Season of Summer

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What Is So Great About Fishoil?

July 15, 2009 in Chinese Nutritional Therapy, Season of Fall, Season of Spring, Season of Summer, Topics in Colds Flus Allergies, Topics in Muscles Bones and Joints, Topics in Pediatrics, Topics in Pregnancy and Postpartum | No comments

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The main reason that fish and fish oils are so important is because they contain two fatty acids that do not occur naturally in any foods other than fish.

These fatty acids are called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Together with ALA (alpha linolenic acid), they are known as omega-3 fatty acids.

They are highest in oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardine, tuna and salmon.

The average intake of EPA/DHA in the US diet is only 11-20% of the recommended amount.

These two fatty acids from fish oil have been shown in hundreds of studies to be beneficial in a wide spectrum of human health including:

Heart Health

including all types of cardiovascular disease by reducing triglycerides (fat levels) in the blood, reducing VLDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol, Reducing inflammatory markers, which are now known to be very important in the progression of cardiovascular diseases, and by regulating (smoothing out) the rhythmic beat of the heart.

Arthritis, inflammation and allergy

including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, seasonal and food allergies, and eczema.

Child Development

both before and after birth. DHA and another fatty acid (arachidonic acid) are essential for the correct development of the fetal brain and mental ability. Neural development and eye function may be adversely affected by inadequate supply. 11% of the weight of the brain is the fatty acid DHA. Supplementing DHA in breast fed or formula fed infants has been shown to increase cognitive function including vocabulary and comprehension in 18 month olds.

Mental alertness, cognitive function and mood

due to the fact that EPA and DHA are the building blocks of neural cells. Those suffering from depression have significantly lower levels of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids. Populations with higher consumption of fish have lower rates of depression than those with lower consumption. Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly is more common in people with low blood levels of DHA.

So eat your wild caught fish!! Wild caught fish have a significantly lower levels of metals and other contaminants than farm raised fish. If wild fish is unavailable, or unappealing to you, take a fish oil supplement daily. Be sure you get your oil from a reputable source to ensure purity and high potency. High quality oils are tested for mercury, other heavy metals and PCBs. Consider a fish oil with the addition of the fat soluable vitamins A, D and E.

Since Copper River Salmon is in season right now, I highly recommend splurging and treating yourself to a delicious meal. I made this recipe last night from www.westcoastcooking.com and found it to be outstanding!!

Chrysanthemum Tea For Longevity

July 15, 2009 in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Season of Spring, Season of Summer, Topics in Colds Flus Allergies | No comments

chrysanthemum-flowersChrysanthemum flowers, or Ju Hua in pin-yin, have a long history of use in Chinese Herbal Medicine as a beverage. The flowers are collected, dried, covered with boiling water, and then strained. The liquid is drunk as a light warm tea; alone or sometimes with sugar added.

The Taoists favored this tea the one to

promote longevity,

although to achieve this benefit the tea must be consumed daily over a long period of time.

There is a poem written by the eighteenth-century painter Zheng Ban-Qiao which reads:

 Tasting chrysanthemum tea of old – this flower of longevity!

A man of eighty years picks and sips, assiduous;

Teaching his frosty beard to turn raven black.


Chinese Herbalists consider the Ju Hua flower to be one that disperses wind and heat, calms the Liver and clears the eyes. It is used for treating the common cold and for any disorders related to Liver heat or Liver wind, such as blurry vision, spots before the eyes, dizziness, and headaches.

I find this beverage particularly useful for conditions in which there is a sudden onset of heat in the body, such as for hot flashes or excessive sweating. It is calming and cooling in the moment, and over time.

Chrysanthemum tea might be prescribed by your herbalist, but it is also a safe and tasty non-caffeinated drink for anyone to consume during the warm summer months.

The flowers can be bought in bulk and steeped in the traditional way, or a box of powdered chrysanthemum tea with sugar is sold in individual dosage packages.

Yin and Yang of the Four Seasons, Part 4

July 15, 2009 in Chinese Medicine Theory, Season of Summer | No comments

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The Rising Yang continues to intensify as the season progresses to summer when the days are long and full of activity.   Now is the time to put all your energies into full production of making your dreams and goals a reality.  If you have tendencies toward a weakness of Yang, now is the time to nourish that element.   If you are prone to frequent colds or respiratory problems in the fall and winter, this is the time to get started on strengthening your immune system to prevent such maladies.   

Yin and Yang of the Four Seasons, Part 1

July 15, 2009 in Chinese Medicine Theory, Season of Fall, Season of Spring, Season of Summer, Season of Winter | No comments

 

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It can be said that all of the complexities of Chinese Medicine can be simplified in terms of Yin and Yang. Understanding the rise and fall of yin and yang throughout the seasons is a great way to begin to make sense of it all; each season has its purpose in nature and likewise in our bodies and health. We’d like to walk you through the seasons of the year and help you to grasp what you can do to maximize your personal health by making the most of the energies available to us all at any given time of the year.

For a simple review of the nature of Yin and Yang: Yin nature has qualities of the feminine, receptive, darkness, cold, quiet, introspective and moving inward. Winter is the most Yin of the seasons. In our bodies, blood is a yin substance and Yin anchors Yang to keep us feeling grounded. Yang has qualities of the masculine, being outgoing, outward moving, energetic, summer is the most Yang of the seasons. Qi pertains to Yang and is the animating force in our bodies. The best time to nourish the Yin is in winter, the best time to nourish Yang is in the summer. Just as it is faster to bring water to a boil if it is already warm, it is easier to strengthen Yang in the summer when Yang is abundant.