The Holistic Wisdom Journal  

September 15, 2001 ~ Articles In This Issue...

~ The Terrorist Attacks- An Astrological Perspective

~ The Terrorist Attacks

~ Acupuncture: A Brief Introduction

~ An Asian Approach To Weight Loss: Part Two

~ Water & Earth Asian Diet Plans & Recipes

~ Asian Diuretics

~ Seaweed- A slimming addition to your diet

The Terrorist Attacks- An Astrological Perspective
By Steven Forrest

Astrologers tend to spend a lot time making gloomy predictions. It's almost a joke around our house: the astrological "apocalypse du jour." That nasty-looking August eclipse a while back was one of them. The current opposition of Saturn and Pluto has also generated a lot of fearful press. And of course we've got to give the fear-mongers a few points this time. Probably we are all going to see the event chart for the Trade Tower destruction (9/11/01, Manhattan, "a few minutes before 9 AM") analyzed until we know it better than our own birth charts

Like most disaster charts, it doesn't look all that sinister at first glance, although I'm sure we'll get plenty of Monday-morning quarterbacking on it. The current Saturn/Pluto opposition is definitely serious: we're facing the hard, manifest reality (Saturn) of some deep, dark Plutonian wounds. We can expect those unresolved wounds (Pluto) to crystallize concretely (Saturn); to be "in our faces." But that planetary aspect is in effect over a long period of time.

More unique to this particular time frame, Mars is conjunct the Moon's South Node. That does imply war-karma coming home to roost, and effectively pinpoints this present period. (It also calls our attention forward to April-July '02, when the Nodes cross transiting Saturn and Pluto) Going further, Saturn's rulership of the South Node leaps to mind, powerfully linking the dominant Saturn/Pluto structure to the underlying pattern of violent karma. Topping it off, the Moon was void of course in late Gemini, but within the orbs of opposing Mars. Thus it acted as a trigger. The strange fact of the Moon being void usually suggests "nothing will come of this."

At first, that seems implausible, but it does support the possibility that investigations prove ultimately inconclusive, and no "satisfying" target of revenge emerges. Another angle, for which I thank Jodie's (my wife) sharp eyes, is that actions undertaken under a void Moon tend to go nowhere and it was of course the terrorists themselves who undertook the action. This suggests that, while they succeeded at what they set out to do, in the end the Void Moon prevents them from accomplishing their larger | goals. Their deeper aims will come to nothing here.

Pluto and Saturn are conjunct the Third and Ninth cusps (Placidus) respectively, which points to the underlying issue: "religion" (Ninth | House) versus the Third House notion of "heresy." The irony here is that both faiths; Judeo-Christianity and Islam, view each other in truly, technically "heretical" terms since they share common roots, but have long since gone into schism. So we are looking at a karmic pattern of religious rigidity, intolerance and judgment (Saturn in the ninth) implacably opposed | by a "threatened" and thus violent "heresy" there's Mars and Pluto in the Third.

In my estimation, the Judeo-Christian tradition is symbolized in this chart by Saturn, although one could reason either way. Part of my thinking is that the Ninth House is so dominant, containing Jupiter and Moon. And of course | the West has had the upper hand for a few centuries, and still basically does. A parallel line of reasoning is that the Mars/Pluto complex in the Third House is much more natural symbolism for terrorism than what we see in | the Ninth. So the two signatures emerge pretty clearly: the West as the Ninth House, the Islamic world as the Third. This has some interesting implications, as we will see below.

All of this, I believe, is accurate enough technical analysis; but at a rather obvious level. I'm actually not very impressed with it. It tells us nothing we didn't already know. We can even add an elegant little twist and observe that the current Saturn/Pluto opposition is forming on the planetary South Node of Uranus, adding even more volatility to the mix. But we know about that volatility already! I might further predict that the West will "win," since the general Ninth House symbolism is so strong. Add that Mercury, which rules the Ninth cusp, is ambiguously placed: it is rising, but in the Twelfth, suggesting the West's current vulnerability and defeat (Twelfth House), but also an underlying, fundamental strength; Mercury is indubitably conjunct the Ascendant.

Still, all this talk is close to the fortune-telling stuff we are striving | to get beyond. It works, but it doesn't inspire or illuminate.

How can we take it further? How can this chart speak to our souls rather | than just to our minds? The Moon's North Node lies in Cancer, with the Moon itself conjunct the Node, despite being in Gemini. When associated with the North Node, the Moon and Cancer are always indicative of the need for healing. The ancient, karmic pattern of Mars-rage driven by religious intolerance and schism needs to be healed. The message of the chart is absolutely clear on that. It says, "What would the Great Mother tell us?" And it goes further: being in the Ninth house, the North Node counsels that we dare to hold to idealism, that | we not simply react reflexively. It cautions us especially about reacting according to old ingrained karmic patterns of retributive, self-justifying rage, which themselves are the underlying engine driving the whole nightmare. With the north-node-ruling Moon in Gemini, it emphasizes the need for dialog. Listening. Talking. And, with Jupiter in the ninth house in Cancer, faith. The ninth House is international and cross-cultural: broad consensus is needed here, especially if "surgical" military.

I feel sick and phony calling all this evil and violence and death we've just witnessed an "opportunity." But it is. We of course are looking at madness, and full-blown evil. But madness and evil are bred in the human heart by injustice, fear, and above all desperation.

My faint prayer is that Spirit speaks to those with their fingers on the | triggers of revenge. I hope they hear Spirit saying, "Let this evil stand a while. Let it stare out at the world, unavenged. Let it shame those who perpetrated it, or at least those hanging-in-the-balance souls who applaud it, but know better deep in their human hearts. Don't blunt the horror of this insane, dark deed with reactive vengeance. Don't repeat the Mars/South Node pattern. Don't make it so easy to forget by helping the world numb itself with more rage."

I promise you, this isn't just hippie babble. I am trying to honor the message of the symbols. If Mars were on the North Node instead of on the South, I'd have a different message: the righteousness of rage, the dharma of fierceness, the need to defend boundaries no matter the price in blood and pain. But Mars is on the South Node, not the North.

Personally, I'd like to add that with my own Mars/Pluto karmic patterning, and present-life Aries Moon, this attitude and interpretation are not easy for me to sustain. I too feel powerfully the gravitational force-field of vengeance. I hear myself being "logical" about the "real world." And then I make myself think: where will more violence lead? And it's the easiest question I've ever heard in my life. I realize I am experiencing violent, atavistic emotions, disguised as reason. If violent action is necessary to cut out the tumor of terrorism, let it be measured, internationally-based, and let it aim toward the ideal of Justice, not primevil vengeance disguised as justice.

The Terrorist Attacks
By Lisa S. Lawless, Ph.D.
Holistic Wisdom C.E.O.

First, I would like to begin by expressing our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of this horrible chain of events. Since September 11th, we have heard many stories come forward that are heart breaking and difficult to bear. Emotions are running high, and many feel deeply afraid of what may come in days ahead.

What I would like to emphasize in this newsletter today, is the need for justice, and how we obtain it. I believe a need to seek justice for the actions that the terrorists took, but not to take revenge. Where there is injustice, I have always believed in fighting. The question is, do you fight to change things or do you fight to punish?

I also believe that we should not punish an entire country, rather bring to justice the individuals who took part in the planning and implementation that created these atrocities. I mean, if the terrorists were in one of our states, we would not go after the whole state, just the group that did it. Why should this be any different?

I also believe that we should take action against these individuals in a legal fashion, not a violent one. I believe that we should show the world our fairness, our ability to discern what justice is, without sinking to the same violent nature of these blood thirsty terrorists. Gandhi said it best when he once said "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

Sen. John McCain recently made a comment to the public that God will forgive those who perpetrated these terrorist acts, but we will not. That statement disturbed me. I urge us as a nation not to accept hatred or bloody revenge as a response to these nightmarish events, but to rise up and search for ways to resolve this without becoming violent ourselves. This may take time, it may take a lot of grieving, and even getting out anger. Yet, I believe that we can not evolve as individuals or a nation if we simply take bloody revenge.

Many people agree with my sentiments, and many do not. My hope is to prompt you to look into your heart and find what will guide you to evolve during your life now.

The following quotes are ones that I found fitting to my beliefs and I thought that I would share them-

"I believe much trouble and blood would be saved if we opened our hearts more." - Chief Joseph

"Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge, and dares to forgive an injury." - E.H. Chapin

Namaste, Lisa

Acupuncture: A Brief Introduction
By Lisa S. Lawless, Ph.D.
Holistic Wisdom C.E.O.

It is often funny to me that Acupuncture is often considered a "new alternative" medicine. In reality, Acupuncture is an Asian medicine that is over 5,000 years old. In general terms, Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles in the skin in order to create balance within the body.

Acupuncture is often used in conjunction with Moxibustion, which is heat used to warm the body produced by burning specific herbs. In addition, a non-invasive method of massage therapy, called Acupressure, can also be effective.

There are many diseases and ailments that can be treated successfully by Acupuncture. From weight loss to Attention Deficit Disorder, Acupuncture provides balance to the body. If you are one that is concerned about the needles... let me say as one who has had Acupuncture regularly that it really does not hurt. The needles are so fine that only on occasion to I actually feel them being inserted, and that is only a temporary pinch.

The Basic Principles Of Acupuncture-

The basis of Acupuncture is that the body has an energy force running throughout it. This energy force is known as Chi (also spelled Qi, and roughly pronounced "Chee"). The Chi consists of the spiritual, emotional, mental and the physical aspects of life. A person's health is influenced by the flow of Chi in the body, and is comprised of two parts, Yin and Yang. These are opposite forces, that when balanced, work together. Any upset in the balance will result in problems such as disruptions in nature, or disease in humans. Yin is associated with feminine attributes, which are: passive, dark, cold, moist, that which is the opposite of Yang. Yang is associated with masculine attributes which are: light, active, warm, dry, that which is the opposite of Yin.

The beauty of Yin and Yang is that nothing is completely one or the other. An example is perfectly shown in humans- A person is the combination of their mother (Yin) and father (Yang). They contain qualities of both. Whether or not you believe in this Taoist philosophy, one thing is indisputable: Acupuncture works.

If the flow of Chi in the body is insufficient, unbalanced or interrupted, Yin and Yang become unbalanced, and illness may occur. Chi travels throughout the body along "Meridians" or special pathways. The Meridians, (or Channels), are the same on both sides of the body (paired). There are fourteen main meridians running vertically up and down the surface of the body. Out of these, there are twelve organ Meridians in each half of the body (remember they are in pairs).

The acupuncture points are specific locations where the Meridians come to the surface of the skin, and are easily accessible by "needling," Moxibustion, and Acupressure. The connections between them ensure that there is an even circulation of Chi; a balance between Yin and Yang.

Energy constantly flows up and down these pathways. When pathways become obstructed, deficient, excessive, or just unbalanced, Yin and Yang are said to be thrown out of balance. This causes illness. Acupuncture is said to restore the balance.

How does Acupuncture work?

Scientists have no real answer to this; as you know many of the workings of the body are still a mystery. There are a few prevailing theories.

The Augmentation of Immunity Theory-
By some unknown process, Acupuncture raises levels of triglycerides, specific hormones, prostaglandins, white blood counts, gamma globulins, opsonins, and overall anti-body levels.

The Endorphin Theory-
Acupuncture stimulates the secretions of endorphins in the body (specifically Enkaphalins).

The "Neurotransmitter" Theory-
This theory states that certain neurotransmitter levels (such as Seratonin and Noradrenaline) are affected by Acupuncture.

The Circulatory Theory-
Acupuncture has the effect of constricting or dilating blood vessels. This may be caused by the body's release of Vasodilaters (such as Histamine), in response to Acupuncture.

The Gate Control Theory-
According to this theory, the perception of pain is controlled by a part of the nervous system which regulates the impulse, which will later be interpreted as pain. This part of the nervous system is called the "Gate." If the gate is hit with too many impulses, it becomes overwhelmed, and it closes. This prevents some of the impulses from getting through. The first gates to close would be the ones that are the smallest. The nerve fibers that carry the impulses of pain are rather small nerve fibers called "C" fibers. These are the gates that close during Acupuncture.

There are many Acupuncturists in the U.S. today. Acupuncturists are licensed independently in most states while some states require you to be a Medical Doctor to practice Acupuncture.If you do decide to receive the therapeutic effects of Acupuncture, I not only recommend finding out their credentials, but make sure that they are compatible with your personality. Like a doctor or therapist, you should feel as though you have a good rapport and have trust with your Acupuncturist.

I personally can recommend two places for acupuncture where I have received excellent treatments-

Burtonsville, Maryland- Natural Healing Practices (301) 476-7338

Boulder, Colorado- South West Acupuncture School (303) 581-9933

If you are not located in these areas, you can find a listing of acupuncturists in your area at the following link- http://www.acupuncture.com/Referrals/Ref.htm

An Asian Approach To Weight Loss: Part Two
By Lisa S. Lawless, Ph.D.
Holistic Wisdom C.E.O.

In Asian medicine, there are what are termed as "constitutional types." These categories cover the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of a persons nature. The five elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood are used to categorize tendencies for someone's constitutional type. The most common constitutional types that people with weight problems fall into are weakness in the Earth and Water Elements.

Water Element Types -

If you have weakness in the area of the Water element you may be one of those people that can put on extra weight when eating nothing in excess at all. You tend to have water retention, and often feel tired. You will experience some or all of the following symptoms- poor digestion, allergies, hormone imbalances, or mood swings. Chronic problems with a water element deficiency show up as hormonal imbalances, depression, sexual dysfunction, and addictions.

Earth Element Types -

If you have weakness in the area of the Earth element you may be especially prone to gaining weight around the mid section and hips. You crave sweets, and heavy foods. You suffer from excess phlegm that congests the sinuses or results in headaches, abdominal bloating or even stomachaches. You most likely experience blood sugar problems that will make you feel tired or spacey. You may feel unhappy, ungrounded, or unsettled.

Chronic problems with a earth element deficiency show up in parasites, tumors, cysts, mental disorders, poor memory, and impaired concentration.

Chronic Obesity -

If you have struggled with excess weight over a long time, then all of the five elements are involved and will need to be treated. If this is your situation, you probably related to both the weaknesses in the Water and Earth element types. When reading about the different approaches to weight loss, you may want to alternate between the Water and Earth approaches as you will need to gain strength in both areas to successfully lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight.

A beautiful, overweight woman sat waiting for a consultation with an Asian practitioner. She badly needed to lose 80 pounds. She was working hard hours, coupled with big responsibilities. She often described herself as "wired and tired." She had a "superwoman" mentality, trying to do all things for all people. Yet, she was too tired to make an effort to lose weight.

Often this type of person has tremendous drive, and works under intense conditions. By the time of middle age, these types often have driven themselves into their careers, marriages, children, with no energy left for themselves. These types of people are unable to lose weight because they do not have the energy to do it. In order to lose weight and keep it off, you have to gain strength within.

Constitutional Types-

These categories cover the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of a persons nature. The five elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood are used to categorize tendencies for someone's constitutional type. The most common constitutional types that people with weight problems fall into are weakness in the Earth and Water Elements.

If you have struggled with excess weight over a long time, then all of the five elements are involved and will need to be treated. If this is your situation, you probably related to both the weaknesses in the Water and Earth element types. When reading about the different approaches to weight loss, you may want to alternate between the Water and Earth approaches as you will need to gain strength in both areas to successfully lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight.

Are you weak in the element of Water, Earth or Both?

Weak Water Symptoms-

Tongue- Large, scalloped, pale or red

Figure- global water retention and fat throughout the body

Early Warning Signs- puffy under the eyes or at ankles

Energy- Low or irregular emotions- depression, anxiety, unrealistic confidence

Weak Water Element Check List-

___ I often crave salty, rich foods, or chocolate
___ When tired, I eat a lot of whatever is around
___ I get very tired in late afternoon or all day
___ I have a swollen tongue
___ My whole body feels bloated
___ I can gain weight with no effort
___ Healthy cooking bores me
___ I am always up for a challenge, but lack energy
___ I sweat easily
___ I always demand the best of myself
___ I work or play until I drop
___ I have usually given my all to others
___ I have an aching or tired lower back
___ I feel depressed
___ I often can't fall asleep until very late
___ I need caffeine or uppers to keep my energy up
___ My sexual energy is low If you checked five or more of these responses, chance are       that you are overweight or can become overweight because you tend to abuse your       adrenal energy.

Weak Earth Symptoms-

Tongue- Puffy, large, possibly coated or spotted

Figure- Bloated abdomen, cellulite at waist and hips

Early Warning Signs- Sweet cravings, indigestion, stomachache, diarrhea, or constipation.

Energy- Fatigue after eating, poor concentration when hungry Emotions- Depressed, obsessive or chronic worrying

Weak Earth Element Check List-

___ I love sweets, desserts, ice cream, and cheese
___ I feel bloated or get stomachaches after eating
___ I often have gas
___ My energy is low after meals, I feel like I could nap
___ I have a lot of mucus
___ I eat on the run, and often eat junk foods
___ I enjoy sweets and fruits every day
___ I use lots of butter
___ I worry about people, problems, and money often
___ I often have diarrhea or constipation
___ Rich or milky foods nauseate me, but I crave them
___ I sometimes get pain under my ribs
___ I often feel anxious, irritable or depressed
___ Pasta, bread and sugar are my addictions
___ I would rather buy new clothes than an exercise machine
___ I'd rather go on a gourmet vacation than hiking
___ My work & hobbies involve sitting and fussing over details
___ I eat when I am alone
___ I eat when I am upset or nervous
___ When depressed, I eat chocolate, cheesecake, breads
___ I always eat too much at social gatherings
___ Eating keeps me calm
___ I hate having an empty stomach
___ When I am hungry I often get angry or upset
___ I have to have sweets daily
___ Before my period, I eat things I don't normally eat

If you checked five or more of these responses, chance are that you are overweight or can become overweight because you tend to abuse your digestion energy.

If you checked five or more of the responses to both the weak Water and Earth checklists, then you will need use both the Water and Earth approaches to your weight loss as you most likely have struggled with youth weight for a long time and are weak in both elements.

Acupuncture assists in balancing all the elements whether you are over weight or not. That is why I personally feel that the benefits of Acupuncture greatly aide weight loss as it strengthens the body from within. Make sure to read my article on Acupuncture in this newsletter for more information on it. When combined with taking in proper nutrients and exercise, you will feel fantastic, and your body will reflect that.

You will know when you are improving because you will look and feel better, you will think more clearly and your cravings will diminish.

The Water And Earth Weight Loss Approaches-

To strengthen a weak water element in a weight loss program it is important to strengthen the kidney and adrenal chi. To strengthen a weak earth element in a weight loss program it is important to strengthen the liver, gallbladder, stomach, and spleen/pancreas organ systems. Using vegetables, fruits, herbs and water to assist in cleansing is the key to treat both. Combine that with exercise after a week or two of changing your diet, and possible two to four Acupuncture sessions, and you will see a dramatic difference.

Your Tongue-

In Asian medicine the tongue reflects a lot about the health of an individual.It is the one internal organ that you can see directly, and reflects your metabolism. Its color, shape and mobility indicate vital energy and blood production which effects your ability to digest food, breathe, eliminate toxins, and fight illness.

In dealing with weight loss the following applies-

Pale Tongue With Weak Water Element-
Use warming foods and herbs with hot and sweet flavors. Herbs: Cloves, Sexton, fennel seed tea

Pale Tongue With Weak Earth Element-
Use warming foods and herbs with pungent and sour flavors. Herbs: fresh ginger, lemon, hawthorn berry Vigorous daily exercise, combined with massage and saunas

Red Tongue With Weak Water Element-
Use cooling, cleansing foods and herbs with bitter and sour tastes. Herbs: Dandelion greens, Fennel seeds, cilantro

Red Tongue With Weak Earth Element-
Use cooling, cleansing foods and herbs with bitter and sour flavors. Herbs: Aloe Vera, Dandelion

What makes a weak Water Element better or worse?

Worse-
Overwork, caffeine, jet lag, chronic illness, thyroid weakness, hormone imbalance, allergies, hard to digest foods.

Better-
Rest, herbs, and foods that rebuild the kidneys and adrenal glands.

What makes a weak Earth Element better or worse?

Worse-
Fats, butter, fried foods, buts, tahini, dairy foods, red meat, pork, sweets, pastries, candy, some grains, pasta, sedentary habits, coffee, humidity, afternoon naps, late night eating, emotional imbalance.

Better-
Salad, bitter tasting foods, green tea, barley, quinoa, beans, fish, dried fruits, apple, citrus, all vegetables, seeds, rice cakes, seaweeds, tofu, soy milk, wheat bran, health oils (canola, olive, flaxseed), bee pollen, and royal jelly, plenty of exercise.

Sections of this text contributed by- Letha Hadady, D.Ac. Asian Health Secrets

Water & Earth Asian Diet Plans & Recipes
By Lisa S. Lawless, Ph.D.
Holistic Wisdom C.E.O.

Weak Water Element Diet Plan & Recipes-

Choose One Combination for each meal:

Breakfast & Lunch Options-

Teas-
One pot of hot Oolong, Green or Bojenmi tea (With no sweeteners)

With-
1) Rye toast, a baked or boiled potato with olive oil, tarragon, sage, or rosemary: add lots of parsley, cumin.
2) Rye toast, steamed asparagus or broccoli, a few blanched almonds or sun flower seeds.
3) Four Ingredient Barley Soup with fresh parsley.
4) Rice cakes, a few sheets of nori seaweed, raw tofu with Braggs Amino Acid Sauce (Or Soy Sauce), vinegar, lemon juice, parsley, scallions, and sesame seeds.
5) A can of tuna, sardines or salmon (packed in spring water), rice cakes, and nori or dulse seaweed. 6) Two boiled eggs, a dab of mustard, rye toast or sprout bread, and green salad (spinach)
7) 100-percent egg-white protein powder in vegetable of pineapple juice (half juice, half water)
8) Cooked vegetables, grains (barley, millet, quinoa, basmati rice), salad: candied ginger or lemon.
9) A fish simmered in lemon juice (no butter); salad or cooked greens with a vinaigrette.
10) Enchiladas with vegetables, beans )no meat or cheese), a mild green sauce, rice, salad, mixed vegetable juice.
11) A soup of vegetables, chicken of fish (no cream sauce).

Mid afternoon Snack-
1) Sunflower or pumpkin seeds
2) Fresh popcorn made with a dash of turmeric oil
3) Bee pollen or royal jelly
4) Sprout bread, rice cakes, nori seaweed
5) Plain or vanilla yogurt (add cumin, coriander, or parsley - not fruit)
6) A cup of ginseng tea if you have a large, pale tongue.
7) Cloves or thyme tea if you have shortness of breath with a pale tongue. Afternoon Supplements- Take an evening primrose oil, chromium picolinate, and chickweed capsule with or with out food.

Dinner-
Try to eat heavier meals earlier in the day, when you have better energy, and foods that require less digestion later. Eat lightly when fatigued.

Choose one of the following along with a calming (non caffeine tea).

1) Fruit or vegetable salad
2) Watercress or spinach soup made with half water, half soy milk
3) Pasta cooked with fu ling, a non-fat sauce, and salad
4) Tofu cooked with vegetables (no grains).
5) Steamed dandelion greens (add ginger, stevia, lemon salt, and pepper.

Evening Snack (Optional)-

1) Raw or baked apple
2) Steamed spinach with a pinch of turmeric
3) Yogurt with turmeric, rose oil, and cumin
4) Warm almond milk

Recipes-

Almond Milk-

Make almond milk by boiling a handful of peeled almonds for a few minutes. Blanching the almonds or soaking them overnight removes excess acid. Discard the water, then whip the almonds in a blender among with one cup of each- spring water and soy milk. Add a dash of turmeric and store leftovers in the refrigerator for only a day.

Four Ingredient Barley Soup-

1/2 cup Chinese dried barley
1/2 cup fu ling
1/2 cup fox nuts
1/2 cup Chinese white yam (dioscorea)
1/2 cup fresh parsley

For each serving use about a handful of each of Chinese dried barley, fu ling, fox nuts, and white yam. Simmer these in a glass or ceramic coated pot until all the ingredient are soft, approximately one hour or more. Ass fresh parsley, a little salt, and black pepper. Use spices according to your tongue color- If you have a whitish color, then add orange peel, cloves, or ginger and pepper to taste Garnish with sliced radish and parsley. If you have a yellowish color, use cumin, coriander, tarragon, and fennel.

Watercress or Spinach Soup-

1/2 pound fresh watercress or Spinach
1 cup soy milk
1 dash cumin powder

Steam the greens until they are tender but still green. Use enough spring water to cover them. Turn off the heat and whip in a blender with soy milk. Season with a dash of cumin powder, salt and black pepper.

Sveltie Italian Pasta-

1 package of pasta
1 handful slice or 1 square of fu ling
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 4 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup Italian extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup of more fresh chopped parsley
1 teaspoon of peperoncino
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

Cook the pasta until al dente, adding wither a piece of fu ling or a big pinch of cream of tartar. While the pasta is cooking, steam the minced garlic in a litter water. When the garlic is soft turn off the heat and ass the oil. Toss the pasta while it hot in the garlic oil, shopped parsley, and dried hot red pepper called peperoncino. This recipe is spicy so you can opt not to use so much pepper.

Slimming Sesame Noodles-

1 package pasta
1 tea bag Bojenmi Chinese slimming tea
1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar
1/4 cup humus beaten with
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh black pepper
1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder
2 tablespoons raw sesame seeds
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Boil the pasta as you would ordinarily, but add a bag of Chinese slimming tea during the last few minutes. Add a dash of cream of tartar to the cooking water. Thin the humus with water, Whip the mixture until it is light. Add black pepper, salt and a big pinch of turmeric and cream of tartar. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped parsley.

Vegetable Soup-

5 pounds of raw vegetables
3/4 cup peanuts
1 cup dried slices or 3 squares of fu ling
2 tablespoons juniper berries
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Chopped fresh parsley
Hungarian paprika
1/2 cup dried dulse seaweed

Use lots of vegetables of all colors including carrots, onions, white potatoes, spinach, yellow squash, green beans, and peas. Avoid turnips and cabbage as these slow the metabolism. Add raw peanuts for protein. Add fu ling, juniper berries, fennel, cumin, and coriander seeds to speed digestion. Season and simmer in spring water until done (approximately half and hour). Then add fresh parsley and Hungarian paprika to taste. Serve warm or cold along with leaves of dried dulse, which provide a pleasant salty taste and are a rich source of potassium.

Weak Earth Element Diet Plan & Recipes-

The best way to change your diet is not to drop all of your favorite "bad-for you" foods all at once. Instead, let your body get used to gradual changes. This is a lifestyle change not a diet.

Begin your with the following changes-

Morning-

One teaspoon of flaxseed oil (use gel caps or the pure oil.)

Afternoon-

Have 1-2 teaspoons of bee pollen as a sweet energy boost

Start with one cup a day of tea- Drink Chinese slimming teas or green tea with no sweeteners. These help to balance blood sugar, and are mildly diuretic and laxative, which eliminates toxins. Their bitter taste reduces cravings for sweet and high fat foods. They continue little or no caffeine.

Names of Chinese slimming teas-

Bojenmi Tea
Well-Known Tea

After a week of these additions to your diet, begin substituting a meal with a healthy one, and so on until over a month your entire diet has changed.

You can try some of the following recipes-

Earth Slimming Soup Stock-

You can cook a large pot of this mild-tasting stock, refrigerate it, and simmer raw soup ingredients in two soups of it daily, or cook grains with the liquid.

1 cup Chinese pinella
5 sticks of magnolia bark
1 piece of chen pi (dried citrus peel)
1 handful of dried licorice root or one level teaspoon of dried licorice powder
1 teaspoon of raw sliced ginger

Simmer all the ingredients in a ceramic coated pot in one gallon spring water for about an hour, or until the pinella is soft. The magnolia bark is very bitter, and is used to stimulate the flow of bile. You can sweeten the stock with fennel seeds.

Slimming Fish

4 six ounce skinless fillets of salmon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
3 slices of raw ginger
1 chopped scallion
2 tablespoons minced lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon salt freshly ground pepper Sauce
2 cups fresh cranberries
1 tablespoon of fresh orange peel
Juice of 1/2 orange
1/8 teaspoon clover powder
1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 fresh rosemary springs for garnish

Steam the salmon fillets for about 10-15 minutes in a glass pot with lemon and lime juice, raw ginger, scallion, lemon peel, salt and pepper. The sauce- bring all ingredients to a boil turn off the heat let stand for 5 minutes. Serve with boiled small red potatoes and lots of fresh parsley.

Asian Diuretics
Letha Hadady, D.Ac.
~ Asian Health Secrets

When you have excess water weight it can be beneficial to cleanse your body of it with a diuretic. When doing this, you will want to make sure to consume parsley if you use more than one diuretic per meal as it replaces potassium lost in urination. Take diuretics until oily, dark-colored urine becomes more normal, and dark circles or puffiness under the eyes is reduced.

Diuretics to add to cooking-

1) A pinch of cream of tartar
2) Up to 1 teaspoon of dried juniper berries per day
3) 1 teaspoon coriander seeds or cilantro leaf
4) Handfuls of parsley
5) Fresh corncobs or corn silk (a tea simmered at least 20 minutes)

A special Chinese herbal diuretic-
Fu ling is a medical herb used in Chinese medicine (also known as poria or hoelen). It is a dried white fungus that cleans toxins, and cellulite held in place by water. It is sold in many herbal shops.

Seaweed- A slimming addition to your diet
From Letha Hadady, D.Ac.
Asian Health Secrets

An under active thyroid can encourage water retention, leading to excess weight and cellulite. Low thyroid had recently been linked to feeling lethargic and depressed. If you wish to increase your thyroid performance than seaweeds that are high in potassium, calcium and iodine are for you.

Seaweeds-

Laminaria
Sargassum
Kelp
Dulse

What they do for weight loss- Stimulates thyroid, speeds metabolism, reduces cellulite, and increases oxygen to the brain.

Thank You For Reading The Articles Contained In The Holistic Wisdom Journal

...Namaste
(I honor Spirit within you,
as you honor Spirit within me)