The New Year: A Resolution to Be

Photo courtesy of John Servilio

Another winter is upon us and less than two weeks into this season we face a new year and the ubiquitous advice of making a "resolution." For the health-conscious it means getting a gym membership or starting a diet. But for me I see winter as bringing the shorter, colder, wetter days. Images of holing up in the warmth of my home come to mind, or playing board games with my partner, or reading a good novel. The last thing I feel compelled to do is make changes to my life when snuggling under a blanket in front of a fire seems most appealing! 

You may have noticed that as we approach winter our energy drops somewhat, it's more difficult to get up in the early hours of the morning, and we are less likely to go for a bike ride, a hike, or some other outdoorsy activity. Most likely this is not a sign of chronic fatigue but part of the natural cycle of waxing and waning when yin predominates and yang goes deep. It's natural for us to slow down at this time, yet there are those of us who insist on maintaining our regular hectic pace. We get up before the sun rises, caffeinate to wake up, go to the gym and exercise until we're dripping with sweat, and keep up the same ragged pace at work. And at night we finally go to bed long after the sun has set. But according to the tenets of Chinese philosophy and medicine, everything about our lives leading up to the winter months should be focused on becoming more internal, more at rest, more at peace. The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine, written more than 2000 years ago, states: 

"The philosophy of the winter season is one of conservation and storage. Without such practice the result will be injury to the kidney energy." 

It recommends that desires and activities be subdued, quieted, and contained, that one should stay warm but keep the pores closed and avoid sweating, that one should retire early and wake with the sunrise which is later in winter. Much of this advice goes against the routines so ingrained in our lives, but it makes an important point about how disconnected we've become from nature and its rhythms. 

So it may follow that a new year's resolution is a bad thing, but only in the way it is treated. To have resolve does not mean to change. Resolution is the moment before change and necessary for change to occur. It is our determination, our will, our drive that make change possible. Resolution is the mother of change. And it, not coincidentally is the quality of the Kidney in Chinese Medicine. When there is damage to the Kidney there is a tendency to be fearful, and fear keeps us from effecting positive change in our lives. This can be fear of failure or fear of success, but especially fear of giving up the status quo and moving on. 

The following are some tips on keeping the Kidneys strong and allowing them to build up their store of Essence and Qi over the winter. You'll find you have more energy to get through the day and be ready for all the wonderful changes spring will bring! 

Exercise/Activity Moderate your vigorous exercise routine so that you are not sweating so much and/or choose activities that are more restorative. If you feel you're getting tired sooner, treat this as your body's signal to slow down or spend less time on the treadmill. This is also a good time to do restorative yoga, Qi Gong, or Pilates, which strengthens the foundation muscles deep within our bodies. Now is definitely not the time to go jogging in the cold weather in just a shirt and shorts! 

Rest/Rejuvenation 
Likewise, take longer breaks between vigorous activities or weight-lifting sets. Relax, nap, and meditate whenever you feel like it, and after the sun has gone down is when you want to perform your low-key activities. More simply put, be still. Spend some time each day doing nothing, and doing nothing means not watching TV, not listening to music on your portable, and not reading the news! A sauna or steam bath may sound nice and relaxing, but these tend to open the pores and leave you susceptible to the cold, damp winter weather. If this is something you can't give up, be sure to limit your time and spend three seconds under a cold shower afterwards to close the pores. 

Nourishment It's especially important to eat well as food provides our post-natal essence. In terms of energetics, salt is the flavor of the kidney, so it needs to be a regular, but not excessive, part of the diet. Root and seasonal vegetables are also ideal. And because this is the Yin time of year, we look toward the richer foods for nourishment: winter squash, yam, sweet potato, oils/fats, dairy, egg (especially egg yolk), nuts (especially walnut and chestnut), and wheat. Meats that nourish the kidneys are carp, eel, duck, mutton, pork, and beef kidney. But as we don't want to get bogged down in foods that are too heavy and cloying, it's important that we not overindulge and that we balance these with the lighter, more aromatic winter spices such as cinnamon bark, clove, nutmeg, fennel seed, chive seed, and star anise. 

Spiritual and Emotional Considerations As discussed earlier, winter is a time of stillness, of conservation, and of being more internal. It is important at this time to avoid wild fluctuations in the emotions and to maintain routine that helps you to avoid a lot of disruption. While it's not always possible to avoid change, an otherwise steady life will make those changes less stressful. I find meditation one of the most useful ways of being still. Focus on where you are in your life at this time, and take it a step further by meditating on the phrase, "This is where Imust be at this time." It is the acknowledgement of our place in the divine order of things. From the kidneys we take our physical, spiritual, and emotional essence that we've inherited from ancestors, and implicit in this is our connection with the universal life force. Understanding this and understanding ourselves more fully enables us to plan our life's changes and comprehend how those changes will affect us. 

Last, it's important to note that the weather and our bodies change throughout the year and within each season. Toward the end of winter, we find the days getting longer, the weather warming, and the rainfall lightening. This means preparing ourselves for the changes that spring will bring, and gradually phasing out our winter routine. It's also prudent to realize that each of us has a different constitution, experiences different life stressors, and finds her or his equilibrium in different ways. If you have questions about which foods or lifestyle adjustments might be best for you, please speak with one of the many wonderful professionals here at The Vital Compass.

Peace and joy to you in the new year!

John Servilio is one of the newest additions to The Vital Compass team. He specializes in painful and chronic, difficult-to-treat conditions, ranging from auto accidents to autoimmune disorders.

Shen Nong Farms

On August 12th, we visited Shen Nong Chinese medicinal herbal farm in Chehalis, WA. 

 

 About two hours north of Portland, OR, Chehalis, meaning "shifting and shining sands" is a small town born of railroads and homesteads.  One such homestead was owned by the grandparents of Byron Care, owner and farmer of Shen Nong Farms.  After inheriting the homestead, deciding to keep it, and not create a commercial farm, Byron turned to herbal medicine cultivation.  He has been interning with Peg Shafer, author of The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm for several years, and is also a member of the North West Asian Medicinal Herb Network (NWAMHN).   

 He has a clear passion for growing medicinal herbs, and is clearly joyful in his part of "alternative medicine as a vehicle to attend to the needs of under-served communities, including those caught in the inescapable cycle of disease treatment versus whole person sustainability". 

There are many gorgeous herbs growing, here are pictures of a few:

Bai Zhi, Angelica Dahurica

Che Qian Cao and Che Qian Zi, looking regal as revered medicinals rather than pesky weeds!

Qu Mai, flowering purple to clear blood lin syndrome in real life.

The farm is in its second year, looking forward to its first harvests.  One of the most delightful experiences was meeting Hong Hua, or Carthamus live and in person for the first time!  The vibrant, orange-red flower is strugging in its first year due to a newbie error, which Byron is free to admit.  It turns out that these seeds are so eager to sprout, their heads bursting toward the sun that they don't need the heat mats he thought would be a favor to the plant.  As a result, the stalks are high and a bit spindly for the first sprouts, but shorter and hardier for the rest.  The petals (the part of the plant used for blood moving, especially in the upper body) however were sweet and only slightly bitter, with a hint of honey.  What a treat!  It is exciting to think about how the plant sprouts & grows might be analogous to the way the herbs from it work in the body.  


We will definitely be visiting the farm again!  Click here to add yourself to the email list of people who may want to visit with us, or know more!

Some kind of Ganoderma & horsetail

A few of my favorite things about prescribing tinctures.

1. Ease of delivery.  Just a few dropper fulls in water, or on the tongue gets the herbs into your system.
2. Absorption.  Tinctures are especially useful for those with digestive issues!  The small quantities required and lack of adulterants make them easier to put to use in the body.
3. Recognition.  Due to the prevalence of western herbal medicine, people are more used to seeing herbal medicine in dropper bottles and capsules.
4. Custom control: Customizing formulas is very important for TCM.  Having single tinctures means we have the same amount of flexibility of ingredients and dosage as you would a bulk or granule formula.  The ease of capsules without the restriction on prescriptions!
5. Comparable cost.  Tinctures are no more expensive per day than the standard bulk or granule formula! 

Gotu Kola aka Ji Xue Cao, Luei Gong Gen, Asiatic Pennywart or Centella Asiatica

We've been building up our stock of this great herb, and we're happy to say we now have it in bulk, granule, and tincture!  It has a mild flavor, it's actually a vegetable in Southeast Asia, and is claimed to have wide ranging health benefits.

It's bitter and acrid/pungent in flavor, and cold in nature going to the lung, spleen, kidney and bladder.
It clears heat by promoting urination, resolves swelling and removes toxicity.  It is also used as a memory tonic in Asian herbal medicine traditions as as a nervine in Western herbalism to improve concentration and assist the function of the adrenal glands.  It is also said to improve blood flow, preventing and assisting the healing of spider and varicose veins, as well as intestinal vasculature.  It really seems like a cure all.  It is a vegetable, after all.

I've been adding it to a few formulas for a variety of ailments.  Most recently in a modification of Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang to synergistically work with the formula to guide this blood nourishing combination to clear the skin, heal wounds, regulate the immune system and clean toxins.
Another time in a modification of Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan to clear further promote urination, strengthen the spleen, and dispel blood stasis by strengthening the vessels.

It's also featured in our "Beau-Tea" blend to darken the hair, regulate blood sugar, and clear the skin along with He Shou Wu, Gou Qi Zi (Goji berries/Wolfberry), Lo Han Guo (Monk fruit), Nettles and Mu Zei (Horsetail).

It's a great herb, and perhaps under utilized in traditional Chinese herbal medicine formulas.

What is Shiatsu? by Fig Aiamune, LMT & Shiatsu therapist

 "All you have to do is press" says Tokujiro Namikoshi, said to be the founder of modern shiatsu.  

In my shiatsu practice I use pressure to alleviate any number of physical ailments, mental agitations and emotional upsets.  It's nice to know that touch can translate into healing when done with awareness, intention and compassion.  Specifically this touch is pressure given with thumbs, palms, elbows, forearms, heels and even knees along your body's energy channels, meridians.  These meridians are, hopefully, free flowing energy rivers and this is seen when one has vitality, confidence and clarity in life.  Blockages in the meridian flow causes all sorts of problems ranging from breathing difficulties, digestion issues, headaches, back aches, body tension, pain and fatigue.  As the blockages persist the physical symptoms seem to be the benchmark, what is now considered normal and a person's outlook on life is affected by this endured pain.  Zen shiatsu is a way people can free themselves from annoying disruptions and dramatic dis-eases of the bodymind.  

What is Zen Shiatsu?  Not all shiatsu was created equally.  Zen is a sect of Buddhism aimed at enlightenment as a person discovers their basic nature through meditation, which trains the mind.

There are some basic principles of Zen shiatsu like:

1. Relax.  When the practitioner is calm and focused for the session, this relaxed vibe translates to a client more at ease.  Right off the bat the healing aspects of the treatment have begun even without touch... just with a little attention to your state of mind, this sets the tone for the rest of the session.

2. Penetrate versus push pressure.  The muscle gives way to the penetrating force given by the practitioner.  The force is directed gradually and there's a point felt, when sensitive enough, when you sense the force has gone deep enough, reaching the meridian, rather than forcing the pressure through with strength.  Forcing the pressure through only results in a more guarded client/receiver. You can't force the force!  Pressure given with ease is like a conversation without words between client and practitioner.  "Here is some pressure, is that okay?  Can I ease in a bit more? Yeah, okay I seem to have met some resistance, is it still okay to move deeper? No, okay. I will hold it right there and see how the tension or weak area changes."  Holding the thumb or palm pressure until it has time to penetrate to the depths of the meridian requires patience but is worth it so the treatment heals beyond a superficial level.

3.  Two-handed connectedness is important in Zen Shiatsu.  A stationary "mother" hand and an active "son" hand are placed on the body.  The mother stays immobile and senses changes as the actively moving hand finds areas on the meridian to decongest or tonify.  "2 hands becoming 1" is a way for the practitioner to sense their connection to the receiver's body.  If when both hands are placed along a meridian line, eventually there is only "oneness" felt... not a sensation of 2 distinct points being pressed, but  a connection subtle enough to feel as if only one point exists and even that sometimes disappears into a sensation of just being therapeutically held, with healing as the goal.

4.  Meridian continuity versus specific point protocol.  The purpose of shiatsu is to treat the person as a whole, not just address symptoms.  The entire meridian is seen to be important not just specific points.  Treating the meridian will help create a free flow of ki/energy throughout the bodymind.  Obstructions, pain, tensions, emotional stuckness all can be eased through meridian work.

Zen Shiatsu is a way to replenish yourself and to feel clear, competent and alive.

Contact Fig at The Vital Compass: 971-373-8378 or info@thevitalcompass.com for more information or to make your Shiatsu appointment.  

You may also click here to schedule online!

Eat your soup while it's hot: beyond gazpacho for summertime.

Ok, what we're about to tell you may blow your socks off.  Our western culture, reveling in ice cream, popsicles and iced tea tells you that to cool off in summer, eat cold things.  I won't deny that it feels good, of course it feels good, but is it really the best thing for you? 
How about food that actually replenishes what you lose through sweating on a hot day so that you can keep sweating?!  Let's not forget, deodorant fan or no, sweat is the thing that keeps us from overheating on a warm day and passing out while impressing your friends with your new Frisbee technique.  Sweat, and air conditioners, iced drinks and popsicles, but mostly sweat.  Did you know humans can sweat 2-4 liters an hour?!? That's 8-16 cups!  Before you get grossed out, sweat is mostly water.  Phew!  But, sweat is also composed of many minerals essential to proper nutrition.  Yikes!  How do we get those back?  We've worked so hard to get them in there, what with our kale salad and high quality multi-vitamins. The air conditioner's not going to do it.  Drinking water alone isn't going to do it.  It's a job for Sam Gye Tang!

Welcome this lovely soup, Sam Gye Tang, into your life to recharge your internal air conditioner, boost your filtration systems, and give your body all it needs to sweat the hot out and keep the nutrition in.

This magical soup is so powerful that it actually boosts your digestive power so that you absorb MORE from your food not only while you're eating it, but for days afterward. 

Ok, really, SOUP?  We thought soup came from a can.  Soup is something you eat when you're sick.  Soup is a bunch of gnarly pre-digested square cut veggies and something else we couldn't figure out but ate anyway. 

Well friends, take a gander at this soup.

What?! That's a whole chicken!  This takes chicken soup to a whole new level. 

Here are the ingredients:
1 whole small chicken or game hen (free range and well loved)
1/2 cup sweet rice (the sticky delicious kind)
3-6 red jujube dates (NOT mejool dates, Jujube dates can be found at your herb shop like The Vital Compass or Asian grocer)
1-2 whole white ginseng root (also found at your grocer or herb shop)
3-6 (or more to taste) cloves of garlic
1-2 sliced green onions
Water or Bone Broth for extra nutrients.

Simple, right?  Right!  This particular mix of ingredients gives your digestion everything it needs to gracefully welcome nutrients into your body.  The ginseng is the powerhouse here.  Used for centuries for all sorts of fatigue, digestive trouble and deficiency, it works here to increase absorption in your belly.  Herb nerd like me?  Check out this great article on Ginseng from ITM.  The dates nourish your digestion and especially your blood, the green onions vent heat, the rice nourishes your digestion and increases absorption. The chicken, in addition to providing a complete protein, stabilizing your blood sugars, draws the yang energy into your organs allowing excess heat to vent out.  Last but not least, the broth or water gives you the water back you've given up sweating!  Brilliant, we were looking for that!  If you're vegetarian or vegan, you could substitute tofu, but as tofu is a yin food rather than a yang one, you may be best to leave it out all together. 

Ok, so you're home from Frisbee, you've picked up your ingredients on your bike ride home, are sweating more than ever, and ready to make your soup! 

In a small bowl, soak your rice for 20 minutes.  Find your smallest soup pot.  Wash and pat dry your chicken friend, making sure to clean out the insides.  Place all ingredients inside the chicken (like a tiny thanksgiving!) and place your bird in your pot.  Fill with water or bone broth, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.  Skim any fat that comes to the surface and top off your water or broth.  Cook for another 20 minutes or until the chicken pulls apart easily.  Serve to yourself and your loved ones with table salt and/or kimchi. 

Yes, kimchi!  Did I not mention this lovely recipe comes from an ancient tradition of eating this very soup on the hottest of days in Korea?  I guess not!  I was introduced to Sam Gye Tang during my year in South Korea, where the hottest days are celebrated with the restaurants that specialize in making this delicacy filling to the brim with the citizens of South Korea and every expat they can convince to eat soup on a hot day.  Once upon a time, I was one of the lucky expats.  Now, I get to share it with you.  Enjoy! 

Alison Loercher, L.A.c, M.a.O.m.
Co-founder: The Vital Compass Cooperative herbal medicinary and traditional medicine clinic.

6 Things to do to be your own best health advocate

6 things to do to be your own best health advocate

 

1.       Request copies of your file, especially lab tests & imagining reports.  You are legally entitled to any and all files kept on your behalf.  Luckily, this is getting easier with Electronic Medical Record keeping systems (EMRS).  Many larger facilities now allow you to log in online and obtain copies of all your tests and reports.  Inquire as to whether yours is one of them.  If not, ask for a hard copy. 

2.       Read the reports!  It may all look like gibberish to you, but with a little bit of searching on the internet, you should be able to decipher what your report says.  If you cannot, specifically ask during the follow up by bringing your copy of the report with you to your medical provider and asking them to translate for you.

3.       Bring a tape recorder, friend or spouse with you to your medical appointments.  Appointments often seem too rushed to ask all the questions you might like, and many people get flustered.  Having a recorder or friend gives you a backup. 

4.       Do a little research on the companies that make your vitamins and supplements.  What is their facility like?  What quality of raw materials are they using?  Where do they get their information to make the supplements they do?  The best supplement companies are also researchers—ask if the manufacturer has a research division. 

5.       Seek the opinion of an alternative medical professional.  Alternative medicine practitioners---Acupuncturists, Registered Herbalists, Naturopaths, and Chiropractors may be your best source for explaining your condition or diagnosis to you, and providing you with potential alternatives.  Keep in mind, a hammer always wants to hit a nail—so a surgeon will always recommend surgery.  If you don’t like the treatment options given to you, use the time in between appointments to seek out others.  Bring the reports to your appointment and ask them to look over them.  These professions receive Western medical training as well as training in their chosen field, so many have some good, more easily digestible insight to your condition. The same goes for those supplements you are taking!  Vitamins go through fads the same way fashion does.  You may or may not really need those supplements you’re taking, including that multi-vitamin!  Ask at your next alternative care appointment if your supplements are still right for you. 

6.       Stay calm, educated, interested & inspired.  You are in control of your own body & its future as long as you are willing to work with it in the now, and continue to learn.   

 

The Grand Opening Party was a Grand Ol' Time!

Click here to see the pictures!

We estimate 200-300 people came through our doors to help us celebrate with food, music, herbal cocktails & mock-tails, fire dancing, and an essential oils class!  We loved seeing old and new faces, meeting community members and showing everyone, including ourselves, a good time!  We even raised a bit of cash to help us pay for the remainder of our build out costs! We could still use a bit more, so if you have a moment and a dollar, visit our Indiegogo site before January 31st, and pick a great perk!  

In other news, we've received our tinctured herbs from Five Flavors in Oakland, and are ready to customize traditional Chinese formulas for you with our 29 formulas and over 70 individual herbs.  
We've also placed our initial bulk order, and our jars will be full soon, ready to be emptied for bulk herb orders for all herbalists.

If you missed our party and want to stop by, you're welcome to!
If you have any questions about our services, or our inventory, call or email anytime!