Fire Cider to Fight Winter Cold & Flu

Directions

1. Prepare your roots, fruits, and herbs and place them in a quart-sized glass jar. If you've never grated fresh horseradish, be prepared for a powerful sinus-opening experience!

2. Pour the apple cider vinegar in the jar until all of the ingredients are covered and the vinegar reaches the jar's top.

3. Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or a plastic lid if you have one. Shake well.

4. Store in a dark, cool place for a month and remember to shake daily.

5. After one month, use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquidy goodness as you can from the pulp while straining.

6. Next comes the honey. Add and stir until incorporated.

7. Taste your cider and add more honey until you reach the desired sweetness.

Take 1 TBSP

every day during cold and flu season for warming immune support!

Organic Elderberry Syrup

A delicious antiviral elixir packed with antioxidants and immune boosting properties!

Elderberry

Fruit

Sambucus nigra L. ssp. canadensis (L.) R. Bolli

* High in Vitamin C
* High Antioxidant Power
* Has Antiviral properties
* Promotes Heart Health
* Lowers Inflammation and Stress
* Boosts Your Immune System
* Good for Respiratory and Lung Health
* Eases Sore Throat and Cough
* Good for Blood Sugar Management

Syrup Recipe

*Based on a recipe by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar

Makes about 40 oz of syrup
Active Time: 1 hour

Ingredients 

4 cups dried organic elderberries

8 cups cold water (distilled, purified, or spring water works best)

2-3 tbsp organic raw grated ginger root

2 organic sweet cinnamon sticks

1/2 tsp cloves (whole or powdered)

16-24 oz raw, local honey (or organic maple syrup or agave for a vegan/infant-friendly recipe)

Instructions

1. Combine elderberries and cold water in pot and begin to simmer the mixture.

2. When elderberries and water have begun to simmer, add ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

3. Continue to simmer the mixture uncovered until it has reduced to about half its original volume, between 30 to 60 minutes. As berries hydrate, press them against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon to squeeze out the juice.

4. When liquid has reduced to half its original volume, strain berries and herbs using a strainer overlaid with doubled cheesecloth or undyed cotton muslin bag and squeeze out liquid (careful, liquid will likely still be hot!).

Use disposable gloves for this part if you don’t want to stain your hands! Discard used herbs in compost or save to make an elderberry tincture.

5. Once liquid has cooled to just above room temperature, add honey and stir to incorporate. 

Add equal parts honey to liquid to preserve for three months in the refrigerator. If using 3/4 amount of honey to liquid, syrup will stay for 6 weeks in the refrigerator.

Bottle in sterilized glass mason jars and store in the refrigerator.

Immune Boosting Food Therapy

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted all of us in individual ways and it has been a difficult year for many. Life during the pandemic has been a reflection of resiliency, as well as an opportunity to focus on and strive for the truly important things that we value the most. So much creative energy has been fueling new ideas and ventures. Businesses are reopening, people are gathering more, and schools are starting in-person classes again. We are unfortunately still experiencing a rise in Covid-19 cases in the Seattle and Burien areas and with new strains of the virus more prevalent, it is important to stay proactive by supporting our immune systems naturally.

I would like to share with you a recipe for an antiviral, immune boosting soup that was given to me many years ago by a Naturopathic nurse at Bastyr Center for Natural Health. It is based on a recipe by Dr. Bill Mitchell, one of the founders of Bastyr University. This soup can be eaten as preventative medicine to boost immunity, and help the body naturally become more prepared to fight viral infections. It is also delicious and can be easily customized to your liking:

Immune Boosting Soup Recipe

1 quart broth (bone broth, vegetable broth, or miso broth)

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 small yellow onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped (or more to taste)

1 carrot, chopped

4 each fresh Shiitake mushrooms, sliced (or more to taste)

1 tbsp ginger root, grated (or more to taste)

1 cup greens of choice (Spinach, kale, added near end)

1 each fresh lemon, juiced

3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Bring the broth, turmeric, cayenne pepper, onion, garlic, carrot, mushrooms and ginger root to a slow boil. Reduce heat and simmer on low, covered, for 15 minutes. Add greens to the last 5 minutes of cooking. Remove from heat; add the lemon juice and parsley. Cover and steep, off the heat, for 5 minutes. Eat and enjoy in good health!

Chinese herbal medicine can also offer strong immune support to help prevent Covid-19 infections, as well as treat and attenuate symptoms of current Covid-19 infections. Contact us for an herbal consultation to have a custom immune support formula prescribed to you. I also recommend taking Vitamins C & D daily as well as drinking green tea to help boost immunity (unless the use of these is contraindicated for certain underlying conditions). Here is a link to a clinical study on Vitamin D and Immune Function. Acupuncture is also an excellent way to boost your immune system and stay healthy. Used in conjunction with Chinese herbal medicine, the two have synergistic and longer lasting effects. Contact us to schedule an appointment and help support your immune system naturally.

Treating Seasonal Allergies with Chinese Medicine

As Seattle has emerged from the snow and is finally beginning to warm up, the first harbingers of spring are upon us and trees are starting to bloom. In Chinese five element theory, spring is associated with the color green, the element wood, and represents growth and movement. This is an energizing time of year yet to those of us with seasonal allergies, this change of seasons brings with it some unpleasant symptoms. From itchy eyes to runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and overall just feeling run down, many people turn to over the counter allergy medicine to help with their symptoms. Some of these medications come with unwanted side effects such as increased drowsiness, dry mouth and throat, and they are chemically synthesized, not made from substances found in nature.

For those who are looking for a natural alternative to help with their seasonal allergies, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are very effective! Each patient is diagnosed and treated with a custom treatment plan, ensuring that everything is tailored to them to maximize results. Acupuncture can provide good relief from allergy symptoms and it is most effective to start treatments before the beginning of the season. Chinese herbal medicine can help support the patient constitutionally and extend the results of each acupuncture treatment to minimize symptoms in between visits. All of the herbs used are natural substances and are gentler on the body than pharmaceutical medications. Chinese herbs also do not have pronounced side effects that often come with pharmaceutical drugs.

Acupuncture works with the body’s own immune response to help fight both illness and seasonal allergies, so the time taken to achieve desired results will vary for each patient. Many patients feel an improvement in their symptoms after the first visit. We will recommend a treatment plan for each patient to help support them during allergy season including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and nutrition recommendations. If you are someone who suffers from seasonal allergies and are dreading the arrival of spring, contact Balanced Elements Acupuncture and make an appointment for acupuncture before the onset of the season. Allergies can start being treated preemptively so that the body is more prepared and symptoms are less severe. Enjoy spring as nature intended, a time for growth, prosperity, and movement. Don’t let your allergies slow you down this year!

Tips for Allergy Season: Stay extra hydrated by increasing water intake. See your acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist to customize an herbal formula for you!

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Qigong for Longevity

We hope to offer classes when it is safe to do so! Stay tuned…..