ASK Dr Nadine ~ Tumeric for Carol

Hello Carol and thanks for writing in.

TURMERIC (Curcuma Longa) is used as a blood purifier, stimulant and vulnerary.   Vulneraries are herbs that encourage the healing of wounds by promoting cell growth and repair.

The root imparts its characteristic golden color to curry powder and most Indian dishes.  It’s Energy and Flavor:  spicy, bitter and warm.

Turmeric can be applied both internally and externally to heal wounds, relieve pain/inflammation in the limbs, break up congestion and can be used to restore the loss of blood during child birth.  It holds great benefit to the circulatory system and it helps to regulate the menstrual cycle.  Turmeric is also used for reducing fevers and for nose bleeds.

One tsp of powdered turmeric root can be taken twice daily to help regulate the menus or to prevent or lessen PMS symptoms.  It gently activates liver functionality to help regulate and balance the hormones.

Another concoction found helpful in stretching ligaments and reducing menstrual cramps consists of: a tsp of turmeric powder + a tsp of almond oil + a cup of warm milk enjoyed  one to two cups are daily.

Thanks again for writing in ~Dr Nadine

Dr Nadine’s Nuggets ~ Food Combining

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Dr Nadine’s NuggetsFood Combining

Hello Dear Friends. Welcome to a new edition of Dr. NADINE’S NUGGETS ~ morsels of information from various arenas including Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Herbology, Personal Training and Nutrition.

It has been a few months since I have sent out a news letter. This issue offers information about Food Combining to assist with improved digestion of food. You are invited to visit the Blog out on the main website, post questions, leave comments and basically Come PLAY with me.

From a Nutrition perspective, three important ways to improve food digestion, reduce food allergies and improve overall general health include creating an Acid-Alkaline Balance, Food Combining and Food Rotation. This issue of will focus on Food Combining. To enjoy the benefits of a healthy digestive system and to allow our bodies to utilize the nutrients from the food we eat, certain rules for the way food is combined within a meal need to be observed. The idea of combining food is to join two incomplete proteins (grains, legumes, nuts & seeds, and veggies) to obtain a complete protein.

The Basic guidelines for Food Combining are as follows:

  • Grains + Legumes (rice and beans)
  • Seeds + Legumes (sesame seeds with garbanzo beans)
  • Nuts + Legumes (tofu with sliced almonds)
  • Grains + Milk (hot oatmeal with milk)
  • Grains + Eggs (rice with eggs)
  • Veggies + Milk (cream soups)
  • Veggies + Eggs (salad with sliced eggs)

In addition, the following are some suggested guidelines to follow for combining food in an effort to assist the digestive system:

  • Fruits are to be eaten alone or with other fruits (not melons)
  • Milk is considered a food and is suggested to be eaten alone
  • Protein foods (meat) are not to be eaten with Starches (bread, potatoes). WHY?? For the best digestion, Proteins require an acid digestive medium while Starches require an alkaline one. When eaten together, they interfere with each other’s utilization, making digestion take longer and inefficient.
  • Eat One Protein source per meal (do not put steak with shrimp etc or cheese with meat). Mixing more than one protein source can be very taxing on the digestive track, and often provides an excessive amount of Bad fats with the protein.
  • DO Combine Protein + Veggies
  • DO Combine Starch + Veggies
  • Fruits and Simple Sugars are not to be eaten along with or after other food due to fermentation in the stomach, bloating, gas etc
  • Melons are to be eaten alone. Especially not to be eaten with other fruits
  • Fruits are best eaten in the morning

Affirmation: I feed my body the nutrients it needs in combinations that allow for digestive ease.

Affirmation: I allow my body to absorb the nutrients from the foods I combine.

Affirmation: I release any fear around creating a shift and allow my Body to receive nourishment from the foods I combine.

~ Receptive + Well-Being + Allowing

Dr NADINE

Dr Nadine’s Nuggets ~ Sea/Ocean Vegetables

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Dr Nadine’s NuggetsSea/Ocean Vegetables

Hello Dear Friends, and Welcome to a new edition of NADINE’S NUGGETS ~ morsels of information from various arenas including Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Herbology, Personal Training and Nutrition.

This issue offers information about Sea/Ocean Vegetables and features a few possible applications.  Enjoy the read, be creative and share your experiences and recipes for all to enjoy.

Sea/Ocean Vegetables

Sea vegetables and marine super foods like spirulina and chlorella can be viewed as a medicine chest of Premium Nutrition. Ounce for ounce sea vegetables are higher in essential nutrients than any other food group.  They are vigorous sources of Proteins Enzymes, Antioxidants and Amino-acids with whole cell availability.  In addition, sea plants offer your body the basic building blocks for acid/alkaline balance, help regulate body-fluid osmosis, strengthen nerves synapses, assist in digestive and circulatory activity and help reduce cholesterol and regulate blood sugar levels.   Whew!!

Types and Uses of Sea Vegetables

Agar-agar ~ is a seaweed combination that is used as a gelling agent in cooking and for deserts.  It is a good place to start with children or folks who are first introducing sea vegetables into their intake.

Arame ~ is a dark, thin seaweed thread that can be used in soups or salads or mixed with rice, rye, spelt, kamut etc.  It is fairly rich in protein, iodine, calcium and iron and is considered one of the tastier seaweeds with a nutty type of flavor.

Dulse ~ is a red-purple leaf that is rich in iodine, iron and calcium.  Dulse has a bacon type flavor that is lovely in fresh salads, on sandwiches or in soups.  Dulse does not need to be cooked. Some stores sell this as strips (lovely in salads or just to eat), flakes (great for spicing up omelets or cooking with), or as a powder (used like a spice)

Hijiki ~ is a very mineral-rich, high-fiber seaweed.  The dark, long strands look like thick hairs.  Hijiki is about 10-20 percent protein, contains some vitamin A, and is richest in calcium, iron and phosphorus.  Once it is soaked in water, it can be cooked in soup, tossed with vegetables or added to grains.  Hijiki (thicker strand) is very similar to Arame (thinner strand).

Kelp ~ is usually used in smaller quantities than other seaweeds and makes a great seasoning. I have found it in many health food stores in ground form that can be sprinkled on your foods as you prepare them.  Kelp has some protein and is very rich in iodine, calcium and potassium, along with some of the B vitamins.

Kombu ~ is a richer, meatier, higher-protein seaweed that is incredible as a soup stock or added to beans.  The natural glutamates in Kelp/Kombu help enhance flavors and tenderize beans.  Some folks remove the Kombu, others chop it and reintroduce is as part of the soup/bean mixture.  I have found that combo to be most delightful.  An added benefit to incorporating Kombu in the beans… no need to take Beano since your body can now digest the bean without creating ‘gas’ in your digestive track.. yahoo.

Seaweed baths are nature’s perfect body/psyche balancer.  I enjoy putting Kombu strips in my BATH.  First I boil about 2 cups of water, add 1-2 strips of Kombu and turn off the stove.  After about 15 mins, pour that entire mixture into your bath water.  The sea greens will balance your body chemistry instead of dehydrating it.  The electromagnetic action of the seaweed releases excess body fluids from congested cells, and dissolves fatty wastes through the skin, replacing them with depleted minerals.  The Vitamin K in seaweeds will boost adrenal activity, and maintain hormonal balance.  Seaweed baths stimulate lymphatic drainage and fat burning so you can keep off excess weight, reduce cellulite and rid your body of toxins.  While enjoying this bath, rub the Kombu between your hands to release the gelatinous material within the membranes.  Stand up, rub the gelatin ON places where you are storing toxins/fat/cellulite then sink back into the tub.  Note:  I tried this once with Wakame and ended up with slug… though very pretty was not what I was wanting.  I have found Kombu to be the winner here.

Nori ~ is one of the most commonly used seaweeds.  The flat sheets can be eaten right out of the package, roasted on the stove top and sprinkled with flavorings of your choice, and are used in the creation of sushi.  The dark sheets are very rich in protein, containing about 50 percent protein and high in fiber.  Nori is very high in Vitamin A, calcium, iodine, iron, and phosphorus, and is one of the sweeter flavors of the seaweeds.

Wakame ~ this thin flat seaweed, also high in protein, is mainly used in soups.  I have used it in omelets and attempted it in my seaweed bath (did NOT like the thick goo results).  Wakame contains some Vitamin A, lots of calcium, iron and sodium with a bit of Vitamin C as well.

Where to purchase your Sea Vegetables

ALL Health Food stores will have all of the above Sea Vegetables.  Some of them even have roasted, flavored Nori strips.  Many Oriental markets have a lovely range of items; Food-Coops will have a range in their Herb/Bulk rooms.  Just the other day I found BRAGG SEA KELP DELIGHT seasoning in the spice aisle of Vitamin Cottage.  It is Incredible!!!!  I use it on fish, eggs, turkey, chicken, salad, veggies, etc.  Did I mention It is Incredible!!!!  Start with something.  Bring in about 2 TBS of Sea Vegetables into your daily dietary intake.  Take a Kombu Bath.  Play. ExploreCreate. Then write me and tell me about your experiences.  Please let me know how I may be of service to you as you take another step in your Health and Well-Being..

In BALANCE, CREATIVITY and YUM-YUM

~Dr Nadine

 

Dr Nadine’s Nuggets ~ Exploring Bach Flower Remedies

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Nadine’s NuggetsExploring Bach Flower Remedies

Hello Dear Friends, and Welcome to a new edition of NADINE’S NUGGETS ~ morsels of information from various arenas including Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Herbology, Personal Training and Nutrition.

This issue offers information about Bach Flower Remedies and features a few possible applications for Humans, Animals and Flowers. I have also included a bit of information on upcoming classes and the launch of a Blog out on the main website. Please consider this my personal invitation to Come and PLAY with me.

Edward Bach developed 38 Flower Essences or Remedies as a safe and natural method of healing. When a person is in a negative state, such as fear, worry, hatred or indecision, their energy field is distorted or out of harmony. Such a distortion slows down the energy field affecting their entire psyche. The flowers used in the Bach Remedies are of a higher order, each embodying a certain Soul quality harmonious with the energy frequencies of the Soul (Higher Self).

The Bach Flower Remedy floods the energy pathways and acts as a form of catalyst to re-establish contact where the energy waves have become broken. The blockage causing the disharmony is gently dissolved, allowing the Higher Self to communicate with the Body. As Love, Joy, Peace, Courage and Happiness return, BALANCE is restored to the Being as a Whole so that the Body is free to “heal itself”.

WALNUT ~ helps with new beginnings in the mental and spiritual sphere, and proves useful in major stages of biological change such as in teething, puberty, pregnancy, menopause or in the terminal stages of physical life. Bach wrote that Walnut is ‘the Remedy for those who have decided to take a great step forward in life, to break old conventions, to leave old limits and restrictions and start on a new way.’ If you find you have made a choice to move in a new direction or take on a new challenge, have your bags packed and are sitting in your boat, but the boat is still tied to the dock, Walnut is the remedy to choose.

For Animals: Walnut restores the ability to adapt to change. Examples include; females coming into season or heat, during pregnancy, after neutering, during teething and weaning and for before and after anesthesia.

For Plants: In the garden, Walnut will assist the transition from one growth phase to the next and helps with cut flowers due to the change in environment.

Affirmation: I follow my Inner Guidance and Embrace this new phase of my journey.

Have you or those around you experienced Anxiety or Worry? Consider these Bach Flower Remedies as a natural option to regaining BALANCE:

AGRIMONY ~
is called for with hidden or concealed restlessness.
MIMULUS ~ is used when the cause of the anxiety or worry is known to you
RED CHESTNUT ~ assists when the anxiety is for the welfare of others.
ASPEN ~ is used for an unknown cause or for a vague anticipation of anxiety
WHITE CHESTNUT ~ is called for when the anxiety is accompanied with worrying thoughts

For Animals:
Agrimony – can be used for animals that appear normal except for a “pained” or anxious look in their eyes
.
Mimulus – is used for animals afraid of noises, baths, stairs, telephones, confined spaces, other animals, being groomed, being clipped etc
Red Chestnut – for mothers that won’t let anyone near their young, cats constantly seeking a new place for the kittens.
Aspen – for animals that fear going outside or ‘freak out’ are ‘edgy’ or ‘jumpy’.
White Chestnut – is used for any obsessive behavior in animals – persistent licking or chewing of the skin or paws until raw, persistent scratching, lashing of the tail.

Affirmation: I release fear and allow my inner Strength and Courage to flood every cell of my Body/Being

Enjoy your explorations this month.  Please let me know how I be of service to you as you take another step in your Health and Well-Being

~ Insight + Well-Being  + Receptive
NADINE