I was introduced to Dry Skin Brushing in my immunology class during acupuncture school. It is a technique that I have used off and on throughout the years and I can attest, that when I do it regularly, I notice health improvements as well as glowing skin. I have not done it lately and am committing myself to doing it daily for the next thirty days. Join me in this challenge, it will improve your health.

Dry Skin Brushing

• The skin is the largest elimination organ in the body. It is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day.
• Our skin eliminates over one pound of wastes each day in the average adult, most of it through the sweat glands.
• The skin closely related to the lungs and the kidneys two other major detoxification organs.
• The skin receives one third of the blood circulated through the body.
• The skin is the last to receive nutrients in the body, and often first to show signs of imbalance or deficiency.

Detoxification occurs through a number of organs, glands, and systems, including the skin, gut, kidneys, liver, lungs, lymphatic system, and mucous membranes.

Dry skin brushing to can be used alone or in conjunction with a balanced detoxification program, like The 21 Day Purification program by Standard Process.

The dry skin brushing technique helps detoxify the skin and support a full body detoxification.

Dry Brushing was recommended by the Finnish Dr. Paavo Airola for his patients 30 years ago and is still popular in European spas and many cancer treatment centers today. The Russians, Turks and Scandinavians have used this treatment for centuries. Dry brushing is promoted as a preventative for dry skin and a way to exfoliate the skin, thus stimulating skin renewal that is super soft to the touch, but there are many other benefits as well:

Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing Explained:

What You Need To Do Dry Brushing:

To dry brush, use a soft natural fiber brush with a long handle, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body. One with a removable head with a strap for your hand is a good choice.

Tips and Tricks for Dry Brushing:

• Always dry brush your dry and naked body before you shower or bathe because you will want to wash off the impurities from the skin as a result from the brushing action.

• You can do the brushing head-to-toe or toe-to-head.  It really doesn’t matter as long as the entire body is brushed. Long sweeping strokes starting from the bottom of your feet upwards, and from the hands towards the shoulders, and on the torso in an upward direction help drain the lymph back to your heart.

Note: Stroking away from your heart puts extra pressure on the valves within the veins and lymph vessels and can cause ruptured vessels and varicose veins.

• Use light pressure in areas where the skin is thin and harder pressure on places like the soles of the feet.

• Skin brushing should be performed once a day, preferably first thing in the morning. A thorough skin brushing takes about 15 minutes, but any time spent brushing prior to bathing will benefit the body. If you are feeling ill, increasing the treatments to twice a day is good. You can also dry brush areas of cellulite five to 10 minutes twice a day to achieve cellulite dissolving but the technique needs to be done consistently for a minimum of five months.

• Avoid sensitive areas and anywhere the skin is broken such as areas of skin rash, wounds, cuts, and infections. Also, never brush an area affected by poison oak or poison ivy.

• Finish up with your regular shower and ending with three hot and cold cycles. That means turning on the water as hot as you can take it for several seconds, then as cold as you can handle it, then hot, then cold for three cycles. End with either hot or cold. This will further invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation, bringing more blood to the outer layers of the skin.

• After getting out of the shower, dry off vigorously and massage your skin with pure plant oils such as olive, avocado, apricot, almond, sesame, coconut or cocoa butter. Add a little peanut and Castor oil to the mix if you have arthritis. Edgar Cayce says this works to take out some of the pain, and we’ve found that to be true over the years.

• Clean your skin brush using soap and water once a week. After rinsing, dry your skin brush in an open, sunny spot to prevent mildew.

• Any well designed program will take about 30 days to see and experience the changes. Please be patient and keep up the program! For a thorough lymphatic cleansing, perform skin brushing daily for a minimum of three months.

How to Dry Brush (Easy, Fast Instructions):

• Begin with your feet and brush vigorously in circular motions.
• Continue brushing up your legs.
• Proceed to your hands and arms.
• Brush your entire back and abdomen area, shoulders and neck.
• Use circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen.
• Lightly brush the breasts.
• Brush upwards on the back and down from the neck. Better yet, have a friend, spouse or family member brush your back.
• 

For greater detail on this technique refer to http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/HealingTechniques/Dry_Brushing_Technique.htm, youtube also contains useful video to guide in performing this technique.

The Standard Process 21 Day Purification Program is a powerful tool to start getting your health back into balance. Unlike many detoxes, the purification program is full of delicious and nutritious foods and shakes. I have found the greatest success with this program when my meals are planned out and I always have something satisfying to eat or drink with me throughout the day.

I wanted to provide some delicious recipes with you to enjoy through your purification journey and throughout your days.

“Sweet roasted cauliflower”

Set the oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.

Cut up a head or two of cauliflower and put in a big bowl.

Pour on glop of olive oil.

Sprinkle some salt and pepper. (I use my salt mix that is 1/3 Real Sea Salt, 1/3 Dulse flakes, and 1/3 onion or garlic powder.)

Mix well, to coat the cauliflower.

Cook at 400 for 1 hour. The high temperature helps seal in the sweetness.

Delicious hot or cold, can be ground up to be a substitute for mashed potatoes. Yummy!

The recipes in my previous posts: Beets Rock! are perfect for the program as well.

Standard Process also has a number of yummy recipes on their site.

Enjoy the recipes and greater health!

A journey of a thousand pounds begins with just one … bite?
Like many Americans, I have lost and gained hundreds of pounds over my lifetime. Some pounds were lost, but always regained, through stringent calorie counting and excessive exercise. Many were gained through consumption of processed foods and lack of activity. After years of abuse, even with appropriate intake and activity my body did not easily relinquish its extra baggage.
After having my third child and returning to work full time, I took serious stalk in my personal health. To be the mother of three young children and a health care provider and build a thriving business, takes a lot of energy and focus. Energy and focus were in greater demand and very short supply.
I knew, to continue, I had to make some changes. I started moving my body more, eating more whole foods and trying to get enough rest. Balanced movement, nourishment and rest are a trilogy for vitality.
Working towards that balance helped me lose some weight, but I still lacked energy and focus. I began studying nutrition in greater depth. I started carrying Standard Process, one of the oldest and most respected lines of raw whole food supplements. I learned new skills to assess the body’s imbalances and discovered very potent ways to support the body’s own healing process.
One of the tools that I have found very powerful at jump starting the healing process is Standard Process’s 21 day purification program. This is one of the most balanced purification programs I have come across. I did not feel hungry during it. I did have to plan my meals and be sure I had the right food on hand and prepared so that it was easy to stick to the program. In 21 days I lost over 15 pounds and began the journey that I am still on to improve and refine my health.
Since my first purification program, I have lost over fifty pounds. My physical energy and mental stamina have improved dramatically. I know that I can do what I need to do to support my clients, my business and my family. My body is turning into a healthy vital body that I never thought would be mine. The other times I have lost weight I swore that never again would I regain the weight. This time, I have discovered that a key to a healthy vital body is eliminating and minimizing toxins in my system. Avoiding foods that don’t suit me, avoiding non-foods as much as possible and supplementing my diet with vital nutrients to meet the challenges of modern life.
The 21 purification program is an important step to begin the lifelong journey of optimal health.
Join me on my journey. Take the first leap toward a happier, healthier you. I offer regular support through the purification program and provide a free community acupuncture treatment to support you through the detoxification process.

Strokes are scary and can be prevented, if one is willing to take responsibility for health and live life according to nature’s intentions rather than mass marketing and media. Prevention is by far the best medicine.

If you suspect someone has had a stroke, early treatment is essential for best outcome.

In fact, if someone has a stroke in front of you or you come upon someone who you suspect had a stroke, call 911 then find some needles and some gloves.

Diabetics often have strokes so they may have some lancets or needles around. Otherwise a safety pin will do in an emergency.

While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, prick the tips of each finger and toe and try to draw a drop of blood from each digit and also prick the earlobe in a number of places trying to get a drop of blood from each point (pay special attention to any discolored areas of the earlobe.) The points on the tips of the fingers and toes have a function of reviving consciousness and dynamically affecting the bodies energy flow. The earlobe corresponds to the brain. By pricking the points on the fingers and toes and the earlobe, you help move blood stagnation (a.k.a. blood clot) out of the body. By doing this before the stroke victim is transferred the negative outcome of the stroke may be minimized.

Yes this is powerful medicine, these points are powerful and may be tender and pricking them while waiting for hospital transfer could save a life or minimize paralysis. Once a stroke victim has been stabilized they should seek the services of an acupuncturist to further improve their outcome and work towards preventing future strokes and disease.

Cardiovascular disease is on the rise and one of the most feared cardiovascular events is a stroke. A stroke occurs when a blood clot obstructs the flow of blood to the brain. If a stroke goes untreated, permanent paralysis or death can occur.

Of course the best way to treat a stroke is to prevent it from ever happening. Follow sound nutritional guidelines. Insure ample essential fatty acids and adequate exercise and let go of old heart aches. I have a number of tools that I use to help maximize cardiovascular health.

If a stroke does occur, early detection and treatment is essential.

Ancient humans consumed an average about a a pound of concentrated sugar a year. Today the average is anywhere from 150 to 230 pounds of concentrated sugar. High Fructose corn syrup and soda plays a big role in this obscene increase.

If sugar were as good for the body as it tastes we would not be in the health predicaments that we, as a society, are in.

The rates of obesity,diabetes and cardiovascular disease are soaring.

I often counsel my clients to increase their intake of colorful vegetables and minimize their intake of white sugar, white flour and dairy. Beyond the white sugar, I often recommend curbing carbohydrate intake, especially if there are signs of blood sugar imbalances (which are present almost always.)

Many people embrace the woes of white sugars but still search for something sweet to eat to fill their days. In search for that something many have turned to agave nectar. Now their is ample evidence from many sources that agave nectar is not health supporting. In fact, it may be more harmful than high fructose corn syrup.

This article from Mercola.com expounds on the evidence.

Rather than searching for concentrated sweetness to consume, I invite you to delight in beets, and cabbage and fresh crisp apples.

I also invite you to live the sweetness of life, accept sweetness as a way of life. A way to walk and talk and be. We need not fill our mouths with sugar to live a sweet life.

In fact, the sugar is more likely to be preventing the sweet life.

Live well, eat well, be well.

I have spent much of my life determining the best foods to eat in order to support and sustain wellness, vitality and joy. Food should be a pleasure and nourishing. I aim to guide my clients in choosing an optimal diet to support their health and healing.

Simpler is better.

I recommend Simple Quad system of eating where you eat what can fit in your two open hands. Half of the food should be veggies, half of the veggies should be raw and the cooked veggies should still be full of vibrant color and flavor. A quarter of your plate should have high quality protein, and a quarter should be a whole source of carbohydrates- whole grains or starchy veggies.

To view what a balanced meal looks like and get some menu ideas, click here:Simple Quad Form

Food should be as close to nature as possible.

There is little room for processed foods in a vitality supporting lifestyle.

“Eat Food. Not too Much. Mostly Plants.” Michael Pollan

That is your way to happy meals and vibrant life. Bon apetit!

There is the idea that if you don’t know what you want, you won’t get it and that you must see it to believe it.

A Treasure map helps in both regards.
The treasure map is based on the Ba Gua. The Bagua originates from the I Ching, or “Book of Changes”, an ancient divination tool many thousands of years old. The I Ching has and is used as a tool for guidance to help people make important life decisions. Its wisdom states that when we are aligned with the balanced energy or Ch’i of the cosmos our lives flow more smoothly.

There are many ways to create your own treasure map.

We often potluck delicious foods and drinks and make an event of setting out our intentions for the coming year amidst the warmth and support of friends. If we did a treasure map for the previous year, we often reflect on how it manifested throughout that year.

We then look through old magazines and catalogues and cut out pictures and phrases that resonate with us. We divide a sizable poster board into the sections of the Ba Gua. Then the pictures and phrases  are glued onto the sections that correspond to the aspect of our life that they reflect. For example, I put a quote in the bottom center of my treasure map that says “If you get paid for doing what you love, then every paycheck is a bonus.”

The completed treasure map is placed in a prominent place to be a reminder of the intentions set forth.

I am living and breathing my treasure map. I know what I want and it is flowing my way, sometimes in ways I least expect and often not at all how I imagined.

Open yourself to your connection to the cosmos, invite the cosmos to serve you and serve it. Make your own treasure map and see what treasures come your way.

This New Year I made a Treasure Map to map out my aspirations for the coming year. One of the quotes I put into my career section was “If you get paid for doing something you love, then every paycheck is a bonus.” This past Sunday I felt especially blessed to be able to do the work I do.

Within a two hour time period I had four generations of one family flow through my office. Ninety year old great grandma came in for my community clinic, to receive support for a variety of health concerns and a stress reset since she is caring for her husband who I s receiving hospice support. Grandma came in for a maintenance treatment.

New-mom-to be, was in early labor and came in for her scheduled labor preparation treatment.She had been contracting off and on through the weekend. The last she knew she was 3 cm dilated and fully effaced. This was her first baby and she was in good spirits and well aware that she could meet her baby in many hours or many days. I administered acupuncture focusing on points that are known to promote and sustain labor. I gave her a postpartum folder that provided directions for stimulating the labor induction points, and tidbits of information about tools to move though labor and postpartum. I sang birth songs to her and reminded her that loose lips help open the pelvis and pelvic floor. Then I left her to rest with the needles.

She rested for about an hour. She said she flowed in and out of a sleep like state and when a contraction came she relaxed her jaw and blew through her lips. At the end of her treatment, she felt rested and ready for the birth journey ahead of her.

Her water broke about 12 hours after her treatment and she delivered her beautiful daughter less than 7 hours after her water broke. I get to meet the baby tomorrow, what a bonus!

Following are two recipes that keep the nutrients vital and are quite delicious.

“Cheesy” Kale Chips

These are so delicious and a great way to get more greens in to your diet. This totally satisfies the salty crunchy craving with healthy vital nutrients. The recipe is from a friend. However Fresh Abundance is also selling a very similar variation of this delicious treat.

Ingredients:

• 1 large bunch of washed kale (wide flatter leaves make better chips)
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 cup raw organic cashews
• Juice of one lemon
• ¼ teaspoon salt (optional-I use my salt mix of real sea salt, dulse flakes and dried onion granules)
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast.

Directions:

1. Chop the kale into large chips size pieces and set aside in large mixing bowl.
2. Blend the rest of the ingredients in a food processor until a delicious paste is made.
3. Mix the paste into the chopped kale, try to coat each piece of kale evenly and put the pieces of kale in a single layer on the food dehydrator and dehydrate for 12 to 14 hours.
4. Serve as soon as dry and crispy if there are any left to store, put in a dry air tight container. Enjoy this nutritious “cheesy” treat.

The “Cheesy” paste can also be a fabulous spread on sandwiches or thinned out and used as a salad dressing.

A non-cheesy “chip” can be made by tossing the kale in a bit of oil and spices and dried in a dehydrator or oven.

RAWvolutions  Famous Onion Bread

This recipe is taken from page 100 of RAWvolution, a book that can be found in our local library. Fresh Abundance is also selling a version of this delicious flat bread. This a great way to get fresh flax into your diet, we all need plenty of fiber and essential fatty acids.

Ingredients:

• 3 large yellow onions
• 3/4 cup flax seed, ground in a high speed blender
• ¾ cup raw sunflower seeds, ground in a food processor
• ½ cup Nama Shoyu (a wheat free variation on soy sauce)
• 1/3 cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Peel and halve the onions. Thinly slice the onions in a food processor. Transfer the cut onions to a large mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients, and mix until thoroughly combined. (You will likely need to use your hands to really blend this well.)
2. Spread 2 cups of the mixture evenly on a dehydrator tray lined with a Teflex sheet. Repeat until all of the mixture is used. Dehydrate at 100 degrees F for 24 hours. Flip the tray over onto a work surface and gently peel the Teflex sheet off the bread. Return to the dehydrator for another 12 hours. Once dehydrated, (or a bit before it is crisp for easier cutting) cut into 9 equal pieces.

Serving Suggestions: Serve alone or as an accompaniment to any, soup, salad or side dish. Or use to make sandwiches or pizza crust.