Foods / Spices / Herbs to Bolster Immunity & Calm Spirits

My thoughts are with you as we navigate toward a new way of living, and my prayer is that the pearls learned from this experience will create sustainable habits that are kinder to our bodies, minds, spirits.

I’m enjoying connecting with those of you participating in my new ‘Video Consult‘ scheduling system. It’s fun to virtually interact, and it’s been remarkably easy to provide specific acupressure prescriptions, prescribe supplements for home delivery, and make dietary and lifestyle recommendations to support my patient’s health. I will also continue to provide general recommendations and stay connected to my patients and community through these newsletters.

Meanwhile, I’m offering some ideas on how to bolster your immunity through everyday habits, which include:

 

Immunity Boosting Foods

Vitamin A: liver, fish, milk, eggs, carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, pumpkin, tomatoes, red bell peppers

Vitamin C: red and green peppers, papaya, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, oranges, strawberries, lemon and grapefruit

Vitamin E: almonds, sunflower seeds, avocado, papaya, butternut squash, swiss chard, spinach, beet greens
Vitamin D: oily fish, mushrooms, egg yolks

Zinc: red meat, shellfish, chickpeas, lentils and beans (soaked/sprouted to remove phytates), hemp, flax, pumpkin seeds, cashews, almonds, pine nuts, eggs.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Fortifying our Lung Qi and Lung Yin are important for withstanding the impact on the virus in our Lung System. A favorite Lung Yin recipe is poached pears in local honey, topped with chopped walnuts.  Personally, I could have that for breakfast, lunch or dinner ~ or snack!
Foods: pears, apples, almonds,  asparagus, carrot, ginger, leek, onion, pine nut, pumpkin, sage, red cabbage, yam
Spices: cinnamon, fennel seed, pepper, aniseed.

BODY

 

Practice QiGong Exercise for Lung Qi

Begin with a deep exale, pushing deeper until it’s relatively uncomfortable to hold the air out. Then a deep full inhale through the nose; hold to the count of 4; exhale completely and deeply so that the diaphragm contracts up against the lower lobes of the lungs; hold the breath out to the count of 4.  Repeat for 4 times. Do this 4 times a day. You can add arms, lifting overhead on inhale and bringing them in and across the chest, mimicking the most-muscular pose in bodybuilding. It’s a fun exercise to do with whomever you’re Staying In Place!

PureHaven, maker of 100% toxin-free products, has a hand sanitizer available to order NOW and the first 5,000 orders will ship April 9, 2020. Buy it HERE.

We are able to make this product due to the FDA waiving certain regulations to allow companies to manufacture hand sanitizer following the World Health Organization’s recipe during the COVID-19 crisis. Ours is different from most store-bought hand sanitizers because we use organic cane alcohol, which is safe and non toxic. It’s available for a limited time only, while supplies last.

MIND

These times call on us to be diligent with our focus and attention. For example, so as not to inundate my mind solely with the COVID-19 status, I’ve included regular viewing of media that offers a broader view perspective of what we are being called to experience and witness. I invite you to watch Barbara Marx Hubbard’s Humanity Ascending, an anthropological view of the precedence for transformation on Earth and the Universe itself.

SPIRIT

I’ve heard many friends and colleagues share that a positive take-away from this abrupt adjustment to our “too-busy” way of living is that they now have TIME to reflect on their own sense of Being, and to engage with their loved ones, friends and community with greater attention and intention. As an example, in our county, we are howling at 8pm every evening in solidarity with doctors, nurses and other front-line superheroes. It’s a moment to acknowledge that we are truly all in this together.

LET’S TALK

I’ve had a few emails asking for recommendations on the best supplements for particular health concerns.

Since my medical license REQUIRES face-to-face consultations, I’ve implemented a new video consult service, allowing us to communicate virtually while adhering to HIPAA privacy rules and regulations. The process is simple: schedule as you would normally by clicking the orange ‘SCHEDULE’ box. Select the Video Consult option.

At the time of your appointment, go to your account and select the Begin button. HERE is a Guide prepared by the Jane Scheduling Team.

In reflection, one take-away for me is to realize just how grateful I am for my work and to serve each of you. I am regularly recalling and reciting the Native North American phrase Mitakuye Oyasin.  The phrase translates in English as ‘all my relatives’ or ‘we are all related.‘ It is a prayer of oneness and harmony with all forms of life…other people, animals, birds, insects, trees and plants, and even rocks, rivers, mountains and valleys. I wish you safety, good health and good cheer during these difficult times. Together, we will see our way to a better future.

To your health and with greatest appreciation,

Susan