Welcome the Year of the Wood/Green Goat/Sheep...
The Goat is the eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac, following the horse and preceding the monkey. Eight being an auspicious numeral in Chinese culture and the peaceful, domesticated goat is seen as a bearer of such virtues as, compassion, serenity, beauty and righteousness.
In ancient China, the goat was welcomed as a symbol of lofty, civilised virtues. The image of the kid (baby goat) suckling from its mother, its head raised upward, reminded the ancients that people too, should keep their sight turned upward in reverence of the heavens.
To read more about what the year holds in store for your particular sign, come in to clinic a few mins early and read the 2015 Chinese Horoscopes.
Yes, it is the end of the summer and we have just past the equinox last weekend, so we are definitely heading into the cooler months and before I can sneeze winter will be here. I didn’t really get the feeling of a long hot summer or wanting relief from too many hot days. I feel we sort of missed it. And the temperature dropped more quickly than last year.
So we have moved out of the Earth element late summer and into Metal, a time of letting go of what is no longer needed. The season is turning and with this comes a beautiful array of leaves as they change colours, just as the trees drops their leaves letting go of what is not needed and moving their energy’s back into the trunk and roots. Humans inhale oxygen/air and exhale carbon dioxide. The ability of this element to help us let go of feelings and thoughts that no longer serve a purpose, enabling us to create new or different ways of thinking and being. Consider what is essential to you and your family; keep what is of value and let go of that which is no longer needed. Grief is the emotion associated with Metal and a person’s inability to let go and get stuck or hold on to an experience can create an imbalance in their system, be that respiratory disorders, skin rashes, and or digestive problems. Does anyone you know collect and horde things? What emotional experience are they holding on too?
It’s also a perfect time to come in for a tune up before the cold season really kicks in and strengthen your immune system. Consider a package of 4–6 sessions and receive a 10% discount, term and conditions apply. Chinese medicine has some great immune boosting formulates and if you do come down with a cold or get caught out when the temperature suddenly changes or the wind wipes through town, cupping and acupuncture are great at reversing the entering pathogen and shortening a cold’s duration. Interested in the benefits of Moxabustion and its ability to strengthen your immune system and how it keeps you warm this winter, click here to read more.
Jo Balmforth, our resident Bio-dynamic Craniosacral therapist, has an April incentive. She is offering $30 off all single treatments from her website under ‘April Special’, but for Utopia Health Care clients an extra $10 off when you book a single treatment online. You must enter the discount code: EMAIL2015 to receive the extra savings, total of $40 off! Terms & conditions apply. Book your treatment at Utopia Health Care or online here.
As an important reminder at this time of year, it is easy to forget to drink as much water as the weather has changed. It is equally important to keep up fluid intake not just in. Try warm water instead of cold or a cup of tea/ coffee. This is a link to a more detailed report on the importance of hydration.
I was given a lovely recipe book last year called Alkaline Cook Book, so here’s a recipe or two for breakfast from it.
Remember, that the better the ingredients, the better the flavour and energy of the food, the better the effect on your body. By that, I mean when and where you can use fresh organic fruit and vegetables and Celtic or Himalayan salt.
GRAPEFRUIT AND RADICCHIO SALAD
5 tabs Apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Fennel seeds crushed
¼ cup Olive oil
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 White Grapefruit
1 Radicchio
2 cups baby Spinach leaves
¼ cup non pitted Olives
Method:
Combine the vinegar, fennel seeds, olive oil salt and pepper (this is the vinaigrette).
Peel and ¼ the grapefruit and remove the pith (the white bit around the outside); marinate this in the vinaigrette for at least an hour.
Add the mixture to the spinach and radicchio leaves and the olives.
Delicious!
GRATED SPICED APPLE AND GINGER MUESLI
1 cup Almond Meal
1 Apple grated
1 cup Buckwheat sprouts
¼ tsp Cinnamon
¼ tsp Nutmeg
¼ cup Soy milk
Grated ginger to taste
Method:
Combine apple cinnamon and nutmeg, ginger and buckwheat sprouts in a bowl.
Gently stir in the almond meal, pour Soy milk for a moist breakfast.
If you would like more breakfast ideas, send me an email as I am compiling a small book.
Yours in good health,
Mychelle and the team at Utopia Health Care