 I'm very appreciative of the fact that the snowfall waited until December this year. The year has zoomed by once again, and we're in the midst of the busiest season for celebrating with friends and family.
It's important amid the hustle and bustle of the season to carve out a piece of time for a little self care. An acupuncture session can restore balance, ease stress and make you feel like your best so you will enjoy the festivities even more!
For those with Flexible Medical Spending accounts, there are only a few weeks left to use your benefit dollars for self care. I will be in the office the week after Christmas also for those who want to plan a little respite following the holidays and to prepare themselves for the New Year.
p.s. That's our cat, Kazel, in the snowy photo above.
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Party Time
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 In the winter we're more susceptible to colds and the flu because we spend more time indoors, and the cold and flu viruses thrive in cooler weather. Plus, when we're at parties we're shaking hands with many people and then head over to the treat table to partake of the many sweets and treats - finger food to be sure.
It's ever so important to wash your hands thoroughly before heading to the treat table. And wash them for a good couple of minutes (the water does not have to be running the whole time). I've seen many people using bottled antiseptic cleanser, and those products require that you rub your hands together for THREE minutes in order to be effective.
I know it's hard to resist sweet treats, but do realize that sweets depress your immune system. Your body has to draw on its mineral stores to metabolize processed sugar, so you are left more vulnerable to infection.
Of course the usual things such as staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep and Vitamin D, having outlets to relieve stress, and eating plenty of colorful vegetables will all keep you healthy into the New Year too.
 The winter solstice is another wonderful time to celebrate. December 22nd is the day the Sun reaches its most southern point in the sky, and from then on the days start getting longer. In essence, the birth of summer.
The taiji symbol to the left illustrates this phenomenon nicely. The black depicts yin - in this case the night time. The white represents yang - or the summer time. One of the principles of yin/yang theory is that when yin reaches its maximum it will change into yang - the day light. |
Aging and Wisdom
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 Did you know that in the last century, we've added almost three decades on to the average life expectancy?
I recently read an article in the Whole Living magazine (October 2011) by Henry Alford entitled Wisdom & Age. I was heartened by some of the things Mr. Alford presented in the article, "As it turns out, judgment and inhibition are stored in our brain's prefrontal cortex, which doesn't finish developing until we're about 45, as well as in the parietal lobes, which aren't mature until we're closer to 50. So as we age, we not only have a greater store of experience - we're able to access those associations quicker than ever."
I had no idea that our brains took that long to develop. Makes me feel better about the many brain cells lost to the excesses of my youth. . .
He also quoted the philosopher William James, "In most cases, the art of being Wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." Excellent advice for how to get along with one another.
Mr. Alford has also written a book titled How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People.
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Spoken Spice
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Poems, Recipes and Rapping About the Spices of Life
Spices are well known for adding flavor, nuance and aroma to food, but the spice cabinet can do double duty as a medicine chest too. Take cinnamon for instance. It's one of the most popular spices, especially during the holidays. Cinnamon has received a lot of press about its role in helping regulate blood sugar levels in folks with Type 2 Diabetes.
A lesser known fact about cinnamon is its ability to clear a stuffy head. Simply make a tea using a few sticks of cinnamon broken up, pour boiling water over, steep covered for 10 minutes, strain, sip and inhale the aroma frequently.
Star anise also makes a lovely tea to help clear congestion from the sinuses. The shape of the star somewhat mimics what the sinus cavities look like, so it has an affinity for the sinuses. |
Recipe of the Month
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Ribollita - The Tuscan Minestrone
 Ribollita means "boiled again" in Italian, but I would translate it to mean delicious, nutritious and beautiful. Ribollita is just one of many tasty soups from Sunday Soup: A Year's Worth of Mouth-Watering, Easy-to-Make Recipes by Betty Rosbottom and photographed by Charles Schiller.
And, what's even better about this soup is that it tastes best if you make it two days ahead of time. So if you're planning a dinner party, you can get the majority of the meal prepared ahead of time.
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As Always. . .
Your First Wealth Is Health, Katherine Krumwiede, L.Ac. Diamond Stone Oriental Medicine, Inc. 612 872 9133
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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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