February 4th, Monday marked the first day of Spring by the lunar calendar. This is the official Chinese New Year. February 10th marks the first day of Spring according to the solar calendar (the calendar we use in the West). This is a difference of measuring the Earth's journey around the Sun versus the Moon's journey around the Earth. Click here for an excellent explanation of the differences between these calendars. The differences in the lunar and solar calendar total up to Continue Reading
Food As Medicine: How to Maximize Digestion and Assimilation
Andres Vergara, L.Ac., M.Ac. and Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH The food we eat is important not only as a fuel for our physical bodies, but it is also an important resource that can enhance our health and well being. Traditional healing systems such as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine classify food according to their healing properties, and some, like walnuts, certain vegetables, fruits, and legummes are even included in the materia medica and used in formulation with other herbs to treat Continue Reading
Herbs and Foods to Support Metabolism and Quell Sugar Cravings
by Michele Collins, RH (AHG), MPH and Andres Vergara, L.Ac., M.Ac. On January 22nd's internet radio show, Combining Science and Chinese Medicine for Sustainable Weight Loss, we (Andres and Michele) talked about the role the spleen and kidneys play in metabolism in Chinese medicine. Keep in mind, though, that we are not referring to the literal and anatomical kidneys and spleens alone. Yes those organs themselves are included, but they are actually the gross manifestations, two of 5 of the Continue Reading
Finding Inner Sweetness
I recently decided to stop eating sugar. I had stopped eating refined, processed sugar but my last hold out was gummy worms that were sweetened with organic fruit juices and evaporated cane juice. I have comforted myself with the fact that it isn’t refined sugar, that these were actually healthy treats. In my defense, they did give me 100% of my daily required vitamin C. Plus, I really looked forward to my gummy worm snack. Which is why I decided to stop eating them and to limit my sugar Continue Reading