Please note we will be closed for the holiday on Thursday, July 4th, and re-open Friday at 3pm.
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In this newsletter, we discuss one of the ways the body goes out of balance with the Fire Element, one of the challenges of an important transition in womens' lives, menopause, with the onset of
hot flashes and night sweats
(please note we recognize that these symptoms can occur at other times of life to anyone, but we are focusing here on these symptoms as part of menopause ).
Then we will shift to another summer theme, fresh and
local food
! The wonders of growing your own food and the abundance of locally grown organic food in the valley, and the simplicity of the
One Bowl
recipe.
And finally,
Scroll to the bottom to read about a Special Summer Discount on 12 Treatment Packages!
Happy Summer Everyone! Rachel & Anne Louise
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Hot Flashes, Night Sweats and Yin Deficiency
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Anne Louise Smallen, Lic. Ac.
During menopause, many women find their
internal thermostat
causes them problems: they experience sudden waves of heat during the day (hot flashes) or at night (night sweats). These heat attacks are unpredictable, and can leave women drenched in sweat, red faced, boiling at night and waking up with wet bed sheets. They can be so frequent that they cause insomnia. In many other countries (especially in China and Japan), these menopause side effects do not seem as disturbing. Could it be that Chinese medicine has a lot to offer as relief?
Hot flashes and night sweats are classified under the heading of
Kidney Yin Deficiency
or Kidney Yin and
Heart Yin Deficiency
. This is a fancy way of saying that our metabolic processes decrease with age and affect our
balance of yin and yang
. Balancing the yin and yang by tonifying the kidney energy helps avoid this annoying thermostat failure.
So how do we do that?
Rachel addresses how
herbs
can help, as part of this newsletter.
Diet
is also helpful.
Black beans
(we always recommend organic, whenever possible) help invigorate the kidneys, constitution and reproductive system. In addition,
other legumes
such as yellow split peas, red lentils, anasazi beans and red kidney beans are rich sources of isoflavones. Most beans need to be soaked and/or sprouted to get the full benefits and also remove the anti-nutrients and substances that cause digestive issues. While soy products can be great medicine for hot flashes and night sweats, there are cautions to take around the type and quality of soy you consume. Most soy products, like tofu, soy milk, and soy-based "meat imitation" products, have GMO and additives and should be avoided. Sprouted tofu, and
fermented soy
, like tempeh and miso (as a base for soup or a tea), are the better alternatives. Leafy greens, berries, olives and olive oil, garlic, and edible seeds such as sesame, flax and sunflower seeds are all full of nutrients that can help mitigate some of the hormonal fluctuations that naturally occur at this time.
Acupuncture
is very helpful to reduce and manage hot flashes and night sweats. Here are some of the points we use:
Kidney-3
on the inner ankle (source point of the Kidney meridian) does miracles in clearing heat and boosting both yin and yang lost with aging.
Large Intestine-11
on the interior of the elbow clears heat, cools the blood and drains dampness and sweating.
Pericardium-7
clears heat from the HT channel and cools the blood while
Liver-3
on the top of the foot is a magic point used for reproductive problems and menopause regulation.
If hot flashes, night sweats and other inner thermostat problems affect you, come for a series of acupuncture treatments: you will not regret it! And tell your friends that we treat these conditions too.
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Herbal Remedies for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Rachel Condon, Lic. Ac.
*
Red clover
infusions and
oatstraw
infusions help
replenish nutrients
depleted with frequent hot flashes, such as vitamins B and C, magnesium, calcium and potassium.
*
liver-nourishing herbs
that help the liver to process the extra hormones generated during this time:
dandelion root
,
yellow dock
, milk thistle, burdock
phytoestrogenic
herbs, such as
Motherwort
, dong quai,
vitex
(chasteberry),
black cohosh
For additional information, I recommend the wealth of information and advice offered by master herbalist and wise woman,
Susun Weed
, and her book, New Menopausal Years, the Wise Woman Way.
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Rachel's first motherwort plant, growing proudly in her community garden plot this summer!
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And for a completely different approach... instead of trying to Rid our bodies of these feelings and sensations and signs of CHANGE,
how about trying to embrace them
?
More from Susun Weed...
"If I lived in a world safe for women, in a matrifocal culture guided by the wisdom of the crones, I would cherish my hot flashes. I would be taught to respect my flashes as part of the gestation of myself in the fiery womb of menopause metamorphosis. I would learn that my hot flashes are waves of energy (prana, kundalini, chi, life force). I thrill to their power, ride them as they rush through me, flashing, flushing, pulsing. I would have guides and role models and stories and herbal and animal allies to help me. I would be seen as baby Crone. I would be urged/allowed/supported to take my Crone's Year Away. I would want to be a wise, old woman. I wouldn't want to be cured of my hot flashes."
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Taking Advantage of Organic Local Food in the Valley
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Anne Louise Smallen, Lic. Ac.
The Connecticut River Valley has one of the richest soils in the United States. Easily available to us are fresh, local organic produce, cage free eggs and free range animal products. Local farms abound, and Rachel and I would like to invite you to eat their bounties this summer. We cannot say it enough:
the quality of the food we eat is like money in the bank to our health
. Here are our favorite ways to eat organic, fresh local food at affordable prices...
Be part of a CSA (
Community Shared Agriculture
). You pay a set price to a local farm to buy a share. From mid-June to the end of October, once a week you go to that farm and pick your share of produce, berries, herbs, greens, flowers, etc. whatever is growing that week. Registration and cost for the whole summer are made in the winter so farmers can buy seeds and plant their crop without having to borrow money. Farms sell a limited number of shares and if the growing season is abundant, you might get an amount of organic food that would cost three times as much at the supermarket. If a single share is too large for your needs, buy one with friend(s) and divide it. All the food is organic, picked at its maximum freshness and maturity and taste, or keep like nothing you buy at the supermarket.
In our area, there are numbers of CSAs: Crimson and Clover in Florence, Next Barn Over in Hadley, and Mountain View Farm in Easthampton, just to name a few. And many, many more are available; just look online for Community Supported Agriculture…You will not believe the quality and quantity of food you get for the cheap price you pay.
Go to
local Farmers’ Markets
. Northampton has at least two regular Farmers’ Markets. The
Saturday morning
one, near Gothic St. opens from April 30 to November 12, from 7 am. to 1 pm., and the
Tuesday Market
, in the pedestrian walk between Thornes and the covered garage opens from May 4 to October 26, from 1:30 to 6:30. There are farmers’ market in many other cities. Check online for the best location and time for you. You will find not only fresh local veggies and fruits, but also organic eggs, raw milk, yogurt, herbs, wild mushrooms, baked goods, free range beef, cage free raised chickens, local cheese and butter and preserves. You will truly eat like royalty.
Grow your own garden
. Living in an apartment or a condo? No problem: look into getting a
community garden plot
. Cities such as Northampton offer rich soil community plots normally 20’ x 20’ for the ridiculous price of $25 per year or less (seniors can get them for free). You inherit a soil that has often been enriched for years by previous gardeners, free water, shared tools and the priceless resource of other dedicated and knowledgeable gardeners. Northampton has at least two community gardens. The biggest one on Burt Pitts Road has more than 400 plots and the one in Florence has 290 plots. Up in Greenfield where Rachel has a plot, there are 67 plots, neighboring Just Roots CSA organic farm. Discover the pleasure ofgrowing your own tomatoes, peppers, corn or flowers! Rachel and I are fans, and we are posting pictures of our own precious community plots below.
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Rachel's plot in Greenfield... the squash are coming along! along with many other veggies and herbs, including peas, kale, spinach, green and purple beans, cukes, peppers, five kinds of tomatoes, and potatoes, among others!
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And Anne Louise's plot in Northampton... corn, raspberries, squash, among other veggies... and Roses!
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The Simplicity of the "One Bowl"
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Rachel Condon, Lic. Ac.
This is a great way to put together a satisfying and healthy meal, simple yet delicious, can often be eaten warm or cold, so great for preparing ahead of whatever summer adventures you have in store!
While there are many variations on how to "build" your one bowl dish, I like this formula a lot, breaking it down to
five main categories
of ingredients:
a
protein
(legume or animal protein): legumes, such as black beans, adzuki beans or mung beans (these also sprout well); grilled chicken, fish or steak; roast chicken slices; tofu or tempeh; hard boiled eggs
a
grain
- quinoa, millet, wild rice, white or brown rice, or pasta; or if you're going grain free, try kelp noodles, or sweet potato or zucchini noodles
a
green
- kale, spinach, swiss chard, arugula... this is a great time of year to get some right out of the garden or the local farmer's market! All it needs is a quick steam/saute.
more veggies, fermented foods
- again, sky's the limit here... for a lighter meal, there's zucchini, peas, broccoli, etc. Or if you are looking for something a little more filling, perhaps a baked or steamed sweet potato; avocado slices, sprouts...
And perhaps you make your own probiotic kraut, or else we are lucky enough to have both Hosta Hill and Real Pickles products made right here in the valley... my favorites include the Curry Kraut and Garlic Kraut, and of course, the Korean style, spicy Kim Chi.
a sauce or topping
- here again, make it as simple or fancy as you like - from a dash of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or tamari, to your favorite peanut sauce or pesto recipe, chimichurri... a few pumpkin or sesame seeds on top, for added crunch!
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SUMMER SAVINGS - DISCOUNT ON THE 12-TREATMENT PACKAGE THRU JULY!
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We are offering a special discount on 12 treatment packages for the month of July!
$285 (Regular price $315)
this brings the cost down to $23.75/treatment, which is
over 30% off the regular single treatment price of $35!!
This is our way of saying THANK YOU, and to encourage you to continue to invest in your own health and well-being!
You may purchase ONLINE (see our
GUIDE
in using the online system if you need help)
OR in person at the clinic, thru July 31st.
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