SEASONS IN CHINESE MEDICINE: SUMMER

Written by Lucinda Curran

Initially published in SevenCanaries

Much of the underlying precepts of Chinese medicine are about living in harmony with nature, synching with the ebb and flow of life, and the movement through the seasons.

In stark contrast, modern life is very much removed from nature. Our homes are warm in winter, cool in summer, we go from home to work, living busy lives within our built environments.

We protect ourselves from the outside world and no longer allow the influences of nature to shape our lives.

However, through its deep understanding of the natural world and its relationship to all life, Chinese medicine can provide much insight…

Summer = Yang

Yang energy builds during spring to peak in summer, resulting in more energy to enjoy the long, bright days, outdoor life and activities.

It is all about movement, expression and extroversion. Yang is bright, light and active – a time to retire late and rise early, express the new you, show your colours and spread some joy in the world. 

The Fire Element

Relating to the Fire element, Summer is associated with the colour red, the heart and small intestine and the emotion of joy.

Fire cannot exist on its own, it relies on fuel and air to thrive. Hence, the Fire element defines summer as an ideal time to socialise and connect with others.

The Fire element is also about inspiration. In Australia, Summer coincides with New Year making this the perfect time to set new goals for yourself, reflect back on the past year and decide what you would like to change. Think “big picture,” and aim for this, placing stepping-stones in the direction towards the life that you want to lead, the person who you truly are.

Summer Food

Food is important in Summer, as it is the rest of the year. It is good to always eat seasonally and locally to assist your body in adapting to each season.

Summer is abundant in melons, stone fruits and amazing vegetables. They are Yang foods – and epitomise the season.

Think first before you delight in them all – could you grow this in your backyard? If the answer is “yes,” then enjoy. If not, then resist the temptation and look for an alternative that can be grown close to home.

Chinese medicine considers food differently to Western medicine. It not only looks at the nutrient content, it also takes into account flavours and temperatures.

 The flavour associated with the Fire element is bitter. A small amount of the correct flavour helps to bring balance to the diet, although too much can be weakening, so aim to add a small amount of bitter food to your diet every day throughout summer.

Bitter foods include:

• Grains: rye
• Vegetables: lettuce, romaine, chicory, rocquette (arugula)
• Fruit: rhubarb
• Herbs and spices: fenugreek
• Nuts and seeds: cherry seeds

Cooling foods balance the heat of Summer. Salads, fresh seasonal fruits, cucumber and, of course, watermelon. Chinese medicine considers watermelon to be ‘cold,’ it is useful to clear excessive heat, and best enjoyed on scorching hot summer days.

The best cooking method for Summer reflects the season well – stir-frying over a high heat to add the heat, energy or activity of the season.

Enjoy your Summer!

Summer is about becoming inspired, expressing yourself, engaging with others, and taking an active part in the world. It brings joy and activity into your life. It provides us with delicious foods – especially those sweet intoxicating stone fruits.

Despite the activity of the season, it is still necessary to have some “me time” each day – be that by watching the sunset, enjoying your favourite cup of tea, cuddling with a loved one, reading a book or watching the clouds drift overhead … and don’t forget good quality rest to keep up with this busy, active time.

 Summer is the season to enjoy life fully and all the abundance it has to offer.

Jojoba: A Sneak Peek

(Simmondsia chinensis)

Despite being referred to as “jojoba oil,” jojoba is actually a wax, not an oil. Being a wax makes it more stable, as oils oxidise quickly. Also, this means that jojoba can add a barrier over the skin, and thus protect skin from the elements.

Jojoba very closely resembles the oils that are secreted by our skin, which is the main reason it is absorbed so well. It can provide much moisture to skin and rebalance the pH of the skin.

The use of jojoba in skin care and cosmetics became more widespread when whale oil was banned in the 1970s.

In 1822, British botanist H.F Link first recorded the jojoba plant when he visited North Mexico. He named it Simmondsia chinensis, after fellow botanist T.W Simmonds.

The trees generally live for more than 100 years, and it is thought that some even live for more than 200 years. Simmondsia chinensis is an evergreen desert plant that can grow up to 3 metres tall. It bears fruits, of which 50% is the prized jojoba oil. When ripe, the green fruits split open and release the seeds (usually only 2 or 3), which are brown and wrinkled.

Jojoba is now grown in Australia. It is extracted via expeller pressing and filtration.

It is used widely in the Truly Inspired! range, including Nudie Non-Scents - for its healing, soothing, and protective properties.

History of Perfumes

The history of perfumes…

Once upon a time in a land far away there lived a wise and wonderful woman. Her name was Tapputi-Belatikallim, or Tapputi for short. She worked within the palace with flowers, oils and balsam. She, relying on her skills as a chemist, made perfumes from these natural wonders that were available to her.

  

Tapputi lived around 3000 years ago in Mesopotamia and her work was referenced on a cuneiform tablet – a clay tablet into which messages were impressed or engraved. Tapputi is the world’s first recorded chemist.

Also long ago, in another land not too far away and around the same time, there was an enormous perfume factory on the island of Cyprus. Amazingly, this factory covered 4000m², which suggests that it was being made on a large scale.

Clearly, men and women have used perfume throughout the ages and there has always been a close interplay between chemistry and perfumery.

During the first millennia, Jābir ibn Hayyān (known as Geber) and Al-Kindi (known as Alkindus), two Iraqi chemists established the perfume industry – and developed techniques that are used today. These include distillation, evaporation and filtration.

Al-Kindi extensively researched perfumes and pharmaceuticals, and wrote a book (during the 9^th century) containing over one hundred recipes, “Book of the Chemistry of Perfume and Distillations.”

During the 14^th century, a perfume was made for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary from scented oils in an alcohol solution. This became known as “Hungary Water.” During this time, it was mostly the royalty of the West that used perfumery.

As time went on, perfume became more and more popular. The perfume industry responded to this demand, ultimately finding ways to make large quantities of perfumes quickly, cheaply and without relying on crops.

Predominantly, perfumes today are made from chemicals, which are not so costly for the manufacturers and provide a reliable source.

My history of perfumes…

When I was little, Mum had a bottle of perfume that she would wear on special occasions – the bottle, I think, lasted my whole childhood. It was precious and used to mark an event.

From a young age, I recall knowing where Mum was taking us because I could identify the smell. As a teenager, I retraced Mum’s steps and sniffed out the shop where she bought her freshly-ground coffee – an aroma that I still cherish!

Scents are strongly emotive and can cause the memories of places, thoughts, people, emotions and more, to resurface quickly.

Being blessed with an acute sense of smell, I have greatly enjoyed working with and blending essential oils since I was 18 years old.

I feel honoured to be using more traditional methods in my work. Using essential oils, to me, is using something as close to nature as possible – as not only the fragrance, but also the energetic qualities are captured through cold-pressing and distillation.

Now, with my allergies and sensitivities, I am grateful that I am absolutely fine with anything natural, but a waft of a chemical fragrance and the story is very different. In hindsight, Mum's sparing use of perfume probably kept my tolerance at a decent level... Hilariously, the only perfume that I was given, and I was 17 at the time, was "Poison"!! (I gave it away to a friend!)

Wishing you all the best of health!

What would you wish for?

"If the tooth fairy could wave a magic wand and grant you a wish, what would it be?" asked the form I was filling in while waiting to see a new dentist yesterday...

I know that they were expecting to read answers from people that related to a whiter straighter and perfect smile, but it made me think of other things...

If I could have a wish, any wish, what would it be?

There are a great many things that I could wish for on a grand scale - ending poverty and starvation, making the world happier and safer, ridding the world of suffering - especially for animals, making the world a better place...

There are SO many things we could wish for - and they all depend on what the situation is on the day...

Maybe you have a looming exam... the wish would be to pass it...

Maybe there is a family member who is ailing... and the wish would be for health...

Maybe a dear friend is getting married... so the wish would be for happiness...

Maybe you have the munchies... and the wish is all about an enormous chocolate cake with rich icing, topped with cherries...

It could be so many things!

What would you wish for?

If you could wish for ANYTHING in all of the world, what would it be?

Take a moment to think about this.

Seriously, stop reading and sit back and think.

What would you wish for?

Imagine it - think it, hear it, smell it, see it, feel it, breathe it...

Is it wonderful? Does it make you happy?

If not, go back up 7 lines, and repeat the process.

If so, then what do you need to do to make it happen?

If you waved your own magic wand, what would change?

How can you do this?

=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=`=

Play along with me now...

What I would like you to do is to imagine your wish again.

Then close your eyes and feel me placing a box in your hands. How big is it? Is it heavy? What does it look like?

Open the box, because inside is your very own magic wand. Examine it. How beautiful is it?

Did you know that apart from being beautiful - it is very powerful?

Use it wisely and keep it safe.

Work magic with your life - and be happy.

(Royalty-free Images from MorgueFile)

PERFUMES... stink!

They may smell nice, but they stink in terms of what they are made out of.

Prompted by the discovery of a list of ingredients used in perfumery on the International Fragrance Association (http://www.ifraorg.org/en-us/Ingredients_2), I felt it time to write, again, about the toxic chemical cocktail used in fragrances and perfumes.

Perfumes are as old as humanity ~ in ancient times, perfumes were made from flowers and other naturally scented things, including wood (sandalwood), rind (orange), blossoms (jasmine, rose) and so on.

As technology "advanced," (I always cringe at the idea that the industrial revolution only improved or advanced humankind), manufacturers found chemicals (esters and other aromatic compounds) that could mimic these smells. These allowed for a cheap alternatives (although you would hardly think so when you consider the price of perfumes).

I remember in high school making smells from chemicals - banana and other sickly sweet smells that permeated our erasers, paper, pens and similar at the time. (I think they still make these smelly things?)

Due to the "trade secret" aspect of perfumery, there is no need for manufacturers to list their ingredients (or potential allergens, for that matter) anywhere for the public to see.

Until now, I have felt like some eccentric spokesperson out on a limb far far away from reality, ranting and raving about the chemicals used, the toxic effects on our health, and the insanity of the inclusion of untested chemicals in our personal care products. Added to this, there is the complete unknown consequences of using these chemicals together (known as the synergistic effect).

Rachel Carson (in "Silent Spring") wrote about this in the 1960s.

Scientists are beginning to notice that there are changes to many species, these changes are particularly affecting the males. Male genitals are not developing normally, male are becoming "feminised." There is a lot that is being discovered, and a lot that is being brushed aside by the wealthy manufacturers and big businesses.

Recently, I saw this question: teen pregnancies are lower now ~ is this due to the marketing/education campaigns or the effects of the chemicals being used?

I can only guess at the answer, and no doubt, you will be able to guess at my guess.

But let's look at some of the chemicals on the list from the International Fragrance Association... and I will list the potential effects as per "The Chemical Maze" (Bill Statham's book).

Triethanolamine (TEA) made from ethylene oxide and ammonia

   potential effects: allergic contact dermatitis; skin irritation; may react with nitrates to form nitrosamines [carcinogenic]; on NIH hazard list

Yikes! It is included in personal care products, perfumes too, that are applied to the SKIN even though it is a skin IRRITANT!

Benzyl Cinnamate     
   potential effects: Cinnamates can cause a stinging sensation in some people; on NIH hazard list 

And another one!!

Acetal (derived from acetaldehyde)

   potential effects: CNS [central nervous system] depressant; respiratory depression; cardiovascular collapse; no known skin toxicity; possible high blood pressure; on NIH hazard list      

How reassuring (please excuse my tongue being firmly wedged in my cheek) that there is no skin toxicity... If my central nervous system and cardiovascular system collapse, I hardly think I would be worrying about the skin irritation... 

What is ultra-scary, to me anyway, is that these chemicals, because they are "misted" are easily inhalable... This means that they bypass the skin and can directly enter the blood stream, and also affect the brain (hence the CNS involvement).

I won't keep going with the list. I randomly picked three... and to me, that says enough to know that at the very least CAUTION IS WARRANTED.

As a health care practitioner, I also have to ask: why do people need these??? 

Is it to mask body odour? Is it because their indoor air is polluted? Is it because they smoke in the car? Why??

If it is any of these reasons, then I would be seeking to address the underlying problem: I would look into diet (including medications) and lifestyle, and probably prescribe herbs; I would suggest opening windows and increasing ventilation, and if the outside air is bad, suggest getting a decent air purifier; I would explore why they smoke and assist them with quitting, if they were ready... 

Did you also know that "air fresheners" do two things: they inhibit your ability to smell properly and they add a synthetic fragrance. What this means, is that the problem isn't addressed. The smell is still there, but 1) you can't smell it properly, and 2) there is now an abundance of chemicals in your home. 

Again, why is it necessary? Do you just need to take the garbage out more often? Do you need a bit of an air exchange in your home??

 

That's a big enough rant for the day.

Thank you for reading this far. 

If you would like to contribute your ideas or start a discussion, please feel free to comment below.

Have a happy day!

Lucinda

DETOXING YOUR HOME – Part 4

Thank you for joining me again in Detoxing Your Home.

In this part we will begin to look at personal care products.

There's good news and there's scary news!

Let's do the scary bit first.

In mainstream personal care products (including skin care, deodorants, moisturisers, soaps, shampoos...) the ingredients are mainly chemical.

There are over 10,000 different chemicals used in the personal care products industry – and very few (nowhere near even a third) of them have been tested for their safe use.

It takes the authorities about 3-5 years to test one chemical (there are many reasons for this – but now is not the time). In the meantime, there are hundreds of chemicals that are released every year. Hundreds of untested chemicals.

What is tested and accepted in the US is deemed appropriate for use here in Australia.

The general rule is that they are safe unless proven unsafe. Now, I get the innocent until proven guilty for individuals, but not chemicals. Chemicals are used widely in products that are distributed all over the world. They affect millions of people – adversely.

Now for the scary bit (yes, that was scary – but you ain't seen nothing yet!).

These chemicals are not used alone. They are used in combination.

What research is showing is that if chemical A causes x and y, and chemical B causes g.

Naturally, then you would expect that chemicals A and B, when used together would cause x + y + g. It's simple mathematics, right? 

Wrong! Very, very, very wrong.

Reseachers are finding that when they test chemicals in combination, they are getting results that are way off the scale.

Adding salt to the injury, I must also tell you about the “safe levels.”

Standards are set for “safe” use of chemicals (ie levels that only kill less than 50% of the animals that they were tested on). But what is not considered is, that unlike the rats that may only get to “wear” chemical S, humans get a combination of up to 20 different personal care products per day – which themselves are made from anywhere upwards of 10 different chemicals (more likely to be in the hundreds or thousands). What happens when you combine all of those “safe” individual levels?

I can't tell you, because no one actually knows!!

That's scary!

The good bit? There are many companies and small businesses that are making products that are a lot safer. Next time, we will talk about what to look for, and what to avoid.

Thanks for joining me.

Samantha Stephens: an icon from the past or a modern role model?

Remember Samantha Stephens, the good witch wife of Darrin Stephens in the 1960's television series, “Bewitched”? I want to take you on a quick journey to examine this character... a bit of a magic carpet ride, if you will?

Having recently rewatched episodes up until the birth of her daughter Tabitha, I have come to realise that there was so much more to the show than the light entertainment I enjoyed as a child.

Samantha was a cliché wife of the time on many levels – she was a housewife, she aimed to please her husband, she accepted whatever he said, she was neat and pretty, and did all the good-housewife things that women of the time were supposed to.

But there were many other layers – not just her being a witch - but other “big issue” things that I think makes her still relevant for people (females and males) of today.

Darrin did things on occasion that she did not like. Often this was making a disparaging comment about a family member or about witches in general. Samantha showed her disapproval clearly, and in a mature way. Sometimes she would get up and eat in another room, other times she would “twitch” him downstairs on the couch.

Regardless, she put some distance between them as soon as she felt hurt or offended, and then she would calmly and rationally talk about it.

To me, at times, it looked like she was being petulant and going off in a “huff.” But on reflection, she was making her point with a maturity that would be nice if more people used.

I can't imagine her “saying something in the heat of the moment” or having to excuse herself with “I didn't mean that, I said it when I was angry.”

Too many people use this as an excuse. My father always told me that “many a true word is spoken in jest.” I also think that often the truth is blurted out in anger.

I also condone the distance idea. If you are too upset or hurt or angry to have a conversation about the problem, the you are better off waiting. “Time out” works for children, and it works for adults too. It is okay to wait til you are calmer. It is advisable to wait til you can talk logically – responding rather than reacting to a situation.

Samantha coped very well with Darrin's thoughtless behaviours – springing extra guests on her for a dinner party (she had magic, true), last-minute cancelling meals with her to have lunch with clients or other women.

She was concerned at times – but chose classy ways to check up on him and reassure herself. Mostly, she was fine and coped well. Usually she called him up and sorted things then and there.

In one episode, she tells her mother, Endora (isn't she fabulous!) that their marriage works because they don't get dramatic and emotional about things. She promptly bursts into tears when she gets him on the phone, a tastefully comic moment.

The modern message, I think, is to trust your partner. I have always said, “If you can't trust them, you shouldn't be with them” - and I mean trust on every level. Trust them to be faithful, trust them to be honest and respectful in all their dealings with you... Trust on every level.

Samantha also stood up for herself and what she believed in. Often this was depicted through her opposition to the portrayal of witches.

She was eloquent and reasoned, appealing to logic and common sense, rather that being emotional, over the top, or nagging.

She had her own belief system and she created change through explaining or showing things to people. She was principled and intelligent. Still relevant today.

Darrin made her promise time and time again to not use witchcraft. Initially, she'd promise, and she would try, but often she would end up using it anyway. 

What this says to me, in no uncertain terms, is that it is impossible to maintain not-being-true-to-yourself. That is, you can only keep it up for so long before your true self arises. (Hence the idea of really getting to know someone before you get involved.)

This means that you cannot change who you are inherently, although you can change behaviours. But it also means that you can't change other people.

Often, the advice “just be yourself” is handed out to young people. This advice is strange, as a young person often has no idea who they are, they are searching for their place.

Young people go through a stage of searching for how they are meant to be, what they are meant to be, who they are meant to be... and really, the answer is “themselves.” What this means is being authentic. Knowing who you are inside, what matters and what is important to you – and being true to this.

Some people are lucky enough to work it out quickly, most people get some idea in their twenties or even thirties. For some, when they haven't found their authentic self, things tend to fall apart and hence the “mid-life crises” occurs somewhere in their forties or fifties.

Mid-life doesn't have to be fraught with a crises... but you do need to work on “your stuff” so that you can cruise through it.

This is a blog, not an essay, so I won't keep on... But I think there is enough evidence to demonstrate that Samantha isn't a relic of the past, but a role model for the modern day as well. She is intelligent, articulate, principled, authentic and behaves with dignity and decorum. She also has fun!

All attributes, I think you will agree, are ones that we can all embrace.

PS Elizabeth Montgomery, who played this character, was a crusader for women’s and gay rights. From what I have read of her as a person, she was pretty amazing!

DETOXING YOUR HOME – Part 3

Cleaning your home properly to keep dust at bay is also important.

Many people have allergies to “dust mites” - it is in fact the faeces of the dust mites that cause problems.

Dust is often a major trigger for asthmatics – usually for this reason.

Dust is also laden with many other particulates, depending on where you live. It often contains car exhaust, tyre dust, hair, skin cells, dirt... Dust and dander are a bit like a good train - it collects and carries with it anything and everything that is light.

What to do??

• invest in microfibre cloths – these are fabulous as they usually just need the assistance of water to do a great job
• wet dust – use a wet dusting cloth (ideally microfibre) to clean off dust. Dry dusting just spreads it around and stirs it up
• if you have carpets, you will need to vacuum them regularly. If this is the case, ensure that your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter. HEPA filters filter out about 99.9% of particulates. Very important stuff!
• avoid using mainstream cleaners – they are laden with chemicals and fragrances... stick to microfibre cloths, sodium bicarbonate and vinegar
• getting rid of mould – this is complex one, but I will touch on it briefly here...
  • address and remedy the source (eg leak)
  • vacuum the mould with a HEPA vacuum cleaner
  • apply a vinegar solution and allow it to dry
• regularly wash bedding, toys and other “soft furnishings” - ideally dry everything in the sunshine
• get plants – they are fantastic
• open up your windows, exchange the air!
  
  
  
  
  

DETOXING YOUR HOME – Part 2

DETOXING YOUR HOME – Part 2

There are LOADS of things that you can do to detox your home...

So, without further ado, let's get down to business.

Open up your windows.

Aim to exchange all of the air from inside your home at least once a day.

Do you have gas heaters? Are they flued? Are they well maintained?

Gas heaters are particularly problematic if they are unflued.

They give off gasses including carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide? That rings a bell??

It should. It is what car exhaust is full of – it is deadly.

If you have an unflued gas heater, replace it immediately with one that is flued.

Any heating and/or cooling units need to be well-maintained. They need to be serviced at least every two years, but you also need to regularly clean the filters.

Make sure that the return air vent and the vent that allows the clean air in are also clean and unimpeded.

Stay tuned for more... same bat-time, same bat-channel.

Ode to Curtain Square

Across the road in my local park

many people play and lark.

It is such a lovely play to be

soak up sunshine, and just be.

But to my horror, oh my god -

Council's spraying grass and road!    

[that does rhyme, ok?)

Spraying it with herbicide

to kill all life from the inside.

It plays havoc, don't they know,

with how unborn babies grow!

They don't even wear a mask

while completing this dreadful task!