicine has various tools with which to bring a person back to health - acupuncture, herbs, moxibustion, dietary therapy, etc... these are the tools of Chinese medicine. Western medicine also has myriad tools which it uses to heal a person. There is nothing lost by adding tools to your tool kit, they are simply different perspectives, different approaches and all are useful when trying to heal from disease. Some work better for certain things, but having as many options as possible is not only pragmatic, it gives you a better chance to recover from what ails you.
Many people are aware of only one option when they get sick. But I am finding that more and more people are turning to alternatives and being open to their possibilities to heal. It is heartening to see that many people are beginning to accept that there are many types of healing, and that all can be helpful.
Here is an example. I have a patient who was diagnosed with cancer about a year and a half ago. He was given between 3-6 months to live. His cancer was particularly aggressive and dangerous. He is doing chemotherapy, but is also having regular acupuncture treatments and is taking Chinese herbs. His tumor markers are consistently going down and his oncologist is pleased at his progress and recovery. The acupuncture and Chinese herbs are working to build his immune system and building his strength so that his body can sustain the chemotherapy. Each of these treatments in isolation would have been beneficial, but together they are compounded and the benefits are amplified. I look forward to watching him make a full recovery and see him live a long and healthy life.
In conclusion, when I decided to study medicine, I chose Chinese medicine because it resonated with me, but I have always been open to all types of healing. I deal with patients every day who are taking western medications, having surgeries and who are struggling with diseases. I believe that working together with western doctors, we can help many patients to heal using the combined strengths of each system. I wish you a happy World Health Day, and much health to you now and in the future as well.
Job’s Tears & Winter Melon for Weight Loss
By Vicky Chan of NourishU
In a previous recipe, we introduced Job’s tears and their remarkable health benefits. Job’s tears are not only good for releasing water logging in cells, they have many healing properties such as lowering cholesterol, preventing allergies, anti-cancer growth, detoxifying, clearing phlegm, removing internal heat and draining puss.
Winter melon has similar health benefits as Job’s tears. The healing effects can be even better when combining the two ingredients together. Here is a soup recipe using the two ingredients plus some more ingredients to make it very delicious. It is easy to make and is suitable for the whole family and all ages. It is best for people who are overweight and would like to get rid of some extra pounds.
If making soup takes too long for you, you can simplify the recipe by just using the two main ingredients, Job’s tears and winter melon, to make them into a beverage. It can be taken regularly throughout the day, warm or cold. It is especially good for the summer months for quenching thirst and for countering the adverse weather effects.
To make the drink, the quantity of each ingredient can vary according to your own liking, resulting in a thicker drink or a thinner drink. If you dice the melon smaller and pre-soak Job’s tears for a few hours, it will take less time to have them cooked and dissolved mostly into the water. For the undissolved Job’s tears, you can eat them separately as cereal for breakfast or add them to other recipes or salads.
It is a very inexpensive recipe to get a whole lot of health benefits. BON APPÉTIT!
Winter Melon and Job's Tears Chicken Soup
SYMPTOMS
Overweight with damp heat syndrome (scarce urination, skin eruptions and indigestion).
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS
Relieves dampness and clears heat, diuretic, relieves constipation, improves complexion, invigorates spleen, improves digestion and benefits blood.
INGREDIENTS
(for 5 to 6 servings)
- Winter melon 冬瓜- 2000gm
- Job's tears (yi yi ren) 薏以仁 - 80gm
- Bone-in skinless chicken breast – one piece
- Lean pork with bone – 2 to 3 pieces
- Ginger – 3 to 4 slices
- Honey dates - 3
- Dried scallop – 3 to 4 (optional)
- Dried Mandarin orange peel – 1 piece (optional, soak for 15 minutes and scrape out the white membrane to get rid of the bitter taste)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Rinse chicken and pork and cut meat from bones into large pieces. Remove skin of winter melon and dice into cubes. Rinse Job’s tears.
2. Bring 4 cups of water in a soup pot to a rolling boil and put in bones to boil for about 3 minutes. Then add meat to boil for another 1 to 2 minutes. Discard water and rinse meat.
3. Fill soup pot with 2 to 3 liters of clean water and put all ingredients in, except melon. Bring content to a boil for 10 minutes, and then reduce heat to medium to cook for 1.5 hours. Add hot water to the cooking when necessary.
4. Add winter melon and continue the cooking for another half hour to melon is cooked to desire softness.
5. Add salt to taste and serve.
USAGE
Not suitable for people with cold spleen syndrome (acid reflux). Take regularly for best results.