Ingredients

• About 1 tablespoon (10 grams) fritillaria (chuan bei mu)
• 1 large ripe pear, any variety 
• 2 teaspoons honey, or to taste

Directions1)
1) Place the fritillaria in a coffee mill, spice grinder, or food processor and whir into a powder (this may take some time).
2) Wash (but don't peel) the pear. Cut off the top third of the pear and reserve. Cut out the core of the bottom part of the pear, making a hole but leaving the bottom and outside intact. 
3) Place the fritillaria powder in the hole, then add the honey. Replace the top of the pear.
4) Transfer the pear to a steamer and cook, covered, for about 40 minutes, or until soft. (If you don't have a steamer, steam the pear in a glass or ceramic bowl placed in a covered pot containing an inch of water.) 
5) Serve warm as a dessert or snack.

The pears can be baked instead of steamed. Preheat the to 350 degrees and bake for about 40 minutes or until soft. 
Try this dish with an Asian pear - a delicious variation. 

Especially Good for
Anyone suffering from a dry cough, dry throat, bronchitis, asthma, or allergies. If you are eating this dish for therapeutic reasons, we recommend eating this dish once a day for three to seven days.

About Fritillaria
Fritillaria (a.k.a. Fritillariae Cirrhosae or chuan bei mu, which literally translates from the Chinese as "shell mother from Sichuan," grows in China and Nepal and produces a white bulb that is bitter and sweet. In addition to its uses to clear the lungs, in China the bulbs also have a tradition of use against breast and lung cancer.

For Those Familiar With Chinese MedicineThis dish moistens the Lung, clears Heat, and transforms phlegm.

Excerpted from Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life 
(Da Capo Lifelong Books)

Herbs that may be harmful to mom and/or baby
Other herbs should be avoided while nursing due to their potential for harming mom and/or baby. Here are a few herbs that are generally considered to be contraindicated for nursing mothers. This is by no means a complete list.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, here are some anti-anxiety self-care recommendations that we regularly share with patients:

• Eliminate caffeine. This includes decaf coffee, sodas, chocolate, and even green tea. Caffeine is a stimulant and causes the very same symptoms as does anxiety itself. Nicotine is also a stimulant and over time, stopping smoking can decrease anxiety symptoms.
• Maintain balanced blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia can trigger excess adrenaline, the primary hormone of the sympathetic nervous system. Blood sugar highs and lows create feelings of instability and shakiness. Balancing blood sugar helps you feel grounded and safe.Basic recommendations are to eat at regular intervals (generally every 4 hours), with enough protein and healthy fat in every meal. Reduce or eliminate simple carbohydrates such as sugar and refined flour products.
• Regulate sleep patterns. While insomnia can often be fueled by anxiety, to the extent that we can, it is most helpful to go to bed at the same time daily and get sufficient sleep and rest (for most people, this means 8 hours of sleep, even if they feel they ‘can function’ on less).
• Breathe Consciously stopping and paying attention to your breathing for a few minutes can already calm the nervous system. There are some specific breathing exercises that can be particularly effective, such as 4-7-8 Breathing: Placing the tip of your tongue just behind your front teeth, breathe in quietly through your nose for a count of 4, hold for a count of 7, breathe out around your tongue through pursed lips with a whoosh sound for a count of 8. Repeat at least 3 more times. You can do this at any time, several times a day. And if you make a consistent daily practice of it (practicing it twice daily) – it actually becomes a stronger ‘anti-anxiety’ tool when you need it in an emergency.
• Rescue Remedy is a safe and surprisingly effective Bach Flower Essence (available at Whole Foods, Rainbow, and other health food stores) to calm the nerves and get through stressful situations.  This is great to take as needed for emotional crisis management and not for daily, long term use. 

Chinese herbal formulas can help to correct the physical and energetic patterns underlying the anxiety symptoms, and I support people in finding safe and effective herbal alternatives to anti-anxiety medications. However, we always instruct patients to work with their psychiatrists to safely transition off these very strong medications if they are currently taking them. In particular, it is not a good idea to go off or reduce psychotropic medications during times of increased stress and transition.

What defines anxiety as a disorder is that it gets triggered by non-life threatening events, or minor stressors.  
I have seen the power of Chinese Medicine change my patients’ long-standing patterns of anxiety again and again.

By calming the sympathetic nervous system, we enable the body to better heal.

In Chinese medicine, food and herbs are used to supplement your Jing, especially if you're showing signs of deficiency, like low AMH and/or a poor antral follicle count. Preserving your Jing is so important for increasing fertility, which is why we always include dietary, exercise, and lifestyle guidelines. 
Even if you're not showing signs of deficiency, eating Jing-nourishing foods help to preserve and increase fertility.  Because bone marrow is a form of Jing, acupuncturists may prescribe bone marrow soup to supplement your Jing supply.
Bone marrow also helps to build new blood cells and heal the gut. It's excellent for building a healthy uterine lining and supporting digestion - another important element of fertility.
Here's a recipe to replenish your Jing, boost egg quality and build a healthy lining.  It's taken from a wonderful Chinese medicinal cookbook written by two of my teachers.

(Taken from "Ancient Wisdom Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life" by Yuan Wang, Warren Shier, and Mika Ono)

Once you have made the stock, simply add ingredients you prefer: veggies such as mushrooms, carrots, Chinese cabbage, or kale; and/or meat such as shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork. Season with salt or soy sauce to taste.  You can also make one large batch and freeze the broth to use later.
​
Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of cooked or raw beef, lamb, or pork bones (I strongly recommend buying organic, if available. You can often buy just bones at your local market.)
• 1/2 cup rice wine, white wine or vinegar (the acid is necessary to draw out the marrow)
• 16 cups of water
• 1 medium size carrot (optional) chopped into 1-inch pieces (Can also use broccoli stems, mushrooms, or leeks)
• 1 medium-size onion chopped into 1-inch pieces

Directions:

1.) Place the bones, wine, water, and vegetables (if using) in a large pot.  If the bones aren't covered with liquid, add water until they are.
2.) Bring to boil, lower the heat, and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes.  Skim off and discard any froth that rises to the top of the stock.
3.) For beef bones, simmer, covered, for 8 to 10 hours; add more water if needed.  For pork or lamb bones, simmer, covered, for at least 2 1/2 hours.
4.) Remove the bones, vegetables, and ginger from the stock, using a slotted spoon, a strainer, or piece of cheesecloth.
5.) Skim off any excess fat.  Season the stock with salt if desired (or wait to add until you cook with the stock).
6.) If you aren't using the stock immediately, you can store it in the fridge for a few days or freeze it in small portions for later use.

May 26th, 2017
6pm-830pm
The Flood Building 
​$115 per couple
*space is limited - please call or email to reserve your spot*
415.362.4600 / [email protected] 

**Please note - Because we are working on the floor this workshop is not appropriate for those that cannot lay face down on the floor for a period of 45 minutes. Please be able to spend about 45 minutes seated on the floor and have the ability to be on your knees to work.

This workshop is designed for two people that want to learn to give each other massages . We will switch halfway so that each partner has a chance to massage the other and learn. Both partners should dress in a way that allows them to feel comfortable but also gives access to their bare back