Porridge is a great warming way to start the day but sometime you need a break from oats. Did you know that you can make porridge out of any grain you like - you can make Kasha (buckwheat porridge), rice porridge, millet porridge, quinoa porridge, teff porridge etc. Job's tears also makes a delicious [...]
Autumn has arrived and the weather is cooling down. I love being in the mountains and seeing the trees ablaze in reds and golds. Autumn is the season when we need to be looking after our lungs and supporting our immunity before the winter cold and flu season begins and pears are a staple [...]
The year of the Yin Metal Ox (the Golden Ox) started on Feb 12, 2021. The autumn equinox is usually around the 21st of March each year in the southern hemisphere & around the 21st of September in the northern hemisphere. So, what do these events have in common? In the Chinese medicine framework of [...]
It’s hard to open any email or Facebook post these days and not see something about COVID-19. Everyone is in a state of panic and finding it hard to think rationally. Yes, this is a condition that must be taken seriously, however, it is also important to remember that fear and panic are stress [...]
The year of the Yang Metal Rat starts on Jan 25, 2020. What might this mean for you? Yin and Yang, and the 5 Phases play key roles in Chinese Medicine. Yang is described as the sunny side of the mountain and is a warming, active, drying energy. Yin is often described as the shadow side [...]
You know how much I love congee and porridge at any time of year but sometimes it just feels too hot to have a hot breakfast so what's a good alternative when the weather warms up? Bircher Muesli is a nutritious breakfast option as the weather warms up. A lot of people love to [...]
Evidence-based medicine is constantly being cited as the best way to treat health problems so Acupuncture is often rejected as an option for treatment as it is claimed that there is not enough evidence to support it. Yet various articles popping up in the media (see here for one example) indicate that only 1/3 [...]
I have Italian heritage so was raised on wonderful tomato-based pasta sauces that my nonna used to make. Unfortunately, I also grew up with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I was fortunate to discover, in my 20's, that nightshades were a big contributing factor to the aches and pains that I suffered. In giving up nightshades I [...]
The year of the Yang Earth Dog started on Feb 16, 2018, so what might this mean for you and your health this year? Yin and Yang, and the 5 Phases play key roles in Chinese Medicine. Yin is often described as the shadow side of the mountain and is a cooling, calming, moistening [...]
I love Kudzu! Kudzu root, also known as Japanese arrowroot, Ge Gen or Pueraria radix is a herb I always have in my kitchen cupboard as well as in my dispensary cupboard. Not only is it very starchy so it can be used as a thickener in cooking but it has wonderful medicinal qualities [...]
