Do you Donate items to Community Thrift Store? Did you know that you can specify that IEP gets credit for your donation? It is super easy to do. Just put IEP in the area for Charity name on the donation form and IEP will get credit for the donation! Donation hours are 10-5 daily. Please do not leave items when the donation area is closed. To see what items they accept, go to: communitythriftsf.org or call 415 861-4910. Thank you!
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By Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM Spring corresponds to the "Wood" element, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is related to the liver and gallbladder organs. According to the philosophy of Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flowing of Qi (energy) throughout the body. When the liver functions smoothly, physical and emotional activity throughout the body also runs smoothly. So, for optimum health this spring, move your Qi! Stretch The liver controls the tendons. According to Chinese medicine, the liver stores blood during periods of rest and then releases it to the tendons in times of activity, maintaining tendon health and flexibility. Incorporate a morning stretch into your routine. Try yoga or Tai Qi. Eye Exercises The liver opens into the eyes. Although all the organs have some connection to the health of the eyes, the liver is connected to proper eye function. Remember to take breaks when looking at a computer monitor for extended periods of time and do eye exercises. Be sure to nourish your eyes by getting out amongst the trees. Eat Green Green is the color of the liver and of springtime. Eating young local plants - fresh, leafy greens, sprouts, and immature cereal grasses - can improve the liver’s overall functions and aid in the movement of Qi. By Nishanga Bliss, L.Ac. Adapted from Rebecca Katz, The Cancer Fighting Kitchen.
The vegetarian’s mineral delight. Cook black beans into it for a kidney soup. A wonderful thing about it is that you don’t peel any of the vegetables, saving a lot of time. You should rinse them before using, however. Makes 6 quarts: 6 carrots cut into thirds 2 onions cut into chunks 1 big leek, cut into thirds 1 bunch celery, including the heart and leaves, cut into thirds 4 red potatoes, quartered 3 yams or sweet potatoes, quartered 5 garlic cloves (yes, unpeeled!), halved 1 -2 strips kombu 2 bay leaves 8 quarts water 1 teaspoon sea salt Other veggie trimmings: squash pulp and seeds, carrot tops, cilantro stems, etc. Combine all the of the ingredients except the salt in a large stock pot, fill it with water to within 2 inches of the top, cover, and bring to a boil. Remove the lid and simmer on low for 2 hours. Strain into another, heat-proof container, and add salt to taste. Proceed with recipes or freeze. By: Nishanga Bliss, L.Ac. Ah, winter! It seems to really hit only after the holidays, when the long nights of January march on and the credit card bills come due. The sage consolidates energy in winter, becoming more internally focused, quieter, and listening more. Cooking more, too: long simmered soups and stews, roasting, baking, even a little deep frying (in fresh oil with a high saturated fat content, like lard or coconut oil, of course) are all appropriate to warm our bodies in wintertime. Traditional Asian medicines teach that winter is the time when the energy of the kidneys predominates and it is beneficial to nurture these organs. The kidneys are known not only to govern urination but to be the root and foundation of the body’s energy, showing that the ancients understood the functioning of the endocrine system and recognized the location of the adrenals on top of the kidneys. Kidney energy governs metabolism, reproduction, development, and aging, and weak kidney energy often shows in low back and knee pain, bone problems, frequent urination, and fear. Kidney nourishing foods include all beans (even string beans!), especially those dark in color, seaweed, parsley, millet, wild rice and other dark grains, walnuts, black sesame seeds, yams, organ meats (only from sustainably raised animals, of course), oysters, clams, crab, lobster, and pork. The kidney energy governs the deepest forms of internal fire and water in the body. If our internal fire, known as kidney yang, is weakened by chronic stress, overwork, or aging, symptoms such as coldness, pallor, low back and knee pain, impotence/infertility, frequent urination, low libido, edema or asthma might ensue. Kidney fire naturally declines with age, and traditional medicines have many remedies. |
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