 Welcome to May!
With the arrival of Spring and the lessening of the cold weather we have been experiencing, people's thoughts turn to clearing out and cleaning up in the Spring in preparation for the lighter feel, clean spaces, and relaxed feeling as we ease into summer. This month we have a guest, Dr. Melissa Carr, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine with some tips to assist us to spring clean ourselves.
Thank you for letting us help you to 'twique' your space and welcome you home!
Have a great month,
Judith Lowe |
 Ready to Renew?
By: Dr. Melissa Carr, B.Sc., Dr.TCM, R.Ac.
Spring is here and it's time to get rid of old or unused things and get into those hidden spaces for a thorough cleaning of your living space. Once your space is freshened up you will feel so much more energized! If doing such things to your personal surroundings can have such a positive impact, imagine how energized and wonderful you can feel when you complete a cleanse of your body!
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the key organ of springtime is the liver, a major organ of detoxification. It filters our blood of toxins that are inhaled, ingested, and absorbed through the skin. Even if you are careful to eat healthy; avoid smoking, drinking, and drugs; and use natural body care products and household cleansers, in our modern world, the liver still has an enormous task! We still breathe polluted air and it is a daunting challenge to avoid all chemicals, so our livers could definitely use a healing hand.
Why Cleanse?
A stressed liver may result in headaches, allergies and sensitivities, tearing or inflammation of tendons, ligaments, and muscles, stiff neck and shoulders, anger, irritability, frustration, depression, high blood pressure, eye problems, fatigue, and skin problems, among others.
Food Cures
It's no coincidence that the colour related to liver energy is the same colour that we tend to see more and more of during spring: green. While winter has us craving heavier, richer comfort foods, spring brings a time when we should lighten up. Choosing more leafy green veggies and sprouts fits with what foods become locally available. If you are veggie-challenged, consider adding a greens food supplement for its energizing, nutritious, and detoxifying properties.
Here are some other foods (choose organic when possible) especially suited to boosting liver energy during springtime:
Vegetables: onions, beets, cabbage, turnip root, daikon radish, radishes, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, romaine lettuce, asparagus, celery, lettuce, cucumber, watercress, parsley, swiss chard, artichoke, dandelion leaves
Sea veggies: hijiki, nori, kombu, etc.
Legumes: aduki beans, mung beans (also detoxify the body), black beans, kidney beans (soak for easier digestibility) Fruits: strawberries, dark grapes, blackberries, lemon, lime, grapefruit; small amounts of peaches
Grains: brown rice, sweet rice, basmati rice, sprouted grains, whole grains, rye, quinoa, millet, oats, barley, amaranth, roasted buckwheat groats (kasha)
Spices: turmeric, basil, basil leaf, cardamom, marjoram, cumin, dill, ginger, black pepper, rosemary, mint.
Drink: Lots of room temperature water (optional to add squeezed fresh lemon) or green or herbal tea (e.g. mint, camomile); coffee substitute like chicory (tastes similar to coffee) or rhoiboos (no caffeine, high in antioxidants)
Beneficial fats: EFAplex oil (a mix of omega 3,6, and 9 essential fats)
Herbs: There are many herbs known to help protect and renew liver cells. They are generally bitter herbs, including milk thistle, dandelion, and artichoke, and the Chinese herbs chai hu and long dan cao. However, TCM is always about balance and about choosing what is right for you. When you are cleansing the liver, you need to make sure that you are properly eliminating the toxins and addressing other strengths and weaknesses that are personal to you.
Exercise: Stretch, stretch, and stretch. And as it warms up, get outside and move and find a beautiful place to breathe in fresh air.
Detoxification Support
Looking for an easy and effective way to make this happen? That's where I come in. Now that the warmer weather is here, I'm helping my patients with detoxification support using food, herbs, and in some cases acupuncture. Mention this article and we'll tell you about our detoxification program with added bonuses.
 Dr. Melissa Carr, B.Sc., Dr.TCM, R.Ac.
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Spring Cleaning Tips
I think Spring Cleaning is one of my least favourite chores. Why? Probably because I never know where to begin. As I was researching for this article I came across a website that is called: About.com: Housekeeping. They have a great article that ties into Spring Cleaning with the added benefit of also Organizing your Space.
Below is an excerpt from About.com by Sarah Aguirre.
 Amid the endless piles of laundry, dishes, forgotten bills, and overdue library books, you have a house. A house you would desperately love to show off with pride. It makes you depressed even to think about how to get this mess organized. You feel your only hope now lies in the chance that one of your horrified relatives will recommend you for a cable show home makeover. While you're waiting for that lightning bolt to strike, let's try instead some simple steps and ideas to help you make your home into a place that allows cleaning and organization to be easily achievable. Who knows, you might even find the cordless phone you lost months ago!
If you would like some extra assistance organizing your Spring Clean, Sarah has several checklists you can use, as well as additional articles to help with the cleaning, including getting the entire family to help!
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Getting Ready to Move?
Last month we discussed the 'Buyer's Market' and several home owners took advantage of it. Above is one property which became available 2 weeks ago, and after being staged by Twiques, it has already received an accepted offer. The owners are thrilled as they have already purchased a new home elsewhere.
Remeber if you are putting your house on the market, you need three things to be successful:
- A realtor who is working for and with you.
- Proper price point.
- A well presented property.
If this seems like a momentous task remember, help is a phone call away! 
Consider having a Twiques come in to do a pre-staging consultation. You have several options when it comes to staging. You can have a Home Staging Professional do all the work for you, or, you can do some of the work yourself, or you can request a Home Staging Report and using the guidelines of the Home Staging Professional complete all of the work yourself.
Remember, your house is no longer your home once you have decided to sell. Your house becomes a product in the marketplace and you need to detach yourself from your house to prepare it to appeal to the broadest range of buyers. Give us a call, we would like to help you 'twique' your home to sell! | |
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 Thank you to our contributors this month, Dr. Melissa Carr and Sarah Aguirre. If you need help with cleansing yourself or your home, check out their information above and go to it.
Once you have spruce everything up andyou feel you need a fresh look; you may have questions about redesigning your space for living, give me a call at 604-725-2935 to book a consultation and together we can 'twique' your space and welcome you home!
New to our emails? Check out our Email Archive through our website at: www.twiques.com .
Until next month,
Judith Lowe
Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort 
604-725-2935
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| Would you like to find out more about bank rates before buying?
Talk to Marci! |
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Are you considering selling, but need to know what you can afford? Do you want to be pre-approved before you begin your search? Talk to Marci Deane with Meridian Pacific at: 604-730-5020,
or:
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