Posts filed under ‘Seasons’
SPRING CLEANING! MAY DAY DETOX 2012
KICK START YOUR WAY TO A HEALTHY SUMMER!
The Metagenics 10-Day CLEAR CHANGE DETOX PROGRAM offers you a simple easy-to-follow plan to Reset Your Diet & Clear Out Toxins.
DATES: May 1st – 1oth, 2012
COST: $150*
TO REGISTER: dremilytelfair@gmail.com / (443) 226-7665
DETOX PLAN INCLUDES:
- Pre-Detox Guidebook Outlining the 10-day Program
- A Medical Food designed to enhance Detox Pathways in the Liver
- Shaker Cup for Easy-To-Mix Protein Shakes
- Detox Friendly Recipes
- Daily E-mail updates with Wellness Tips and More!
- An On-Line Forum to share your experiences & ask Dr. Emily questions
- Additional On-Line Support & Dietary suggestions from Metagenics
- An opportunity to heal your body, clear your mind, and awaken your spirit!
NOTE: Detoxification programs are not indicated for women who are pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant. Individuals with serious illness, liver or kidney conditions are also not advised to participate.
*Part of the proceeds will benefit the Maryland Association of Naturopathic Physicians’ legislative efforts for licensure.
REGISTER TODAY!!
Beat-the-Bug-Baltimore – Part 2
HIDDEN SOURCES OF “C”
While most of us are familiar with the citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit, etc.) as a friendly and plentiful source of the immune-boosting nutrient Vitamin C, did you know that many common vegetables are also stocked with “C-Power”? Broccoli, bell peppers, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and tomatoes are all wonderful veggie source of vitamin C. Individuals with frequent sinusitis and “phlegm” conditions may actually experience an aggravation of their symptoms from eating citrus containing foods since they stimulate mucus production. Turning attention to alternative source of Vitamin C found in vegetables or with supplementation may be a more effective way to keep the immune system strong and resilient for sinusitis sufferers.
Vitamin C is a vital anti-oxidant needed in our bodies to quench free radicals, support wound healing, stimulate a healthy immune response to colds & flus and calm inflammation. Because Vitamin C is water-soluble, our bodies excrete what is not needed and the main side effect of too much Vitamin C for a person’s body is loose stools. Everyone has a different threshold for the amount of Vitamin C tolerated in a day. More frequent doses of vitamin C are often needed at the onset and early stages of most infections. For more information on Beating-the Bug, contact Dr. Emily via the e-mail link above.
Beat-the-Bug Baltimore – Part 1
HEALING WITH HYDROTHERAPY
The first cases of the flu have already been reported in Maryland this season, and I have witnessed a number of patients overcome the first round of back-to-school colds. Now is the time when taking preventative steps to optimize your immune system and put your wellness practices into place is most crucial. Throughout the next several months I will be posting simple cold and flu wellness tips rooted in the naturopathic traditions of treating the person and the underlying causes of illness rather than just the disease itself.
This first preventive practice is one I learned in my Hydrotherapy class over 10 years ago and still practice almo
st daily – the Cold Shower Rinse. The instructions are simple: At the end of your shower, turn the temperature dial to cool or cold and rinse your entire body for 30 seconds in the cooler water before stepping out of the shower. Take care to especially let the cool water fall over your throat to stimulate your thyroid gland (responsible for metabolism) and over the center of your chest to stimulate your thymus gland (an important part of your immune system). Regularly practicing the cold shower rinse may not only awaken your vitality and heighten your resistance to infection, you may also notice that your tolerance to cold weather improves and that the normal temperature of your showers begins to go down, leading to savings on your energy bill!
What’s Cooking in Dr. Emily’s Kitchen
The fall vegetables are the most inspiring to me when it comes to culinary creativity. I am not sure why, but a butternut squash calls out to me in such a different way then a zucchini or summer squash. In the last few weeks I have become more eager to explore the bounty at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. My kitchen experiments have ranged from the simple roasting of beets with olive oil and dried rosemary to a rather unsuccessful attempt at a loaf of gluten-free, vegan pumpkin bread. A familiar and forgiving old stand-by for me is any variation on the recipe for butternut squash soup described below. Please note that the estimates for measurements of the spices are a rough guess. I recommend starting with less and you can always add more.
Butternut Squash and Apple Curry Soup
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1 diced Honey Crisp apple
- 2 cups of roasted & mashed butternut squash
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 1/2 cups organic & low sodium vegetable or chicken stock
- salt & pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Heat olive oil in large pot on medium heat and stir in onions and garlic. Cook onions until soft. Add in chopped apple and spices and cook for 5 min. Stir in butternut squash and mix ingredients until heated thoroughly. Pour in stock and let simmer for 15 to 20 min on low heat. Remove from heat and let cool for 15- 20 min. Blend soup in blender or food processor and serve warm. Add additional stock to adjust consistency as needed.
HINT: Prepare the butternut squash ahead of time by roasting over the weekend and storing mashed squash in the freezer to use throughout the season.
Love Your Skin from the Inside Out
The cosmetic industry is full of products that make claims to “defy the aging process.” While
these creams and ointments may be marketed to hydrate, moisturize, and revitalize, they may do so at the cost of your health. A large majority of conventional skin care products contain chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, food dyes, and other preservatives. Some of these chemicals act as “endocrine disruptors,” meaning that they can interfere with normal hormone functioning and may be linked to conditions such as thyroid disease and breast cancer. Learn more about the safety of your cosmetics here.
Instead of spending $40 on that overly marketed moisturizer this summer – nourish your skin from the inside out with simple diet and lifestyle modifications to create radiant skin:
- Hydrate: While you are outside watering your garden this summer, remember to replenish fluids for yourself as well. Healthy skin depends on optimal hydration to promote circulation and soften collagen.
- Fend off Free Radicals: Increase foods in your diet that are rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, beta carotene, and anthocyanidins (found in dark berries). Antioxidants slow the aging process by protecting cells from damage and inflammation.
- Fatten Up!: Omega-3 fatty acids found in flax oil and fish oil not only help repair damaged and inflamed skin, but they also improve skin elasticity and reduce dryness. Other food sources of “good fats” for the skin include olive oil, avocado, walnuts, and almonds.
Sunscreen Safety
Now that summer is officially underway, it is time to trade in those winter woolly boots for flip flops and intensive skin salves for chapped dry skin for high-grade SPF sunscreen. Protecting yourself and your family from the growing intensity of the sun’s rays may not be as simple or as safe as grabbing the cheapest SPF 50 spray-on sunscreen from the drugstore shelves. Most traditional sunscreens contain numerous chemical compounds that absorb through the skin and can disrupt healthy hormone functioning (also known as “endocrine disruptors”). According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research group dedicated to raising awareness about environmental exposures that impact health, only 8% of 500 sunscreens tested were deemed both safe and effective. The top rating sunscreens are mineral-based and do not contain oxybenzone or vitamin A (which may be harmful to skin with exposure to UV rays). To check the rating for your sunscreen and to read more about sun safety, visit the EWG’s 2010 Sunscreen Guide.
BRINGING WELLNESS TO CAPITOL HILL
Every year the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) sponsors an amazing event that brings the field of Naturopathic Medicine to the attention of our nation’s congressional leaders. The Federal Legislative Initiative, or “DC FLI,” takes place in early May involving several days of training and preparation before sending forth over 150 naturopathic physicians and naturopathic medical students ready to lobby for changes in healthcare that will increase access to naturopathic sevices for more Americans. During this year’s Lobby Day on May 3rd, I had the privilege of visiting the offices of Senator Cardin and Congressman Sarbanes from Maryland as well as Senators McCaskill and Bond and Congressman Clay from my home state of Missouri.
Our specific requests included:
- Adding naturopathic physicians to federal loan reimbursement programs that support primary care physicians working in rural and under-served communities.
- Incorporating a more specific definition of “integrative healthcare practitioner” into future Healthcare Reform Bill revisions.
- Protecting the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act (DSHEA) as it is written to ensure safe access to quality nutritional supplements.
Thankfully, our profession’s core philosophy of encouraging individuals to take a more active role in their own health was well-received by the legislative aids we met with on the Hill. One day we hope that naturopathic medicine can help meet the growing need for more primary care physicians in our country’s challenged healthcare system. Until then, we will keep bringing ideas and recommendations for shifting the “healthcare conversation” back to health and healing to the offices and ears of those who can implement change.
How can you participate in this change? Visit the AANP website and sign up for the Action E-List to receive alerts when you can e-mail your congressmen and congresswomen.
Let your voice be heard!
SPRING DETOX CLASS
Isn’t it time you learned how to Love your Liver?
Dr. Emily’s Spring Detox Class at SEEDS offers you an opportunity to learn simple wellness practices to promote detoxification, enhance liver function and optimize digestion. In this 4-week class series, each session will cover a different wellness topic with the incorporation of a progressive elimination diet to help identify food sensitivities.
Week 1: Love Your Liver
Week 2: Trust Your Gut
Week 3: Calming Down the “Troops” of Inflammation
Week 4: Practicing Detoxification in Everyday Life
2 Class sessions are being offered at:
Seeds Center for Whole Health (3600 Roland Ave. Ste 4)
Wednesdays April 21st, 28th, May 5th, & 12th – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Saturdays April 24th, May 1st, 8th & 15th – 9:00 am – 10:30 am
COST: $250
TO REGISTER: Contact Dr. Emily at (443) 226-7665
Retreat
The concept of retreat was introduced to me as early as grade school when one to two days per year were devoted to building community amongst my classmates, nurturing a spiritual connection, and generally stepping away from daily patterns that interfere with personal growth. Thankfully, I have continued the tradition of devoting time to retreat throughout the years which has been a vital part of sustaining balance and wellness during my work as a naturopath and while living in a world where stresses and challenges also reside. Retreat can be just as much about disconnecting from what drains and depletes our energy as it is about reconnecting with what support and heals us. The true learning occurs while integrating that reconnection back into daily life.
During my recent trip to Belize, Central America, I retreated to a land rich in mystical Mayan culture and full of respect for the diversity of life rustling in the leaves of the jungle and swimming in the depths of the sea. During my stay on the mainland, I toured the famous Ix Chel Medicine Trail founded by Dr. Rosita Arvigo who studied with a native Mayan shaman who lived to be 103 years old. Along the trail I learned about the traditional Mayan uses of native plants such as Allspice berries for toothaches and the bark of the Gumbo-limbo tree as a natural anti-biotic. My adventures to the local Belizean Cayes landed me at a small yoga retreat resort called Ak’bol (www.akbol.com) where I waded in the still blue-green waters of the Caribbean Ocean, held steady Warrior poses against the ocean breezes, and dined on omega-3 rich wild caught fish fresh from the morning’s catch. I am grateful to the Belizean people for their hospitable spirits and sincere appreciation for the beauty of Nature that surrounds them.
I arrived back in Baltimore just as Spring was beginning to emerge – perfect timing! The moment-to-moment shifts in Nature that occur this time of year have helped to keep me connected to the same awe and excitement I felt in gazing out at the crystal blue Caribbean water or spotting a toucan hidden in the trees. Now blooming daffodils and budding cherry blossoms help me recall a sense of retreat.
Below are a few spots in the Baltimore area where I have found a sense of retreat:
Sherwood Gardens: Near 4100 block of St. Paul St.; The Tulips are Coming!
Teavolve Cafe: Harbor East; Enjoy local musicians while you sip your tea!
Visionary Art Museum: Downtown Baltimore, MD
Shambhala Center: Baltimore, MD; Open Meditation Thursday evenings
Bon Secours Spiritual Center: Marriotsville, MD; Walk the Labyrinth
I welcome learning about your stories of retreat or place/experiences that have helped you reconnect to your wellness. Please feel free to e-mail stories to dremilytelfair@gmail.com.
Welcoming Back the Light
The darkness of winter brings with its stillness and quiet a greater appreciation for the liveliness and radiance we associate with the light of summer. In winter we tend to crave the light and resist the natural slowing down of time and life around us. Living in a world which places value on fast-paced productivity and “burning the candle at both ends,” we can quickly forget the value of winter in our lives. Winter gifts us with an invitation to look inward – to visit our own places of darkness and welcome back the light.
During the recent Winter Solstice, I reflected upon the healing experiences I’ve been honored to witness over this past year. The most profound moments shared with patients arrived through stories and insights that reminded individuals of their own spark and brilliance. As a practitioner, I am learning more and more that the process of healing is a journey back to the light. Facing the darkness guides the way to where the light is most needed.
“So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.” – T.S. Eliot
