Hard to believe that it's the last day of August. Summer has certainly flown by. August brings plenty of pollen with it, but the offending pollen may not be who you think it is. Read on for a case of mistaken identity.
This month's newsletter has a yellow-blossomed theme to it - plants that can make you happy whether it's in your salad or a drop a day of a tincture to prevent SAD.
You'll not want to miss the 5th Annual Holistic Health and Herbal Education Festival coming up on September 26th, and it will be hard to resist making the Recipe of the Month: Roasted Pepper and Avocado Dip.
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Friend of Foe. . .Your Nose Knows
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Golden Rod  | There's been no shortage of itchy eyes, stuffy noses and irritated throats with the pollen counts off the charts this summer. The culprit for the hayfever/allergic reactions this time of year is ragweed, but golden rod often gets blamed because they bloom at the same time. The big difference is that golden rod (Solidago spp.) is bee pollinated and ragweed (Ambrosia) is wind pollinated.
Golden rod's pollen stays put on the blossom to attract bees and butterflies.
Ragweed's blossom is rather inconspicuous (a pale green), so since is doesn't attract bees it uses the wind to achieve pollination. It's my impression that ragweed wants more attention, thus it literally gets in your face and up your nose to get your attention! You won't have to look far to find either form of ragweed. I've seen an incredible amount of the short and giant ragweed EVERYWHERE this year. Check out the photos below for plant identification.
Ragweed's botanical name is rather ironic: Ambrosia (Short ragweed - Ambrosia artemisiafolia and Giant Ragweed - Ambrosia trifada). Larry W. Mitich comments on its botanical name's origin in the Intriguing World of Weeds: Ragweeds (Ambrosia spp.) - The Hay Fever Weeds. . .Ambrosia means "food for the gods." Why it was used as a generic name for the ragweed is not known. Blatchey expounded that the person "... who first used it may have had the equine god in mind, for horses are very fond of this species, often forsaking other food for its juicy leaves and branches. . ."
If you've been suffering from hayfever, make an appointment soon for relief using acupuncture and the power of herbs
Short Ragweed
 | Giant Ragweed
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Be Happy, Not S.A.D.
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 The same thing happens every year around this time: the days get considerably shorter. It was completely dark when I was driving home last night at 8:30pm! If you're one of the many people who experience the blues associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), fear not - the plants are here to help.
There are a few herbs whose yellow blossoms can significantly alleviate the symptoms of SAD. It's best to start on the herb at the beginning of September and take a few drops every day for six weeks. After the six weeks you'll be in good shape to handle the long dark days of December and January. Call 612 872 9133 to set up an appointment to see which herb is the best match for you.
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Wood Sorrel. . .Wild Edible of the Month
| (Oxalis spp.)
 I had wondered for years who this plant was before I was introduced to it as a wild edible. It's such a cheery plant with its heart-shaped leaflets. The heart- shaped leaflets distinguish it from a three leaf clover whose leaflets are round.
Wood sorrel grows everywhere in our gardens, so it gets into many of my lunch salads. It has a slightly sour, lemony taste - quite pleasant actually. The leaves, stem, flowers and seeds are all edible. Plus it has a bit of an anti-depressant quality to give you a boost when you're feeling down. That's not surprising since it's a plant with a lot of heart!
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5th Annual Holistic Health and
Herbal Education Festival
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 Sunday, September 26th from 8:30 am - 6 pm marks the 5th Annual Holistic Health and Herbal Education Festival taking place in Cannon Falls, MN. Lise Wolff and Erin Piorier team up to produce this event which is held at Erin's in-laws' lovely farm.
They have a great line-up of teachers this year which includes me! I will be teaching Choosing Breast Health Over Breast Cancer during Session Four from 4:00-5:30. And really, I think every woman should take this class. Our breast health is just too important to be uninformed. We need far more than underwires to support our breasts! Issues that adversely affect breast health and steps to take to promote breast health will be covered in detail.
I'm looking forward to many of the other classes too. Tribley Sedlacek will present Herbal and Nutritional Programs for Thyroid Gland Dysfunctions; Living with Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism and Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders and Adrenal Fatigue: A Stress Syndrome with Debbie Engelmann.
Early bird registration is only $85.00 if postmarked before September 6th with general registration at $95.00. It's a bring your own lunch event but will include a dessert buffet during lunch break. Tea, coffee, water and light snacks will be served throughout the day. Handouts are included. Click here to view the whole lineup of events.
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Recipe of the Month
| Roasted Pepper and Avocado Dip
 Peppers are reaching their peak just about now, so it's a great time to make this tasty Roasted Pepper and Avocado Dip. Head to a farmers' market to pick up a basket full of peppers at a reasonable price.
The heat of the peppers is balanced by the cool of the avocado, and they both help in cases of Liver Qi Stagnation (feeling stuck, irritable, tense neck and shoulder muscles or experiencing PMS).
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 Yellow is a very happy color. Let it work for you this fall.
Sincerely yours,
Katherine Krumwiede, L.Ac.
Diamond Stone Oriental Medicine, Inc.
612 872 9133
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Quote of
the Month
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| Love
is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year - it brings to
harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.
Author Unknown
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Newsletter Archive
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There's a wealth of health-inducing information contained in past issues of my newsletter.
Newsletter Archive
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Gift Certificates Are Available
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Give the gift of good health to your friends and family.
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The Benefits
of Acupuncture
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De-stress
Alleviate pain
Improve concentration levels
Lift the cloud
of depression
Get a better night's sleep
Improve digestion
Boost energy levels
Insure success with smoking cessation
Excellent preventative medicine
And many more. . .
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