Posts filed under ‘Wellness Tips’
The Healing Power of Weeds
You may want to think twice as you find yourself wrestling with the weeds cropping up in your garden this spring. In an effort to maintain aesthetics, you may be tossing valuable natural remedies in to the compost bin. Mother Nature has a way of surrounding us with medicinal plants even in urban settings. Weeds are persistant by nature and can grow under conditions of immense stress which gives testiment to the highly protective nutrients and antioxidants that they often possess. Here are a few “medicinal weeds” you may find growing in your own backyard:
Dandelion: Save money on toxic weed killers which will cause harm to your liver and instead dine on dandelions which protect your liver cells from free radical damage! Dandelion leaves add a bitter quality to salads which stimulates healthy digestion. Dandelion greens also have historic use as a mild diuretic for lowering blood pressure and the roots are often found in liver tonic formulas.
Chickweed: Creeping along close to the ground, this plant is another great addition to your salad bowl as it was used as a nutritious food by populations in Southeast Spain. Chickweed is often used in anti-itch formulas for treating eczema and other skin eruptions. Create a chickweed poultice by soaking the weed in hot water briefly, then removing it to apply to the affected area of skin once partially cooled.
Plantain: Usually found in the cracks of sidewalks and in park lawns, plantain has a broad flat leaf with a thin spoke-like flower rising from the center. Plantain is a great first-aid remedy for insect bites and stings. Just chew up a piece of the leaf and then apply directly over the inflamed area or chop up several leaves, soak in hot water and then apply to the skin.
More Reasons to Go GREEN!
The overarching theme of the Integrative Health Symposium held in New York City this past February was the healing power of “going green.” Brilliant minds in the fields of nutritional and environmental medicine repeated a similar message that may sound familiar from your childhood dinner table – “Eat Your Vegetables.” Yes, a very powerful medicine for preventing cancer and detoxifying your liver lives right in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Eating a heaping serving each day of green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, kale and chard can help up-regulate detoxification pathways in the liver that enhance your body’s ability to cope with day to day toxins and improve hormone metabolism. Foods rich in chlorophyll not only detoxify the body, but they also have anti-inflammatory action and support the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.
Green Tea also deserves mention for its amazing ability to inhibit multiple steps of cancer growth and development. Drinking 8 or more 4-6 oz cups of green tea per day can have strong protective effects. Decaffeinated green tea will yield similar results.
Mark your calendars for BALTIMORE GREEN WEEK which kicks off with ECOFEST in Druid Hill Park Saturday April 18th 11am-5pm. Please visit the Great Soul Wellness Studio and Seeds Center for Whole Health tables and say hello!
http://baltimoregreenworks.com/site/events/
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
In Defense of Organic Food: Many people’s purse strings are pulled a bit tauter these days, and this can pose a dilemma when perusing the produce aisle at your local grocery store. Is it really worth buying organic? That small but significant difference in price can be enough to send some shoppers to choose the “conventional” route. We have little control over any number of toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis simply by living on this planet. We do, however, have control over what we put in our mouths. The pesticides, preservatives and chemicals used to extend the shelf life of food can have a detrimental effect on the body by weakening the immune system, stressing the liver and disrupting the endocrine system. Now, more than ever, the choices you make around food quality directly impact your health. If the thought of switching to all organic feels too overwhelming, then begin with choosing organic when it comes to the top 12 foods most heavily sprayed with pesticides. (Source: The Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org)
“The Dirty Dozen”: Write down these foods on a scrap of paper to keep in your wallet and reference when you go shopping.
- Apples
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Peaches
- Bell Peppers
- Cherries
- Grapes (imported, Chile)
- Celery
- Potatoes
- Raspberries
- Nectarines
- Pears
The question may not be “Can I afford to go organic?” but rather “Can I afford not to?”
Vitamin D – Sunshine in a Bottle
As the darkness and chill of winter creep closer, many of us mourn the hours of daylight for reasons other than aesthetic comfort. Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D and with the increased awareness about skin cancer prevention and a lack of outdoor activity, many Americans have lower than healthy levels of this vital nutrient. Among its numerous roles in the body, vitamin D enhances calcium absorption, improves mood, strengthens the immune response and may lower the risk of cancer. Vitamin D supplementation may also reduce mortality rates according to a recent review study. A simple blood test can determine if an individual is vitamin D deficient and guide appropriate supplementation. Vitamin D3 is the most bioavailable form of the nutrient and most multi-vitamins do not have an adequate amount to correct deficiencies. Supplementation doses may range from 800 to 2000 IU per day. Food sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, eggs, fortified dairy products and fish. Ask Dr. Emily about how vitamin D may best benefit you this winter!
Spring Into Wellness with Naturopathic Medicine
Spring marks a time of transition between the stillness of winter and the liveliness of summer with signs of new life emerging at every turn. In the last remaining weeks of this season, I encourage you to explore the seeds of wellness that may be taking root in your own life. As a naturopathic physician, my goal is to help connect my patients with their own innate healing potential using noninvasive natural therapies. Our bodies naturally want to move in a healing direction and once the obstacles which impose stress on our minds, bodies and spirits are removed, healing can occur. What obstacle are you ready to release to live a fuller, healthier life?
Here are a few tips to help convert your obstacles into wellness opportunities:
- Support your local Farmer’s Market.
- Replace coffee and colas with extra water or tangy herbal tea blends.
- Increase liver-loving foods in your diet such as green leafies, asparagus, onions, artichokes and broccoli.
- Practice daily gratitude for whatever brings you joy and inspiration in your life.
