Spoiler alter:  this soup might just become your favorite welcome to spring winter soup favorite.  

The soups can be created and enjoyed in any order.  However, the order of the soups as presented journeys you through the 12 organ network in order of energetic flow.  One or two may even become your favorite go to soups throughout the year. The first and last vegetable combinations concentrate on the Metal element organs: large intestine and lung respectively.

All Nourishing Winter Soup Cleanse recipes can be found  a few posts back (click here).

Wanna dive deeper into the cleanse with spices, soup toppers and self-care actions?  Check back in for our upcoming posts or follow our blog to have the posts delivered to your email

Compliance Tip:  Soup Share

Want to do the soup cleanse with 1/2 the work?  Consider a soup share.  Divide the soups and double the ingredients, package and swap with a friend or family member.

Compliance Tip: Element Wisdom Cards

Reach your Zenith

Choose an Element Wisdom Card each day. These unique messages support your seasonal health & elemental constitution as determined by your 5 element practitioner or our Seasonal Medicine Element Quiz.

Spices: 

Oregano: warm, pungent

qualities: releasing, detoxifying

actions: heart protective, antiviral, anti-parasitic

affinity: HT, SI

Thyme: warm, pungent

qualities: tonifies wei qi, spleen, lung; releases exterior

actions: restorative, antiviral, anti-inflammatory

affinity: LU, ST, SP, adrenals, nerves

Whole Foods Tips:

Snap the asparagus from the bottom of the stalk to divide the tender from the woody stalk.

Store the asparagus in water  in a cup or glass in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

Toppers:

Lemon zest, peel or juice: 

qualities: sour, sweet, neutral

action: calming, clears phlegm misting the heart

affinity: LV, GB, HT, LU, ST

Self Care:

To support the heart: practice metta – loving kindness toward yourself and others

I hope you enjoy this journey!  Be creative.  Love your body with healthy foods.

xoxoxoxo Sarita

This Lentil Cilantro Soup exquisitely supports the water/winter organ pair of the Bladder and Kidney. This is the perfect soup to catch the tail end of winter in harmony food support. This pair of organs, when in balance, support our need to restore, unplug, dream and merge into higher states of consciousness.  The seeds of the year are planted during the winter, sprout during spring. come into full bloom in summer and return to the earth during fall. What have you planted this winter in the quiescence of the season?

The soups can be created and enjoyed in any order.  However, the order of the soups as presented journeys you through the 12 organ network in order of energetic flow.  One or two may even become your favorite go to soups throughout the year. The first and last vegetable combinations concentrate on the Metal element organs: large intestine and lung respectively.

All Nourishing Winter Soup Cleanse recipes can be found  a few posts back (click here).

Wanna dive deeper into the cleanse with spices, soup toppers and self-care actions?  Check back in for our upcoming posts or follow our blog to have the posts delivered to your email

Gardening Tip:  Direct Sow Cilantro Seeds

In the south, we are able to have fresh cilantro during winter and spring simply by direct sowing every three weeks. I watch the weather and sow my seeds just before or during the rains. So sow those seeds! 

Fill your kidneys with blue-black light

Compliance Tip: Element Wisdom Cards

Choose an Element Wisdom Card each day to support the organ systems, seasonal harmony or your constitution. These unique messages support your seasonal health & elemental constitution as determined by your 5 element practitioner or our Seasonal Medicine Element Quiz.

Spices: 

Peppercorns: 

nature: hot, pungent

action: opens pores, promotes sweating, warms abdominal organs

direction: outward

affinity:  Liver, Lung & Kidney

Whole Foods Tip: Cilantro Berries

Discover the delightful in between stage from cilantro leaf to coriander seed – the amazing, little known cilantro berry.  This tender green pod pows with flavor.  I love to eat it fresh, toss in into the end cook stage of a stir fry or fancy up my salsa. 

Toppers:

Chives: 

nature: warm, pungent

action: warms coldness. supports sexual function, removes dampness

affinity: Kidneys

Pollinator Tip: Bees adore the Cilantro flowers.  Like buckwheat, they are an early source of pollen and nectar to forage. If your spice plants bolts, bee happy – don’t worry.

Self Care:

To support the kidney and its expression as the adrenal: tonify the vagal nerve to move into rest & digest mode.

How to practically soothe your nervous system and improve vagal nerve tone:

• Take a cold shower or plunge
• Splash cold water on face & neck
• Sing, laugh, chant, hum, & hug
• Restore the microbe of the gut
• Relax jaw tension
• Meditate on loving kindness
• Positive Social Connect

.

xoxoxoxo Sarita

Castor Oil Packs were the number one treatment prescribed by Edgar Cayce and a favorite prescription of Naturopathic Doctors and nature cure practitioners everywhere due to it’s gentle yet powerful action on optimizing the natural function of the liver and gallbladder.  The liver is responsible for a multiplicity of functions in the body including detoxifying medicines, bacteria and other harmful substances – including environmental toxins;  transforming cholesterol to carry fats through the body; synthesizing proteins for blood plasma as well as bile for supporting digestion; storing and releasing glucose; processing  hormones, bilirubin and hemoglobin; regulating blood clotting; producing lymph for immune support.  Research studies have shown castor oil’s main constituent ricinoleic acid increases the levels of T-11 lymphocytes in the top layers of the skin augmenting normal immunity. This component has been shown to reduce acute and subchronic sensory neuropeptide-mediated neurogenic inflammation This same unsaturated omega-9 fatty has been researched as a generally safe labor induction method within 24 hours of oral intake, due to its binding of the EP3 prostanoid receptor resulting in uterine contractions.  That same proper binding increases prostaglandins E2 which are essential for functional ovulation.  The heat from a castor oil packs increases blood flow and may improve oxygenation to target tissues increase the lymph flow throughout the body, which eliminates toxins and helps reduce swollen lymph nodes.

So summarizing all that:  the liver does a lotta good stuff for us!! Give your liver some love in return.

Give a castor oil pack a try today, this week, this weekend as the paramount spring self-care therapy! Here’s how:

Castor Oil Pack

The following materials are needed to make a castor oil pack:

1. Flannel cloth
2. Vinyl hot water bottle
3. Warm water for bottle
4. Castor oil
5. Bath towel and hand towel or other bedding materials

Prepare a soft flannel cloth, preferably undyed, organic wool – or cotton – flannel.  Other material may be substituted such as an old, well-washed flannel shirt, jersey tee shirt or cotton diaper.  All material should be free of color or dyes.  The cloth should be 2 or 4 thickness when folded and appropriate size of the body area.  For example, the folded material should measure 10” x 12” or 14” for the average abdominal area; 7” x 10” for 12” for liver area; 5” x 16” strip to wrap the elbow.

Prepare the treatment area.  Castor oil is very sticky and adhesive.  Place an old towel, sheet or pillowcase on top of the treatment area (massage table, bed, lounge chair, sofa).  All materials used for treatment should be reserved for future treatments.  Materials in contact with oil will eventually become rancid and must be replaced.

Position self or patient onto treatment area.  For liver pack, position self or patient on left side (perpendicular or oblique) to fully expose liver area.  After pack is covered with towel, pillows may be stacked to the right side to prop and hold the pack in a comfortable position. Alternately placing castor oil packs over the intestines or uterus will shift the focus of the treatment to those specific organs.

Next, saturate cloth with castor oil.  The castor should be cold pressed and free of pesticides and chemicals (some drug store brands will be rinsed with hexane for extraction:  Make sure the cloth is wet but not dripping with oil.  Apply the pack to the indicated area of the body.  Cover area with vinyl hot water bottle (do not burn the skin my overheating).  Wrap a towel, pillowcase, etc around the area of the body, covering pack and bottle as well.  The pack should be in place for about one hour. After the treatment, the area of the body can be easily cleaned with a solution of baking soda dissolved in water (2 teaspoon per quart warm water) if desired. 

The flannel pack can be kept refrigerated in a plastic container (or ziploc freezer bag) between uses.  Unless the pack becomes discolored or rancid it can be used for several months.  If the pack is refrigerated, allow it to return to room temperature before reapplying pack with oil.

The pack should be used from 3 to 7 days a week as indicated.

Optional:  After every 3 treatments, up to 2 tablespoons of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, organic if possible, can be consumed orally to stimulate liver activity.

Applying castor oil to liver, kidneys, intestines, etc. prior to a warm bath is a good additional option. Short on time? In office we offer a castor oil roll-on that is perfect to apply just before a bath.

To clean your handmade castor oil pack holder, spot clean with Dawn liquid detergent and distilled water, mixed. Spray on to remove stains. Placket should be cleaned and wiped down with dry towel or with a sprinkle of baking soda to absorb oil. Soak in warm water and dawn liquid. Hang to dry.

Use considerations: This is not medical advice. Castor oil pack and heat may increase blood flow; therefore, many women avoid using them during the flow of the menstruation cycle or near fertility based sexual activity. Castor oil packs should be avoided during pregnancy and castor oil by mouth can induce labor. Regarding increased blood flow to the uterus when applied topically:  castor oil is generally considered safe and potentially beneficial regarding fibroids.  As with any this or any new health practice, check with your physician to determine what is right for you.

Add an extra boost to your liver with a nice cleansing tea such as dandelion or burdock root. One of our favorite mixed teas available in grocery stores is Yogi Detox Tea. Another option is to create your own roasted breakfast drink with dandelion, burdock, chicory, and date or fig for a little sweetness if desired. Want to learn about more foods that detoxify the liver? Look for our seasonal wellness subscription plan with more tips like this coming soon.

Dandelion Coffee Recipe

• 2 tbsp dandelion
• 2 tbsp burdock root
• 1 tbsp chicory
• 2 tbsp nuts (almond, hazelnuts, etc.)
• thinly sliced dates or figs to taste
• powdered cinnamon or cardamon *
• 2 cups water

Choose the roots and/or nuts you wish to use and roast them at 350° for 10-20 minutes, stirring halfway through. The longer your roast, the darker the roast of your “coffee.” 

Add the roasted roots to 2 cups of water an boil for 5-10 minutes. Strain the coffee and add sweetner, dates or figs, and powdered herbs if desired.

Come back next week for our springtime fun recipes for sprouts and dandelion pesto!

Fullscript, one of our supplement providers which allows patients to “pickup” their supplements at their leisure has provided these generalized suggestions for managing liver health concerns:

Fatty Liver Support

Castor Oil Pack Holders are available for purchase directly through Alberta Orchard Wellness at:

https://squareup.com/store/dr-sarita-elizabeth-cox/item/castor-oil-pack-holder

Dry Body Brushing: Detox through Your Skin Cells

The Skin is ruled by the Metal Element as an expression of the Lungs.  The skin is our largest organ! Our skin is the physical boundary between self and others.  This is the season to reflect upon where you end and others begin. When do you say yes when you could say, let me check.  When do you push through when you should rest?  With less daylight hours, self-care routines naturally focus on indoor and home practices. Dry skin brushing helps to improve circulation, stimulates lymphatic drainage, and firms the skin. It is important to find a brush with soft natural bristles. Bonus:  it just takes a couple of minutes and the payoff is big.  Synthetic bristles often contain chemicals that are best to avoid.  

Begin with light, gentle brushing and overtime the skin will be able to handle brushing a little deeper.   The strokes should move through the joints, not to the joint.  Brush fingertips toward the heart and toes. Stroke toward the heart to improve lymphatic flow and back through the venous system towards the heart.  When dry brushing the stomach,  it is best to go in a clockwise motion as that works with the natural digestive flow.  When brushing the breast also circle round toward the heart and give the underarm and ‘tail’ of the breasts a little extra love.  The skin may be slightly flushed afterwards but should not be red or sore.  Avoid brushing over fresh wounds, burns, and cuts. 

The skin should be dry but not excessively dry when brushing.  You may choose to use coconut oil (to cool) or sesame oil (to warm) during the brushing process if the skin is very dry but be sure to clean the brush thoroughly after finishing brushing.   Shower after brushing to help remove exfoliated skin cells. Most individuals notice that they feel refreshed and energized after dry brushing.  Clean the bristles with gentle, ecological soap and water and sundry the brush weekly. We keep brushes and lymphagen cream in stock for you at Alberta Orchard Wellness.

We love Lymphagen by Genestra to apply to the lymph rich areas after the shower. Lymphagen Cream is a topical formula of synergistic herbs used for their ability to detoxify the hepatic and lymphatic system. Studies show that the detoxifying abilities of the hepatic, renal, and lymphatic systems are affected by poor diet, stress, heavy metal and environmental toxins, which can cause hormonal dysfunction, immuno-suppression, and chronic degenerative disease. Natural practioners recognize the importance of lymphatic function and how it supports the detoxification of every system in the body, including the immune, digestive, and nervous systems. Poor lymph health lies beneath most health conditions from bad skin to cancer. 

You can purchase this at our office or via fullscript, our electronic pharmacy and delivered directly to your door!

Apply a small amount of Lymphagen cream, to back of head, around ears, down lymph chain on side of neck, below jaw line, on breast, belly, groin, and joints. Drink plenty of water, lemon water or cranberry tea to flush the toxins from the lymph.  This accumulation of toxins is due to the elimination of toxic debris and improved circulation.  The skin also glows and feels smoother after the whole body exfoliation experience.  Be sure to wash the brush regularly and sterilize under UV rays for several hours if at all possible. 

Be careful what you put on your skin and watch what you eat!

When the lymphatic system becomes sluggish it will release toxins through the skin and when unnatural fibers (like nylon or polyester) are worn and when chemical creams and soaps are applied to the skin, toxin release through the skin is inhibited. Then, the toxins that should have been eliminated are re-absorbed along with new toxins from the chemically made clothes and skin products. This creates an even greater need for detoxification. So, wear natural fibers and don’t put toxic chemicals on your skin. 

The diet for a healthy lymphatic system should include an abundance of fresh and raw vegetables. A healthy diet for lymphatic health might look something this with vegetables being the most consumed foods followed by raw fresh fruit, cooked vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes, brown rice, amaranth, quinos, millet, and oat. Meat should be eaten sparingly.

Drink cranberry tea for added detoxification this holiday season!

• Fresh Cranberry Tea

Boil 1 c fresh cranberries in 3-5 cups water until they rise to the top and start splitting.  Drain and sweeten with raw honey or maple syrup.  Drink.  Retain berries for smoothie or relish.

We invite you to stay in touch. xoxoxo Sarita

Seasonal Health Refresher: The Metal Element expresses itself as the Lungs and Large Intestine.  It is one of the five elements in Chinese Medical Theory. As Metal relates to autumn, Water relates to winter, Wood relates to spring, Fire relates to summer, and Earth is the transitional time between all of the seasons. Each element also relates to an organ pair. By having a clearer understanding of the seasons and seasonal living, we can enjoy a more balanced life and good health. Our health depends on understanding the seasons and the five element model empowers us and helps to keep our health optimal.

SPICES!

Fall is a time for spices. It’s a time to purge and detox. The flavor of the Metal Element is Spicy, but not necessarily spicy pepper hot. Spicy can be ginger, garlic, cloves, and cinnamon. As colder weather moves in, we generally transition from being outdoors to spending more time indoors and it’s nourishing and restorative to drink hot fluids, more specifically, hot teas.  Although fall and winter in the South are still mild such that these seasons are lovely to spend time outdoors without the nuisance of heat and pesky insects, this is the perfect season for hot, spiced teas. In the South, we love our hot apple cider with cinnamon during this time of year and we may succumb to decadent baked goods that are baked with spices. However, they can be too sweet and cause congestion and suppress our immune response.

SO… spiced tea is a PERFECT drink choice for this time of year! My seasonal go tos are nettles, ginger and chai.  I typically brew bulk herbs and tea leaves in a tea pot with a removable strainer.  Loose herb and tea are higher quality and lower cost per cup if you rebrew the leaves a few times as they are intended. I brew until there is little color left (all the antioxidants, etc have been leeched).  Often, I brew several batches from the same herbs and store in the fridge for later, sometimes mixing batches for fun. My Chinese Medicine teachers always packed their traveling suitcases with tea and spices.  The ah too true joke with them is that packaged teas that we drink in this country are the sweepings off the factory floors from their country.

Nettles, though not spicy, is especially useful this time of year as it is a well known tonic for seasonal allergies. I often mix nettles with green tea (wake), peppermint (digest), or lavender (calm). Keep reading and give this underused weed a try! Another good choice to brew up is ginger root for colds and flu. Ginger is one of my favorites! Both can we sweetened with a little raw and local honey.

NETTLES

Urtica dioica, also known as Common Nettle, Stinging Nettle or Nettle Leaf, or just as Nettle, is a herbaceous, perennial, flowering plant belonging to the family Urticaceae. Native to Europe, temperate Asia and western North Africa, today it is found globally, including New Zealand and North America. The plant has a long history of use as a traditional medicine, food, tea, and raw material. Stinging nettle does in fact sting because of its tiny hairs on the foliage that contain toxins. If you brush up against the leaves, you’ll get a sting that causes an itchy rash. Interestingly, with a little processing and preparation, it acts an anti-histamine, reducing the reactivity of allergic reactions. Stinging nettle is also used as a highly nutritious and mineralizing ingredient in soups, pastas, wild pate and as a greens side dis. To make the leaves edible, they are harvested while young, then wilted or boiled to neutralize the toxins. Nettles has a long history in treatment of urinary symptoms related to early stage prostate enlargement, fluid retention, gout, anemia and topically for strains, sprains, joint and muscle pain and a whole lot more.

Research and resources for nettles are clickable below.

Nettles nutrition, high in fiber and other nutrients

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4302403/

Nettles used for cardiovascular support and treatment of hypertension

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=URDI

CHAI:  watch for our winter post on Chai

Let’s explore a few fall herbal teas and how to correctly brew them!

THERMAL NATURE & ORGAN AFFINITY (12 ORGAN NETWORKS)

Cinnamon : Cinnamomum cassia acrid, sweet, warm 

• Twig, gui zhi– (warm) Upper body:
  • heart, lungs, collaterals/channels
  • with fresh ginger for joint arthritis, shoulder pain
• Bark, rou gui – (hot) Lower body:
  • kidney, bladder, spleen
  • tea stomach ache, abdominal swelling with cold signs

Turmeric: Curcuma longa acrid/pungent, bitter, cool

• Invigorates blood and breaks up stasis; Injury due to trauma, internal and external
• Promotes movement of qi: Chest, abdominal pain due to constrained liver qi with heat signs
• Clears heat and cools blood: Hot phlegm obstructing heart: anxiety, agitation, seizures
• Benefits gallbladder: Reduces jaundice improves

Ginger, Zingiber officianale acrid, hot

• Warms the middle jiao and expels cold
• Warms spleen and stomach
• Warms the lungs and transforms phlegm
• Warms the channels and stops bleeding from cold deficiency

Mints, Menta family: catnip, rosemary, oregano, basil

• Light flower floats to upper body.
• Antimicrobial: ECHO virus, salmonella bacteria

Peppermint, Mentha, piperita cool, pungent:

• releases: lungs, liver
• tea plus a little salt for pain (headache, trigeminal neuralgia, pain in mouth, throat, tongue, tooth, nosebleed)
• vents rashes – measles early stage
• common cold due to wind heat – scratchy throat, red eyes, fever
• disperses liver qi – pressure in chest and flank, unstable emotions, gynecologic

Spearmint Mentha spicata warm, pungent:

• calms spirit: heart
• stress induced headache, dizziness

BIOCHEMISTRY:

AntiVirals:  lemon balm, peppermint, elderflower, leaf or berry, cranberry, licorice, ginger, olive leaf, cats claw

AntiBacterial:  cinnamon, clove, oregano, thyme

Digestive:  chamomile, ginger, peppermint                  

Mineralizing and Antihistime:  nettles

HOW TO BREW, INFUSE, & CONCOCT YOURSELF!

Herbal teas deliver botanical medicine.  To free the medicine, we should choose best preparation method, temperature and timing. 

Preparation: add desired amount of tea to best temperature, remove from heat, cover and steep. Warm liquid is tolerated and easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal mucosa, where tinctures, pills and capsules can be irritating.

INFUSION

Definition: the steeping or soaking of botanical parts usually in water of a substance in order to extract its soluble constituents or principles

For what? best for flowers, leaves, and most powered herbs

How much? 1 tablespoon per cup is medicinal

How long? Steep covered 5-7 minutes

Pot? metal or glass

Vessel? glass, stoneware covered to maintain volatile oils

Temperature? hot is by far the common preparation method; cold is appropriate for mucilagenic herbs

HOT water:

peppermint, Menthe piperita leaves;

nettles: Urtica dioica leaves,

chamomile Matricaria chomomilla flowers

COLD water

Slippery Elm Ulmus fulva,

Chia Salvia hispanica

DECOCTION:

Definition: water in which a crude vegetable drug has been boiled and which therefore contains the constituents or principles of the substance soluble in boiling water

For what? best for roots, barks, berries, seeds

How much? 1/2 teaspoon per cup is medicinal

Pot? glass, stoneware covered to maintain volatile oils

Temperature? Boil covered 10-20 minutes, and then steep until tepid

Examples: Dandelion root, Taraxicum officinale; Ginger root, Zingiber officinalis; Licorice root, Glycyrrhiza glabra,  Pau d’arco bark, Tabebuia avellanedae

Teas can be consumed immediately or stored in refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Herbal teas deliver botanical medicine.  To free the medicine, we should choose the best preparation method, temperature, and timing.  Boil or steep the herbs multiple times until there is little color left.  Combine all brews into one large container and drink room temperature or cool from the refrigerator throughout the day or over the next few days.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ABOVE, ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW FOR A DOWNLOAD LINK TO A PRINTABLE FOR PERFECT BREWING TIPS

The seasonal return to the Earth element invites simple methods of food preparation that allow more time for self-love and beloveds.  Golden and earth toned foods like millet, corn, amaranth, rice, garbanzo, golden split mung and soy beans, hazelnuts, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, yams, squash, carrots, apricots, and cantaloupe are harmonizing choices.  All root vegetables strengthen our internal Earth.  

Sweet potatoes harmonize during Earth season.

Keep spices, seasonings and flavors mild during these days of transition and keep food temperatures not too hot and not too cold (raw or chilled) ~ honoring the middle way. Simplify cooking and digestion with soups, purees and medium temperature baking during the doyo, or the return to Earth three week period between the seasons.  Soaking and pressure cooking all legumes and grains renders them more digestible as it denatures the lectins, the carbohydrate binding proteins which can damage the lining of our intestines and disrupt digestion if our enzyme pathways are confused or not functioning properly. 

Even in a tiny house, two kitchen gizmos are absolutely worth their weight and shelf space:  an instapot and a good blender ~ a Blendtec or Vitamix are premier if in your budget.  These appliances transform whole foods into meals in minutes. I often create a soup with ginger, carrots (sometimes cashews), and filtered water in 152 seconds in my Blendtec . Yes, from raw ingredients to warm soup in way under three minutes!

This week consider:

a four day vegetable fast,

eating from earthenware (non toxic),

a soup cleanse,

walking barefoot on the earth,

regular eating times.

Walk barefoot during Earth season.

My patients enjoy this mini cleanse that journeys through the entire organ network in seven soups.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Soups:

Lu/Li    Lung/Large Intestine   Cauliflower / Cabbage

St/Sp     Stomach/Spleen   Butternut Squash        

Ht/SI     Heart/Small Intestine   Asparagus/ Turnip      

Bl/Kd    Bladder/Kidney   Lentil/ Cilantro          

Pc/ Tb   Pericardium/Triple Burner   Kale/ spinach/ chard    

Gb/Lv   Gallbladder/Liver   Beet/ Parsnip            

Lu/Li    Lung/Large Intestine   Carrot/ Leek /Ginger    

Cook up one of more of these mini-cleanse veggie soups in a base of vegetable stock or onion, garlic, and salt.  For two servings: combine 1 medium onion, 2-5 cloves garlic, salt to taste in 1 quart of filtered water.  Simmer until onions are not quite clear. Cook on low to medium heat until chopped vegetables are fork tender. Blend with immersion blender, Vitamix, or Blendtec. Add a little olive oil if desired. Best salt sources these days:  Great Salt Lake or the Dead Sea, due to the plastics in our oceans.

To southern cooks, onion, celery, pepper, and garlic constitute the four seasons. Try out a four seasons base as an easy vegetable stock. Some folks do not do well with the nightshade family of vegetables, including peppers (genus Solanaceae) due to their alkaloid content so best for y’all to stick to a ‘mirepoix’. Mirepoix is a 2:1:1 combination of onion, celery, and carrot that is popular in French cuisine. Other folks do not tolerate sulfur foods, like onions and garlic (genus Allium) so simply use a filtered water base. Organic boxed vegetable stocks can be reduced with water for convenience. If you discover a delicious combination, leave us a comment or send us a message.  We will be sure to pass it on.

Optional Earth supporting spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, Chinese five spice, coriander, cumin, turmeric, rosemary, fresh parsley or basil, caraway, and fennel seed may be added for mild complement. Add dried herbs in at the start of preparation; add fresh herbs toward the end. Be creative and enjoy!

Cultivating the Earth element in our surroundings is also a method of balancing and rectifying the energies of the season.  To engender the Earth and provide a grounding entry, we painted our front door at  Alberta Orchard Wellness with a color match to Alabama red clay. We love it! We also left the kiwi arbor in primer tone to temper the metal in the southeast corner of the office. 

Our upcoming project at the tiny house is to apply a natural earth plaster as an interior wall treatment with southwestern clay and crushed Gulf Coast shells. This beautiful and natural clay plaster is not only nontoxic but it is an environmentally conscious product manufactured in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Keep an eye on this space for updates and photographs. But in the meantime, check out the company that makes and sells this earth friendly product that is sure to enrich and beautify our space.

Feng shui bagua, an energy map.

The center of the house represents the Earth according to Feng Shui. The art of placement in ancient China, Feng Shui encourages the flow of Qi in your homes, gardens, and offices. What is in the center of your home, your bedroom, your office, your dining table?  A simplistic fix is to place a pottery vessel centrally, empty or filled with earth from a place that brings you tranquility (beach, mountains, forest, sacred space) or to decorate or accent with earthen and gold tones.  A more complex undertaking would be installing terracotta on the floor or plastering the walls with earthen clay in an area of the home that needs a stronger Earth element to bring balance.  Another Feng Shui tip is to fill a ginger jar with soil from a property with abundance and place it in the wealth corner of your home or office.  Several years ago, I collected soil from a prosperous friend’s rose garden and placed it in the wealth corner of Alberta Orchard Wellness upon opening.  We have experienced an abundance of blessings, for sure.  It may be the Feng Shui or it may be the integrity, perseverance, open mind, grateful heart and good vibrations around here responsible for our success.  Either way, we’ll take it and pass it on!

The element of wood is associated with spring.

It’s Still Spring!

Its still spring until June 21!  Spring ~ the word itself conjures up the natural movement of this season. It’s a time for creativity and breaking through. Not unlike how many of us engage in spring cleaning rituals around home, our bodies also enjoy and benefit from a good spring cleaning~physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This is the perfect time of year to give up coffee, alcohol, tobacco and other substances (think Lent) because the uplifting and stimulating energy of spring provides a natural seasonal boost. It is a time to renew health, to cultivate new relationships, expand upon current projects, and to plant seeds that will one day come to harvest.

The element of wood is associated with spring, a time of birth and new beginnings. Spring is the time to grow, establish deeper roots, and stay flexible in the wind like bamboo. In the body, that means a focus on joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons,and sex organs. It also means giving special attention to your liver, which works to detoxify the blood and make bile to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. As spring is represented by the wood element and includes the liver and its complementary organ, the gallbladder, these two organs are the primary targets for springtime rejuvenation and health regimens. 

The liver performs many functions in the body. Removing toxins, peaking between 1-3 a.m.,  is among the most important. It governs the eyes and is associated with inner seeing. When a propensity to break down toxins combines with sight turned inward, rage directed toward the self is the expression of an imbalanced liver. When in balance, poisons and toxins are easily broken down and kindness and creativity turns inward.

To support liver functioning, drink plenty of fluids and add lemon to water (you may want to drink through a straw or brush teeth afterwards to protect enamel). Sour or vinegary foods in moderation nourish the liver (a couple of ounces of kombucha, sauerkraut).  Fresh greens, sprouts, asparagus, nuts and seeds balance and revive the liver. Exercise and sweating aid liver detoxification, so spring is a great time to develop a regular exercise program!

Tips for Healthy Spring Living:

• Support your liver and gallbladder through herbs like dandelion and acupuncture to reduce stagnation and balance the organs.
• Do not eat 2-3 hours before bed. Late night eating creates stagnation in the liver and prevents our body from repairing at night.
• Stop eating when 80% full. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly so the brain recognizes that the body is being fed. Overeating creates pressure on the liver and gallbladder.
• Be mindful of your spiritual health through self-care and meditation.
• Eat fresh and vital foods such as greens, sprouts, fruits, asparagus, celery and raw nuts and seeds. 
• Add lemon or apple cider vinegar to water to help detoxify the liver.
• Practice yoga twist postures to wring out the toxins.
  
  

  Lemon in water detoxifies the liver.