Late Summer
Welcome to our first newsletter for 2016.
Hi all,
We are getting into the late summer. There has been 40% more bushfires last year in comparison with the years before. Melbourne has not been too bad lately but Perth, Adelaide and Sydney are baking. And Zika Virus on the top of it all, the Global economy is going down.
Oh well, we cannot control all of that, but we can control ourselves. So, please look after yourself. We have seen some unusual colds and flu's in the clinic, with gastro a bit more persistent, with different rashes and prolonged cough. If you have one of those, please see us so we can help you get better.
This year is predicted to be more volatile in more senses than one. The remedy is that we stay calm and even, then everyday will wash over us.
Have a happy late summer.
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Living with the Seasons – Late Summer
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We are a week away from summers end, going from the expansive and active yang season and transitioning into Autumn's internal refine. This time in-between is associated with the Earth element- and relates to the organs of the Stomach and Spleen in the body.
We contract and expand as per the seasons, adapting accordingly. In the late Summer, and in the transition to the Autumn months, we want to assist this adaption by clearing excess heat from the body and then, as temperatures drop, we want to start warming the body against the extremes of the environment, paying particular attention to the Earth Element. An imbalance in this element may present as odema, aching or stiff joints, nausea, hiccups and bloating, and can be a slight flare in auto-immune diseases. Mentally and emotionally the earth element comes into play with the thinking faculties; poor memory and concentration, overthinking, excessive thought and worry can indicate an imbalance in this area.
Such imbalances may be corrected with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (See us at the clinic for treatment or if you’d like more information), and we work at this transitional time to shift focus so there is more emphasis on substance, on nurturing, supporting and building our organs, fluids and blood, which are the foundations of everything we are and do.
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Some foods and home remedies to assist the Earth element in Late Summer:
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Enjoy -
Blueberry, celery, cherry, cucumber, daikon*, lettuce, peaches, kiwifruits, oats, rice, avocado, bean sprouts (especially mung, soy and alfalfa), adzuki beans*tofu, apples, watermelon, lemon, lime.
*Especially good for the Earth element
Reduce -
Hot, spicy, greasy and rich foods, red meats and dairy(which may contribute to excess damp/phlegm)
The Earth element is associated with sweetness & works best with a diet of warm-natured, freshly cooked, non-fatty foods eaten warm. Nurturing (moderately) with sweet foods and flavours such as honey, maple syrup, yes chocolate, orange and yellow foods (pumpkin, carrot, sweet potato), barley is supportive to this element
As always we should observe our body to listen for any unusual changes or extremes. If you are feeling hotter than usual, through exercise or diet, you might be generating internal heat; a common ailment in the summer months.
Tuna is a wonderful food for drying damp in the body, which takes pressure off of the Earth Element & helps in such cases where damp may have caused arthritis. Celery calms aggression and clears heat, which can be useful in the late summer.
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Tuna and Celery Fried Rice (Serves 4)
- 3 cups cooked rice (Arborio is best), cooled
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- black pepper
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 knob ginger, finely chopped
- 5 stalks of celery
- sweet corn from 2 cobs
- pinch of salt
- 425g canned (pole & line) tuna
- 2 tsp honey (optional)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil (optional)
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil on medium heat, add rice, and black pepper. Stir frequently.
In separate wok, sauté onion & ginger in remaining olive oil for 2 minutes, add celery and sweet corn. Sprinkle with salt. Reduce heat, cover and steam for 15 minutes. Stir through tuna, until hot, then remove from heat. Add the rice into the vegetable mix, add honey, stir and serve. Drizzle sesame oil for flavour if desired when serving!.
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Cancer Support, Infertility & IVF, Auto-Immune Support
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Growing Downward
Be broken to be whole.
Twist to be straight.
Be empty to be full.
Wear out to be renewed.
Have little and gain much.
Have much and get confused.
So wise souls hold to the one,
and test all things against it.
Not showing themselves,
they shine forth.
Not justifying themselves,
they're self-evident.
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Not praising themselves,
they're accomplished.
Not competing,
they have in all the world no competitor.
What they used to say in the old days,
"Be broken to be whole,"
was that mistaken?
Truly, to be whole
is to return.
Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching, 22)
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Poem by Diana Richardson, Melbourne based poet
Summer Cobblestones in Trastevere
In heavy air
a quasi fug
seeps through foot to head—
secular sanpietrini
guide
my thoughts as I
reach towards the sky;
I dream of gentle azure
yet there’s a heart embedded in my foot.
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CALL OUT for Contributions..
Do you write? Take Photos? Draw? Have an interesting hobby? Or even just have some thoughts you'd like to share with us?
We are welcoming contributions to be included in our seasonal newsletters.
Please email contributions to admin@westgarthchinesemedicine.com.au
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