Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) - Tapping

I've become more interested in the idea releasing stress through energy work lately (Chakra balancing, Yoga, Meditation, Recapitulation and all that). A friend mentioned EFT (sometimes called Tapping) a few weeks ago. I had heard of it though one of Dr. Mercola's newsletters awhile ago but, it didn't really call to me at the time. Dr. Mercola describes EFT as a  "psychological acupressure technique". The idea is that most emotions trap energy in our nervous systems and by "tapping" or practicing EFT we can release these feelings more easily. Above is a youtube link that describes it better... Worth a try...
Here is a link to Dr. Mercola's site on EFT


http://eft.mercola.com/

Sinus Draining Tomato Cayenne Juice

I was sent this "sure fire" tomato juice cure to clear my sinuses today. I've looked it up online and there are a lot of people who swear by it. I'll try the recipe later tonight and let you know if it works for me.  BTW I know I said I'd post on oil pulling again - I stopped doing it last week when I got sick. I'll post again by the end of the month...

Tomato Juice Sinus Draining Juice

• 2 Cups Fresh Tomato Juice
• 3 Cloves of Crushed Garlic
• 2 tablespoons of Lemon Juice
• 1teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Heat all on a stove until warm and sip.

* UPDATE - this recipe is a keeper. It does help clear your sinuses.

Back at work...

 
Okay so I've been sick (really sick) for the past week and the week before that I was feeling cruddy trying to fight it off. When I woke up this morning I thought this is it we have to go to work today. Am I still sick - yes? Can I afford to be - no. It is hard when you know you should be in bed resting to have to keep going. I've missed 2 weeks of boxing and it is looking like tonight is out again. - boo stupid flu! My TCM recommended soaking my feet in hot water to draw the cold out of my head. He told me it is very important to keep your feet warm when you are sick. I've been using my magic mustard bath to bathe in since I've been feeling ill below is a variation on that to draw heat into your feet.

Head Cold Hot Foot Soak

• medium basin of hot water (for feet)
• 4 slices of fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons of powdered mustard
• 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Soak your feet in the hot water for as long as you can. Dry your feet well and remember to put on heavy socks when you are done to keep them warm.

Full Moon In Leo - Rollercoaster

The moon turns to full tonight at around after midnight tonight (PST).  High emotions and confusion about priorities and relationships will be setting in for some of us. If you are feeling like bucking your usual routine and hiding out don't worry it is part of the moon's energy. There will be changes in store for all of us with this moon try to go with new thoughts, ideas and energy that is coming in. Try not to resist the clearing out of old "stuff" (relationships, patterns of thinking and whatnot).  Lots of thoughts about where your life is at, and where you want it to be might be bubbling up. Feelings of helplessness and not knowing what to do next might be overwhelming now.  People are likely to react emotionally (Leo = drama) when they don’t get what they want during this full moon try not to take it too personally.

Still Sick

Sorry I haven't been posting - I'm still sick. I guess sometimes you just need to surrender to it. Hopefully I'll be back to work and over this flu soon. BLAH!

Fever - Magic Mustard Bath

My cold/flu and turned into a full blown fairly high fever/chills flu flu... Time to pull out the big guns.

You can find mustard bath recipes online....

Mustard baths are a traditional English remedy for drawing out toxins from the body. The mustard doesn't burn the skin at all and I find when I'm this congested and my body is battling an intense cold or flu that his will help unstuff my lungs/head, relieve aches and pains, and break a fever. It is a little like sitting in a sauna - the bath will cause you to heat up from the inside out and sweat. Use one cup in a warm bath and soak for as long as you like.

Sore Throat Gargle

 
Blah... I have a cold. I give up - some sort of wacky cold/flu/stressed about life weirdness has settled in. Today I woke up with a scratchy throat and stuffy ears - not so fun. I've been gargling with (2T) Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with (1t) Cayenne Pepper and honey in (1/4C) Warm Water. The Apple Cider Vinegar is said to kill bacteria, the cayenne is supposed to help draw out the infection and the honey is soothing... It is helping.

Green Flu Fighter Juice

My immune system is not great right now (have I mentioned that 100 times yet?) so frustrating. Also the temp here has dropped again into the -20s again. One of the joys of living north of 60 is that last cold snap before spring. There is almost always a warm front that has you believing it is over then whamo one more "will it ever be warm again?" week or so before it starts to melt. On the up side our days are getting longer. The sun is now still out when I leave work at 5pm - so it is coming...
I have picked up a cold/flu bug that has been going around. Time for some raw garlic soup, oregano oil and lots of green juice. Below is my green flu fighter juice.

Green Flu Fighter Juice

• 2 Cloves of raw organic garlic 
• 1 Medium Tomatillo (green mexican tomato - regular tomato will do - I like the tartness of the green ones best)
• 4 stalks of celery
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 fist full of parsley or cilantro
• 1 medium green apple
• 1 medium bunch of kale
• 2 large carrots
• 1/4tsp cayenne pepper
• juice from 1/2 small to medium lemon

Juice all through a juicer or blend in a blender and strain. Make sure you put enough cayenne in that you have to sip it slowly and remember to "chew" your juice. Chewing your juice helps to stimulate the enzymes in your mouth and warms the juice so it is easier to digest. This one will clear your sinuses :)

Raw Shredded Sweet Potato Pineapple Salad

I adapted this recipe to raw from a classic southern sweet potato salad recipe. It is sweet, a little dessert like and very yummy... a great special occasion salad. * Note: 2 days later - soooo good! The sweet potato has taken on the sweetness of the honey and pineapple. Let this salad sit overnight if you can before eating to let the flavours marry.

Raw Shredded Sweet Potato Pineapple Salad

• 5C Shredded Sweet Potato
• 1C Pecans 
• 1 Medium Apple Chopped
• 2 C Fresh Pineapple Chopped

Soak drain and squeeze dry shredded sweet potato to get rid of starchy taste, mix with (soaked first - about 20  minutes) pecans, apple and pineapple...

Dressing:

• Juice from one medium Lemon
• 1C Cashews
• 1/4C Water
• 3T Honey (if you eat it maple syrup I'm sure would work if you don't)
• 2T of cinnamon
  

Blend in a high speed blender until smooth toss in with salad and dust with cinnamon.

More things I love - Mumford & Sons

Oil Pulling with Coconut Oil

I gave this a try for the first time tonight. Oil pulling is one of those things I had heard of but, hadn't really felt drawn to trying before. I've been struggling a lot with allergies to certain types of body sprays and perfumes again. The idea of oil pulling keeps coming up as something that is good for detoxing. I've been told that it can be helpful for people with allergies (as well as good for a host of other things). The woman in this video says to spit the oil into the trash but, I've read that it is fine to spit it into the toilet. After trying oil pulling for around 15 minutes my mouth felt refreshed and my sinuses unstuffed - so I'm going to keep at it awhile longer and see how it works for me. I'll post again in a few days with more information about it if I feel it is helping me.

Oil pulling is best to preformed in the morning before breakfast. Swishing is belived to activates enzymes and the enzymes draw toxins out of the blood. The oil must not be swallowed, for it has become toxic. If you are trying to heal yourself from something and want to try speeding up the process oil pulling can be repeated up to three times a day, but always before meals on an empty stomach.

Happy Year of the Golden Rabbit!

 

Happy Year of the Golden Bunny!

Did you know that it is a custom for many Chinese people begin the New Year with a vegetarian meal? Veggies like mushrooms, bamboo shoots, (wealth), bean sprouts and lettuce wraps (filled with lucky foods) are especially popular. Having a meat-free meal is considered good karma because you are refraining from eating anything that has been killed (so think of the good Karma we vegans/vegetarians are gathering up!). Also some consider lighting fires and using knives on the first day of the new year to be bad luck so traditionally most food is made the night before - kind of makes it a great day for a raw food feast non?


In Chinese Astrology the Rabbit is the symbol of the Moon, (Peacock is the symbol of the Sun) together they are Yin and Yang. Full moons during Rabbit years are considered to be especially lucky days to focus on wishes you would like to have granted.

Lucky Foods for Chinese New Year. 
Certain foods are considered lucky based on appearance or because of how the Chinese word for it sounds. Here are a few...

• Noodles: Long Life (don't break the noodle before it is in your mouth! - zucchini noodles count - it is about the shape)
• Lettuce Wraps: Good Fortune (Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like raising fortune)
• Tangerines and Oranges: Good Luck (Again because the words sound like Luck/Wealth)
• Round Shapes: Family Reunion
• Apple: Wisdom and Peace
• Dried Apricot: Wealth Gold
• Bean Sprouts: new start, sprouting, positive start
• Cashews: gold money (crescents symbolize ancient gold bars of China)
• Garlic: Long life
• Coconut (juice/milk) togetherness
• Grapes: Abundance
• Lychee Nut: Family Togetherness
• Mixed Veggies: unity
• Mushrooms: longevity
• Onion: Cleverness
• Peach: immortality
• Peanuts: health, long life, birth of prosperity
• Pineapple: wealth, luck
• Sweets: sweeten the new year

Bunny-Pear Salad with Curried Walnuts

It is Chinese New Year's eve today - year of the Rabbit (also a new moon AND Groundhog Day!). To celebrate I've make a pear bunny spinach salad with curried walnut pieces. The tail of the bunny is macadamia cheez. Thanks to Larissa Muzzy (via Molly J) for the bunny idea!

Pear Bunny

• Cut pear in half remove stem and seeds
• Use 3 dried cranberries for nose and eyes
• Carrots for Ears and Wiskers

Spinach Salad

• Curried Walnuts (soaked dusted with curry powder and dried)
• Baby Spinach Leaves
• Sliced Red Onion
• Small handful of dried cranberries
• Shredded Carrot

 Dressing

• 3tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
• 1tbsp Olive Oil
• Pinch of Curry Powder
• 1 Clove Garlic 

Wizz up in blender until smooth


Macadamia Cheez

• 1/2C Macadamia Nuts
• 2tbsp Nutritional Yeast
• 1 Clove Garlic
• 1tbsp Olive Oil
• 2tbsp lemon juice
• 1tbsp water

Blend in high speed blender until smooth

Pickled Kale Salad with Walnuts and Cranberries

Um YUM! Here is the first salad I made with my pickled Kale.

Pickled Kale Salad with Walnuts and Hemp Hearts

• 1.5 C Pickled Kale
• one handful (about 1/2 cup) of dried cranberries
• 1/2C walnut pieces (don't forget to soak all nuts before using)
• 1C mixed salad greens
• 2C shredded carrot (I used saved carrot pulp from my juicer)
• 1/2 a tart apple diced
• 1/4C hemp hearts (sprinkled on top)

mix all together well and drizzle then mix with dressing

Dressing

• 1tbsp ground yellow mustard seeds
• 1/4 jalapeno pepper seeds removed
• 2tbsp walnut oil (if you have if not olive will work fine)
• 4tbsp of maple syrup