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A lot of women could use some herbal help recovering their strength after child birth. The actual birth is the easy part. After that is when you really go to work!
Here's an e-mail I got from a new mom who was tired, overworked, and so busy she barely had time to cook for herself. I did an Auricular Therapy (Ear Reflexology) treatment on her to help balance out her Earth energy and stimulate her appetite and Wei Qi.
"I feel so much better after the ear treatment. Eating feels normal and I'm cooking better. Was wondering if you had some good crock pot recipes with or without herbs that could help build me up. I'm looking for inspiration."
I LOVE cooking with herbs!! Here's a great recipe I'll share. It uses one of my favorite Chinese Herbs, Huang Jing (Rhizoma polygonati - Siberian solomon's seal). This herb is also safe to ingest while breast feeding.
NOTE OF CAUTION: # 1 Taoist Principle is EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. Take it easy and eat a little bit at a time. More is NOT better.
Here's my e-mailed response:
Try making a stew with the herb Huang Jing (Materia Medica chapter 12 - tonfies Qi, nourishes yin, strengthens the spleen & kidneys, moistens the lungs) and tastes great!
Sample Recipe: (all organic, of course)
2 potatoes, unpeeled, chopped
3 carrots, unpeeled, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 small piece of red meat, cut into small pieces (optional)
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth + additional water if needed
1 cup tomato sauce or 1 can diced tomatoes
9 grams Huang Jing
1 spoon quality sea salt
Other spices to taste but keep it mild
Put it all in a crock pot with the Huang Jing on top, in the liquid. Cook 4-6 hours. Remove the Huang Jing - it will now be softened so you can cut it into small pieces and re-add it to the stew. Add a little corn or tapioca starch to thicken the juice a little. (In a glass, mix 1 heaping spoon corn or tapioca starch with about 1/2 cup water. Stir well, then add to the crock pot and stir. The heat from the liquid broth will thicken with the starch so it's more like a light gravy.) Stir it all up and eat 1 serving each day until it's gone. Let yourself feel the strength that Huang Jing offers, and listen to what it teaches you.
Where to buy Huang Jing: Stop by The Oriental Healing Arts Center if you're in Anchorage, or ask you local acupuncturist. If there is a Chinatown near you it should be easily available. I'm not sure about health food stores, but you could try. This recipe uses the whole dried herb. Powder or tincture forms may be available as a last resort.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
We teach these classes at our school
Ancient Healing Secrets - 4 Week Intensive Introduction to Oriental Medicine
Taoist Five Element Nutrition
Taoist Herbology
1 comment:
I just wanted to keep in touch. I got the second auricular therapy from you Saturday at your walk in Little Shaolin Clinic and again big changes. It's amazing how in just 10min you can put these little beads in my ears (all I have time for before I have to pick up the baby at the sitters) I can get such a profound effect. I told you I haven't been hungry since the baby was born. The appetite went with the placenta. I just kept thinking it would get better but I never got hungry even though I knew I was suppose to be eating more when breast feeding.
With the first treatment I felt a deep sense of self nurturing and felt my appetite become more "normal". Like my rhythm of when to eat was becoming slower and deeper.
after the second treatment I feel very hungry and bought a bunch of food 2-3 times the amount I usually buy for myself. I've been sleeping more and feel my body is rebuilding. After both treatments I got a burst of energy- that I suddenly wanted to use to take care of myself.
I plan on buying the herbs for the stew tomorrow and look forward to feeling how the effects compliment this treatment.
Thank you Cynthia.
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